Strawberry Tree Extract: Potential Aid for Ulcerative Colitis Treatment
As of 2019, an estimated 4.9 million people worldwide are living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic inflammatory condition that primarily affects the digestive system. Ulcerative colitis, one of the two main forms of this disease, does not have a cure, but treatment typically involves medication, dietary changes, and in some cases, surgery.
Ulcerative colitis appears to be triggered by a combination of factors, which may include family history, ethnicity, gut microbiome composition, and environmental elements, such as cigarette smoke. The condition results in long-term inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fatigue.
In ongoing efforts to find effective treatments for ulcerative colitis, a study published in the Journal of Functional Foods has identified a potential natural remedy. Researchers focused on an extract from a Mediterranean plant known as the strawberry tree, or Arbutus unedo.
The strawberry tree is native to the Mediterranean region and Western Europe, and its bark, fruit, and leaves have been used in traditional medicine. For this study, researchers investigated the impact of the strawberry tree extract on ulcerative colitis in a mouse model.
The study found that pretreatment with the plant extract helped prevent changes in the lining of the colon and decreased the development of colonic lesions when compared to mice who did not receive the extract. These findings suggest that the extract could offer a protective effect and help reduce inflammation and support gut health in ulcerative colitis.
Furthermore, researchers discovered that mice pretreated with strawberry tree extract had lower expression of proteins that promote oxidative stress and inflammation, key factors in the development of ulcerative colitis. This indicates that the extract may help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, potentially reducing the severity of the disease and supporting gut health.
The researchers plan to conduct additional studies to better understand the exact mechanisms by which the extract exerts its effects and to evaluate its impact on human cell models. Additionally, medical experts have emphasized the importance of rigorous clinical trials to examine not only the efficacy but also the safety, tolerability, and potential integration of this extract into existing care.
While this is preliminary research in an animal model, integrative medicine experts have expressed encouragement for the potential of natural compounds, like the strawberry tree extract, as a promising area of study in treating complex chronic conditions like ulcerative colitis. With comprehensive studies and clinical trials, these compounds may offer accessible, sustainable options for patients with minimal side effects, high costs, or limited long-term effectiveness.
For those looking to incorporate similar benefits into their diet, foods rich in antioxidants, antimicrobial properties, and anti-inflammatory compounds may help support gut health. Foods such as avocados, broccoli, cabbage, garlic, asparagus, beets, bone broth, chicken and turkey, eggs, fish, lentils, tofu, grapes, green tea, apples, onions, leafy greens, and tea, contain the necessary nutrients. A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can help customize recommendations based on an individual's needs, current condition, and food access.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic medical-condition that primarily impacts the gastrointestinal system, includes ulcerative colitis, one of its main forms, which does not have a cure but can be managed through medication, dietary changes, and in some cases, surgery.
- The strawberry tree extract, derived from a Mediterranean plant known as Arbutus unedo, has shown potential in easing ulcerative colitis symptoms, as a study published in the Journal of Functional Foods suggests.
- The strawberry tree, native to the Mediterranean region and Western Europe, has been traditionally used in medicine due to its bark, fruit, and leaves, and its extract appears to help reduce inflammation and support gut health, as found in the study.
- A key finding of the study was the reduction in colonic lesions and oxidative stress and inflammation proteins with the use of the strawberry tree extract in a mouse model, indicating its potential to alleviate symptoms and severity of ulcerative colitis.
- Further studies are planned to investigate the exact mechanisms of the extract's effects, its impact on human cell models, and its potential integration into existing care, as well as assessing its efficacy, safety, tolerance, and overall effectiveness.
- Integrating foods rich in antioxidants, antimicrobial properties, and anti-inflammatory compounds, such as avocados, broccoli, garlic, and leafy greens, into a diet can provide nutritional support for overall gut health. Consulting a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) is recommended to customize dietary recommendations based on individual needs, conditions, and food access.
