Targeting angiogenesis in diabetic wound healing: New insight from chemical architecture to functional outcomes

Diabetic wound healing (DWH) is a multifaceted process hindered by impaired angiogenesis that usually leads to increased risks of infection and amputation. Targeting impeded angiogenic signals to restore the microenvironment favoring vascular network re-establishment is a promising therapeutic strategy for diabetic wound. Natural products have emerged as potential therapeutic agents for diabetic wounds by regulating endotheliocytes functions and their cross-talks with immune cells and fibroblasts, while the similarities and differences of the chemical structures greatly determine their distinct efficient and underlying mechanisms in diabetic wound angiogenesis. In this review, relevant literature was retrieved from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases, covering publications from 2020 to 2025. This paper reviews the role of angiogenesis in DWH and the action of natural products in DWH by targeting angiogenesis, particularly highlighting their chemical architecture driven specific biological activity on angiogenesis, with the aim of providing references for angiogenesis-based therapeutic strategies for diabetic ulcers and promoting the development of angiogenesis-targeting agents. • Natural products exhibit powerful effect in diabetic wound healing by targeting angiogenesis. • Chemical architecture of natural products drives specific biological activity on angiogenesis. • Structural features of natural products guide development of angiogenesis-targeting agents.