Molefe Philisiwe F, Ghasemishahrestani Zeinab, Mbele Mzwandile, Khanyile Sbonelo, Farrant Jill, Khumalo Nonhlanhla P, Bayat Ardeshir
Medical Research Council of South Africa Wound Healing and Keloid Research Unit, Hair and Skin Research Laboratory, Division of Dermatology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Systems Biology Studies on Plant Desiccation Tolerance for Food Security, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Int Wound J. 2025 Aug;22(8):e70742. doi: 10.1111/iwj.70742.
Chronic and non-healing wounds are a global health issue with limited effective treatments. Wound care costs continue to rise, highlighting the need for new therapies. Medicinal plants, particularly African species, show promise for enhancing wound healing. This review analysed 93 studies and identified 37 relevant to wound healing, covering 39 plant species. Ten species were identified for their rich phytochemical content, specifically flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids (plant-derived compounds). These compounds act synergistically, enhancing the wound healing process at each stage. Flavonoids reduce inflammation and support tissue turnover, while terpenoids enhance collagen production and wound closure. Alkaloids offer antimicrobial benefits and support wound contraction. Notable plants include Ageratum conyzoides and Aspilia africana (Asteraceae family); promoting haemostasis by lowering plasma fibrinogen and enhancing platelet-derived growth factors; Withania somnifera (Solanaceae); and Entada africana (Fabaceae), effectively regulating inflammation. In the proliferative phase, Ocimum gratissimum (Lamiaceae), Calendula officinalis (Asteraceae), and Centella asiatica (Apiaceae) although C. officinalis is native to Southern Europe, and C. asiatica an Asian-native; they are widely used in African traditional medicine and included here for their relevance in African wound healing practices; Justicia flava (Acanthaceae), Alternanthera sessilis (Amaranthaceae), and Acalypha indica (Euphorbiaceae); play key roles in enhancing collagen production, angiogenesis, and re-epithelialisation. This comprehensive analysis highlights the role of African medicinal plants in wound healing and their potential to improve wound care therapy.
慢性难愈合伤口是一个全球性的健康问题，有效治疗方法有限。伤口护理成本持续上升，凸显了对新疗法的需求。药用植物，特别是非洲的植物种类，在促进伤口愈合方面显示出前景。本综述分析了93项研究，确定了37项与伤口愈合相关的研究，涵盖39种植物。其中10种植物因其丰富的植物化学成分而被确定，特别是黄酮类化合物、萜类化合物和生物碱（植物衍生化合物）。这些化合物协同作用，在伤口愈合的每个阶段都能促进愈合过程。黄酮类化合物可减轻炎症并支持组织更新，而萜类化合物可促进胶原蛋白生成和伤口闭合。生物碱具有抗菌作用并支持伤口收缩。值得注意的植物包括藿香蓟和非洲紫菊（菊科）；通过降低血浆纤维蛋白原和增强血小板衍生生长因子来促进止血；印度人参（茄科）；以及非洲榼藤子（豆科），可有效调节炎症。在增殖期，罗勒（唇形科）、金盏花（菊科）和积雪草（伞形科）——尽管金盏花原产于南欧，积雪草原产于亚洲；它们在非洲传统医学中广泛使用，因其与非洲伤口愈合实践相关而在此列出；黄爵床（爵床科）、节节菜（苋科）和蓖麻（大戟科）；在增强胶原蛋白生成、血管生成和重新上皮化方面发挥关键作用。这一全面分析突出了非洲药用植物在伤口愈合中的作用及其改善伤口护理治疗的潜力。
