Escherichia-Shigella, closely associated with infection, also showed significantly reduced relative abundance post-treatment
These genera were specifically identified as 'key pathogenic bacteria' in the wound microenvironment
Reduction in these genera was proposed as a mechanism by which the ointment reduces local inflammatory response
Discussion
The authors propose that Golden Wanhong Ointment promotes wound healing through microbiota regulation, linking its modern microbiological effects to its traditional Chinese medicine functions.
Traditional functions of the ointment are described as 'clearing heat and detoxifying, removing necrotic tissue and promoting granulation'
The study provides 'a modern scientific interpretation of its traditional effects from a microbiological perspective'
The proposed mechanism includes inhibiting pathogenic bacteria abundance, reducing local inflammatory response, and improving the wound microenvironment
Golden Wanhong Ointment is described as a 'hospital preparation,' indicating it is a locally compounded traditional medicine formulation
What This Means
This research suggests that Golden Wanhong Ointment, a traditional Chinese medicine preparation used in hospitals, can beneficially change the community of bacteria living in diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). The study enrolled 31 patients with diabetic foot ulcers and collected wound samples before and after treatment. Using modern DNA sequencing technology to identify bacteria in the wounds, researchers found that after treatment, harmful bacteria—particularly Prevotella and Escherichia-Shigella—became less abundant, while the overall balance of bacterial communities shifted. At the same time, wound size decreased, pain scores improved, and levels of inflammatory proteins (IL-6 and TNF-α) in the wounds dropped significantly, all with strong statistical confidence (P<0.001).
This research matters because diabetic foot ulcers are serious, difficult-to-treat wounds that are a leading cause of amputation worldwide. Bacterial infection plays a major role in preventing these wounds from healing. The finding that a traditional herbal ointment can reshape the wound's microbial community—reducing the bacteria most associated with infection and inflammation—offers a potential biological explanation for why this remedy has been used traditionally. It bridges ancient medical knowledge with modern microbiological science.
This research suggests that microbiota regulation may be one mechanism through which Golden Wanhong Ointment supports wound healing, providing scientific grounding for its traditional descriptions of 'clearing heat and detoxifying.' However, the study was relatively small (31 patients) and did not include a control group for comparison, so further research with larger, controlled trials would be needed to confirm these findings and establish the ointment's effectiveness more definitively.
Qiu R, Yang L, Li X, Li S, Liu L, Che J. (2026). Effect of Golden Wanhong Ointment on wound microbiota in patients with diabetic foot ulcer.. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1820893