Revisiting Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Pathology, Treatments, Challenges and Emerging Therapeutics Including Drug Leads from Natural Products

1Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). UC was first described in 1859, and CD in 1932. Both UC and CD are chronic and debilitating diseases without a real cure. As of 2017, 6.8 million IBD cases were reported globally, with an increase in age-standardized prevalence rates from 79.5 per 100,000 population in 1990 to 84.3 per 100,000 population in 2017. More than 1.6 million people in the United States, 250,000 in the United Kingdom, 260,000 in China, and 85,000 in Australia are affected by IBD. Over the past few decades, IBD was most dominant in the western world as both the rate of incidence and prevalence were higher compared to developing countries. Recently, however, IBD incidence has increased rapidly in many Asian countries with consistently rising trends, particularly in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and mainland China. In Asia, males between the ages of 20 to 39 years are affected more by CD, and there is also a higher prevalence of ileocolonic CD, which is not the case in western countries. There is a lack of national registries in many developing Asian, African, and Latin American countries and, therefore, much less is known about the incidence and prevalence of IBD.

2IBD causes substantial morbidity and heavy productivity losses. The increasing trends in the rate of incidence and prevalence of IBD and lack of a cure or effective long-term treatment options have resulted in a substantial financial burden to the healthcare system worldwide. When Park et al. analyzed healthcare costs for 52,782 IBD patients in the United States on a per-year basis, IBD patients incurred a greater than 3-fold higher direct cost of care compared to non-IBD patients (US $22,987 vs. US $6956 per-member per-year paid claims) and more than twice the out-of-pocket costs (US $2213 vs. US $979 per-year reported costs), with all-cause IBD costs rising since 2013. Moreover, IBD patients have to bear significantly higher cost associated with the time they spend on their healthcare, unlike non-IBD patients. Similarly, Australia spends approximately AU $100 million per annum for IBD related hospitalization costs, more than AU $380 million related to productivity loss, and an additional $2.7 billion for other financial and economic costs. The financial burden for IBD is highest during the first year of diagnosis, followed by a more stabilized cost pattern by seven to eight years after diagnosis. However, treatment costs tend to rise again after this period. The fluctuation in the financial burden can be attributed to either age-related or healthcare-related factors, including inconsistent access to health care, support and education, and insecure funding for IBD-treating hospitals. Treatments (biologics, opioids, or steroids), emergency department use, and health care services associated with relapsing disease, anemia, or mental health comorbidity are some of the critical factors that may cause financial burden to all countries until a cure for IBD is established.

3Despite the huge financial cost to the health care system and the morbidity burden faced by many countries, effective treatments for IBD remain elusive for many reasons. Recent reviews by Jeong et al., Neurath, Kaplan, Ananthakrishnan, and Ruel et al. highlight the epidemiology and risk factors for IBD, associated global health burden, and current therapeutic targets. There is, however, limited review coverage of the role of natural products in treating IBD. This current scoping review explores the causative factors, challenges in current treatment options, and the status of drug discovery from natural products for combating IBD.

4Both CD and UC show heterogeneity in many clinical and pathological features. They are distinguishable by their location and nature of inflammation (Figure 1). Unlike UC, which attacks colonic mucosa, CD can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Both conditions share clinical features like extra-intestinal manifestation, but hematochezia and passage of mucus or pus are common only in UC. Fistulas, perianal disease, colonic and small bowel obstruction is common in CD. Cryptitis and crypt abscesses are observed in both UC and CD, while crypt architecture is more distorted in the case of UC. Both UC and CD show relapsing intestinal inflammation. Intermediate colitis (IC) sometimes does not present distinct clinical features of either UC or CD, particularly in colectomy specimens, rendering it hard to distinguish UC from CD. Although IC is not a unique disease or distinct clinical entity, it accounts for around 10% of the total IBD cases involving the colon, and this figure has not changed over the last 30 years. Currently, IC is usually diagnosed when a distinction between UC and CD becomes difficult. A standard positive diagnostic test for IC is not yet available.

5UC causes inflammation and ulceration of the inner lining of the colon and rectum (the large bowel). There is no gender predominance in UC, and the peak age of disease onset is between ages 30–40 years. Symptoms usually include diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight, and anemia. The severity of symptoms depends upon how much of the colon is affected or inflamed. Inflammation in UC is non-specific and may occur in the rectum (proctitis), left semicolon (left-sided colitis) or entire colon (extensive colitis or pancolitis) (Figure 2).

6Currently, there is no ‘gold standard’ test to diagnose UC. Diagnosis of UC relies on test results obtained by colonoscopy, histopathology, blood testing, fecal examination, and radiological studies. Patients diagnosed with UC at an older age are at lower risks of colectomy than those diagnosed at a younger age (below 16 years). According to a meta-analysis of population-based cohort studies, the risk of developing colorectal cancer is 2.4-fold higher in patients with UC, and the risk is higher in males than females and for those diagnosed with UC and extensive colitis at a young age.

