Abstract

Wound healing process is a natural phenomenon but it is found to be delayed due to microbial infection. In addition, the formation of a biofilm further makes the condition more complex. The condition may become worse and may lead to necrosis and gangrene. The treatment may involve systemic antibiotics which may be required in high dose and also suffer the problem of antibiotic resistance. Topical antibiotics or antiseptics are successfully used but they are found to have various adverse effects although they have no issue of any resistance. Since early times mankind has a significant belief on natural substances for curing many ailments. Similarly, various plant parts have been used traditionally for treating wounds and also studied for wound healing activities. These phytoextracts can be used to formulate into various dosage forms to be applied topically on the wound area. These phytoconstituents work by complex mechanisms with minimal side effects. Apart from the conventional dosage forms, novel drug delivery systems are being developed for incorporating these herbal constituents and delivering them to the wound area in a more targeted and sustained manner. This review deals with the various herbal topical dosage forms with special focus on novel drug delivery systems for wound healing.