Plant-derived bioactives and nutraceuticals in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: clinical evidence, pain-sensitization mechanisms and nutritional translation
- 1Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine , ,
- 2The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Hospital (Chongqing Beibei District Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital) , ,
- 3Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , ,
Abstract
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a common cause of persistent pelvic pain in men, often accompanied by urinary, sexual and psychosocial symptoms. Clinical heterogeneity and inconsistent treatment responses have shifted mechanistic attention beyond the prostate to peripheral nociceptor sensitization, spinal amplification and altered central pain processing. Plant foods and botanical materials contain polyphenols, terpenes, carotenoids, alkaloids and isothiocyanates that influence inflammatory, redox, nociceptive and microbiota-related pathways. CP/CPPS trials have evaluated these exposures mainly as standardized extracts, concentrated supplements or fixed nutraceutical formulations. This targeted narrative review integrates their clinical evidence with pain-sensitization biology and the determinants of nutritional exposure. Literature searches covered PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus for publications dated on or before 8 August 2026, with priority given to controlled and prospective human CP/CPPS studies. Selected standardized extracts have shown clinical benefits, while quercetin is supported by preliminary clinical evidence from one small placebo-controlled trial. Curcumin and antioxidant products have been tested mainly as multi-ingredient formulations. β-Caryophyllene, berberine and sulforaphane provide emerging experimental or adjacent-condition evidence. Across candidates, the most consistent biological links involve peripheral inflammation, oxidative stress, nociceptor excitability and lower urinary tract function. Together, these findings support a model in which plant-derived bioactives may reduce peripheral inputs that sustain pain sensitization. Formulation, bioavailability and safety are central to translating these findings into nutritional interventions. Larger randomized trials should evaluate clinical benefits and test the proposed links to pain sensitization.
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BibTeX
@article{liu2026plantderived,
title = {{Plant-derived bioactives and nutraceuticals in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: clinical evidence, pain-sensitization mechanisms and nutritional translation}},
author = {Xue Liu and Junfu Mo and Zhirui Sun and Min Liu and Zhaoxu Yang},
journal = {Frontiers in nutrition},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fnut.2026.1966858},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13728354},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Plant-derived bioactives and nutraceuticals in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: clinical evidence, pain-sensitization mechanisms and nutritional translation
AU - Xue Liu
AU - Junfu Mo
AU - Zhirui Sun
AU - Min Liu
AU - Zhaoxu Yang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Frontiers in nutrition
DO - 10.3389/fnut.2026.1966858
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13728354
AB - Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a common cause of persistent pelvic pain in men, often accompanied by urinary, sexual and psychosocial symptoms. Clinical heterogeneity and inconsistent treatment responses have shifted mechanistic attention beyond the prostate to peripheral nociceptor sensitization, spinal amplification and altered central pain processing. Plant foods and botanical materials contain polyphenols, terpenes, carotenoids, alkaloids and isothiocyanates that influence inflammatory, redox, nociceptive and microbiota-related pathways. CP/CPPS trials have evaluated these exposures mainly as standardized extracts, concentrated supplements or fixed nutraceutical formulations. This targeted narrative review integrates their clinical evidence with pain-sensitization biology and the determinants of nutritional exposure. Literature searches covered PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus for publications dated on or before 8 August 2026, with priority given to controlled and prospective human CP/CPPS studies. Selected standardized extracts have shown clinical benefits, while quercetin is supported by preliminary clinical evidence from one small placebo-controlled trial. Curcumin and antioxidant products have been tested mainly as multi-ingredient formulations. β-Caryophyllene, berberine and sulforaphane provide emerging experimental or adjacent-condition evidence. Across candidates, the most consistent biological links involve peripheral inflammation, oxidative stress, nociceptor excitability and lower urinary tract function. Together, these findings support a model in which plant-derived bioactives may reduce peripheral inputs that sustain pain sensitization. Formulation, bioavailability and safety are central to translating these findings into nutritional interventions. Larger randomized trials should evaluate clinical benefits and test the proposed links to pain sensitization.
SN - 2296-861X
ER -