7The pathogenesis of UC and CD is considerably distinct from each other. The change in luminal microbial diversity (dysbiosis), impairment of epithelial, and mucus layer barrier via disruption of tight junctions are strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of UC. Figure 3 shows an overview of the pathophysiology of UC. Although UC patients exhibit lower diversity of Firmicutes and a higher proportion of Gamma-proteobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae, and sulfite reducing deltaproteobacteria, whether such changes are intestinal inflammation-driven or vice versa remains controversial. Interleukin (IL)-13 produced by T helper type 2 (Th2) cells and non-classical natural killer T cells (NKT cells) also mediates UC as it synergizes with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) to regulate the expression of genes responsible for the formation of tight junction entero-epithelial cells. IL-13 also disturbs the membrane integrity by increasing the rate of cell apoptosis (which intensifies upon exposure to TNF-α), and by changing the protein composition of the tight junctions. An impairment of tight junctions increases gut permeability, leading to an enhanced influx of luminal antigens. Antigen-presenting cells (APC) such as macrophages and dendritic cells become activated upon recognizing non-pathogenic bacteria (commensal microbiota) through Toll-like receptors (e.g., Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4). Activated APCs in turn initiate differentiation of naïve CD4+ (cluster of differentiation 4) T-cells into different subsets of effector T helper cells such as Th2, Th9, and regulatory T cells (Treg) in UC. In the inflamed lamina propria of UC patients, the expression of IL-4, which is a signature cytokine of Th2 cells, is dominated by high-level expression of other Th2-associated cytokines such as IL-5 and IL-13, and the Th2 master transcription factor GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3). Thus, UC is predominantly a Th2-mediated immune disorder, but considering the low-level expression of IL-4, the role of Th2 cells as a whole in UC remains inconclusive. IL-9-producing Th9 cells are also associated with UC as they prevent mucosal wound healing and disrupt protective functions of the mucus layer.

8High levels of mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) causes increased recruitment of gut-associated lymphocytes to healthy gastrointestinal tract and sites of inflammation, implicating its role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Increased expression of MAdCAM-1 in the endothelium of the inflamed colon of rats induced by peptidoglycan-polysaccharide, and subsequent attenuation of colitis by anti-MAdCAM-1 antibody, imply a vital role of this molecule in the development of colitis. MAdCAM-1 is equally abundant in the inflamed mucosa of both UC and CD, but MAdCAM-1+ venules are more abundant in the deeper layers of intestinal tissue from CD patients compared to UC (p < 0.001), and might account for the unique transmural inflammation in CD.

9The mortality among the UC patients results mainly from comorbid conditions such as infectious and cardiovascular disease, and colon and biliary tract cancers. Postoperative complications and comorbidity are additional factors for increased mortality within the first 2 years after diagnosis among patients >50 years of age and those diagnosed with extensive colitis.

10CD is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract affecting most commonly the terminal ileum, caecum, perianal area, and colon. Symptoms of CD are often insidious, making diagnosis difficult. However, symptoms such as chronic or nocturnal diarrhea, abdominal pain, bowel obstruction, weight loss, fever, or night sweats are critical parameters for initial diagnosis besides other endoscopic or pathological features (Figure 4).

11Delayed diagnosis of CD causes increasing bowel damage, fibrosis, and disability. Besides clinical assessment, blood- and fecal-based biomarkers are also used as an additional tool by clinicians to distinguish IBD from non-inflammatory diarrhea and for their management. For example, biomarkers such as fecal calprotectin (FC) is useful for screening IBD patients for endoscopic evaluation, and fecal lactoferrin in assessing the course of disease activity and healing. And FC measurement is considered a promising non-invasive tool for clinical management of IBD. Although the choice of the optimal cut-off value for FC measurement remains a concern, higher FC cut-off value is known to maximize the accuracy of the diagnosis of IBD, particularly in UC compared to CD. We did not elaborate on the role of FC in the clinical management of IBD, as it is reviewed in-depth by Mumolo et al..

12CD is a Th1 cell-mediated disorder. Small bowel inflammation in CD exhibits an increased level of proinflammatory cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and IL-17A (produced by Th1 and Th17 cells, respectively). Moreover, the Th17 pathway (mediated by Th17 cell-derived IL-17) in turn influences the Th-1 response. IL-6, IL-23, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), which are produced by innate immune cells and APCs, influences the IL-17 pathway (Figure 5). The high-level expression of transcription factors (e.g., STAT4 and T-bet) and cytokine receptors (e.g., IL-12Rβ2) promotes Th1 cell differentiation, which is characteristic of inflamed lamina propria of CD patients. IL-12 derived activated APCs stimulates the Th1 master transcription factor T-bet. The expression of IL-23 by ileal dendritic cells stimulates IL-17 production, and as a result, both IL-17 and IL-23 are present in elevated levels in CD patients. Thus, the development of CD is associated with both Th-1 and Th17 pathways. The mortality rate in CD is mainly due to pulmonary disease and cancers of the biliary tract, lymphoid and hematopoietic tissues.

13The Hygiene Hypothesis is a central theme to the growing incidence of IBD, but it is still difficult to pinpoint which particular factors are responsible for causing IBD. Strachan first proposed the Hygiene Hypothesis in 1989 to explain the increasing incidence of atopy (allergic disorders). Later, many authors claimed through epidemiological studies and various experimental models that autoimmune disorders could be a result of broad environmental, infectious burden rather than individual behavior/hygiene. According to the Rook’s reinterpretation of hygiene hypothesis (Old Friends Hypothesis as proposed in 2003), immunoregulatory disorders would occur first in those individuals with reduced/minimal contact with pathogens including commensal microbes and helminths (old friends) that are known to prime immunoregulation (Treg activity) in the human gut. The rapid rise in the incidence of IBD over the last century in both developing and developed countries could be related to improved hygiene practices such as access to clean water, non-contaminated food, and reduced family size. While the definitive cause of IBD remains elusive and unknown, many studies point to 10 different causative factors (Figure 6), with three major factors being genetic, environmental, and diet (which influences the host’s gut microbiota).

