Digestive Health and Gastrointestinal Protection

Abstract

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is responsible for multiple functions, including digestion and absorption of food which directly affect systemic health through reactive oxygen species scavenging, immune function modulation, and gut microbiota communication. Now, approximately 40.3% of individuals suffer from GI disorders globally which causes a huge burden on individuals, families, and the society. Fortunately, substantial evidence has shown that polyphenol-rich diets and cooking oils play a crucial role in the prevention of GI disorders, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Camellia oil (Camellia oleifera Abel. and Camellia brevistyla) is a great cooking oil with nearly 90% unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and polyphenols. The GI protection capacity of camellia oil is well documented in Asia. Besides, several polyphenols are naturally occurring in fruits and vegetables, which have abundant antioxidants for GI protection through gut microbiota modulation. The emerging evidence unmasks the contribution of GI protection through various signalling transduction, antioxidative, and gut microbiota modulation abilities. However, the underlying biological mechanisms of GI protection by polyphenol and camellia oil treatment are not integrated. In this chapter, the underlying mechanisms for GI protective effects by camellia oil and other phytochemicals through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, mucosal healing, and gut microbiota modulation are summarized.