Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Rosmarinic acid alleviates intestinal inflammatory damage and inhibits endoplasmic reticulum stress and smooth muscle contraction abnormalities in intestinal tissues by regulating gut microbiota

This study found that rosmarinic acid, a natural plant compound, protected mice from intestinal inflammation by restoring healthy gut bacteria and reducing cell stress and damage. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because microplastics are known to cause similar gut inflammation and disrupt the gut microbiome. Understanding how natural compounds can repair gut damage may help develop strategies to counteract the harmful effects of microplastic exposure on digestive health.

2023 Microbiology Spectrum 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Korean red ginseng extract inhibits microplastic translocation via the gut−liver axis by ameliorating alcohol-induced intestinal disruption

Using a mouse model of alcohol-induced intestinal disruption, researchers found that Korean red ginseng extract reduced translocation of polystyrene microplastics from the gut to the liver by ameliorating alcohol-induced intestinal barrier damage, suggesting a potential protective role for this herbal extract.

2025 Journal of Ginseng Research
Article Tier 2

Amelioration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation via MAPK/NF-κB pathway in THP-1 macrophages and polystyrene microplastics (MPS)-induced inflammation, intestinal injury and dysbacteriosis in mice by a tropical coconut water-based postbiotic

Researchers tested whether a coconut water-based postbiotic could reduce inflammation caused by microplastics in both cell cultures and mice. The postbiotic suppressed inflammatory signaling pathways (NF-kB and MAPK) in immune cells and protected mice from microplastic-induced intestinal injury and gut microbial imbalance. The study suggests that fermented coconut water postbiotics may help mitigate some of the inflammatory and gut health effects associated with microplastic exposure.

2026 Food Science and Human Wellness
Article Tier 2

Melatonin Alleviates Intestinal Barrier Damaging Effects Induced by Polyethylene Microplastics in Albino Rats

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics damaged the intestinal barrier in rats by causing inflammation, reducing protective mucus, and disrupting the tight junctions between gut cells. The damage was more severe at higher doses and included changes in gut bacteria composition. The study also found that melatonin treatment helped protect against these intestinal effects, suggesting potential avenues for reducing microplastic-related gut damage.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastic-induced oxidative stress triggers intestinal barrier dysfunction via the NF-κB/NLRP3/IL-1β/MCLK pathway

Mice that swallowed polystyrene microplastics for 28 days developed oxidative stress and inflammation in their colons, leading to a weakened intestinal barrier with reduced protective mucus and loosened cell connections. The largest microplastics (5 micrometers) caused the most severe gut damage through a specific inflammatory pathway (NF-kB/NLRP3/MLCK), and antioxidant treatment was able to partially reverse the effects.

2024 Environmental Pollution 95 citations
Article Tier 2

Exacerbation of polyethylene microplastics in animal models of DSS-induced colitis through damage to intestinal epithelial cell conjunctions

Researchers tested the effects of UV-aged polyethylene microplastics on mice with chemically induced colitis, a model for inflammatory bowel disease. They found that the microplastics worsened intestinal inflammation by damaging the junctions between intestinal lining cells, weakening the gut barrier. The study suggests that microplastic exposure could aggravate existing gut conditions by compromising the protective intestinal wall.

2025 Current Research in Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Protective effects of exocarpium citri grandis extract and its flavonoid components against polystyrene microplastic-induced hepatointestinal injury

Scientists found that an extract from citrus fruit peels (called ECG) helped protect mice from liver and gut damage caused by tiny plastic particles. The citrus extract reduced harmful inflammation and oxidative stress while improving healthy gut bacteria balance. This research suggests that natural compounds from citrus peels might help protect our bodies from the health risks of microplastics that we encounter in our food and environment.

2026 Cytotechnology
Article Tier 2

Quercetin intervention mitigates small intestinal damage and immunologic derangement induced by polystyrene nanoplastics: Insights from multi-omics analysis in mice

Researchers found that quercetin, a natural compound found in fruits and vegetables, protected mice from gut damage and immune system disruption caused by polystyrene nanoplastics. The nanoplastics damaged the small intestine and disrupted immune balance, but quercetin reversed much of this harm by restoring healthy gut bacteria and gene activity. This suggests that dietary compounds like quercetin might help counteract some negative health effects of nanoplastic exposure.

