A review on wound healing herbs

Wound healing is a dynamic physiological process involving hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling phases, which collectively restore the structural and functional integrity of damaged tissue. Conventional therapies, although effective, are often limited by issues such as antimicrobial resistance, cytotoxicity, and high cost. Herbal agents have gained substantial attention as safer and cost-effective alternatives due to their multifaceted pharmacological actions and minimal side effects. Numerous medicinal plants including Aloe vera, Curcuma longa, Centella asiatica, Azadirachta indica, Calendula officinalis, and Lawsonia inermis have shown remarkable efficacy in enhancing tissue regeneration through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and angiogenic activities. Phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, and phenolic acids contribute to collagen deposition, fibroblast proliferation, epithelialization, and faster wound contraction. Preclinical and clinical studies corroborate these effects, demonstrating improved wound closure rates and reduced infection. Despite these promising results, challenges such as poor standardization, limited bioavailability, variability in plant composition, and lack of large-scale clinical validation hinder the full clinical translation of herbal wound therapies. Recent innovations integrating herbal bioactives with nanotechnology, hydrogels, and polymeric dressings offer new directions for next-generation wound management. This review compiles current evidence, highlights mechanistic insights, and discusses limitations and future perspectives for developing effective, standardized herbal wound-healing formulations.