Researchers from the University of Messina published a study in the journal Antioxidants exploring the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Citrus flavanones using a Caco-2 cell-based model stimulated with interleukins.
The research, titled Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Citrus Flavanones Mix and Its Stability after In Vitro Simulated Digestion, highlights the potential of these compounds in gastrointestinal health and nutraceutical applications.
The role of Caco-2 Cells in nutraceutical and drug screening
Citrus flavanones are natural antioxidant metabolites with free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties. They have been identified as multi-target agents in addressing chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Since current treatments for IBD primarily rely on non-specific immunosuppressive drugs, this study aimed to identify the most representative flavanones of the Citrus genus, formulate an optimized flavanone mix (FM) by combining the most promising candidates in equimolar ratios, and evaluate its bioavailability and anti-inflammatory effects at the intestinal level using the CacoReady model, stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β, a key pro-inflammatory marker.
Key findings
- Certain Citrus flavanones exhibited strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, making them valuable for gut health applications.
- Their structural properties allow for intestinal availability, enabling them to exert beneficial effects at the gut barrier.
- At pharma-nutritional doses, the flavanone mix displayed an anti-inflammatory response comparable or superior to reference drugs, supporting its therapeutic potential.
Read article: Denaro M, Smeriglio A, Trombetta D. Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Citrus Flavanones Mix and Its Stability after In Vitro Simulated Digestion. Antioxidants. 2021; 10(2):140. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10020140
