Evaluation of sea cucumber protein paste for mice’s skin wound healing and its potential anti-inflammatory mechanism

Natural substances with anti-inflammatory activity have always been the priority for human injuries. This study aims to investigate the beneficial effects and mechanism of sea cucumber protein (SCP) on wound healing, through a BALB/c mice model and LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. To find out how SCP paste works, we identified the mice's serum cytokines and tissue section. The alteration of the NF-κB pathway during the anti-inflammatory effect of SCP was also explored. The results showed that the wound healing rate in the SCP(H) group exceeded 90%, whereas it was 72.91% and 64.10% in the Control and NC groups on day 14. New blood vessels and fibroblasts were generated in the wounds. Collagen expression increased by 13.89% and 15.12% respectively in the SCP(L) and SCP(H) groups compared with the Control group on day 14. Furthermore, SCP decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) in mice’s serum while up-regulating the level of anti-inflammatory factor (IL-10) during the healing process. Furthermore, SCP suppressed the NF-κB pathway by decreasing protein levels of phosphorylated p65 and IKKα, and increasing protein levels of IκBα.