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Natural Vs Modified: Exploring the Impact of Antioxidant Properties in Natural Substances on Wound Infection Prevention/Healing
Moyinoluwa Akinrodoye
Keywords: Wound healing, antioxidants, synthetic antioxidants, bioactivity.
Abstract
Just like anything in the world of science, nature was its first pioneer. Nature is known for yielding powerful drugs for healing, and natural products with antibacterial properties are increasingly being found to be solutions for the future of wound care in these modern times. From honey and garlic to aloe vera and tea tree oil, these natural products have vast potential to offer protection from infection and assist the body's healing process. As evolution constantly uplifts humankind, unfortunately, we are met with resistance to antibiotics. Ultimately, leading us to draw away from natural resources and rely on more modified compounds. However, in the case of attempting to get optimal results when it comes to wound healing, humans may have to resort to natural substances. The pharmacological potential of nature’s substances is encompassed in its ability to combat pathogenic bacteria and heal wounds efficiently with little to no side effects or complications. Wound healing is a sensitive phenomenon that is in charge of preventing infection, which is not only a survival trait that is embedded in the genealogy of humans, but it is also critical for health restoration and a desired life. Investing research into these natural compounds will not only increase the value of traditional medicine, but it will set a precedent for healthier, cost-efficient, and sustainable development of medicine. This research review will explain how natural antibacterial agents contribute to wound infection in comparison to modern-day antibiotics. After in-depth analysis backed by peer-reviewed articles and recent statistics, this research will open doors to new, effective ways to enhance the process of wound healing.
Background
Wound healing goes deeper than simply reversing cuts. Under a microscope, antibacterial activity is shown each day a wound heals. This research review will theoretically dive into how that antibacterial activity presents when a natural substance is applied topically and its level of impact on wound prevention and healing, as antibacterial resistance is a medical concern and a global problem; this research review will subsequently break the stigma against traditional medicine. Antibacterial activity is defined as the chemical ability to terminate or prevent the growth of disease-causing bacteria. Natural products, such as household items like honey, aloe vera, tea tree oil, and turmeric, have been used to develop what we know as “modern medicine” for centuries. As of now, these chemicals are under current research for their scientifically validated antimicrobial activity.
There are many components that make up the process of wound healing in the skin. These components consist of what are commonly known as the “four C’s,” which are: Cellular Response, Coagulation, Contamination, and Closure. One of the main barriers to effective wound healing in these 4 stages is oxidative stress. Fortunately, nature provides antioxidants that play a crucial role in combating damage caused by this stress, subsequently promoting tissue repair. Compounds such as vitamins C and E, polyphenols, and flavonoids are some key antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress in wounds, promote and regulate collagen synthesis, and protect regenerating tissues from further damage. These antioxidants protect fragile, developing cells and create an environment that stimulates wound repair by neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS), preventing excessive ROS levels that lead to the production of oxidative stress. This is very beneficial in chronic or slow-healing wounds where growing oxidative stress can slow down recovery. Similarly, compounds like curcumin, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), quercetin, and chitosan, when applied to the open wound it would accelerate wound closure and reduce inflammation overall. These antioxidants share the common goal of targeting ROS but also showcase unique properties: NAC aids in restoring glutathione levels, quercetin provides many antimicrobial effects in wound healing, and curcumin is filled with anti-inflammatory agents. When joined, they demonstrate that selecting a diverse range of antioxidants helps clinicians address and treat specific wound conditions more effectively. Using current information on these antioxidants helps pinpoint what chemicals are directly involved in healing topical wounds.
Materials and Methods
To formulate a credible research review on the effectiveness of antibacterial properties in natural substances that are at the forefront of wound healing, a combination of academic domains, including PubMed, Science Open, Research Gate, and Science.gov to acquire relevant data on the topic. To find relevant statistics on antibacterial properties and rates in natural substances, the following key search terms were used to craft the key components of this research. They are as follows: “natural wound healing agents”, “antioxidants in tissue regeneration,” and “comparative wound healing studies”. To ensure credibility and prevent bias, articles with Digital Object Identifiers, published by medical or scientific institutions, and studies with citations in peer-reviewed journals were prioritized. Each article was evaluated for credibility based on credible citations, transparency within methodology, and whether the study addressed significant details such as:
The molecular role of antioxidants in both natural and artificial healing agents.
