Therapeutic potential of medicinal plants in Ulcerative Colitis: A Review

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by abdominal pain, mucopurulent stools and primarily affecting the rectal and colonic mucosa and submucosa. Standard treatments for UC include glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, antibiotics and biologics, but these have serious long-term side effects. To mitigate these effects, 40 % of UC patients use herbal natural products. However, delivering these treatments precisely to the inflamed colon poses a challenge. This review explores herbal approaches (potential herbal plants, secondary metabolites) used to treat UC and stimuli-responsive nanoparticles for precise drug delivery. These advanced methods could overcome the limitations of traditional delivery systems. Furthermore, in-vitro and in-vivo studies are crucial to understand the underlying mechanisms of UC and improve treatments. The review emphasizes the potential of integrating herbal plants and novel delivery technologies to treat UC and minimize complications.