Wound Healing: A Brief Look at the Inflammatory Stage and Role of Medicinal Plants and Their Derivations on Modulating the Inflammatory Responses: A Systematic Review.

This article reviews the effects of medicinal plants and their derivatives—including extracts, essential oils, and active compounds—on inflammatory responses during the wound healing process, particularly in surgical wound infections. It highlights that these natural agents modulate gene expression of key proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), as well as regulatory factors like nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), thereby reducing excessive inflammation and promoting healing. The review summarizes in vivo studies demonstrating that topical applications of plant-based ointments generally show greater anti-inflammatory efficacy than oral administration, with higher concentrations yielding more pronounced effects. These findings suggest that medicinal plants hold potential for pharmaceutical development aimed at managing inflammation in various wound types, including infected and chronic wounds.