Published online Jun 16, 2023. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i17.4035
Peer-review started: March 6, 2023
First decision: April 10, 2023
Revised: April 24, 2023
Accepted: May 16, 2023
Article in press: May 16, 2023
Published online: June 16, 2023
Processing time: 98 Days and 5.8 Hours
Diabetes has been a major health issue for centuries. Though the basic understanding regarding the incidence of diabetes is still at a rudimentary level, it is associated with a number of factors, which, if not monitored, may lead to severe consequences. Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most significant complications faced by diabetic patients worldwide. Poor glycemic management, repetitive trauma, underlying neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, and poor foot care are the major causes leading to DFU.
Currently, a number of drugs (like insulin, sulphonylureas, biguanides, etc.) are used as antihyperglycemic medications to regulate blood glucose levels. Although synthetic oral antihyperglycemic drugs are effective, they are still accompanied by undesirable side effects; so, in recent years, interest has gradually shifted towards herbal medications. Since time immemorial, plants and plant-derived products have been used to prevent or treat a host of illnesses, including diabetes, and thus could be of potential benefit for DFU therapy.
This systematic review aims to summarize the therapeutic cases addressing the use of botanicals for treating DFU.
The original articles on “the plants for the treatment of DFU” studied in clinical cases only were obtained from various bibliographic databases like PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar using different keywords.
A total of 19 clinical cases were recorded employing the use of 20 medicinal plants belonging to 17 families on 1347 subjects. The fruits and leaves were the most preferred plant parts used to treat DFU, regardless of their oral or topical routes of administration.
Of the 20 different medicinal plants, 19 plant species showed potential benefits toward wound healing. Fifty percent of the plant species demonstrated total wound healing, while the others demonstrated significant partial healing. The enlisted medicinal plants can be used to create effective oral and topically applied treatments for DFU.
The effect of these plants on the sugar levels might be studied along with DFU treatment. The effect of these plants on the circulatory, cardiovascular and neurological systems can also be studied in the future to understand their mechanisms of action and develop effective treatments for DFU.