Quinoa and Colonic Health: A Review of Bioactive Components and Mechanistic Insights

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is an ancient Andean crop renowned for its exceptional nutritional profile and diverse bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, polyphenols, saponins, and essential fatty acids. As global incidence of colonic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colorectal cancer (CRC), and celiac disease continues to rise, the therapeutic potential of quinoa has garnered increasing scientific attention. This review systematically examines the role of quinoa, with focus on quinoa polysaccharides (QPs), in maintaining and improving colonic health. It summarizes the molecular structure, functional properties, and gut microbiota-modulating effects of QPs, alongside emerging findings on their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anticancer activities. Furthermore, the review explores quinoa's auxiliary effects in mitigating CRC progression and chemotherapy resistance, alleviating intestinal inflammation, and supporting gastrointestinal integrity in celiac patients. By integrating evidence from multi-omics technologies, cell and animal models, and limited clinical studies with mechanistic insights, this review provides a focused synthesis of quinoa bioactive compounds in relation to colonic health. It highlights how precision nutrition and multi-omics approaches could guide future applications of quinoa as a novel functional food-based intervention for colonic diseases.