Natural Products with Potential Effects on Hemorrhoids: A Review

Abstract

Hemorrhoid disease is a common anorectal disorder affecting populations worldwide, with high prevalence, treatment difficulties, and considerable treatment costs. Compared to other treatment options, medical therapy for hemorrhoids offers minimal harm, more dignity to patients, and is more economical. Unfortunately, there are few chemical hemorrhoid medications available clinically, which makes the search for efficacious, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly new medication classes a focal point of research. In this context, searching for available natural products to improve hemorrhoids exhibits tremendous potential. These products are derived from nature, predominantly from plants, with a minor portion coming from animals, fungi, and algae. They have excellent coagulation pathway regulation, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and tissue regeneration activities. Therefore, we take the view that they are a class of potential hemorrhoid drugs, prevention products, and medication add-on ingredients. This article first reviews the factors contributing to the development of hemorrhoids, types, primary symptoms, and the mechanisms of natural products for hemorrhoids. Building on this foundation, we screened natural products with potential hemorrhoid improvement activity, including polyphenols and flavonoids, terpenes, polysaccharides, and other types.

Keywords: hemorrhoid improvement; hemorrhoids; natural products; pharmacological mechanisms.

Figure 1

Current status of hemorrhoids.

Figure 2

The complex pharmacological mechanisms of natural products, including anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, and antibacterial properties, and promoting tissue regeneration.

Figure 3

Chemical structures of polyphenols and flavonoids in the table. (1) Curcumin (CAS:458-37-7); (2) emodin (CAS:518-82-1); (3) epigallocatechin gallate (CAS:989-51-5); (4) resveratrol (CAS:501-36-0); (5) genistein (CAS:446-72-0); (6) apigenin (CAS:520-36-5); (7) quercetin (CAS:117-39-5); (8) daidzein (CAS:486-66-8); (9) luteolin (CAS:491-70-3); (10) chrysin (CAS:480-40-0); (11) caffeic acid (CAS:331-39-5); (12) baicalin (CAS:21967-41-9); (13) rutin (CAS:153-18-4); (14) isoquercitrin (CAS:21637-25-2); (15) tannic acid (CAS:1401-55-4).

Figure 4

Chemical structures of terpenoids in the table. (1) Paeoniflorin (CAS:23180-57-6); (2) ginsenoside CK (CAS:39262-14-1); (3) ginsenoside RD (CAS:52705-93-8); (4) compound glycyrrhizin (CAS:1405-86-3); (5) astragaloside IV (CAS:84687-43-4); (6) gentiopicroside (CAS:20831-76-9); (7) Asiatic acid (CAS:464-92-6); (8) stevioside (CAS:57817-89-7); (9) sodium aescinate (CAS:20977-05-3); (10) ginkgolide A (CAS:15291-75-5); (11) ginkgolide B (CAS:15291-77-7); (12) andrographolide (CAS:5508-58-7); (13) menthol (CAS:89-78-1) (Total saponins of achyranthes bidens and soapnut saponin are a mixture, so there is no structural formula).

Figure 5

Chemical structures of other types in the table. (1) Chlorogenic acid (CAS:327-97-9); (2) tetrandrine (CAS:518-34-3); (3) tanshinone IIA (CAS:568-72-9); (4) allicin (CAS:539-86-6); (5) psoralen (CAS:66-97-7); (6) esculin (CAS:531-75-9); (7) esculetin (CAS:305-01-1); (8) berberine (CAS:2086-83-1); (9) matrine (CAS:519-02-8); (10) galectin-1 (CID:169450756) (has no CAS number).