Table 1.
Summary of the medicinal plants used in wound healing.
| Botanical name | Traditional name | Plant family | Active ingredients | Part used | Type of extract | Assessment methods | Bioactivities | Clinical use | Formulation | Commercial product |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aloe vera | Lu Hui | Asphodelaceae | Acemannan [40] | Leaves | Ethanol | Punch biopsy wounds in Sprague-Dawley rats [40] | Immunomodulatory [40] Antiviral [40] |
Wound healing [34] | Gel [323] | Aloe vera gel |
| Arctium lappa | Niu Bang Zi | Asteraceae | Arctigenin [324] Arctiin [42] Caffeic acid [42] Chlorogenic acid [42] Diarctigenin [42] Inulin [42] Lappaol F [49] Tannin [42] Trachelogenin 4 [42] |
Leaves Whole root |
No extraction, whole leaves Aqueous |
Human burn wounds [53] Canine dermal fibroblast adhesion assay [52] |
Anticancer [49] Antidiabetic [46] Anti-inflammatory [45] Antimicrobial [47] Antiviral [48] Hepatoprotective [50] Radical scavenging [44] |
Acne vulgaris [43] Boils [42] Burns [53] Rashes [42] Sore throat [42] Wrinkles [51] |
Ointment [53] | Not available |
|
Astragalus propinquus
Rehmannia glutinosa |
Huang Qi Di Huang |
Fabaceae Orobanchaceae |
Astragaloside IV [57] Calycosin [57] Catalpol [57] |
Roots | Aqueous | In vitro scratch wound healing and quantitative cell migration assays [59] | Anti-inflammatory [57] Proangiogenic [57] |
Diabetic foot ulcer [56] | Herbal drink [56] | Not available |
| Ampelopsis japonica | Bai Lian | Vitaceae | Catechins [325] Epicatechin gallate [325] Resveratrol [325] |
Root tuber | Ethanol | Cutaneous scald injury in rats [63] | Anticancer [62] Neuroprotective [61] |
Antipyretic detoxicate [60] Burns [60] Ulcers [60] |
Wound plaster (Patent: CN105748741A) | Hydrating Moisturizer |
| Andrographis paniculata | Chuan Xin Lian | Acanthaceae | Andrographolide [64] Kalmeghin [64] |
Leaves | Aqueous | Excision model in albinos Wistar rats [76] | Anticancer [66] Antidiabetic [70] Anti-inflammatory [69] Antimalarial [73] Antimicrobial [71] Antioxidant [68] Antiviral [72] Hepatoprotective [74] Hypotensive [75] Immunostimulatory [66] |
Dysentery [65] Fever [64] Snake bites [66] Sores [67] |
Paste (applied externally), juice (internally) [326] | Chuan Xin Lian Nei Zhi Di Wan (穿心莲内酯滴丸) |
| Angelica sinensis | Dang Gui | Apiaceae | Ferulic acid [83] n-Butylidenephthalide [86] | Whole plant | Ethanol | Cell line antioxidant activity assay [83] | Anticancer [80] Anti-inflammatory [79] Antioxidant [81] Immunomodulatory [82] |
Amenorrhea [78] Dysmenorrhea [78] Menstrual disorders [78] |
Ointment [327] Nanosilver hydrocolloid dressing [328] |
Dang Gui Shao Yao San (当归芍药散) |
| Blumea balsamifera | Ai Na Xiang | Asteraceae | L-Borneol [92] | Leaves | Violate oil | Excision wound model in mice [92] | Antifungal [90] Antiobesity [91] Antiplasmodial [88] Antitumour [89] |
Beriberi [87] Dermatitis [87] Eczema [87] Skin bruises [87] Skin injury [87] |
Oil | Blumea leaf oil |
| Boswellia sacra | Ru Xiang | Burseraceae | Boswellic acids [329] | Resin | Dry extract Dry extract |
Rabbit ear hypertrophic scar model of full-thickness scar defect [96] Excision wound model in diabetic C57BL/6 mice [97] |
Anticancer [329] Antifibrotic [97] |
Improvement of blood circulation [95] Pain treatment [94] Rheumatoid arthritis [93] |
Spray [93] | Frankincense oil |
| Caesalpinia sappan | Su Mu | Fabaceae | Brazilin [103] Sappanchalcone [103] |
Roots Roots |
Ethanolic Ethanol |
In vitro antibacterial assay [102] In vitro anti-inflammatory and wound healing assays [103] |
Antiallergic [99] Antibacterial [102] Anti-inflammatory [100] Viral neuraminidase inhibitory [101] |
Improvement of blood circulation [98] Pain treatment [98] Oedema [98] |
Tablets | Lukol™, Vicco Vajradanti™ |
| Calendula officinalis | Jin Zhan Ju | Asteraceae | Esculetin [108] Quercetin-3-O-glucoside [108] |