14Genome-wide association studies identified 163 susceptible gene loci in IBD (with 110 common, 30 CD specific, and 23 UC specific), highlighting the role of genetics in IBD pathogenesis. However, more than 50% of IBD susceptible gene loci are also associated with other inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. MDR1 (multidrug resistance 1) gene in human chromosome 7 is one such gene that is associated with the pathogenesis of UC. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of IBD pathogenesis induced by genetic factors requires studying the role of an individual gene, which can be a challenging task. However, less than 50% concordance for IBD in twins represents the significant role that environmental factors might have in the development of IBD. Another study conducted by Thompson et al. in British twins also reported similar (only 17% concordance for IBD) results among identical twins. Moreover, the concordance between two disease conditions (CD and UC) among twins is not the same. Analysis of a Swedish twin cohort showed higher concordance (50%) for CD than for UC (18.8%), suggesting that genetic influence or heritability is higher in CD than in UC.

15After extensive studies trying to determine the role of genetics in the pathogenesis of IBD have not yielded adequate evidence, many assume environmental factors to have a more significant role than genetics. Numerous studies have analyzed the linkage between various environmental factors and the development of IBD. When Khalili et al. studied the association of geographical variation with the incidence of IBD (both CD and UC) in two large prospective cohorts of US women (175,912), they found a higher incidence of both CD and UC among women residing in the northern latitudes, which could be attributable to less exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation. UV-B radiation induces UV-Treg cells that have the potential to suppress inflammatory responses. People living in higher altitudes are also more likely to have vitamin D deficiency due to insufficient exposure to sunlight. Lack of vitamin D is also considered a possible cause of IBD since vitamin D receptor knock-out mice develop severe inflammation.

16Numerous studies are suggesting a role for the environment in the pathogenesis of IBD, notably from a migration perspective. For instance, children of immigrants who arrived in Canada at a younger age have an increased risk of IBD. While Zoetendal et al. compared the risk of developing IBD among African-Americans and Africans inhabiting semi-urban (westernized) and rural environments respectively, the risk was significantly lower among those who were born and raised (first five years) in unhygienic environments like livestock farms compared to those living in the city. Selective exposure to various environmental factors or conditions is also responsible for determining the microbiome composition. A study carried out in South Africa observed distinct gut microbiome composition in genetically similar populations in rural areas versus urban areas, where rural subjects contained significantly lesser Bacteriodetes populations than semi-urban and urban subjects. While a similar comparative study from India showed a dominance of phyla Bacteriodetes and Proteobacteria in the gut microbiome of rural subjects, phyla Firmicutes, and Lactobacillus in urban subject. These findings indicate that exposure to different environmental conditions/lifestyles can influence the microbiome composition among a similar population.

17The commensal human gut microbiota is essential for maintaining intestinal epithelial homeostasis and protection from mucosal injury. The human lower GI tract has 1014 microbial cells, and Bacteriodetes and Firmicutes are the two most dominant phyla in the gut. The gut microbiome determines the normal functioning of human health. For example, fibrinolytic bacteria degrade polysaccharides in the gut into smaller carbohydrates and short-chain fatty acids, and microbiota of the lower GI tract use dietary fiber as a source of energy. Any changes in the composition of the healthy microbiota (dysbiosis) in the gut can trigger abnormal inflammatory responses. Firmicutes species, such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, has been reported to be poorly represented in patients with active IBD compared to healthy subjects. The study conducted by Martin et al. further supports the protective role of this species, where intragastric administration of F. prausnitzii significantly decreased the severity of colitis in the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced mouse model of colitis. The host must maintain a balance between recognizing pathogenic from commensal microbial species, as any disturbance in the composition of commensal species could trigger abnormal inflammatory responses such as IBD.

18Diet influences the composition of the microbiota and their metabolic activity in the human gut. There is a growing concern that the western diet, rich in fats and sugars, is responsible for the change in the diversity and metabolic activity of human gut microbiota, thereby contributing to the increasing incidence of IBD. The increase in the abundance of Bilophila wadsworthia due to an animal-based diet can facilitate the growth of microorganisms that can trigger IBD. Moreover, B. wadsworthia also produces hydrogen sulfide that can cause damage to intestinal tissues. Long-term dietary pattern influences the development of IBD. For instance, the intake of fruits decreases the risks of developing CD, although the underlying mechanism is yet to be understood. Smoking is one of the contradictory factors linked to IBD. While smoking is harmful to CD patients, reports show beneficial in UC. The positive effect of smoking in UC is evident from the “Boston Drugs Surveillance Program”, ”UC patients in Birmingham, England”, and ”Oxford Family Planning Association Contraceptive Study”. Additionally, the transdermal treatment of active UC patients with nicotine patches also showed better remission compared to the placebo group. However, it is still controversial, and more research is required to determine if nicotine is one of the active components of cigarette smoking that is responsible for the beneficial effects on the UC disease course.

19Inadequacy of sleep and psychological distress are additional intrinsic factors known to associated with inflammation and the inflammation system. Sleep disturbances are said to be common in IBD patients. Some studies have reported that symptoms of depression and anxiety cause clinical recurrence in IBD patients. However, stressful life events are not associated with the onset of inflammatory disease. Alteration of sleep pattern or circadian rhythms and insufficient sleep (<6 h/day) has a direct impact on disease course and severity. A study involving 136 Japanese IBD patients found sleep disturbances as a potential risk factor of disease flare-up for both UC and CD within one year, but a similar kind of study (3173 IBD patients with sleep disturbances) conducted by Ananthakrishnan et al. could observe an increased risk of disease flares only in CD within 6 months. A positive correlation between psychological distress and IBD flare-ups indicates the need for timely psychological therapy in IBD patients.

