Polyphenols and the potential mechanisms of their therapeutic benefits against inflammatory bowel diseases
Miłosz Caban, Urszula Lewandowska
Abstract
An increasing number of studies show that the intake of polyphenol-rich food may be used in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases in humans. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic disorders whose precise causes remain not fully known. Nevertheless, inflammatory response, oxidative stress or gut dysbiosis and associated with them a disruption of the bowel epithelium are important components of the diseases. This review examines the potential of polyphenols for treating IBD, with an emphasis on cellular mechanisms and pharmacological aspects. Research confirms that dietary polyphenols possess both protective and therapeutic effects against IBD, acting mainly via various routes: limiting immune cell infiltration and proliferation, downregulating inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, enhancing antioxidant defense, regulating the balance of gut microbiota, restoring the epithelial barrier and modulating cellular signalling pathways.