The transformation of natural substances to modernized off-the-counter products example, hyaluronic acid and petroleum-based ointments.
Direct comparative data between healing outcomes using natural vs. synthetic treatments.
The Role of Antioxidants in Natural and Synthetic Wound-Healing Formulas.
A vast amount of antioxidants share the primary goal of anti-inflammatory response in wounds. According to Trinh et al. (2022) Asiatic acid and Steroidal glycoside have been proven to effectively heal an open wound during the inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling stages of wound healing. These compounds were derived from plants; asiatic acid honed the pro-collagen effects as its primary bioactivity, while steroidal glycoside showed active dermal fibroblast migration activity(Trinh et al., 2022). In both cases, these compounds were used on human models and it showcased significant healing in the wound through observation and topical examination, showcasing the potential natural compounds have on intricate wounds on the human body.
Figure 1: Human model diagram of wound healing stages: Hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling (Trinh et al., 2022).
It is a common assumption that “antioxidants” refers to a natural compound. This is because this term is mainly associated with vitamins and proteins that stem from nature. According to Teder et al. (2021), curcumin, NAC, quercetin, and chitosan are antioxidants that originate from plants, but are regularly modified or used in synthetic forms to increase their effect. This process is generalized as chemical synthesis and it is why we have synthetic substances in wound dressing, such as polyurethane; used to fight of bacteria, poly lactic acid; used to used to control degradation rates in skin substitution materials, and hydrogels; created a moist environment to promote new tissue in wounds(Mir et al., 2018). NAC is known for being utilized in synthetic forms, as it excels in anti-inflammation, whether used topically or internally. Studies by Tenório et al. (2021) have shown that NAC has a bioavailability of <10%. Which subsequently makes it difficult for it to be used in products, as so much of it is needed to take effect. Although NAC is used in wound healing, it is not its primary usage. As analyzed by Tenório et al. (2021), NAC may worsen a patient's health when used internally, as a result of abnormal wound healing in some cases, reducing its reliability as an antioxidant. Due to the fact that NAC is at the forefront of synthetic compounds that are used in wound healing, analyzing the effects of the compound can support the need for plant-extracted or natural antioxidants (Comino-Sanz et al., 2021). Although natural compounds may not be as efficient and steadfast in wound healing as their synthetic counterparts, they have little to no complications when applied to both topical and internal wounds.
Discovering the Importance of Chemical Composition in Antioxidants
Enhancing the oxidative stress-reducing properties of antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, usually found in cosmetics and moisturizers, plays a vital role in maintaining wound moisture and tissue regeneration(Comino-Sanz et al., 2021). Hyaluronic acid secures large amounts of water at the site of application to enhance tissue hydration and enable keratinocytes and fibroblasts to reach the surface of the wound–completing the remodeling process of wound healing(Kawano et al., 2021). This hydration prevents wounds from drying, and it improves the structure of newly formed tissue. Additional data from Natural Biomaterials in Wound Healing Applications (Frontiers) and Hyaluronic Acid-Based Approaches for Wound Healing (ScienceDirect) indicate that wound dressings infused with hyaluronic acid aid in the treatment of chronic wounds by promoting cell migration, maintaining ideal moisture levels, and concurrently providing antibacterial protection. These studies show that hyaluronic acid is by far one of the most adaptable agents in wound healing because of how multifunctional it is(Ansari & Darvishi, 2024). Hyaluronic acid's function consists of hydration, structural tissue support, and microbial defense. Additionally, synthetic hyaluronic acid derivatives have the potential to be developed for increased stability and controlled release, which makes them a gem in both medical and cosmetic applications.