20Appendectomy (i.e., surgical removal of the appendix) and its association with the development of UC and CD is a scarcely explored area of research. Few studies involving both humans as well as animal models showed evidence for a role of the appendix in gastroenterology. T-cell receptor-α mutant mice (TCR-α−/−) appendectomized at a young age (3–5 weeks old) contained more mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells compared to the placebo group (sham-operated TCR- α−/− mice), indicating that the appendix could be an important site for priming MLN cells involved in causing IBD. Similarly, Mombaerts et al. also found that an increase in the number of MLN cells in TCR-α−/− mice is related to the development of IBD. A few studies and case reports have also shown the positive effect of appendectomy on the clinical course of UC in human subjects. A study of IBD patients in Australia confirmed that appendectomy before diagnosis delays disease onset of both UC and CD and results in fewer flare-ups in the case of UC when compared with patients without prior appendectomy. A case report from Korea also confirmed that a patient with UC experienced a more extended period of remission after appendectomy. However, the therapeutic relationship between CD and appendectomy remains inconclusive..

21A leading hypothesis in the etiology of IBD is the alteration in the human gut microbiota that triggers abnormal inflammatory responses, including IBD. Multiple factors are assumed to be responsible for inducing gut dysbiosis. Childhood exposure to antibiotics is one among them. Children exposed to antibiotics at an early stage and adults who had medication for acute gastroenteritis possess higher risks for IBD. The frequency of use of antibiotics and the age at the time of use may have a varying effect as risks for IBD tend to decrease with increasing age at the time of exposure. Regular intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin showed a strong positive correlation with only CD.

22Prompt diagnosis and identifying the specific treatment goals (e.g., mucosal healing) can help to create better long-term outcomes for patients. As there is no “gold standard” to define disease severity; thus, only working definitions of disease activity are available to help guide IBD therapy. Figure 7 below, adapted from Ordás et al. and Knutson et al., presents an overview of currently available treatment algorithms for UC and CD. The main conventional treatments for IBD are biologics, oral corticosteroids, and salicylates, discussed in the subsequent sections.

23Small molecules represent a potential source of selective drugs in IBD. Many small molecule drugs (SMDs) such as corticosteroids (e.g., budesonide, prednisone), immunomodulators (e.g., azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, and methotrexate), and aminosalicylates (e.g., sulfasalazine and mesalazine) came into clinical practice as early as 1955 for IBD. SMDs (mol. Wt. <1000 Da) have stable structures, and their cost of production is also comparatively cheaper than biologics. The shorter half-life of SMDs is another advantage, particularly during situations like infection, surgery, and pregnancy when rapid elimination of the drug is required. Moreover, unlike biologics requiring the parenteral route for administration, oral SMDs can boost a patient’s satisfaction and enhance treatment adherence and efficacy.

24The SMD tofacitinib has recently proven to be safe and effective in the induction and maintenance of clinical remission in UC. During phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of tofacitinib therapy in 905 adults with moderate to severe UC, approximately 18% achieved clinical remission in 8 weeks as compared to 6% in the placebo group patients. Tofacitinib under two different trade names (XEL JANZ® (Pfizer Inc., Groton, NY, USA) and XEL JANZ XR® (Pfizer Inc., Groton, NY, USA) appeared in the market since 2018 as the first drug of the Janus-kinase (JAK) inhibitor class, and it has displayed efficacy against moderate to severe UC with an excellent safety profile. Aminosalicylate (5-ASA) and its derivatives, such as mesalamine is another excellent example of SMD in the therapeutic management of IBD. However, some SMDs, including corticosteroids, are associated with adverse side effects. Sulfasalazine is associated with allergic and dose-dependent intolerant side effects. Besides the SMDs mentioned above, there are 22 additional SMDs under clinical development for the treatment of IBD, including JAK-inhibitors, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulators.

25Biologics, or biological agents or biological response modifiers, are a group of molecules, including recombinant cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, and specific antagonists of cytokines and soluble receptors that are involved in modulating inflammation during immune-mediated processes. Biologics are more immunogenic than SMDs. They are optional treatments for patients with poor or no response to other drugs such as immunosuppressants (azathioprine, mercaptopurine, and methotrexate) or steroids, or patients suffering from strong side effects of other IBD drugs. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has so far approved seven protein-based therapies (monoclonal antibody therapy) for IBD treatment, namely vedolizumab, natalizumab, adalimumab, infliximab, golimumab, certolizumab pegol and ustekinumab (Table 1). Vedolizumab, the first anti-integrin approved for use in UC, is known to be the safest biologic available with minimal side effects. It binds to α4β7 integrin (present on the surface of intestinal endothelial cells) and prevents the migration of leukocytes into the gut. Leukocyte infiltration into the gut mucosa via interaction between integrins on lymphocytes and their ligands on endothelial cells of intestinal lymphoid tissue (MAdCAM-1) is another major event in the pathogenesis of IBD. Inhibition of leukocyte migration is possible by blocking the integrin-MAdCAM-1 interaction. Anti-adhesion agents such as natalizumab, which blocks the α4 subunits of integrins on lymphocytes, can be an option for IBD maintenance but is likely to be associated with increased risk for specific side effects. From a comparative meta-analysis on the efficacy of approved biologic agents, adalimumab is better than certolizumab pegol, vedolizumab, and infliximab in both induction and maintenance of CD, while in UC, infliximab is better than adalimumab and golimumab.

