ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Ethnopharmacology
Sanhuang Fukang Oil Alleviates X-ray-Induced Skin Injury by Reducing Inflammation and Apoptosis: An In Vivo Study
Provisionally accepted
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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Abstract Background: Radiation dermatitis is a significant dose-limiting toxicity of radiotherapy that compromises treatment efficacy and patient quality of life. Although topical anti-inflammatory agents and emollients provide symptomatic relief, they fail to address the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. SHFKO, a botanical extract with documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has been used in traditional medicine but its molecular mechanisms of action remain poorly characterized. This study systematically investigated the therapeutic potential of SHFKO in mitigating radiation-induced skin injury through integrated chemical, molecular, and histopathological analyses. Methods: Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was used to characterize the bioactive components of SHFKO. A mouse model of radiodermatitis was monitored for cutaneous manifestations and healing. Expression levels of inflammatory mediators (MMP13, IL-6, IL-1β), antioxidant enzymes (catalase, HO-1, SOD-1, Nrf2), and apoptotic regulators (cleaved-caspase 3, Bcl-2) were measured using RT-PCR and Western blotting to assess radiation-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis. The effects of SHFKO on MAPK/NF-κB/PI3K-AKT signaling pathways were evaluated by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results: UPLC analysis confirmed a diverse bioactive profile of SHFKO. In vivo experiments demonstrated significant attenuation of cutaneous inflammation and enhanced tissue regeneration. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses revealed dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effects of SHFKO, with the high-dose treatment achieving effects comparable to the reference drug, MFC (p > 0.05). Mechanistic studies revealed pathway-specific modulation, with anti-radiodermatitis effects primarily mediated by inhibition of MAPK/PI3K-AKT phosphorylation rather than the NF-κB pathway. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed that SHFKO normalized the radiation-induced upregulation of MMP13, IL-6, IL-1β, integrin β1, and CXCL9. Additionally, SHFKO exhibited anti-apoptotic activity, which accelerated cutaneous repair. Conclusion: This study demonstrated significant therapeutic effects of SHFKO in treating radiodermatitis, characterized by accelerated healing of acute radiation-induced cutaneous injuries. The multi-targeted mechanisms involved apoptosis inhibition, reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators, MAPK/PI3K-AKT pathway inhibition, and restoration of ROS homeostasis. These findings suggest SHFKO as a promising candidate for clinical development in radiation dermatitis treatment, offering a multi-target therapeutic approach distinct from conventional approaches.
Keywords: Radiation dermatitis, ROS, MAPK, Pi3k-akt, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Apoptosis
Received: 23 Sep 2025; Accepted: 29 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhu, Lin, WEI, Jian, Chen, Shi, Lai and Huang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Mei Huang
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