Phytochemicals and Their Potential Usefulness in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract with unclear etiology, namely ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Various drug therapies including aminosalicylates and immunomodulators have been approved for use; they have shown to produce diverse side effects. To overcome these limitations of the current therapeutics for IBD, extensive research is underway to identify drugs that are effective and free of undesirable side effects. Recently, various naturally occurring phytochemicals that cover a wide range of chemical entities such as polyphenols, terpeniods, flavonoids, and alkaloids have received attention as alternative candidates for IBD therapy. These phytochemicals act by modulating the immune response, various transcription factors, or reduce cytokine secretion. This review summarizes the findings of recent studies on phytochemicals as therapeutic agents in the management of IBD.

Resveratrol and inflammatory bowel disease

“…Oxidative stress can be intensified by inflammatory mediators in IBD. Hence, inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation have been a focus of investigation of antioxidants, especially phytochemicals, in experimental therapies of IBD . Resveratrol ( trans ‐3,5,4′‐trihydroxy‐stilbene) has demonstrated antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory activity .…”

Inflammation related responses of intestinal cells to plum and cabbage digesta with differential carotenoid and polyphenol profiles following simulated gastrointestinal digestion

“…The treatment for the worst cases is surgery, but mostly patients are treated with medical drugs such as steroids, non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs or immune selective anti‐inflammatory derivatives. However, these strategies were shown to have severe side effects , such as vomiting, liver pain, loss of appetite, and liver damage . Therefore, it is prudent to seek alternative strategies that can be employed to prevent and treat IBD, such as a dietary approach, which may be a meaningful adjuvant candidate for IBD therapy.…”

Effect of oil palm phenolics on gastrointestinal transit, contractility and motility in the rat

“…With the recent interest in the gut microbiome, dietary constituents and chronic diseases, there is a resurgence of interest to discover natural components with specific health fighting properties (Somani, Modi, Majumdar, & Sadarani, 2015). The palm oil tree is a rich source of a family of water soluble polyphenols -oil palm phenolics (OPP), which have been shown to have a variety of health benefits (Sambanthamurthi et al, 2011).…”