26Cytokine-targeted therapy is another treatment option that has transformed the treatment of IBD. Identifying specific cytokines involved in developing particular features and phases of IBD has enabled the design of better treatment options. Cytokines play a vital role in controlling intestinal inflammation and the associated clinical symptoms of IBD. But some of the cytokines possess dual functions (both pro-and anti-inflammatory), which presents difficulties in designing specific cytokine-based therapeutic drugs. For instance, IL-6 pathway inhibition is helpful in the successful treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, while IL-6 produced by intraepithelial lymphocytes following the onset of inflammatory injury promotes epithelial proliferation and wound repair in murine models of bowel injury. IL-1 family cytokines such as IL-1α produced by epithelial cells are inflammatory, while IL-1β produced by myeloid cells promotes healing and repair. Thus, the development of specific cytokine-based therapies in the future is crucial but also challenging. Even though this therapy can control symptoms and prolong the relapse-free period for some patients, many patients fail to respond. For example, 30% of the patient shows primary non-response and 13-25% secondary non-response with anti-TNF-α therapy.

27Although the use of biologics in developed countries is common, most of these drugs are yet to reach in developing countries. Higher manufacturing and quality control costs make biologics very expensive, and thus affordability of such drugs by many developing countries is questionable. So, introducing biologic therapies for IBD is going to impose a burden on the healthcare system of developing countries. Development of biosimilars that can substitute original biologics with minimal treatment cost is urgent; otherwise, IBD medications may continue to remain far from the hands of economically disadvantaged patients. Biosimilars are drugs developed with maximum similarity to their original products of biologics in terms of purity, safety, and efficacy. Six biosimilars including three infliximab biosimilars-Inflectra™ (infliximab-dyyb, CELLTRION, Inc. Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Korea), Renflexis™ (infliximab-abda, Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd, Incheon, Korea), and Ixifi™ (infliximab-qbtx, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, Ireland), three adalimumab biosimilars–Amjevita™ (adalimumab-atto, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA), Cyltezo™ (adalimumab-adbm, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT, USA), and Hyrimoz™ (adalimumab-adaz, Sandoz Inc., Princeton, NJ, USA) are already approved by the US FDA for use in IBD as of 2018.

28Several new therapeutic strategies that are currently in clinical trials include recombinant anti-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-11) and inhibitors of cell adhesion molecules (natalizumab and etrolizumab), anti-interleukin-12/23 (ustekinumab), pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-12), and their receptor (IL-6R). Besides recombinant anti-inflammatory cytokines and inhibitors, there are few existing drugs repurposed for treating IBD. For instance, an anti-mycobacterium drug RHB-104 (product of RedHill Biopharma Ltd based in Tel-Aviv, Israel) was repurposed for CD, and it is in phase III trial. Adacolumn is another example of an emerging treatment for IBD, which is a safe, non-drug intervention. Adacolumn absorbs excess neutrophils and CD14+ CD16+ monocytes (which produces TNF), and these absorbed granulocytes/monocytes, in turn, releases interleukin receptors such as IL-1 receptor antagonist, hepatocyte growth factor and soluble TNF receptors possessing anti-inflammatory properties. This treatment showed highly positive results against UC in a few countries, including Japan and the United Kingdom.

29Surgery would cause extensive loss of small bowel and disability, including permanent ostomies, and it is usually performed as a last choice of treatment options, especially in a complicated situation when prolonged medication would cause more significant disability than surgical alternatives. Surgery in UC, unlike CD, is a curative therapy since the disease is limited to colon and rectum, while in CD, it can only control the complication of the disease process. Despite the introduction of anti-TNF drugs, about 10–30% of UC patients ultimately require a colectomy for the management of dysplasia or cancer. While there are reports on the decreased rate of early surgery in CD patients after treatment with anti-TNF drugs, as only one-third of CD patients require surgical therapy within the first five years of their diagnosis.

30The choice of surgery depends upon advantages as well as disadvantages associated with each surgical option. For instance, for UC patients, restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is considered as standard surgical treatment, as it can maintain a usual route of defecation by linking ileal pouch to the anal canal, and avoids ostomy permanently. But chronic pouchitis is still the main factor that limits the success of the surgical cure of UC. In CD, since the almost entire colon is involved in the inflammation, surgical decision-making is more challenging compared to UC. It depends upon the extent and location of the inflammation in the entire colon. If the right side of the colon is affected, right colectomy or extended right colectomy with ileocolic anastomosis is an option. When the left colon or entire colon is affected, particularly in Crohn colitis, total abdominal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis is performed. Surgery is not a cure for CD since almost 28% of patients experience small bowel clinical recurrence after total colectomy with permanent ileostomy. Besides clinical recurrence, post-operative complications is another challenge in the surgical treatment of IBD. However, due to the current laparoscopy-assisted surgery approach, IBD patients experience improved cosmesis, reduced intraoperative blood loss, and early recovery, which is lacking in open surgery. Ahmed et al. and Beyer-Berjot et al. also reported that laparoscopic IPAA does not affect fecundity in females. Surgical treatment procedures and options for both CD and UC are covered elaboratively in the guidelines developed by the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation and European Society of Colo-Proctology.

31While the attitude of many IBD patients on surgery as the last option remains unchanged, few chronic patients believe that it is better to get it done ‘once and for all’ through surgical procedures because of immense and ineffective drug therapies. It is, therefore, treated as an ‘alternative treatment strategy’ instead and ‘last choice of treatment options.’ IBD is elusive, and it is often confused for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which can complicate surgical treatments if based on the wrong diagnosis. It is challenging to low-resource developing countries where there is a lack of expertise and surgical technologies. This factor often influences the decision of health workers and IBD patients. There is a need to provide training for health workers in developing countries and step-up the testing to obtain accurate clinical numbers. The top-down approach, where government taking initiatives and providing advocacy to educate the public would be an excellent strategy to capture the actual IBD incidence worldwide, especially in developing countries.

