Herbs Used in the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). UC is a refractory, chronic & nonspecific disease occured usually in the rectum and the entire colon the etiopathology is probably related to dysregulation of the mucosal immune response towards the resident bacterial flora towards together with genetic & environmental factors. UC is the one of the autoimmune inflammation of unclear etiology affecting the Colon & rectum. Several types of medications are used to control the inflammation or reduce the symptoms conventional treatment options for uc include mesalamine, glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants & biologics. However there are limited controlled evidences indicating the efficacy of traditional chinese medicines such an aloevera gel, wheat grass juice, Boswellia serrata & bovine colostrum enemar in the treatment of UC. In recent years attention is being paid to curcumin, a main active polyphenol found in the turmeric root, which has numerous beneficial effects in the humanbody, including anti-inflammatory, anti- carcinogenic, antioxidative properties targeting several cellular pathways impact on intestinal microbes. The potential benifits of herbal medicine could lie in their high acceptance by Patients, efficacy, relative safety & relatively low cost.