Immunomodulatory mechanisms and comprehensive treatment strategies of traditional Chinese medicine for enhancing diabetic foot ulcer healing.

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most common chronic complications in patients with diabetes, primarily resulting from immune dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, and vascular impairment associated with prolonged hyperglycemia. DFU compromises skin integrity and may progress to severe infection, limb disability, or even death, posing a substantial burden on patients' quality of life. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a distinctive component of China's healthcare system, includes botanicals such as Astragalus and Salvia, which have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects in clinical studies. With the advancement of modern biomedical techniques, the integration of TCM and Western medicine has emerged as an effective therapeutic strategy for DFU. This review summarizes the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of various TCM compounds and formulations relevant to DFU management, highlights the therapeutic benefits of integrated treatment approaches, and proposes directions for future research.