Antihemorrhoidal potential of Picralima nitida seed extract: A biochemical evaluation in a rat model of croton oil-induced hemorrhoids
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Hemorrhoids, an inflammatory condition marked by vascular changes in the anal canal, commonly cause symptoms like bleeding, pain, and itching. Although conventional treatments exist, more effective options are needed. Herbal remedies, particularly those that inhibit lipid peroxidation, enhance venous elasticity, and act as vasoconstrictors, show promise for hemorrhoid management. Picralima nitida , a medicinal plant from the Apocynaceae family, has traditional applications in treating various ailments. This study evaluated the antihemorrhoidal effects of an aqueous extract of P. nitida seeds in a rat model with croton oil-induced hemorrhoids. The seeds were collected, authenticated, and prepared into an aqueous extract, with chemical profiling via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealing a diverse alkaloid composition. Hemorrhoids were induced in rats, which then received different doses of P. nitida extract or the reference drug pilex. The extract significantly lowered tissue and plasma nitrate/nitrite levels, indicating anti-inflammatory effects, and slightly decreased TNF-α and IL-6, with a marked IL-6 reduction at higher doses. It also demonstrated antioxidant properties, reducing lipid peroxidation and enhancing superoxide dismutase activity. These findings indicate that P. nitida seed extract has potential antihemorrhoidal activity, likely due to its alkaloid-rich phytochemistry. Further research should investigate its mechanisms and potential as a therapeutic option for hemorrhoid treatment.
Source: Heliyon
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,270
OpenAlex ID: W7202142290