Review of botanical drugs targeting cervical HPV infection and lesions

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Frontiers in Medicine Published April 30, 2026 Medically reviewed April 30, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Julia Lee, PhD · Oncology, Genomics & Drug Development

Key Takeaway

Consider botanical drugs as a potential area for further research, but recognize current evidence is preclinical and heterogeneous.

This is a narrative review of botanical drugs and their bioactive metabolites in the context of cervical human papillomavirus infection, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and cervical cancer. The authors synthesize evidence on mechanisms including suppression of HPV oncogene expression, disruption of viral DNA maintenance, and modulation of critical host responses. They also discuss effects on viral persistence, viral clearance, and lesion recurrence.

The review reports that the evidence supports pharmacological relevance in persistence-related cervical HPV biology, but no pooled effect sizes are provided. The authors highlight several limitations: incomplete phytochemical characterization, variable experimental model relevance, insufficient pharmacokinetic data, overreliance on simplified preclinical systems, and heterogeneous evidence.

Given these limitations, the findings should be considered preliminary. The review does not provide clinical recommendations, and the authors caution against overstating clinical efficacy. Further research with rigorous preclinical and clinical studies is needed before any practice implications can be drawn.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedApr 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Persistent cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the key biological event underlying high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, cervical cancer development, and recurrence risk. Botanical drugs and their bioactive metabolites have therefore attracted interest as potential adjunctive interventions, particularly because they can modulate multiple biological pathways relevant to viral persistence and clearance. This review critically synthesizes the botanical drugs and their metabolites evaluated in cervical HPV-related studies, organizing the available evidence around experimentally interpretable therapeutic outputs. The reviewed literature indicates that specific botanical drugs are associated with the suppression of HPV oncogene expression, the disruption of viral DNA maintenance, and the modulation of critical host responses. However, the current evidence remains heterogeneous and is fundamentally limited by incomplete phytochemical characterization, variable experimental model relevance, insufficient pharmacokinetic data, and an overreliance on simplified preclinical systems. Overall, current findings support the pharmacological relevance of selected botanical drugs in persistence-related cervical HPV biology, but they do not yet establish consistent clinical efficacy. Future research should prioritize standardized botanical formulations, genotype-stratified study designs, persistence-relevant biomarkers, and durable virological and lesion-related outcomes to improve translational value.