Wound healing is a complex biological process regulated by multiple cells, factors, and signaling pathways. Delayed healing, non-healing wounds, and excessive scar formation seriously affect patients’ quality of life. Therefore, accelerating the healing speed and improving aesthetic outcomes have become major clinical concerns. Zicao (Arnebiae Radix) is a traditional Chinese medicine with the effects of “cooling the blood, promoting circulation, detoxifying, and generating flesh,” and has been widely used since antiquity to treat ulcers, burns, and other wounds. Modern studies have revealed that its main active components include naphthoquinones, polysaccharides, and phenolic acids, which exert multiple pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, pro-angiogenic, and re-epithelialization-promoting activities. During wound healing, Arnebiae Radix can act on multiple targets and at multiple stages to regulate inflammation, promote granulation tissue maturation, accelerate epithelial regeneration, and improve scar structure, thereby comprehensively facilitating wound healing. This review systematically summarizes the mechanisms of Arnebiae Radix and its topical preparations in different phases of wound healing, and provides an overview of both traditional and modern dosage forms, aiming to offer a reference for further research and clinical application of Arnebiae Radix in wound healing.

Arnebiae Radix  /  wound healing  /  inflammation regulation  /  angiogenesis  /  re-epithelialization  /  topical preparations