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Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease with increasing incidence in the world, especially in developing countries. Although knowledge of its pathogenesis has progressed over the last years, some details require clarification. Studies have highlighted the role of microbial dysbiosis and immune dysfunction as essential factors that may initiate the typical high-grade inflammatory outcome. In order to better understand the immunopathophysiological aspects of UC, experimental murine models are valuable tools. Some of the most commonly used chemicals to induce colitis are trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, oxazolone and dextran sodium sulfate. These may also be used to investigate new ways of preventing or treating UC and therefore improving targeting in human studies. The use of functional foods or bioactive compounds from plants may constitute an innovative direction towards the future of alternative medicine. Considering the above, this review focused on updated information regarding the 1. gut microbiota and immunopathogenesis of UC; 2. the most utilized animal models of the disease and their relevance; and 3. experimental application of natural products, not yet tested in clinical trials.

This study hypothesized that polyphenol- and fiber-rich Brazilian fruits could elicit preventive effects in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), even when applied to obese subjects. Therefore, the purpose was to investigate the implications of the consumption of acai pulp and jaboticaba peel on obese mice with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. First, obesity was induced by a high-fat diet for 13 weeks, followed by the inclusion of DSS in the water for five days. Animals received during the whole experiment a standard or high-fat diet, with the last one containing or not 5% (w/w) freeze-dried acai or jaboticaba. The diets added with the fruits had a higher content in total phenolic compounds (1.1 mg GAE/g) and an increased antioxidant capacity (up to 25.32 μmol TE/g). The high-fat diet promoted weight gain starting from the eighth week of the experiment. While jaboticaba delayed and reduced body weight gain, acai highly exacerbated it, also increasing the accumulation of fats. Colitis was successfully induced as seen by the clinical signs and damaged colonic mucosa. The high-fat diets did not increase the severity of colitis in comparison with the standard regimen, despite promoting additional weight gain. Animals that received acai or jaboticaba did not have many symptoms of colitis and showed a grand recovery in colonic histological parameters. Additionally, acai increased the expression of tight-junction-related molecules. Despite being included in a high-fat diet, the fruits still managed to promote healing effects in colitis, therefore indicating their potential for trials with IBD patients.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are illnesses characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation and microbial dysbiosis that have emerged as a public health challenge worldwide. It comprises two main conditions: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Currently, conventional therapy to treat IBD are not free from side effects, such as liver and kidney toxicity, drug resistance, and allergic reactions. In view of this, there is growing research for alternative and complementary therapies that, in addition to acting in the prevention or the control of the disease, do not compromise the quality of life and health of individuals. In this sense, a growing body of evidence has confirmed the benefits of natural phenolic compounds in intestinal health. Phenolic compounds or polyphenols are molecules widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom (flowers, vegetables, leaves, and fruits), including plant materials remaining of the handling and food industrial processing, referred to in the scientific literature as by-products, food waste, or bagasse. Since by-products are low-cost, abundant, easily accessible, safe, and rich in bioactive compounds, it becomes an exciting option to extract, concentrate or isolate phenolic compounds to be posteriorly applied in the therapeutic approach of IBD. In this article, we have reviewed the main phenolic compounds present in various plants and by-products that have shown beneficial and/or promising effects in experimental pre-clinical, clinical, and in vitro research with IBD. In addition, we have mentioned and suggested several plants and by-products originated and produced in Latin America that could be part of future research as good sources of specific phenolic compounds to be applied in the prevention and development of alternative treatments for IBD. This review may offer a valuable reference for studies related to IBD administering phenolic compounds from natural, cheap, and easily accessible raw and undervalued materials.