Abstract:Melanosis coli (MC) is a pigmented bowel disease of colonic mucosa and more common in the elderly. Most patients have a long-term history of constipation and taking anthraquinone laxatives. It is generally considered that the history of taking anthraquinone laxatives is the key factor in the pathogenesis of MC. However, its etiology and pathogenesis are still unclear. Many studies have found that MC is more likely to be associated with colonic adenomatous polyps, and the probability of detecting MC in colon cancer patients is also higher than that in the general population. Experimental studies have also confirmed that MC is associated with some differentially expressed genes and proteins in colon cancer. So, deepening understanding of MC may also have clinical significance for the prevention of colon tumors. This paper reviews the research progress of MC and its relationship with colon tumors.