Natural Product Pharmacology and Wound Healing Applications
Summary
Natural products derived from plants, marine organisms and microorganisms are a rich source of chemical scaffolds with therapeutic potential for wound healing. Their pharmacological activities span antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, which are critical for the phases of haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodelling. Bioactive phytochemicals such as polyphenols, flavonoids and iridoids can scavenge reactive oxygen species, modulate pro-inflammatory cytokine production and inhibit microbial colonisation, thereby creating a conducive environment for tissue repair. Furthermore, certain natural extracts stimulate the migration and proliferation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, accelerate collagen deposition and enhance angiogenesis. Advances in extraction technologies and delivery systems have improved the stability, bioavailability and targeted release of these compounds. As a result, formulations such as hydrogel dressings, nanoparticles and lipid carriers are increasingly employed to harness natural product pharmacology for clinical and topical wound care. The global burden of non-healing wounds and antimicrobial resistance underscores the urgent need for novel, efficacious interventions; natural products offer a sustainable and integrative approach to address these challenges.
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Natural Product Pharmacology and Wound Healing Applications publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in natural product pharmacology and wound healing applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Polyphenols: A class of plant-derived compounds characterised by multiple phenolic structures, known for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Iridoids: Monoterpenoid glycosides found in various medicinal plants, with documented anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities.
Biofilm: A structured microbial community adherent to surfaces and embedded in a self-produced matrix, often resistant to antimicrobial agents.
Keratinocytes: The predominant cell type in the epidermis responsible for re-epithelialisation during wound repair.
Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4): A pattern recognition receptor on immune cells that detects bacterial lipopolysaccharide and initiates pro-inflammatory signalling.
References
- Solvent System-Guided Extraction of Centaurium spicatum (L.) Fritch Provides Optimized Conditions for the Biological and Chemical Characteristics of the Herbal Extracts. Pharmaceuticals (2023).
- Root Extracts From Ononis spinosa Inhibit IL-8 Release via Interactions With Toll-Like Receptor 4 and Lipopolysaccharide. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2020).
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