Flower Flower Flower |
Hexane and ethanol Hydroethanol Hexane and ethanol |
Scratch assay [107] Excision wound model in BALB/c mice [109] Punch wound model in rats [110] |
Antibacterial [106] Anticancer [106] Antifungal [106] Anti-inflammatory [106] Antioxidant [106] Antiviral [106] |
Burns [105] Dermatitis [105] Wounds [104] |
Topical spray [330] Oil [331] |
Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner Plenusdermax® |
| Camellia sinensis | Cha Shu | Theaceae | Epcatechin-3-gallate [111] Epicatechin [111] Epigallocatechin [111] Epigallocatechin-3-gallate [111] |
Leaves Leaves Leaves |
Methanol Methanol Ethanol |
In vitro and in vivo keloid fibroblasts models [125] NIH3T3 fibroblast proliferation assay [115] Excision wound model in Sprague-Dawley rats [121] |
Antiaging [116] Anticarcinogenic [115] Anti-inflammatory [113] Antimicrobial [114] Antiobesity [117, 118] Antioxidant [112] Cardioprotective [119] Neuroprotective [120] |
Angina pectoris [332] Asthma [332] Bacterial infections [332] Cancer [332] |
Oil | Tea tree oil |
| Carthamus tinctorius | Hong Hua | Asteraceae | Hydroxysafflor yellow A [130] | Seeds | Reflux | Antioxidant enzyme assay in zebrafish [333] | Anti-inflammatory [132] Antioxidant [131] Apoptosis-inhibiting [134] Melanogenesis-inhibitory [129] Proangiogenic [133] |
Blood stasis [334, 335] Osteoporosis [334, 335] Promotion of bone formation [334, 335] |
Oil | Safflower oil (红花油) |
| Celosia argentea | Qing Xiang | Amaranthaceae | Celosin I [139] Celosin II [139] |
Leaves | Ethanol | Rat burn wound model [137] | Antidiabetic [140] Antimicrobial [141] Antioxidant [138] Hepatoprotective [139] |
Skin sores [137] Ulcers [137] |
Poultice of stems and leaves (topically) [336] | Not available |
| Centella asiatica | Ji Xue Cao | Apiaceae | Asiaticoside [144] Madecassoside [146] |
Aerial parts | Hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water | Incision and partial-thickness burn wound models in rats [142] | Anti-inflammatory [142] Antioxidant [142] Proangiogenic [142] |
Wounds [142] | Oral form (tablets, drops) Topical medication (ointments and powder) Injections (subcutaneous and intramuscular) [337, 338] |
Madecassol® [143] Centellase® Blastoestimulina® [337] Collaven® [338] |
| Cinnamomum cassia | Rou Gui | Lauraceae | Cinnamaldehyde [147] | Bark Whole plant |
Volatile oil Ethanol |
In vitro and in vivo angiogenic activity assay [147] Excision wound model in rats [339] |
Anticancer [151, 152] Antidiabetic [340] Anti-inflammatory [150] Antimicrobial [341] Antioxidant [342] |
Analgesia [147] Improvement of blood circulation [147] |
Oil | Cinnamon cassia oil |
| Commiphora myrrha | Mo Yao | Burseraceae | Furanoeudesma-1,3-diene [165] Terpene [165] |
Leaves and resin Resin Leaves and resin |
Dry extract Dry extract Dry extract |
Excision wound model in diabetic rats [164] Human recurrent aphthous stomatitis [165] In vitro cell migration assay [166] |
Analgesic [159] Antibacterial [158] Anti-inflammatory [157] Antioxidant [156] |
Gastrointestinal diseases [161, 162] Wounds and pain [163, 165] |
Oil | Myrrh essential oil |
| Curcuma longa | Jiang Huang | Zingiberaceae | Curcuminoids [170] | Rhizomes | Nanosuspension | Antioxidant analysis [343] | Antibacterial [344] Anti-inflammatory [345] Antioxidant [346] |
Digestive diseases [347] Liver disorders [347] Menstrual difficulties [347] Pain disorders [347] Sprains [347] Wounds [347] |
Capsules [348] | Kordel's Theracurmin™ BCM-95®, Theracurmin™, CurcuVIVA™, CurcuMIND, Long-vida RD CAVACURMIN®, Biocurcumax™ [349] |
| Daphne genkwa | Yuan Hua | Thymelaeaceae | Daphnodorin B [177] Daphnodorin G [177] Daphnodorin G 3ʺ-methylether [177] Daphnodorin H [177] Daphnodorin H 3-methyl [177] Daphnodorin H 3ʺ-methylether [177] Genkwanin [177] Genkwanol A [177] Yuanhuacine [350] Yuenkanin [177] |
