Exploring the effects of phenolic compounds to reduce intestinal damage and improve the intestinal barrier integrity: A systematic review of in vivo animal studies

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#animals #antioxidants #disease-models-animal #inflammation #intestinal-diseases

Exploring the effects of phenolic compounds to reduce intestinal damage and improve the intestinal barrier integrity: A systematic review of in vivo animal studies

Sandoval-Ramírez et al., 2021 | Clin Nutr | Systematic Review

Citation

Sandoval-Ramírez Berner Andrée, Catalán Úrsula, ... Solà Rosa. Exploring the effects of phenolic compounds to reduce intestinal damage and improve the intestinal barrier integrity: A systematic review of in vivo animal studies. Clin Nutr. 2021-Apr;40(4):1719-1732. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2020.09.027

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The integrity of the intestinal barrier in the diseased is key to prevent further complications and disease such as sepsis and death, whereas, the role of food bioactive molecules (i. e. phenolic compounds (PCs) on the intestinal barrier, is still unknown. The current aim was to explore the benefits of the oral PC administration on the intestinal barrier integrity in animals. METHODS: The effects of PCs on the intestinal barrier integrity in in vivo animal models of intestinal inflammation were assessed up-to August 2020 from the PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane Library databases under the PRISMA methodology. The risk of bias was assessed from ARRAY and SCYRCLE tools. RESULTS: From 1241 articles, 14 studies were included. In animals, oral resveratrol (n = 6) improves the intestinal barrier integrity and reduces intestinal damage. Additionally, grape seed extract (n = 2), curcumin (n = 1), genistein (n = 1), chlorogenic acid (n = 1), grape pomace (n = 1), olive leaf (n = 1) or cranberry extract (n = 1) improve the intestinal barrier integrity downregulating various inflammatory molecules (TNF-α, and other interleukins), and increasing the antioxidant enzymes in animals. Furthermore, resveratrol, quercetin, epigallocatechin, and other PCs improve the epithelial barrier integrity and pro-inflammatory molecule expression in the intestinal epithelia. CONCLUSIONS: The oral PC administration in animals improves the intestinal barrier integrity and function from three main mechanisms: 1) The reduction of pro-inflammatory molecules, 2) the improvement in tight-junction protein expression, and 3) the improvement of the antioxidant intracellular activity suggesting the potential use of PCs in the management of intestinal injury in humans, particularly for resveratrol, the most studied PC.

Key Findings

From 1241 articles, 14 studies were included. In animals, oral resveratrol (n = 6) improves the intestinal barrier integrity and reduces intestinal damage. Additionally, grape seed extract (n = 2), curcumin (n = 1), genistein (n = 1), chlorogenic acid (n = 1), grape pomace (n = 1), olive leaf (n = 1) or cranberry extract (n = 1) improve the intestinal barrier integrity downregulating various inflammatory molecules (TNF-α, and other interleukins), and increasing the antioxidant enzymes in animals

Outcomes Measured

  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 6
Age Range See abstract
Condition inflammation

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Inflammation
  • Intestinal Diseases
  • Intestinal Mucosa
  • Permeability
  • Phytochemicals
  • Plant Extracts

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: resveratrol

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09