Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Diabetic Wound Healing: Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants

Diabetic wound healing remains a major clinical challenge due to persistent hyperglycaemia-associated metabolic disturbances, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, impaired angiogenesis, and defective extracellular matrix remodelling. Unlike normal wound repair, diabetic wounds are frequently arrested in a prolonged inflammatory phase, resulting in delayed epithelialisation and chronic non-healing ulcers. Increasing evidence indicates that oxidative stress and inflammation act as interlinked pathological drivers in diabetic wound progression, forming a vicious cycle that amplifies tissue damage and suppresses repair processes. Excessive generation of reactive oxygen species activates redox-sensitive signalling pathways, including NF-κB, leading to sustained release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, which impair fibroblast function, collagen synthesis, and neovascularisation. Conventional therapies, including dressings, antibiotics, and growth factors, often show limited success due to high cost, adverse effects, antimicrobial resistance, and failure to address underlying molecular dysfunctions. Medicinal plants have emerged as promising alternatives owing to their multi-target actions, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility. Evidence from streptozotocin-induced diabetic animal models demonstrates that plant-based therapies enhance wound contraction, reduce oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers, promote collagen deposition, and improve histopathological outcomes. Moreover, molecular docking studies provide mechanistic support by revealing interactions between phytochemicals and key inflammatory and oxidative targets. However, it is important to note that the majority of available evidence is derived from preclinical animal studies, with limited well-designed clinical trials in humans. This highlights the need for further clinical validation to establish safety, efficacy, and translational applicability of plant-based therapies in diabetic wound management. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants and emphasizes the need for standardized formulations and integrated experimental and molecular approaches for effective diabetic wound management.