Anti-scarring drug discovery: potential targets and therapeutic opportunities

Meiling Feng; Xiaotian Niu; Shan Wang; Liuxin Lu; Xilong Feng; Xiaoying Jiang; Wenchao Chen; Renren Bai

doi:10.1016/j.ejmcr.2025.100283

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Reports (Dec 2025)

Anti-scarring drug discovery: potential targets and therapeutic opportunities

Meiling Feng,
Xiaotian Niu,
Shan Wang,
Liuxin Lu,
Xilong Feng,
Xiaoying Jiang,
Wenchao Chen,
Renren Bai

Affiliations

Meiling Feng: School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China
Xiaotian Niu: School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China
Shan Wang: School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China
Liuxin Lu: School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China
Xilong Feng: School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China
Xiaoying Jiang: School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China
Wenchao Chen: School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Corresponding author. School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, PR China.
Renren Bai: School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, PR China; Corresponding author. School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, PR China.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmcr.2025.100283
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15
p. 100283

Abstract

Read online

Scar formation is a ubiquitous pathological response during the skin wound healing process. While physical therapy can effectively mitigate scar development, it is often accompanied by issues such as poor patient compliance and a range of side effects. Consequently, there is an urgent clinical need for the discovery of effective anti-scarring drugs. However, this need has not been fully addressed to date. This review delves systematically and comprehensively into the characteristics of scars, the underlying mechanisms of their formation, and potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, it reviews drug repurposing efforts, natural products and small molecule compounds in the drug discovery stage with anti-scarring effects. The information presented herein will offer valuable insights and enlightenment for exploring potential targets and pathways, as well as viable lead compounds for the discovery and development of novel anti-scarring drugs.

Published in European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Reports

ISSN: 2772-4174 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: France
LCC subjects: Medicine: Pharmacy and materia medica; Medicine: Other systems of medicine
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/european-journal-of-medicinal-chemistry-reports

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords