Wound Healing with Botanicals: a Review and Future Perspectives

Purpose of Review: Botanicals have long played a crucial role in the management of chronic and infected wounds, yet the mechanistic basis of these therapies remains largely poorly understood by modern science. Recent Findings: Studies have begun to unveil the mechanistic bases of botanical therapies for wound healing, but more work is necessary. Most notably, investigation into the growing conditions, post-harvest treatment, and pharmacological preparation of these botanicals has demonstrated their importance in terms of the chemical makeup and pharmacological activity of the final product used in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Summary: This work evaluates the potential safety, efficacy, and mechanistic basis of some key botanical ingredients used in traditional medicine for wound care: aloe, marigold, and St. John’s Wort. Furthermore, perspectives on the future role that botanical natural products may play in anti-infective and wound care, innovations are explored. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.