Ginsenoside Rg1 Promotes Wound Healing in Mice with Superficial Second-Degree Burns Through Energy Metabolism, Cell Migration, and Cell Adhesion Pathways

Natural products are known to have distinct roles in the treatment of various diseases. However, the potential role of ginsenoside Rg1 (GRg1) in the context of scald injuries remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of GRg1 on scald wound healing by utilizing a mouse scald wound model and administering varying concentrations of GRg1 orally. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was employed to identify the signaling pathways and key genes influenced by GRg1 in the wound healing process. Our findings indicate that mice treated with a low concentration of GRg1 exhibited a significantly higher wound healing rate compared with the model group and other treatment groups. Through RNA-seq, we observed that the gene expression profile in the wound tissues of the low-concentration-treated group was consistent with that of the normal control group. Furthermore, a low concentration of GRg1 was found to maintain cellular energy metabolism homeostasis by enhancing mitochondrial aerobic respiration and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In addition, GRg1 facilitated wound healing by restoring the expression of genes associated with cell migration and adhesion. Confirming the appropriate concentration of GRg1 that accelerates tissue healing at scald sites and enhances our understanding of the efficacy and molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of natural products in disease treatment.