What is it about?
Some wounds heal slowly and pose health risks. African medicinal plants contain natural compounds that reduce inflammation, fight infection, and promote healing, offering affordable and effective wound care options.
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Why is it important?
Chronic wounds affect millions of people worldwide and are difficult and costly to treat. Many patients, especially in low-resource settings, have limited access to effective wound care. African medicinal plants have been used for generations, but their healing potential has not been fully recognized or scientifically summarized. This study brings together existing evidence to show how these plants can reduce inflammation, prevent infection, and support natural skin repair. Understanding and validating these traditional treatments could lead to safer, more affordable, and culturally relevant options for wound care in the future.
Perspectives
African medicinal plants represent a valuable yet underused resource for wound care. Future research should focus on validating their safety, effectiveness, and optimal formulations through well-designed clinical studies. Integrating traditional knowledge with modern biomedical research could lead to affordable, locally sourced therapies, particularly beneficial for communities with limited access to advanced medical care. These plants also offer opportunities for developing new natural wound-healing products and for preserving indigenous knowledge through scientific recognition and innovation.
Dr Zeinab Ghasemishahrestani
University of Cape Town
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: African Medicinal Plants in Cutaneous Wound Repair: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Role of Phytochemicals, International Wound Journal, August 2025, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/iwj.70742.
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