Natural compounds for wound healing: An integrated bioactive prospective

Abstract

Diverse natural compounds derived from either plant or animal sources have been shown to possess potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. Such compounds could be beneficial for managing wound healing via developing multipurpose bioactive wound dressings. However, many of these compounds especially essential oils and phytochemicals cannot be used in their free form owing to their sensitivity, bioavailability and contact allergies, which as a result could hamper their implementation in wound healing. In this context, the most important classes of natural compounds implicated in wound healing will be highlighted with special emphasis on their effect in each wound healing phase. Among these compounds are essential oils, phytochemicals, plant resins, and plant-based and animal-based biopolymers. In addition, the most recent trends in developing multi-functional wound dressings based on the integrative actions of these active natural compounds will be highlighted. These wound dressings could be hydrogels, film membranes or nanoparticles-in-nanofibers