Herbal Remedies in Wound Healing: A Comprehensive Review of Plants and Non-Clinical Applications

Abstract

The phenomenon of wound healing encompasses a coordinated sequence of cellular and biochemical phases collaborating synergistically to promote the restoration of the injured tissue. Tissue repair is complex, posing challenges in wound management. Healing involves three phases: inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling. Treatments include antibiotics, antiseptics, and extracts, but synthetic drugs have limitations. There is growing interest in plant-based formulations for effective wound treatment. Medicinal plants are increasingly recognized for their wound healing potential with lower side effects, particularly in diabetic, infected, or open wounds, supported by studies highlighting various identified mechanisms for improved healing. Medicinal plants such as Allium sativum, Boerhavia diffusa, Calendula officinalis, Crocus sativus, Curcuma longa L., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Melaleuca alternifolia, Woodfordia fruticosa, etc. have demonstrated wound healing properties and have proven effective in treating wounds. This review highlights medicinal plants in wound healing, emphasizing in-vivo models, specifically examining their effectiveness in excision and incision wound healing.