# Study on the mechanism of no. 8 burn ointment in burn treatment based on network pharmacology and experimental verification

**Authors:** Le Qiu, Danlei Xing, Yuanqiang Zhu, Zhiwei Zhuang, Yexiang Sun, Peng Gong, Xulin Chen

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1511741 · Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2025-07-21

## TL;DR

This study explores how a traditional Chinese burn ointment promotes wound healing by identifying key active components and their effects on a critical biological pathway.

## Contribution

The study identifies β-Elemonic acid and Rubiadin as key active molecules in No.8 burn ointment that target the HIF-1α protein.

## Key findings

- No.8 burn ointment may promote wound healing by modulating the HIF-1 signaling pathway.
- HIF-1α is identified as a core target of the ointment's action.
- β-Elemonic acid and Rubiadin are key active molecules interacting with HIF-1α.

## Abstract

As a traditional Chinese compound formulation, No.8 burn ointment has demonstrated notable efficacy over half a century of clinical use, particularly in facilitating the healing of burn wounds.

This study integrates clinical data, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, network pharmacology and experimental validation to elucidate the mechanisms by which No.8 burn ointment promotes burn wound healing and to identify its key active components.

The findings reveal that the ointment may accelerate wound repair by modulating the HIF-1 signaling pathway. The network pharmacology analysis has identified HIF-1α as a core target of the No.8 burn ointment’s action and has identified the key active molecules β-Elemonic acid and Rubiadin, which interact with the HIF-1α protein and influence the HIF-1 pathway.

This research not only provides a theoretical foundation for the selection of targeted drugs in burn treatment and the optimization of traditional Chinese compounds but also provides new ideas for future research in related fields.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** HIF1A (hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 3091]
- **Proteins:** HIF1A (hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha)
- **Chemicals:** β-Elemonic acid (PubChem CID 5320604), Rubiadin (PubChem CID 124062)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) [NCBI Gene 1956] {aka ERBB, ERBB1, ERRP, HER1, NISBD2, NNCIS}, EGF (epidermal growth factor) [NCBI Gene 1950] {aka HOMG4, URG}, HSP90AA1 (heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1) [NCBI Gene 3320] {aka EL52, HEL-S-65p, HSP86, HSP89A, HSP90A, HSP90N}, HIF1A (hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 3091] {aka HIF-1-alpha, HIF-1A, HIF-1alpha, HIF1, HIF1-ALPHA, MOP1}, Hif1a (hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 29560] {aka HIF1-alpha, MOP1}
- **Diseases:** deaths (MESH:D003643), Pain (MESH:D010146), Burn Ointment (MESH:D002056), necrosis (MESH:D009336), skin irritation (MESH:D012871), immune dysfunction (MESH:D007154), tissue injury (MESH:D017695), infection (MESH:D007239), inflammation (MESH:D007249), blisters (MESH:D001768), traffic accidents (MESH:D000081084), hypoxia (MESH:D000860), ischemia (MESH:D007511), Wounds (MESH:D014947)
- **Chemicals:** eosin (MESH:D004801), Rubiadin (MESH:C072500), oil (MESH:D009821), hydrogen (MESH:D006859), Borneol (MESH:C022871), rhein (MESH:C020491), water (MESH:D014867), sodium pentobarbital (MESH:D010424), Co (MESH:D003035), ellagic acid (MESH:D004610), Syringic acid (MESH:C001945), paraffin (MESH:D010232), buprenorphine (MESH:D002047), formic acid (MESH:C030544), Hematoxylin (MESH:D006416), beeswax (MESH:C038228), Petroleum jelly (MESH:D010577), oxygen (MESH:D010100), genistein (MESH:D019833), saline (MESH:D012965), aloe emodin (MESH:C518327), tannins (MESH:D013634), acetonitrile (MESH:C032159), Citrate (MESH:D019343), sesame oil (MESH:D012715), LEU262 (-), beta-Elemonic acid (MESH:C000709525)
- **Species:** Rattus norvegicus (brown rat, species) [taxon 10116], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Sanguisorba officinalis (species) [taxon 137457], Rheum officinale (yao yong da huang, species) [taxon 137220], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

8 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12319001/full.md

## References

26 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12319001/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12319001