Çakmak FM, Aydınlı H, Özkan A, Haznedaroglu IC, Simsek C. Ankaferd blood stopper application in gastrointestinal bleeding: An updated narrative review. World J Gastrointest Endosc 2026; 18(7): 121964 [DOI: 10.4253/wjge.121964]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Cem Simsek, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe neighbourhood Hacettepe University Hospital, Ankara 06230, Altindag, Türkiye. cemsimsek90@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
review-article
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastrointest Endosc. Jul 16, 2026; 18(7): 121964 Published online Jul 16, 2026. doi: 10.4253/wjge.121964
Ankaferd blood stopper application in gastrointestinal bleeding: An updated narrative review
Furkan M Çakmak, Hakan Aydınlı, Abdurrahman Özkan, Ibrahim C Haznedaroglu, Cem Simsek
Furkan M Çakmak, Abdurrahman Özkan, Cem Simsek, Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara 06230, Altindag, Türkiye
Hakan Aydınlı, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara 06230, Altindag, Türkiye
Ibrahim C Haznedaroglu, Department of Hematology, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara 06230, Altindag, Türkiye
Co-first authors: Furkan M Çakmak and Hakan Aydınlı.
Author contributions: Çakmak FM and Aydınlı H performed the literature review and drafted the manuscript; they contributed equally to this article and are the co-first authors of this manuscript; Ozkan A contributed to data interpretation and manuscript revision; Haznedaroglu IC contributed to study design and supervision; Simsek C designed the study; all authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.
AI contribution statement: During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors utilized Gemini 3 Pro and ChatGPT-5.2 Pro for language refinement, stylistic editing and editorial assistance to improve readability and clarity of the text. The authors declare that no generative artificial intelligence was used for creation, analysis or conclusions. All AI-assisted outputs were rigorously reviewed, verified and validated by the authors who maintain full accountability for the accuracy, technical integrity and originality of the final work.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Cem Simsek, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe neighbourhood Hacettepe University Hospital, Ankara 06230, Altindag, Türkiye. cemsimsek90@gmail.com
Received: April 7, 2026 Revised: May 3, 2026 Accepted: July 2, 2026 Published online: July 16, 2026 Processing time: 101 Days and 17 Hours
Abstract
Gastrointestinal bleeding is a common and potentially life-threatening condition that requires prompt and effective management. Ankaferd blood stopper (ABS) is a plant-derived topical hemostatic agent that has recently attracted attention as a potential adjunctive tool in endoscopic hemostasis. This narrative review summarizes the available evidence regarding its mechanisms of action and clinical applications in gastrointestinal bleeding. Current data suggest that ABS may provide immediate bleeding control, particularly in refractory bleeding where conventional methods are insufficient or challenging. Reported clinical use indicates variceal and nonvariceal bleeding, malignancy-related hemorrhage, radiation-induced injury, and post-procedural bleeding. However, the available evidence is largely derived from case reports and small observational studies, limiting definitive conclusions regarding efficacy and safety. Overall, ABS appears to be a promising adjunctive or rescue option in selected clinical scenarios. Further well-designed prospective and comparative studies are required to better define its role within current endoscopic hemostatic strategies.
Core Tip: Ankaferd blood stopper (ABS) represents a novel non-coagulation-dependent hemostatic approach that may expand the therapeutic options for gastrointestinal bleeding. Unlike conventional endoscopic methods, ABS acts rapidly and can be applied easily, making it particularly attractive in challenging or inaccessible bleeding sites. Its potential role as a bridging or rescue therapy in refractory bleeding highlights its clinical relevance. Although current evidence is limited, ABS may offer a practical adjunct in selected cases, warranting further investigation in well-designed prospective studies.
