Medicinal Plants Facilitate the Recovery of Diabetic Foot Ulcer by Regulating Macrophages: Latest Evidence and Insights

Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) is a major complication of diabetes that mostly affects the lower extremities, with a high incidence and recurrence rate in approximately 15% of patients with diabetes. The complexity of diabetic wounds poses a substantial challenge for clinical recovery, underscoring the need to investigate novel therapeutic approaches. Medicinal plants have been used to treat ulcers for centuries. Recently, there has been a growing focus on the development of topical preparations derived from medicinal plants that target macrophages as an adjuvant therapy for DFU. Macrophages have been identified as crucial factors in the DFU healing process. This review aims to introduce the latest evidence and insights into the role of medicinal plants in promoting DFU recovery by targeting macrophages. The molecular mechanisms underlying the preventive effects of medicinal plants on DFU primarily involve promoting M2 polarization of macrophages, inhibition of M1 polarization, and regulation of macrophage function. This review highlights the substantial potential of advancing the field of DFU management by medicinal plants and lays the groundwork for novel therapeutic interventions.