Current advances in the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of natural polysaccharides

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, multifactorial and inflammatory disease occurring in the colon tract. Bioactive polysaccharides from natural resources have attracted extensive attention due to their safety, accessibility and good bioactivities. In recent years, a variety of natural bioactive polysaccharides have been proven to possess anti-inflammatory effects on treating acute colitis. The objective of this review was to give an up-to-date review on the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of natural polysaccharides on acute colitis. The anti-inflammatory effects of natural polysaccharides on acute colitis concerning clinical symptoms amelioration, colon tissue repairment, anti-oxidative stress alleviation, anti-inflammation, immune regulation, and gut microbiota modulation were comprehensively summarized. In addition, inducible murine models for assessing the anti-inflammatory effects of natural polysaccharides on acute colitis were also concluded. This review will offer the comprehensive understanding of anti-inflammatory mechanisms of natural polysaccharides in acute colitis, and render theoretical basis for the development and application of natural polysaccharides in drug and functional food.

Keywords:

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• polysaccharides
• anti-inflammatory
• intestinal barrier function
• gut microbiota
• murine colitis models

Disclosure statement

There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31801542), Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (202102020267) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (2020ZYGXZR021).