Current research progress on the use of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers represent a significant complication of diabetes mellitus, presenting substantial challenges due to their intricate pathogenesis, which encompasses neuropathy, vasculopathy, chronic inflammation, and biofilm-associated infections. Despite considerable advancements in Western med...

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Main Authors: Yinfeng Xia, Ping Wu, Yongsong Chen, Zhiyong Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1637128/full
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author Yinfeng Xia
Ping Wu
Yongsong Chen
Zhiyong Chen
author_facet Yinfeng Xia
Ping Wu
Yongsong Chen
Zhiyong Chen
author_sort Yinfeng Xia
collection DOAJ
description Diabetic foot ulcers represent a significant complication of diabetes mellitus, presenting substantial challenges due to their intricate pathogenesis, which encompasses neuropathy, vasculopathy, chronic inflammation, and biofilm-associated infections. Despite considerable advancements in Western medical interventions, including surgical debridement, skin grafting, negative pressure wound therapy, and innovative dressings, these ulcers remain a leading cause of amputation and contribute to a substantial socioeconomic burden. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has emerged as a promising adjunctive therapy, offering multi-targeted mechanisms that address oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, angiogenesis, and microbial resistance associated with diabetic foot ulcers. This review aims to examine contemporary studies on the application of TCM in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, evaluating its efficacy and elucidating its mechanisms of action, thereby providing a reference for clinical treatment decisions and guiding future research directions.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Endocrinology
spelling doaj-art-4239645c0cdc4aae92d6e8f41b51b9922025-08-22T04:10:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-08-011610.3389/fendo.2025.16371281637128Current research progress on the use of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcersYinfeng XiaPing WuYongsong ChenZhiyong ChenDiabetic foot ulcers represent a significant complication of diabetes mellitus, presenting substantial challenges due to their intricate pathogenesis, which encompasses neuropathy, vasculopathy, chronic inflammation, and biofilm-associated infections. Despite considerable advancements in Western medical interventions, including surgical debridement, skin grafting, negative pressure wound therapy, and innovative dressings, these ulcers remain a leading cause of amputation and contribute to a substantial socioeconomic burden. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has emerged as a promising adjunctive therapy, offering multi-targeted mechanisms that address oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, angiogenesis, and microbial resistance associated with diabetic foot ulcers. This review aims to examine contemporary studies on the application of TCM in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, evaluating its efficacy and elucidating its mechanisms of action, thereby providing a reference for clinical treatment decisions and guiding future research directions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1637128/fulldiabetic foot ulcerstraditional Chinese medicinewounddiabetes mellituswound healing
spellingShingle Yinfeng Xia
Ping Wu
Yongsong Chen
Zhiyong Chen
Current research progress on the use of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers
Frontiers in Endocrinology
diabetic foot ulcers
traditional Chinese medicine
wound
diabetes mellitus
wound healing
title Current research progress on the use of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers
title_full Current research progress on the use of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers
title_fullStr Current research progress on the use of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers
title_full_unstemmed Current research progress on the use of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers
title_short Current research progress on the use of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers
title_sort current research progress on the use of traditional chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers
topic diabetic foot ulcers
traditional Chinese medicine
wound
diabetes mellitus
wound healing
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1637128/full
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