32It is reported that about 21–60% of IBD patients have used complementary and alternative medicine, which includes herbal therapy, mind-body intervention, and acupuncture treatment. Herbal therapy and acupuncture are the two most popular treatments used by both UC and CD patients. A lack of well-designed studies and randomized, double-blind clinical trials have resulted in the safety and efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine continues to be questioned.

33Botanicals are popular among IBD patients owing to their perceived safety (i.e., lack of side effects) and efficacy. Amongst the herbal drugs or botanicals, Plantago ovata, Curcuma longa, Andrographis paniculata, Aloe vera, Artemisia absinthium, Boswellia serrata, Cannabis sativa, and Tripterygium wilfordii are the most popular herbal remedies used by IBD patients. A recent review by Triantafyllidi and colleagues (2015) on herbal therapies for the treatment of human IBD came across 27 clinical studies on 11 herbal therapies involving 1874 IBD patients. Of the 11 herbal therapies, seven of them had beneficial effects in UC, while four resulted in clinical remission in CD. Nine out of 30 active UC patients showed clinical remission at 4 weeks after taking A. vera gel orally compared to one out of 14 patients in the placebo group. P. ovata seeds, when compared with mesalamine, showed an equivalent effect on maintaining remission in UC after 12 months. Curcumin isolated from C. longa is another botanical, which is used for UC. Both crude extract and a pure compound (andrographolide) isolated from A. paniculata showed efficacy against mild to moderate UC. Similarly, A. absinthium and T. wilfordii seem to provide remission in CD. In the USA, 22 states have legalized C. sativus for medicinal use, and approximately 15–20% of American IBD patients rely on cannabis extracts.

34Helminths, most commonly referred to as parasitic worms, have successfully co-evolved with their human hosts through adopting a parasitic lifestyle. They can survive in the niche inside the human host by modulating the host’s regulatory immune network. Helminth therapy using hookworms and whipworms has gained international attention. IBD patients have used these parasites for many years despite concerns around safety and regulatory issues. Preliminary studies on the beneficial effects of helminths in IBD were described by Elliott et al. when intra-rectal administration of TNBS failed to induce colitis in mice infected with the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni. Oral administration of eggs of the whipworm Trichuris muris significantly reduced TNBS-induced colitis in IL-10−/− mice. In terms of human trials, Summers and colleagues administered Trichuris suis ova to 29 patients with active CD at intervals of three weeks for 24 weeks, and 21 of the patients were in remission at week 2, 4 indicating a safe and effective alternative therapy for CD. There have been more than 20 different clinical studies conducted in IBD using different helminths (Trichuris suis ova, Necator americanus infective third-stage larvae (L3)), and helminth-derived products (excretory/secretory proteins from Schistosoma mansonii and Ancylostoma caninum); this literature has been reviewed elsewhere. However, T. suis ova therapy failed to show its clinical efficacy against active CD in stage 2 clinical trial.

35Although the overall health of IBD patients and their quality of life has improved by the earlier diagnosis and new treatment therapies, there are still many challenges remaining unsolved. One of the main challenges within IBD treatment and management is almost all available IBD therapies are associated with many adverse side effects (Table 1). Optimization of diagnostic strategies and accessibility and affordability of new and emerging IBD therapeutic drugs are two of the many challenges discussed below.

36Early and accurate diagnosis of IBD is crucial for better treatment outcomes. However, none of the serological and fecal diagnostic biomarkers offer a stand-alone tool for practical evaluation, both for suspected and established IBD. New approaches to discover biomarkers through gene expression studies including Affymetrix GeneChip technology in whole blood, in mucosal biopsies, mRNA expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cell RNA, and circulating miRNA have shown exciting and promising results in preliminary studies. After diagnosis, most IBD drugs used for treatment do not produce clinical remission, or they are associated with numerous adverse effects, including diarrhea, renal impairment, and opportunistic infections including, tuberculosis. Assessing inflammation using endoscopy is expensive as well as invasive. The initial approach of using combined information of phenotype and serology is not enough to distinguish CD from UC, hampering the accurate prediction of clinical outcome.

37Metabolomics is emerging as a tool for comprehensive analysis of metabolites in any biological sample, and this technique could play a vital role in IBD diagnosis, drug target identification, and customized treatments (precision medicine). For example, the T1259 serum metabolite profiles can differentiate IBD from healthy subjects. Similarly, serum and fecal metabolite analysis proved promising in differentiating pediatric IBD from healthy subjects via the level of FC and metabolites such as choline. The fecal FC assessment is not only used in the pediatric setting; for instance, in UC patients, FC performs better than C-reactive protein in predicting clinical activity such as degree of inflammation and mucosal healing. As stated earlier, the in-depth role of FC in IBD, including monitoring the effectiveness of therapy, predicting disease relapse, and postoperative recurrence, is available in the review by Mumolo et al.. Metabolite profiling can also identify distinct biomarkers that can differentiate subtypes of IBD. Analyzing metabolites using different statistical approaches can determine similarities as well as differences in metabolite profile that can differentiate disease phenotypes. For example, biopsies from patients with active UC contain elevated levels of glutamine and glutathione compared to control tissue or patients with inactive UC. However, metabolomic techniques and spectroscopic tools are incredibly costly, and the affordability of such advanced facilities by developing countries remains questionable.

