Applications of bioactive herbal extracts in dressing materials for skin wound repair: Ingredients, mechanisms and innovations

Abstract

The skin, as the body's largest organ, plays essential roles in protection, immune regulation, and homeostasis. Skin trauma, especially chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers, poses significant clinical challenges. Traditional treatments, while often effective, can be costly and pose risks. Herbal remedies offer a promising alternative given their rich history of use and multitarget therapeutic actions. This review explores bioactive compounds in herbs-such as saponins, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, oils, amino acids, and quinones—and their functions in wound healing. These bioactive substances modulate cellular and molecular pathways, including vascular endothelial growth factor, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), Janus Kinase 2/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (JAK2-STAT3), and Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), enhancing processes like angiogenesis, epithelial proliferation, granulation, and immune regulation. Additionally, innovative wound dressings infused with these bioactives, including hydrogels, sponges, and bioadhesives, provide multifunctional benefits such as moisture retention, antimicrobial activity, and improved mechanical strength. Design principles in these dressings focus on enhancing biocompatibility, stability, and therapeutic efficacy using bioactive compounds to support healing and tissue regeneration. This comprehensive review underscores the potential of bioactive herbal materials in wound care, highlighting their diverse mechanisms and adaptability in developing effective multifunctional dressings. Future research should optimize these bioactive-infused dressings for clinical applications, ensuring efficacy and safety in managing complex wounds.