Exploring Novel Herbal Compounds and Formulations for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Management.

Abstract

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, presents a complex and challenging clinical scenario characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Traditional herbal medicine has garnered increasing interest as a potential adjunctive or alternative therapy for IBD, owing to its perceived efficacy, safety profile, and holistic approach to health. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of herbal interventions for IBD, addressing scientific, regulatory, clinical, and patient-related considerations. Scientifically, the exploration of herbal interventions faces challenges related to the complexity of herbal formulations, standardization, and quality control. Regulatory hurdles encompass stringent requirements for safety, efficacy, and quality standards, necessitating adherence to robust preclinical and clinical protocols. Clinically, the heterogeneity of the patient population, potential interactions with conventional therapies, and patient preferences pose challenges in the integration of herbal interventions into clinical practice.