Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are chronic, recurrent wounds that arise primarily from chronic venous insufficiency and sustained venous hypertension. They represent a major cause of morbidity, reduced quality of life, prolonged healthcare utilisation and substantial economic burden. Their management is complicated by impaired wound healing, recurrent infection, polymicrobial colonisation, biofilm formation and the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. Frequently implicated pathogens include Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus species and anaerobic organisms, many of which exhibit multidrug resistance and biofilm-associated tolerance. These challenges have intensified interest in antimicrobial stewardship and alternative or complementary wound-care strategies. This review examines the pathophysiology and microbiology of VLUs, the contribution of antimicrobial resistance to treatment failure, and the potential role of medicinal plants, particularly Carica papaya L. and Vernonia amygdalina Delile, in wound management. Both plants contain diverse bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and wound-healing properties. C. papaya additionally contains proteolytic enzymes such as papain and chymopapain that may support wound debridement, while V. amygdalina is rich in sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids and phenolic compounds with broad pharmacological activity. Available evidence suggests that these plants may promote wound closure, reduce microbial burden, limit oxidative stress and modulate inflammation. However, much of the current evidence is preclinical, and considerable variation exists in extraction methods, formulations, doses and study outcomes. Standardised phytochemical characterisation, antimicrobial and antibiofilm testing, toxicological evaluation, formulation development and well-designed clinical trials are therefore required before routine use can be recommended. Medicinal-plant-based wound products may ultimately provide affordable adjuncts to conventional VLU management while supporting antimicrobial-stewardship objectives.