ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Chonghe paste promoting the dissipation of swollen lesions. METHODS The bacteriostatic effects of Chonghe paste against Staphylococcus aureus， Escherichia coli， Pseudomonas aeruginosa， Staphylococcus albus and Streptococcus pneumoniae were detected by punching method. The subcutaneous soft tissue infection model of rats was established by subcutaneous injection of S. aureus. The effects of 14 d intervention of Chonghe paste （Compound polymyxin B ointment as positive control） on the pathological changes of subcutaneous soft tissue， the protein expressions of type Ⅰ collagen， type Ⅲ collagen， matrix metalloproteinase-2 （MMP-2） and MMP-9 in subcutaneous soft tissue， and the contents of transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β） and basic fibroblast growth factor （bFGF） in serum were investigated. RESULTS Chonghe paste had varying degrees of bacteriostatic effect on the above 4 bacteria （except for S. pneumoniae）， especially on S. aureus. Compared with the model group， on the 7th day of treatment， collagen fibers in the Chonghe paste group were arranged in an orderly manner， pus dissipated faster； the protein expressions of type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen and the contents of TGF-β and bFGF were up-regulated significantly， while protein expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. On the 14th day of administration， collagen deposition was obvious in the Chonghe paste group， subcutaneous appendages gradually formed； the protein expressions of type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen and the contents of TGF-β and bFGF were down-regulated significantly， while the protein expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Chonghe paste has the bacteriostatic effect and may play a role in promoting the dissipation of swollen lesions by regulating the formation and decomposition of fibrin and increasing the secretion of bFGF and TGF-β.