An integrative review of wound healing: anatomy, molecular mediators, and indigenous therapies.

Authors

R Dhanush, D K Naveen, H R Sneha, Seema Mudhol, Bharathi Doddla Raghunathanaidu

Published in

Molecular biology reports. Volume 53. Issue 1. Sep 30, 2026. Epub Sep 30, 2026.

Abstract

Wound healing, an important biological process, is a process through which the human body repairs its skin from injuries through organized cell function, molecular signaling, and tissue remodeling. Chronic or delayed wound healing remains a major public health challenge around the world.
A narrative review was conducted through searches in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for articles published between January 2005 and June 2026 by searching keywords such as "wound healing," "hemostasis," "growth factors," "signaling pathways," "chronic wound," "scar," "wound microbiome," and specific traditional treatments. Non-peer-reviewed papers, conference abstracts, and duplicate records were excluded. Only peer-reviewed primary studies, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and Cochrane reviews published in English were included. The quality of selected articles was assessed by applying SANRA guidelines for narrative reviews and AMSTAR-2 checklist for cited systematic reviews.
Growth factors (PDGF, TGF-β, EGF, FGF, VEGF), their receptors and signaling pathways (SMAD, MAPK, PI3K/AKT, JAK/STAT, Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, Hippo/YAP-TAZ, mTOR and NF-κB) regulate the four overlapping stages of human skin wound healing (hemostasis, inflammation, and remodeling). Some bioactive substances which are antibacterial and regenerative in nature are contained in the local treatment methods like honey, Aloe vera, frog skin and maggot therapy; some of these treatments are backed up by Cochrane review-level evidence.
A path to safer and more effective wound treatment can be seen by integrating the molecular pathway, chronic wound biology, current biological therapies and evidence-based traditional medicine.

PMID:
42814390
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 01 Oct 2026.

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