Tannins as Therapeutic Agents for Ulcerative Colitis: Mechanisms and Prospects in Regulating Gut...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology
• Natural Products Chemistry

Background:

• Ulcerative colitis (UC) involves chronic intestinal inflammation and oxidative imbalance, impacting patient quality of life.
• Tannins, plant-derived polyphenols, possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties with therapeutic potential for UC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the molecular mechanisms of tannin action in restoring intestinal homeostasis in UC.
• To explore the potential of tannins as a therapeutic strategy for ulcerative colitis.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of PubMed and Web of Science databases.
• Analysis of studies investigating tannin effects on oxidative stress and inflammation in UC models.

Main Results:

• Tannins scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitigate oxidative damage through their polyphenolic structure.
• Tannins upregulate antioxidant enzymes, suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines, and maintain intestinal barrier integrity.
• Evidence suggests tannins can restore intestinal inflammatory and oxidative homeostasis.

Conclusions:

• Tannins exhibit significant therapeutic promise for ulcerative colitis by targeting key inflammatory and oxidative pathways.
• Challenges including low bioavailability and structural complexity require further investigation for clinical translation.
• Future research should focus on enhancing bioavailability and clarifying structure-activity relationships for tannin-based UC therapies.