Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants in the Context of Gastrointestinal Health: A Review
Medicinal plants represent promising sources for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders because of their abundance in bioactive compounds with therapeutic properties. Throughout history, various plant species have been used to alleviate digestive ailments, and studies have revealed the presence...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| author | Antonio Julián-Flores Pedro Aguilar-Zárate Mariela R. Michel Leonardo Sepúlveda-Torre Cristian Torres-León Cristóbal N. Aguilar Mónica L. Chávez-González |
| author_facet | Antonio Julián-Flores Pedro Aguilar-Zárate Mariela R. Michel Leonardo Sepúlveda-Torre Cristian Torres-León Cristóbal N. Aguilar Mónica L. Chávez-González |
| author_sort | Antonio Julián-Flores |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Medicinal plants represent promising sources for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders because of their abundance in bioactive compounds with therapeutic properties. Throughout history, various plant species have been used to alleviate digestive ailments, and studies have revealed the presence of metabolites with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antidiarrheal, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. The secondary metabolites responsible for these properties include alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds, with the latter, particularly flavonoids, being the most associated with their bioactivities. Gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastrointestinal cancer, are caused primarily by bacteria, parasites, viruses, and the consumption of raw or undercooked foods. These conditions significantly impact human health, necessitating the development of safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives. After an extensive literature review, several plant species with widespread use in the treatment of these disorders were identified, including <i>Matricaria chamomilla, Mentha spicata, Melissa officinalis, Artemisia ludoviciana, Flourensia cernua, Phoradendron californicum</i>, and <i>Turnera difusa</i>. This study revealed that the analyzed plants are rich in bioactive compounds, which confer their medicinal properties. However, many other plants commonly used to treat digestive disorders have been scarcely studied, highlighting the need for further research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a55d81c28f124178b9c2d17e6ecbe2c8 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-a55d81c28f124178b9c2d17e6ecbe2c82025-08-20T02:59:00ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-02-0114564210.3390/plants14050642Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants in the Context of Gastrointestinal Health: A ReviewAntonio Julián-Flores0Pedro Aguilar-Zárate1Mariela R. Michel2Leonardo Sepúlveda-Torre3Cristian Torres-León4Cristóbal N. Aguilar5Mónica L. Chávez-González6Bioprocesses & Bioproducts Group, Food Research Department, School of Chemistry, Autonomous University of Coahuila, Saltillo 25280, Coahuila, MexicoLaboratorio Nacional CONAHCYT de Apoyo a la Evaluación de Productos Bióticos (LaNAEPBi), Unidad de Servicio, Tecnológico Nacional de México/I.T. de Ciudad Valles, Ciudad Valles 79010, San Luis Potosí, MexicoLaboratorio Nacional CONAHCYT de Apoyo a la Evaluación de Productos Bióticos (LaNAEPBi), Unidad de Servicio, Tecnológico Nacional de México/I.T. de Ciudad Valles, Ciudad Valles 79010, San Luis Potosí, MexicoBioprocesses & Bioproducts Group, Food Research Department, School of Chemistry, Autonomous University of Coahuila, Saltillo 25280, Coahuila, MexicoResearch Center and Ethnobiological Garden, Autonomous University of Coahuila, Viesca 27480, Coahuila, MexicoBioprocesses & Bioproducts Group, Food Research Department, School of Chemistry, Autonomous University of Coahuila, Saltillo 25280, Coahuila, MexicoBioprocesses & Bioproducts Group, Food Research Department, School of Chemistry, Autonomous University of Coahuila, Saltillo 25280, Coahuila, MexicoMedicinal plants represent promising sources for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders because of their abundance in bioactive compounds with therapeutic properties. Throughout history, various plant species have been used to alleviate digestive ailments, and studies have revealed the presence of metabolites with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antidiarrheal, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. The secondary metabolites responsible for these properties include alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds, with the latter, particularly flavonoids, being the most associated with their bioactivities. Gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastrointestinal cancer, are caused primarily by bacteria, parasites, viruses, and the consumption of raw or undercooked foods. These conditions significantly impact human health, necessitating the development of safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives. After an extensive literature review, several plant species with widespread use in the treatment of these disorders were identified, including <i>Matricaria chamomilla, Mentha spicata, Melissa officinalis, Artemisia ludoviciana, Flourensia cernua, Phoradendron californicum</i>, and <i>Turnera difusa</i>. This study revealed that the analyzed plants are rich in bioactive compounds, which confer their medicinal properties. However, many other plants commonly used to treat digestive disorders have been scarcely studied, highlighting the need for further research.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/5/642gastrointestinal diseasesintestinal microbiotamedicinal plantsbioactive compounds |
| spellingShingle | Antonio Julián-Flores Pedro Aguilar-Zárate Mariela R. Michel Leonardo Sepúlveda-Torre Cristian Torres-León Cristóbal N. Aguilar Mónica L. Chávez-González Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants in the Context of Gastrointestinal Health: A Review Plants gastrointestinal diseases intestinal microbiota medicinal plants bioactive compounds |
| title | Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants in the Context of Gastrointestinal Health: A Review |
| title_full | Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants in the Context of Gastrointestinal Health: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants in the Context of Gastrointestinal Health: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants in the Context of Gastrointestinal Health: A Review |
| title_short | Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants in the Context of Gastrointestinal Health: A Review |
| title_sort | exploring the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants in the context of gastrointestinal health a review |
| topic | gastrointestinal diseases intestinal microbiota medicinal plants bioactive compounds |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/5/642 |
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