A dressing is a sterile pad or compress applied to a wound to promote healing and protect the wound from further damage. Wounds are defined as self healing process but chronic wounds needs better handling and care from different parameters like moist conditions, application of herbs biocompatibility, and microbial infections. Wound dressing gives excellent wound healing than conventional/ traditional wound dressing. Some of the examples are Hydrogels, hydrocolloid, mapilex foam, etc. Traditional wound dressing is used to treat minor injuries like cuts. Eg: Normal saline and guaze. Several studies have documented the use of plant extracts for development of bioactive wound dressing. This review focuses on bioactive substances, natural and modified polysaccharides, proteins and synthetic materials in wound dressing for wound healing. Ideal wound dressing should achieve the wound healing with less time and cost. Significance of synthetic polymer films, foam dressing, hydrocolloids, hydrogels, and alginate dressing and their properties conforming the wound healing have been reviewed. Plant derived compounds which have anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, high levels of antioxidants could be benefited for wound healing. Vegetal and bee products such as honey, Propolis and many more used in wound dressing as a bioactive substance is also discussed.
