Natural Products for Pancreatitis: Recent Advances, Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Prospects

Pancreatitis is a prevalent disorder of the digestive system, characterized by the rapid onset of pancreatic exudative edema and acinar cell necrosis. Clinically, the pathogenesis of pancreatitis is multifactorial and involves an intricate interplay among oxidative stress, dysregulated inflammatory signaling pathways, impaired autophagy, and aberrant apoptosis. Currently, no targeted disease-modifying pharmacotherapies are approved for clinical use in pancreatitis. In recent years, natural products have garnered increasing attention due to their inherent advantages, including chemical diversity, multi-target engagement, and favorable safety profiles, rendering them promising candidates for both preventive and therapeutic intervention in pancreatitis. Nevertheless, a comprehensive synthesis of current evidence regarding their mechanisms, bioactive constituents, and translational potential remains lacking. This review provides a rigorously categorized analysis of bioactive natural compounds (including alkaloids, quinones, terpenes, flavonoids, phenolics, and glycosides) and their molecular targets implicated in the prevention and treatment of pancreatitis. Furthermore, it critically evaluates emerging strategies for the rational engineering and optimization of plant-derived compounds, thereby offering a conceptual and mechanistic foundation for the development of novel therapeutics and innovative treatment paradigms for pancreatitis.