Potential of Chitosan hydrogel with Canarium ovatum pulp extract for diabetic wound healing application

• Diabetes treatments are inaccessible and costly in the Philippines • Local medicinal plants show antimicrobial, antioxidant, and wound healing properties. • Canarium ovatum contains polyphenolic compounds and strong antioxidant potential. • Chitosan biopolymers enhance herbal extracts but have stability limitations. • Chitosan hydrogels with Canarium ovatum show potential for diabetic wound healing. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a rapidly growing global health concern, particularly dominant and disproportionately affecting low and middle-income countries (LMIC). The Philippines is an LMIC that faces persistent challenges in the treatment of DM due to socioeconomic and healthcare constraints in the country. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are among the most severe complications that are characterized by impaired wound healing, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and high susceptibility to infection. DFUs are a leading cause of prolonged hospitalization, lower-limb amputation, and reduced quality of life, placing a substantial burden on both patients and the national healthcare system. The limited accessibility to safe, effective, and affordable wound treatments underscores the vital need for natural therapeutic alternatives. The integration of medicinal plants into diabetic wound care has attracted interest due to their antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Canarium ovatum Engl. is a native and underutilized Philippine species that has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties relevant to wound healing. Chitosan is a biopolymer that provides moisture retention and enhanced wound healing properties when combined with medicinal plant extracts. The paper examines the potential of a CS-based hydrogel enriched with C. ovatum pulp extract as a sustainable and cost-effective therapeutic option for diabetic wound healing.