Comparing Healing Rates Between Natural and Commercial Wound Treatments
Beyond the basics of wound healing compounds such as antioxidants and hyaluronic acid, many natural bioactive compounds provide vital collagen-inducing, antioxidant, and antibacterial benefits that further strengthen the wound healing process. A Comprehensive Review of Natural Compounds for Wound Healing (Trinh et al., 2022c) lists several substances derived from plants and animals, such as propolis, silk fibroin derived from animals, and aloe vera, derived from plants, that assist in wound healing by promoting tissue regeneration and preventing infection. Many than 80% of these agents were found in plants in comparison to mammals, and they show higher bioactivity when used for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial qualities(Figure - PMC, n.d.-b). These agents are exemplary when used in conjunction with advanced wound dressings that provide hydration, infection prevention, and structural repair because they frequently showcase multiple therapeutic activities in a single agent.
Graph 1: Bar table summarizing the amount of collected literature reviews based on bioactivity rates of natural compounds used in wound healing (Figure - PMC, n.d.-b).
Conclusion and Future Directions
Wound healing through natural antioxidants is shown to be more effective, topically and internally, than synthetic or lab-grown antioxidants. Wound healing is a multi-step process that consists of Hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. When natural antioxidants are used in the early phases of hemostasis and inflammation, research shows, the wounds are likely to heal efficiently without any complications and little to no scarring. Many ointments, serums, and dressings crafted for wound healing are vastly composed of synthetic compounds, because of the fact that it will heal wounds quickly. That being said, it is not guaranteed that the product may work for you, and in most cases, when too much of the product is applied, it can cause more harm to the wound and reverse healing effects. Synthetic compounds are preferred for their steadfast improvement on wounds, while natural compounds are known for their reliability. With proper and thorough evaluation, many natural antioxidants, such as Asiatic acid and Steroidal glycoside, have the potential to heal wounds just as efficiently as synthetic antioxidants, with the addition of reliability and availability. As medicine advances and pharmacies grow, the use of natural antioxidants will help grow the economy, promote sustainability, and give access to wound healing treatments to underserved communities.
Acknowledgements
All gratitude is expressed to Up Next Scientists for providing this opportunity to conduct my research through their Creativity In Research Program. This research would not have been able to be conducted without their guidance, review, and cohort collaboration.
References
Ansari, M., & Darvishi, A. (2024). A review of the current state of natural biomaterials in wound healing applications. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1309541
Comino-Sanz, I. M., López-Franco, M. D., Castro, B., & Pancorbo-Hidalgo, P. L. (2021). The role of antioxidants on wound healing: A review of the current evidence. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(16), 3558. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10163558
Figure - PMC. (n.d.). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9455684/figure/ijms-23-09573-f002/
Kawano, Y., Patrulea, V., Sublet, E., Borchard, G., Iyoda, T., Kageyama, R., Morita, A., Seino, S., Yoshida, H., Jordan, O., & Hanawa, T. (2021). Wound healing promotion by hyaluronic acid: Effect of molecular weight on gene expression and in vivo wound closure. Pharmaceuticals, 14(4), 301. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14040301
Mir, M., Ali, M. N., Barakullah, A., Gulzar, A., Arshad, M., Fatima, S., & Asad, M. (2018). Synthetic polymeric biomaterials for wound healing: a review. Progress in Biomaterials, 7(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40204-018-0083-4
Teder, K., Maddison, L., Soeorg, H., Meos, A., & Karjagin, J. (2021). The pharmacokinetic profile and bioavailability of enteral N-Acetylcysteine in intensive care units. Medicina, 57(11), 1218. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57111218
Tenório, M. C. D. S., Graciliano, N. G., Moura, F. A., De Oliveira, A. C. M., & Goulart, M. O. F. (2021). N-Acetylcysteine (NAC): Impacts on human health. Antioxidants, 10(6), 967. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10060967
Trinh, X., Long, N., Van Anh, L. T., Nga, P. T., Giang, N. N., Chien, P. N., Nam, S., & Heo, C. (2022). A Comprehensive Review of Natural Compounds for Wound Healing: Targeting Bioactivity Perspective. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(17), 9573. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23179573
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