HERBAL-BASED ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT APPROACHES USED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DIABETIC WOUNDS
Keywords:
Diabetic wound, wound healing, phytotherapy, medicinal plants, herbal medicineAbstract
Diabetic wounds are chronic wounds characterized by impaired healing processes, a high risk of infection, and severe complications, including amputation. The pathophysiology of diabetic wounds is characterized by chronic inflammation, increased oxidative stress, and impaired cellular/tissue functions, primarily driven by factors such as hyperglycemia, neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, and immune dysfunction. Effective wound management is crucial due to the limitations of current treatment modalities in addressing this complex process. In this context, medicinal plants offer a promising alternative with their multi-targeted mechanisms of action, including modulating inflammatory pathways (e.g., cytokine/enzyme inhibition), reducing oxidative stress (e.g., ROS scavenging, antioxidant enzyme induction), controlling microbial load (e.g., bactericidal/anti-biofilm effects), and promoting tissue repair (e.g., cell proliferation/migration, angiogenesis, collagen synthesis). However, herbal therapies also present disadvantages such as standardization challenges, dosage uncertainties, and a lack of sufficient clinical evidence. Recently developed advanced delivery systems, such as nanoparticles, nanofibers, and hydrogels, have the potential to overcome the solubility, stability, and bioavailability issues of herbal agents, thereby enhancing their efficacy and enabling targeted delivery. The aim of this review is to summarize the prominent herbal-based treatment approaches and their mechanisms of action in the management of diabetic wounds in the light of current literature.
Key words: Diabetic wound, wound healing, phytotherapy, medicinal plants, herbal medicine.
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