Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects a large population
worldwide, is a gastrointestinal disorder that includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative
colitis. The genetic factors, immunological, and microbial factors play critical roles in
the pathogenesis of IBD. However, there is still no pharmacological therapy providing
the definitive treatment of the disease. Gastrointestinal symptoms of IBD significantly
reduce the patient's quality of life and IBD patients often tend to use herbal medicines
as an alternative and complementary therapy for improving the symptoms. Among
herbal medicines used for IBS, Andrographis paniculata, Boswellia serrata, and Aloe
vera are prominent plant species, and catechins and curcumin are the commonly
investigated phytochemicals. Here, we summarized the main factors in the
pathogenesis of IBD, the current treatment strategies, and commonly used natural
compounds and herbs with evidence-based data. The findings pointed out that further
clinical trials having a higher sample size are required prior to the recommended use of
these herbal medicines in therapy.
Keywords: Andrographis paniculata, Aloe vera, Boswellia serrata, Catechins, Crohn's disease, Curcumin, Herbal medicine, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative colitis.
