Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40820482›Full record

ReviewInternational wound journal2025

African Medicinal Plants in Cutaneous Wound Repair: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Role of Phytochemicals.

Philisiwe F Molefe, Zeinab Ghasemishahrestani, Mzwandile Mbele, Sbonelo Khanyile, Jill Farrant, Nonhlanhla P Khumalo, Ardeshir Bayat

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in International wound journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Philisiwe F MolefeMedical Research Council of South Africa Wound Healing and Keloid Research Unit, Hair and Skin Research Laboratory, Division of Dermatology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9425-7928
Zeinab GhasemishahrestaniMedical Research Council of South Africa Wound Healing and Keloid Research Unit, Hair and Skin Research Laboratory, Division of Dermatology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2482-4296
Mzwandile MbeleMedical Research Council of South Africa Wound Healing and Keloid Research Unit, Hair and Skin Research Laboratory, Division of Dermatology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3994-7894
Sbonelo KhanyileMedical Research Council of South Africa Wound Healing and Keloid Research Unit, Hair and Skin Research Laboratory, Division of Dermatology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2333-2940
Jill FarrantSystems Biology Studies on Plant Desiccation Tolerance for Food Security, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1450-7967
Nonhlanhla P KhumaloMedical Research Council of South Africa Wound Healing and Keloid Research Unit, Hair and Skin Research Laboratory, Division of Dermatology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1686-1900
Ardeshir BayatMedical Research Council of South Africa Wound Healing and Keloid Research Unit, Hair and Skin Research Laboratory, Division of Dermatology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4116-6491

Funding

National Research FoundationSouth African Medical Research Council
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Chronic and non-healing wounds are a global health issue with limited effective treatments. Wound care costs continue to rise, highlighting the need for new therapies. Medicinal plants, particularly African species, show promise for enhancing wound healing. This review analysed 93 studies and identified 37 relevant to wound healing, covering 39 plant species. Ten species were identified for their rich phytochemical content, specifically flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids (plant-derived compounds). These compounds act synergistically, enhancing the wound healing process at each stage. Flavonoids reduce inflammation and support tissue turnover, while terpenoids enhance collagen production and wound closure. Alkaloids offer antimicrobial benefits and support wound contraction. Notable plants include Ageratum conyzoides and Aspilia africana (Asteraceae family); promoting haemostasis by lowering plasma fibrinogen and enhancing platelet-derived growth factors; Withania somnifera (Solanaceae); and Entada africana (Fabaceae), effectively regulating inflammation. In the proliferative phase, Ocimum gratissimum (Lamiaceae), Calendula officinalis (Asteraceae), and Centella asiatica (Apiaceae) although C. officinalis is native to Southern Europe, and C. asiatica an Asian-native; they are widely used in African traditional medicine and included here for their relevance in African wound healing practices; Justicia flava (Acanthaceae), Alternanthera sessilis (Amaranthaceae), and Acalypha indica (Euphorbiaceae); play key roles in enhancing collagen production, angiogenesis, and re-epithelialisation. This comprehensive analysis highlights the role of African medicinal plants in wound healing and their potential to improve wound care therapy.

Indexed as

Medicine, African TraditionalPhytochemicalsPhytotherapyPlant ExtractsPlants, MedicinalWound HealingWounds and InjuriesAfricaFemaleHumansMalePhytochemicalsPlant ExtractsAfrican medicinal plantsalkaloidsflavonoids terpenoidswound healing

Identifiers

PMID40820482
PMCPMC12358693

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.