Herbal Therapy for Prevention and Treatment of the Diverticulitis, irritable Bowel Syndrome, Ulcerative Colitis, and Constipation

Traditional phytotherapy has a long history, and its empirical science of the application has been the basis of official activities in recent years. Digestive system disorders have a substantial impact on worldwide mortality and morbidity rates including China. The manuscript aims to survey and study the importance of medicinal herbs and plants which are useful in treatment of ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, and constipation. Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed databases were used during the literature analysis. Relevant identified studies were screened for final inclusion, and studies were included if they focused on medicinal plants, athletes, physical performance, natural products, and physical activity. In different parts of Asia, especially China and Iran, plants and herbs are important resources of conventional medicines used against various ailments. Different medicinal plants for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome are almond, aloe vera, artichoke, blueberry, ajwain, ginger, ginseng, horsemint, kiwifruit, rosemary, saffron, Spanish jasmine, St John,s-wort, turmeric, and wild marjoram. Medicinal plants in treatment of ulcerative colitis are aloe vera, Indian frankincense, butyrate which is an important source for intestinal epithelial cells, licorice which is derived from the root of the plant, Slippery elm which obtains from the powdered bark of the slippery elm tree, tormentil extract, the wheat grass, curcumin which obtains from Curcuma longa, and psyllium which obtains from a shrub-like herb called Plantago ovata. Some of the most important medicinal plants for treatment of constipation are Medicago sativa, Agave americana, Plantago ovata, Grewia ferruginea, Prunus malus, Aloe vera, Cucumis sativus, Coffea arabica, Linum usitatissimum, Cassia angustifolia, Rhamnus frangula, and Rhamnus purshiana. Various chemical ingredients such as dietary fiber, mineral content, flavonoids, and phenol can be used for treatment of diverticulitis.