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), mainly Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are high-prevalent chronic gastrointestinal disorders that may cause an important reduction in life quality. Such diseases are characterized by their immune-mediated inflammatory, oxidative and dysbiotic events, which can lead to important symptoms in patients, such as abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea and body weicght loss. In the last years, alternative natural options have been postulated for the prevention or treatment of IBDs, since common drug therapy may not be well accepted due to recurrent adverse effects and/or partial efficacy. Among those new natural products, agro-industrial byproducts, such as the peel and seed of foods, are emerging as cheap and pro-ecological options, as they are rich in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, but also in non-phenolic compounds, like unsaturated fatty acids, dietary fibers and prebiotics, carotenoids, bioactive peptides, and vitamins. In that sense, Latin America is rich in little explored native fruits and vegetables, from which great amounts of byproducts can be produced. Studies have shown that the byproducts from Latin American vegetables, such as passion-fruit (Passiflora edulis), pineapple (Ananas comosus) and pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.), for example, could represent interesting tools against IBDs, judging by the results of in vitro and animal studies. Therefore, the aim of this review is to discuss the potential role of non-phenolic compounds from native Latin American food byproducts in the prevention or treatment of IBDs, by highlighting their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and/or anti-dysbiotic effects.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive effects of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) or flaxseed oil (FO) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)–induced acute ulcerative colitis in female mice. Methods Eighty C57BL/6J mice of 8-weeks-old were divided in four groups: Control (SO), 10%EVOO, 10%FO and 5%EVOO+5%FO. The oils were given through the AIN-93M diet. After 30 days, animals were divided in four more groups, in which half received 3%DSS in water for 5 days. Body weight loss, bleeding and stool consistency were verified for the Disease Activity Index (DAI). Animals were euthanized and their colon and spleen weighted and measured. Histopathological analysis, the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10 and the iNOS expression were evaluated in the colon samples. Results Animals that received DSS presented with elevated disease activity index values; increased colon weight-to-length ratio; augmented leukocyte infiltration into the lamina propria and submucosa; and increased production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, and greater inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in the distal colon. Individually or in combination, the oils were not able to reverse or mitigate any of the DSS-induced symptoms or damage. Additionally, the group of animals treated with DSS and supplemented with FO displayed increased spleen weight-to-body weight ratio, and the group that received a combination of EVOO and FO presented increased TNF-α levels compared with the respective control group. Conclusion Consumption of large amounts of EVOO and FO as a treatment for or prevention against ulcerative colitis could potentially elicit unwanted adverse effects.

Introduction: The mortality of the population with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis (HD) is very high and the protein-energy malnutrition stands out as one of the most common consequences in relation to this condition. Objective: To evaluate the association between time of hemodialysis and nutritional parameters of patients. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study with secondary data, developed of the University Hospital of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (HU/UFJF). This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (Nº 1.233.142), a total of 36 patients. The medical records and collected data were analyzed for anthropometric markers, biochemical and diet, considering two groups: HD time less than three and greater than or equal to three years. Results: There was reduction of mass of somatic protein with increased duration of HD. In relation to food intake was observed that in patients with increased duration of dialysis, an increase in average consumption of protein / kg of weight, calories, phosphorus and potassium, with a significant difference from the mean protein intake / kg (p = 0.04) and phosphorus (p = 0.045). Increasing HD time has altered body composition of patients, indicating a decline in the nutritional status of these individuals. Conclusion: HD patients are a risk group for protein-energy malnutrition, where HD time interferes with the nutritional status and food profile of the patient. The group HD time greater than or equal to 3 years presented worsening nutritional status. Resumo Introdução: Pacientes com doença renal crônica em hemodiálise (HD) apresentam risco elevado para mortalidade, sendo que a desnutrição protéico-energética se destaca como uma das causa mais comuns em relação a essa condição. Objetivo: Avaliar a associação entre o tempo de hemodiálise e parâmetros nutricionais dos pacientes. Métodos: É um estudo transversal com dados secundários, desenvolvido no Hospital Universitário Federal Universidade de Juiz de Fora (HU / UFJF). Este estudo foi aprovado pela pesquisa Comitê de Ética (nº 1.233.142), um Total de 36 pacientes. Os dados foram coletados por meio dos prontuários médicos, os quais foram analisados marcadores antropométricos, bioquímicos e dieta, considerando dois grupos: tempo HD menor do que três anos e tempo de HD maior ou igual atrês anos. Resultados: Houve redução de massa de proteína somática com aumento do tempo em HD. Em relação à avaliação alimentar, observou-se que em pacientes com maior tempo em diálise houve aumento no consumo médio de proteína/kg de peso, calorias, fósforo e Potássio, com diferença significativa da ingestão média de proteína/kg (p = 0,04) e fósforo (p = 0,045). O tempo em HD alterou a composição corporal dos pacientes, indicando um declínio doestado nutricional desses indivíduos. Conclusão: Pacientes com HD são um grupo de risco para desnutrição protéico-energética, onde o tempo em HD interfere no perfil antropométrico e alimentar do paciente.O grupo com tempo de HD superior ou igual a 3 anos apresentou piora do estado nutricional.