Flower Roots |
Aqueous | Human wounds from anal fistula therapy [171] | Anti-inflammatory [175] Antitumour [177] Immunoregulatory [178, 179] Melanogenesis inhibitory [172] |
Coughs [174] Wounds [171] |
Not available | Not available |
| Entada phaseoloides | Ke Teng | Fabaceae | Tannin [182] | Stem skin and seeds | Ethanol | Acetic acid-induced mouse writhing experiment [351] | Antibacterial [180] Antioxidant [181] |
Aging [352] Atherosclerosis [352] Cancer [352] Diabetes [352] Neurodegenerative disorders [352] |
Not available | Not available |
| Hibiscus rosa-sinensis | Zhu Jin | Malvaceae | Anthocyanins [353] Flavonoids [353] Polyphenolic acids [353] Protocatechuic acid [353] |
Flower | Ethanol | Excision, incision and dead space wound models in rats [187, 188] | Antibacterial [186] | Antitumour [353] Hair growth [184] |
Powder | Lustrous Henna® Shampoo powder |
| Ganoderma lucidum | Ling Zhi | Ganodermataceae | Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide [204] | Fruiting body Fruiting body |
Aqueous Aqueous |
Excision wound model in diabetic rats [190] Full-thickness excision wound model in diabetic mice [204] |
Antihyperlipidemic [197] Anti-infective [192–194] Anti-inflammatory [354] Antioxidant [195] Cardioprotective [196] Immunomodulating [191] |
Cancer [198] Diabetes [200] Hepatitis [189] Leukaemia [189] Ulcer [201] |
Not available | Ganoderma lucidum spores powder capsules |
| Ligusticum striatum | Chuan Xiong | Apiaceae | Ferulic acid [206] Ligustilide [206] Senkyunolide A [206] Tetramethylpyrazine [206] |
Rhizome | Extracted by hydrodistillation | Hypertrophic scar rabbit model [208] | Antiatherosclerotic [355] Antioxidant [356] Neuroprotective [357] Vasorelaxant [358] |
Headache [206] Ischemic disorders [205] Menstrual disorders [207] |
Not available | Chuanxiong chatiao Wan (川芎茶调丸) |
| Lonicera japonica | Jin Yin Hua | Caprifoliaceae | Biflavonoids [209] Dicaffeoylquinic acid [209] Phenolic acids [209] Quercetin [209] |
Flowering aerial parts | Ethanol | Rat excision wound model [212] | Anticancer [210] Antihyperlipidemic [210] Anti-inflammatory [211] Antimicrobial [211] Antioxidant [211] Hepatoprotective [210] |
Infectious diseases [209] | Essential oils [210] | Not available |
| Paeonia suffruticosa | Mu Dan | Paeoniaceae | Suffruticosides A, B, C, and D [359] Galloyl-oxypaeoniflorin [359] Galloyl-paeoniflorin [359] |
Root bark | Water, ethanol-water | In vitro cell viability and proliferation assays [220] | Antidiabetic [218] Anti-inflammatory [217] Antioxidant [214] Antitumour [216] Neuroprotective [215] |
Genital diseases [360] Improvement of blood circulation [361] |
Ointment | Winvivo (Puji) ointment |
| Panax ginseng | Ren Shen | Araliaceae | Ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd [232] | Leaves Leaves, root, and whole plant |
Ethanol Dichloromethane, ethanol, butanol, and methanol |
Laser burn and excision wounds models in mice [236] Cell migration and wound healing assays [221,237–239] |
Antiaging [230] Antiallergic [229] Anticancer [227] Anti-inflammatory [225] Antimicrobial [228] Antioxidant [226] Immunomodulating [231] |
Wound healing [221] | Not available | Ginseng Strong 200 mg Ginsemax® Ginseng Vita-Complex |
| Panax notoginseng | San Qi | Araliaceae | Notoginsenoside Ft1 [240] | Leaves, flower, roots, and rhizome | Steamed extraction | In vitro anticoagulation and antioxidation test; in vivo hemostasis and anti-inflammation test [362] | Angiogenesis-stimulatory [240, 241] Anticancer [246] Antidiabetes [247] Anti-inflammatory [243] Antioxidative [242] Immunostimulatory [244] Neuroprotective [245] |
Trauma [240, 241] | Powder on wound Spray on wound |
San Qi Fen (三七粉) Yunnan Baiyao (云南白药) |
| Polygonum cuspidatum | Hu Zhang | Polygonaceae | Emodin [260] Polydatin [258] Resveratrol [256] |
