Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common viruses transmitted sexually and found among men and women in both developing and developed countries. Alternative treatment options, such as the use of medicinal plants and complementary medicine, have been welcomed by researchers due to their low side effects. The present study was conducted with the aim of reviewing and comparing complementary medicine methods for HPV infection and cancer.
Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted on English and Farsi documents published during the years 2004 to 2024 in PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. The screening process was performed by two independent authors, and the selected articles were reviewed for inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Results: In total, 210 relevant studies were searched in 2004–2024, and after evaluating full texts of articles, 25 articles were opted in accordance with the eligibility criteria with keywords “complementary medicine, medicinal plants, HPV infection and cancer,” and finally, 20 full‑text articles were reviewed systematically. Green tea, enriched with polyphenols and sinecatechins, and therapeutic compounds from Shiitake and Ganoderma mushrooms, represent among the most effective substances utilized in complementary medicine for the treatment and prevention of genital warts. The synergistic effects of these bioactive components have demonstrated significant potential in reducing the incidence and recurrence of this condition, highlighting their relevance in integrative therapeutic approaches.
Conclusion: Complementary medicine can have a positive effect on infections and cancers caused by HPV. These drugs can be effective in preventing cancer caused by inhibiting abnormal growth and stabilizing the genome of cells. However, there is a need for more research and clinical trials to confirm these effects and prove the effectiveness of complementary medicines in this field.