Polysaccharides from natural resources exhibit great potential in the treatment of ulcerative colitis: A review
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Updated: Nov 24, 2025

Analyzing Beneficial Effects of Nutritional Supplements on Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Functions During Experimental Colitis
Published on: January 5, 2017
Wei Niu1, Xiaoqing Chen1, Ruling Xu2
1Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, PR China; Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, PR China.
Abstract:
The incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) is high. Despite the availability of various therapeutic agents for the treatment of UC, the routine treatment has limitations and serious side effects. Therefore, a new drug that safely and effectively treats UC is urgently needed. Polysaccharides from natural resources have recently become a hot topic of study for their therapeutic effects on UC. These effects are associated with the regulation of inflammatory cytokines, intestinal flora, and immune system and protection of the intestinal mucosa. This review focuses on the recent advances of polysaccharides from natural resources in the treatment of UC. The mechanisms and practicability of polysaccharides, including pectin, guar gum, rhamnogalacturonan, chitosan, fructan, psyllium, glycosaminoglycan, algal polysaccharides, polysaccharides from fungi and traditional Chinese medicine, and polysaccharide derivatives, are discussed in detail. The good efficacy and safety of polysaccharides make them promising drugs for treating UC.
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