38The availability and affordability of newly introduced drugs is another challenge in IBD management. Antibodies to human TNF-α inhibitors (anti-TNFs; infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab pegol) are costly drugs. For example, 100 mg vial of infliximab would cost USD 549.70, whose initial prescription for CD patient is 5 mg/kg body weight, meaning a cost per infusion for a 73 kg patient comes to USD 2,198.18 and per annum USD 16,485.04/patient. Similarly, for adalimumab, initial 80 mg and 40 mg after two weeks cost USD 1,405.63, and for one year, USD 12,176.45 if infused 40 mg weekly, but these costs may subject to change with currency fluctuations. The high cost of biologics has created disparities in usage among patients. Such disparities can be narrowed only by introducing affordable alternative therapeutics such as biosimilars, as stated in the earlier sections. Biosimilars are reference products easy to produce, unlike original biologics obtained from living organisms, and thus biosimilars are estimated to reduce the original spending on biologics by 3% over the same period.

39Studies have shown that poor mental health is associated with disease flares and a generally poorer IBD prognosis. But providing adequate mental healthcare access to IBD patients remains a hurdle even in many developed countries, including Australia. In one of the most extensive surveys focusing on mental health needs, attitudes, and access to mental health services in people living with IBD in Australia, a significant gap was identified in the mental healthcare services among IBD patients. Only 12% of the total of 731 participants had access to psychologists. Other studies also reported similar findings where more than a quarter of hospitalized IBD patients are affected by mental distress. IBD patients suffering from depression are at higher risk of worsening disease due to non-compliance with treatment. Thus, regular provision of mental health screening and reasonable access to psychologists or mental health professionals besides treatment could be another key strategy towards improving the quality of life of IBD patients, which can subsequently reduce the cost burden associated with disability.

40Natural products, including plants, animals, fungi, microorganisms, and marine organisms produce secondary metabolites with rich structural diversity, which synthetic and combinatorial chemistry approaches are lacking, and for this reason alone, natural products are viable sources of drugs. Four main bio-rational search strategies guide the identification of novel drug lead compounds from natural sources. They are: (i) ethnobotanically directed approach, (ii) ecologically directed approach, (iii) chemically directed approach, and (iv) random selection and screening (Figure 8). Very often, approaches (i), (ii) and (iv) are combined by researchers for efficiently discovering novel drug lead compounds.

41Therapeutic agents derived from natural sources may be small molecules or biologics. Small molecule natural products with anti-inflammatory properties hold great potential for clinical translation (Table 2). The Anti-inflammatory Compounds Database (freely accessible at http://956023.ichengyun.net/AICD/index.php.) has recorded over 79,781 small molecules of the therapeutic potential and a total of 232 inflammation-related targets. Ten out of 2,892 natural products showed potent efficacy as anti-inflammatory drug lead candidates when assessed for their anti-inflammatory activity in the prediction model constructed using iterative stochastic elimination algorithm. However, of these 10 natural products, only three (moupinamide, hypaphorine, and capsaicin) have thus far been experimentally reported as an anti-inflammatory and require further study on the remaining seven.

42‘Omics’ science such as genomics, proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolomics has enabled the comprehensive characterization of biomolecules of diverse fauna and flora, facilitating a better understanding of disease mechanisms. Of these ’omics’ approaches, metabolomics remains the least applied and under-utilized. A combined approach using metabolomic profiling and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity studies of identified metabolites in various animal models such as colitis models has given insights into disease mechanism and identifying potential therapeutic targets. For example, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS)-based metabolomic profiling of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice had proven useful for monitoring disease progression and differentiating active from inactive colitis. Furthermore, multivariate indexes developed based on Fischer linear classifiers from plasma amino acid profiles (aminogram) could be used as a discriminator between CD and UC patients as well as in monitoring disease activity during the progression of IBD. Metabolomics techniques use Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), GCMS, Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LCMS), and hyphenated spectroscopies for bulk identification of compounds present in the crude and complex mixtures of natural products. These same spectroscopies, in combination with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Infrared Red (IR), and X-Ray Crystallography, are used for compound purification and structure elucidation. Pure compounds, once isolated, must be screened for their anti-inflammatory activities using different in vitro assays and in vivo disease models.

43A comprehensive understanding of the complex disease mechanisms that underpin IBD is crucial for identifying targets for treatment, and subsequently to design novel drugs that hit these targets. The application of different murine models of IBD has profoundly improved the understanding of IBD pathogenesis and assisted in the development of novel therapeutic strategies. As of now, researchers use at least 66 different kinds of animal models to study IBD. These disease models are chemically-induced, cell-transfer, congenic mutant, and genetically modified models. The use of genetically engineered mouse models that spontaneously develop colitis has enabled a deeper understanding of the complex immunopathogenesis mechanisms of IBD. The DSS–induced colitis model is one of the most widely used models since it is easy to implement within a short timeframe with minimal cost. Other popular models include TNBS–induced colitis, oxazolone-induced colitis, cell transfer models (e.g., adoptive T-cell transfer), and IL-10 knockout. There are many in vitro screening assays to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of various natural products, including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitory effect assay, bacteria-derived lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in human cells (macrophages, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells-PBMCs), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity assay and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitory activity.

44Plants produce secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolics phytochemicals, which can possess anti-inflammatory properties. According to reviews by Ahmad et al., Azab et al., Peng et al., and Salaritabar et al., there is a need for more studies to analyze the efficacy of plant-derived materials/compounds using chronic IBD models and clinical trials. Some natural compounds that have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activities are catechins from Camellia sinensis, berberine and berberrubine from Berberis vulgaris, resveratrol from Polygonum cuspidatum, 14-O-acetylneoline from Aconitum laciniatum, Bromelain from Ananas comosus, capnoidine from Corydalis dubia, zedoarondiol from Curcuma heyneana, and other pigmented vegetables and fruits. Although numerous pure natural compounds show a range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory activity, and some are toxic to human cells. While curcumin from C. longa is safe after six human trials using concentrations as high as 8000 mg/day for 3 months, nevertheless, converting new drug leads from natural sources into effective and safe therapeutic drugs for human consumption may be still a complicated and challenging task. Some promising plant-derived compounds that demonstrate anti-inflammatory activity in various colitis animal models are presented in Table 2 and Table 3.