Roots | Ethanol | Full-thickness excision wounds in rats [259] | Antiaging [256, 257] Antibacterial [260] Anticancer [256, 257] Anti-inflammatory [256, 257] Antioxidant [256, 257] Antiviral [260] Cardioprotective [256, 257] |
Hepatitis [255] Hyperlipemia [255] Jaundice [255] Scald [255] Skin burns [255] Suppurative dermatitis [255] |
Capsules | Resveratrol supplement |
| Lithospermum erythrorhizon | Zi Cao | Boraginaceae | Arnebin-1 [264] Shikonin [363] |
Roots | Frozen and ground | Apoptotic effects against murine primary peritoneal macrophages [364] | Antiangiogenic [261] Antibacterial [261] Anti-inflammatory [261] Antiscarring [263] Antitumorigenic [261] |
Wounds [264] | Oil formulations, gel [365] | Burt's bee Res-Q ointment (神奇紫草膏) |
| Rheum officinale | Da Huang | Polygonaceae | Emodin [270] | Roots | Ethanol | Rat excisional wound model [270] | Antibacterial [265] Anti-inflammatory [267] Antioxidative [266] Haemostatic [268] |
Chronic kidney disease [269] Hepatitis [265] Wounds [270] |
Pills | Dahuang Zhechong Wan (大黄蜇虫丸) |
| Rhodiola imbricate | Hong Jing Tian | Crassulaceae | Gallic acid [277] p-Tyrosol [277] Rosavin [277] Rosin [277] |
Rhizome | Ethanol | Rat excision wound model [274] | Anticancer [279] Antioxidative [276] Hepatoprotective [277] Immunomodulatory [275] Radioprotective [278] |
Asthma [277] Fatigue [277] Hemorrhage [277] Impotence [277] Gastrointestinal diseases [277] |
Not available | Not available |
| Salvia miltiorrhiza | Dan Shen | Lamiaceae | Cryptotanshinone [366] Danshensu [293] Salvianolic acid B [293] |
Leaves Leaves |
Aqueous Aqueous |
In vitro proliferative and angiogenic assays; second-degree burn wound model in rats [367] Cell proliferation assay; in vitro assays for collagen and melanin synthesis [293] |
Anticancer [291] Anti-inflammatory [290] Antimicrobial [289] Antioxidant [286] Antiplatelet aggregation [368] Proangiogenic [367, 369, 370] |
Blood stasis [371, 372] Cardiovascular diseases [282] |
Pills | Compound danshen dripping pills (复方丹参滴丸) |
| Sanguisorba officinalis | Di Yu | Rosaceae | Tannins [296] Triterpenoid glycosides [296] Triterpenoids [296] |
Roots | Ethanol | Burn wound model in mice [296] | Antiallergy [300] Anti-inflammatory [299] Antioxidant [298] Haemostatic [297] Immunomodulatory [298] |
Burns [299] Chronic intestinal infections [373] Haemorrhoids [373] Menorrhagia [373] Scalds [299] |
Oral administration | Sanguisorba officinalis Mother Tincture |
| Sophora flavescens | Ku Shen | Fabaceae | Kushenol [374] Sophoraflavanone B [374] |
Roots | Cellulose column | Human liver LO2 proliferation and viability assay [375] | Analgesic [376] Anthelmintic [376] Antipyretic [376] Skin whitening [376] Stomachic [376] |
Asthma [374] Burns [374] Dysentery [374] Eczema [374] Fever [374] Hematochezia [374] Inflammatory [374] Jaundice [374] Oliguria [374] Vulvar swelling [374] |
Gel | Kushen gel (苦参凝胶) Gatuline® Spot-Light |
| Stemona tuberosa | Bai Bu | Stemonaceae | Tuberostemonine N [306] | Roots | Methanol | Mouse fibroblast NIH3T3 proliferation assay [309] | Antibacterial [307] Anti-inflammatory [306] Antioxidant [308] Antitussive [305] Neuroprotective [377] |
Insect pests [307] | Not available | Not available |
| Wedelia trilobata | Asteraceae | Kaurenoic acid [310] Luteolin [311] |
Leaves | Ethanol | In vitro antimicrobial assay, cell proliferation, and viability assays [310] | Antimicrobial [310] Antioxidant [311] Antitumour [311] |
Arthritic painful joints [310] Rheumatism [310] Stubborn wounds [310] |
Not available | Not available | |
| Zanthoxylum bungeanum | Hua Jiao | Rutaceae | Afzelin [378] Hyperoside [378] Quercitrin [378] Rutin [378] |
Seed oil | Press extraction | Rat scald wound model [378] | Anaesthetic [314] Antiasthma [318] Anti-inflammatory [317] Antoxidant [316] Antitumour [315] |
Skin wrinkles [321] | Cream | ZANTHALENE® |