Systematic Review of Medicinal Plants as Efficacious Healing Agents Showed Value in DFU Management

In this article, the authors Roohollah Ahmadian, PhD Candidate; Roodabeh Bahramsoltani, PharmD, PhD; André M Marques, Msc, PhD; Roja Rahimi, PharmD, PhD; Mohammad Hosein Farzaei, PharmD, PhD, review clinical studies using medicinal plants to investigate their effects in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) based on the improvement of local and systemic parameters related to wound healing. This study “Medicinal Plants as Efficacious Agents for Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies” was published in the August 2021 issue of Wounds.¹

According to the authors, medicinal plants have established that they are a valuable resource of natural compounds, which can be used to enhance the immune system’s response to an antigen, for the management of DFUs. A study published in 2011,² found the plants of the Caricaceae family, which are high in proteolytic enzymes, have a debridement-like reaction on lesions and stimulate activity in the form of fibroblast proliferation, of which had a beneficial effect on wound healing.¹

The authors noted that additional research should focus on the precise evaluation of many active extracts and/or fractions of medicinal plants for the treatment of wounds. This evaluation of medicinal plants can minimize the possible side effects of negative results of some treatment plans. The authors call for future mechanistic pharmacological studies in conjunction with clinical trials, which are essential to developing new herbal medicine practices for the management of diabetic foot ulcers.

To read the full article detailing medicinal plants and their treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, click here.

— Cat Urbanski

References

1. Ahmadian R, Bahramsoltani R, Marques AM, Rahimi R, Farzaei MH. Medicinal Plants as Efficacious Agents for Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies. Wounds. 2021;33(8):207-218.
2. Correa NC, Mendes IC, Gomes MT, et al. Molecular cloning of a mitogenic proteinase from Carica candamarcensis: its potential use in wound healing. Phytochemistry. 2011;72(16):1947–1954. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.06.010