45To date, more than 133 small molecules were isolated and identified from marine-derived fungi, of which 50 have been tested and showed various anti-inflammatory activities. Small molecules preussins derived from Aspergillus flocculosus 16D-1 (a fungus isolated from the marine sponge Phakellia fusca) showed potent anti-inflammatory activity (IL-6 inhibitory effects in LPS-induced human monocytic leukemia cell line, THP1). Graphostromanes F and Khusinol B isolated from Graphostroma sp showed inhibition of LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Another small molecule mangicol (A isolated and identified from a marine fungal isolate Fusarium heterosporum) also showed anti-inflammatory activity in the phorbol myristate acetate-induced mouse ear edema model. Asperflavin produced by the marine-derived fungus, Eurotium amstelodami suppresses iNOS, and pro-inflammatory cytokine production with minimal cytotoxicity. Thus, looking at the great diversity of molecules and their anti-inflammatory activities, natural products, particularly small molecules produced by fungi and related organisms, can offer great potential in developing novel therapeutic drugs against IBD with minimal side effects. Secondary metabolites produced by fungi are also drug leads for many immunosuppressants used in related inflammatory disorders such as mycophenolic acid (produced by Penicillium spp.), cyclosporin (produced by Tolipocladium inflatum), and fingolimod (GilenyaTM) derived from myriocin (produced by Isaria sinclairii). Many such molecules and metabolites derived from various fungi and macrofungi (mushrooms) with potent anti-inflammatory properties are reviewed elsewhere.

46Studying parasitic helminths and metabolites produced by them at different stages of their life cycles could help to reveal completely novel approaches to suppressing inflammation. Indeed, there is already a substantial body of literature that describes the immunoregulatory properties of these parasites ranging from clinical trials with experimental human helminth infections to animal studies with isolated or synthesized single molecules. Helminths are capable of secreting a vast array of immunoregulatory molecules, including proteins, glycans, lipids, nucleic acids, and small molecule metabolites. For comprehensive reviews on this topic, see. Crude excretory/secretory (ES) products or rude soluble extracts (which contain many distinct groups of metabolites) from helminths protect against colitis in mice. For example, the tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta in dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced colitis, the roundworm nematode Trichinella spiralis in TNBS-induced colitis, and the platyhelminth blood fluke S. mansoni in adoptive T cell transfer colitis. Wangchuk et al. showed that ES metabolites from the hookworm Ancyclostoma caninum could suppress colitis in mouse models by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, Wangchuk et al. identified 54 small molecules from the ES products of the gastrointestinal nematodes Trichuris muris and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, of which 17 small molecules possess potent pharmacological activities in the literature. They also reported 49 metabolites from dog tapeworm Dipylidium caninum, out of which 12 were bioactive. These studies highlight the untapped metabolomes of parasitic helminths from a therapeutics discovery angle and warrant further attention in the future.

47Peptide-based therapeutics are gaining more attention in medical research since several small peptides are proven to have efficacy in experimental colitis in mice. However, delivery of peptides is challenging due to their unstable nature and rapid clearance from circulation. However, when an annexin A1-derived tripeptide MC-12 was grafted within the scaffold of the cyclic peptide sunflower trypsin inhibitor 1 (SFTI-1, isolated from Helianthus annuus seeds), it ameliorated acute colitis in mice and displayed enhanced stability. Similarly, grafting this tripeptide into the disulfide-rich peptide linaclotide also improved the stability and bioactivity of the tripeptide. These examples indicate that peptides possess scope for clinical development in IBD if there are promising scaffold peptides like SFTI-1 and linaclotide that can encapsulate and stabilize the bioactive sequence within the peptides of interest.

48IBD continues to cause substantial morbidity and massive productivity loss globally. A single mechanism responsible for IBD is difficult to determine due to the complex interplay of multiple factors, including the host’s genetic predisposition and environmental factors. The relapsing nature of IBD demands repeated treatment, implicating a substantial financial burden to individual patients and the healthcare system, especially in developing nations. The development of SMDs (such as tofacitinib and 5-ASA derivatives mesalamine) and new biologics (integrin antagonist, Entyvio) has revolutionized the treatment of IBD. With the introduction of biologics such as anti-TNF drugs, there is a decreased rate of early surgery in IBD patients. However, there are still challenges with the existing IBD treatment regimens, and new therapeutic modalities are urgently needed. Many small molecules or compounds derived from natural products based on traditional use knowledge have shown promising anti-inflammatory activities in various experimental murine colitis models with few side effects and have the potential to be next-generation drugs. Some small molecules derived from plants such as berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and triptolide are already in clinical trials. An anti-mycobacterium drug (Oral capsule RHB-104), which is repurposed for treating IBD and currently in phase III trial, is another good example of potential IBD drug in the pipeline. Designing a new and non-invasive IBD drug delivery system targeting specific receptors in the colon could primarily help to mitigate the current treatment challenges associated with many side effects. Ethnopharmacology knowledge-guided drug discovery, mainly focusing on small molecules and peptides of medicinal plants, holds promise for the development of safe and novel therapeutics for IBD.