The Therapeutic Wound Healing Bioactivities of Various Medicinal Plants

Abstract

The skin serves as the body's first line of defense, guarding against mechanical, chemical, and thermal damage to the interior organs. It includes a highly developed immune response that serves as a barrier against pathogenic infections. Wound healing is a dynamic process underpinned by numerous cellular activities, including homeostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling, that require proper harmonious integration to effectively repair the damaged tissue. Following cutaneous damage, microorganisms can quickly enter the tissues beneath the skin, which can result in chronic wounds and fatal infections. Natural phytomedicines that possess considerable pharmacological properties have been widely and effectively employed forwound treatment and infection prevention. Since ancient times, phytotherapy has been able to efficiently treat cutaneous wounds, reduce the onset of infections, and minimize the usage of antibiotics that cause critical antibiotic resistance. There are a remarkable number of wound-healing botanicals that have been widely used in the Northern Hemisphere, including Achiella millefolium, Aloe vera, Althaea officinalis, Calendula officinalis, Matricaria chamomilla, Curcuma longa, Eucalyptus, Jojoba, plantain, pine, green tea, pomegranate, and Inula. This review addresses the most often used medicinal plants from the Northern Hemisphere that facilitate the treatment of wounds, and also suggests viable natural alternatives that can be used in the field of wound care.

Keywords: bioactive components; medicinal plants; wound healing; wounds.

Figure 2

Bioactive phytochemicalcomponents of Achillea millefolium L. [36].

Figure 9

Chemical composition of different pine parts [99].

Figure 1

The four main phases of the wound healing process [6]. Adapted from https://app.biorender.com/biorender-templates2023/figures/all/t-5fa1b1622a60ac00a3d858ec-wound-healing (accessed on 15 December 2022).

Figure 3

Effects of pharmacological bioactive components of Aloe vera on clinical trials [46].

Figure 4

Some active components of curcumin essential oils and their potential effects [51].

Figure 5

Efficiency of Althaea officinalis L. extract that significantly heals excision wounds on rats and inhibits gram positive bacteria compared to control group [57].

Figure 6

Effects of Calendula officinalis extract on wound closure, regeneration, hydroxyl proline, and hexosamine content in rat models [61].

Figure 7

Jojoba liquid wax (JLW) wound healing properties examined by western blot, ELISA and scratch wound analysis on in vitro human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes [77].

Figure 8

Pharmacological wound healing activities of some remarkable medicinal plants. 1: Jojoba, 2: Calendula officinalis, 3: Eucalyptus, 4: Chamomile, 5: Inula, 6: Plantago major, 7: Althea officinalis.

Figure 10

Pharmacological effects of green tea on the wound healing mechanism [106].