Scent leaf may help treat haemorrhoids —Study

Haemorrhoids affect millions of people globally and can significantly reduce quality of life. While treatments exist, some patients experience side effects or limited effectiveness.

Now, scientists in a study published detailed findings showing that a common medicinal plant, Ocimum gratissimum, also known as ‘scent leaf’ or ‘African basil’, may have strong potential in treating haemorrhoids.

The study, published in 2024 in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research, explored how an extract from the plant affects haemorrhoid-like conditions in laboratory rats. It involved scientists from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University and Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Nigeria.

Scent leaf is a well-known plant in many parts of Africa, especially Nigeria, that is commonly used in cooking to flavour soups and stews. It is also used in traditional medicine to treat different health problems such as infections, fever, stomach issues, and inflammation.

The researchers believed the plant might also help with haemorrhoids because it contains natural chemical substances that are known to reduce inflammation and protect body tissues from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals.

Haemorrhoids are a common health problem where blood vessels in the lower part of the rectum or anus become swollen and painful. They can cause discomfort, bleeding, itching, and swelling.

Scientists are always looking for safer and more effective treatments because many people around the world suffer from this condition, and in severe cases, it can affect daily life.

In this study, researchers decided to test whether scent leaf could help haemorrhoids, a condition linked to inflammation and tissue damage, in 35 laboratory rats. These rats are often used in medical research because their body systems respond in ways similar to humans in many biological processes.

The rats were divided into five groups. One group was kept healthy and not given haemorrhoids (normal group). One group was given haemorrhoids but not treated (untreated group). Another group was treated with a known haemorrhoid medicine called Daflon. The last two groups were treated with scent leaf extract in different doses.

The researchers used a chemical called ‘croton oil’ to create haemorrhoid-like symptoms in the rats. This chemical causes swelling and inflammation in the rectal area, similar to what happens in human haemorrhoids.

After inducing the condition, the researchers treated the animals for 14 days. During this time, they carefully observed changes in body weight, tissue condition, and signs of inflammation.

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The researchers focused on several important health indicators. They checked whether the rats gained or lost weight during the study. They also measured how much fluid is present in the rectal tissue. High levels usually mean inflammation and swelling. Possible changes in the structure of the rectum and anus were assessed.

At the end of the study, the researchers looked at the rectal tissue under a microscope to see if there was damage or healing.

The results showed clear differences between the groups. The untreated rats lost weight over time. The rats treated with scent leaf extract gained weight, and the healthy control group also gained weight normally.

The researchers believe that the weight loss in untreated rats happened because of inflammation and stress caused by haemorrhoids. In contrast, the scent-leaf extract seemed to protect the animals and help maintain normal body function.

One important finding was related to rectal water content. The untreated group had very high water content (about 76 per cent), showing strong inflammation and swelling. The treated groups had lower values (around 67 per cent), closer to normal levels, and the group treated with standard medicine also showed improvement. This result showed that scent-leaf extract helped reduce swelling and fluid build-up in the affected area.

The anorectal coefficient results also showed improvement. The untreated group had higher values, showing damage and abnormal changes. The treated groups had lower values, closer to healthy levels, while the normal group had the best (healthy) readings, suggesting that the plant extract helped restore normal structure in the rectal area.

In addition, the microscopic examination of tissues showed severe inflammation, swelling, and tissue damage in untreated rats. There were clear signs of healing in rats treated with scent leaf extract, while the strongest healing effects were in the group that received the higher dose.

The researchers suggested that the healing effect of it comes from natural chemicals in the scent leaf. These include antioxidants and plant compounds that reduce inflammation in the body, protect cells from damage, support healing and tissue repair and reduce harmful chemical reactions in the body.

Inflammation plays a major role in haemorrhoids. When inflammation is reduced, symptoms like swelling, pain, and tissue damage also decrease.

The study, which also compared the plant extract with a standard haemorrhoid medicine called Daflon, reported that the higher dose of scent leaf extract worked almost as well as the standard drug in some areas, such as reducing inflammation and improving tissue health.

This is an important finding because it suggests that natural plant treatments might one day be used alongside or instead of some conventional medicines, especially in early or mild cases.

The researchers concluded that scent leaf extract shows strong potential as a natural treatment for haemorrhoids. It may help reduce swelling and inflammation, improve tissue healing and support recovery from anorectal disorders.

However, they also declared that more research is needed before scent leaf can be recommended as a medical treatment. More tests are needed to determine its safety in humans, correct dosage levels, effectiveness in clinical trials and its long-term effects.