Bioactives from Clove Oil for Antibacterial Wound Dressings for the Treatment and Management of Wounds in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Wound healing is a complex process involving highly regulated steps of biological events. Prevention and prophylactic management of wounds have been extensively advocated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects. T2DM wound healing complications begin with minor wounds to chronic non-healing ulcers subject to infection. Several interventions have been made to reduce patient morbidity and the socioeconomic burden. From ancient times, the bioactives from various herbal sources have presented health benefits, are inexpensive, and are associated with relatively few untoward side effects. The use of bioactives alone or adjuvant with regular therapy has shown promising results in curing wound complications of T2DM patients. Clove essential oil is obtained from Syzygium aromaticum ( Eugenia caryophyllata L. Myrtaceae) and, with various phyto-constituents, poses a variety of therapeutic benefits such as anti-inflammatory to antimicrobial activities. This chapter aims to put forward the phytochemical profile of clove oil and its therapeutic potential in the management of diabetic wounds as an alternative to antibiotic therapy, as well as to explore the underlying mechanisms involved in the healing process.