2024 Environmental Pollution 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Perturbation of gut microbiota plays an important role in micro/nanoplastics-induced gut barrier dysfunction

Researchers investigated how micro- and nanoplastics disrupt gut barrier function in mice, finding that different surface chemistries caused varying levels of damage. The study suggests that these plastic particles harm the gut by altering the gut microbiome, which then leads to inflammation and weakening of the intestinal barrier that normally keeps harmful substances out of the body.

2021 Nanoscale 198 citations
Article Tier 2

Protocatechuic Acid Alleviates Dextran-Sulfate-Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice via the Regulation of Intestinal Flora and Ferroptosis

Researchers found that protocatechuic acid, a naturally occurring compound found in many fruits and vegetables, helped alleviate ulcerative colitis in mice by restoring healthy gut bacteria and reducing a type of cell death called ferroptosis. The treatment improved intestinal barrier integrity and reduced inflammation. This is relevant to microplastics research because gut barrier damage is a key concern with microplastic ingestion.

2023 Molecules 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Lactobacillus plantarum reduces polystyrene microplastic induced toxicity via multiple pathways: A potentially effective and safe dietary strategy to counteract microplastic harm

Researchers found that Lactobacillus plantarum, a probiotic bacterium commonly found in fermented foods, can reduce the harmful effects of polystyrene microplastics in mice through multiple pathways. The bacteria worked by binding directly to plastic particles to help remove them from the body, reducing oxidative damage, repairing the intestinal barrier, and regulating bile acid metabolism. This suggests that certain probiotics could be a safe dietary strategy to help counteract some of the negative health effects of microplastic exposure.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

[Screening of quality markers and activity verification of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma based on small molecule compound-protein interaction].

Researchers screened 27 chemical compounds in licorice root (Glycyrrhizae Radix) to identify quality markers by measuring how strongly each compound binds to mouse organ proteins. Seven active components were identified, and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties were confirmed in a cell model where macrophages were stressed using microplastics.

2023 PubMed 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Developments in the field of intestinal toxicity and signaling pathways associated with rodent exposure to micro(nano)plastics.

This review synthesizes current research on how micro- and nano-plastics damage the intestinal epithelium, disrupt gut barrier function, and activate inflammatory signaling pathways. The findings highlight the gut as a primary site of microplastic accumulation and suggest that intestinal toxicity may link dietary microplastic exposure to systemic health effects.

2024 Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Maltol attenuates polystyrene nanoplastic-induced enterotoxicity by promoting AMPK/mTOR/TFEB-mediated autophagy and modulating gut microbiota

Researchers found that maltol, a natural food flavoring compound, can protect against intestinal damage caused by polystyrene nanoplastics in mice. Maltol worked by activating cellular cleanup processes (autophagy) and restoring the balance of gut bacteria disrupted by nanoplastic exposure. The study suggests that dietary compounds like maltol could potentially help mitigate some of the gut health effects associated with nanoplastic ingestion.

2023 Environmental Pollution 43 citations
Article Tier 2

A probiotic for preventing microplastic toxicity: Clostridium dalinum mitigates microplastic-induced damage via microbiota-metabolism-barrier interactions

Using metagenomics and metabolomics, this study found that the probiotic bacterium Clostridium dalinum reduced microplastic-induced gut damage in mice by modulating gut microbiota composition, metabolic pathways, and intestinal barrier integrity.

2025 Current Research in Food Science
Article Tier 2

Lactic acid bacteria reduce polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics-induced toxicity through their bio-binding capacity and gut environment repair ability

Researchers found that lactic acid bacteria, the kind used in yogurt and fermented foods, can reduce the toxic effects of polystyrene micro and nanoplastics in mice. The bacteria worked by physically binding to the plastic particles and by repairing damage to the gut lining and restoring healthy gut bacteria populations. This suggests that probiotics could be a practical way to help protect the digestive system from the harmful effects of microplastic exposure through food and water.

2024 Environmental Pollution 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects induced by polyethylene microplastics oral exposure on colon mucin release, inflammation, gut microflora composition and metabolism in mice

Researchers fed mice polyethylene microplastics for 30 days and found that even low doses reduced protective mucus in the colon, altered inflammation markers, and shifted the composition of gut bacteria. The microplastics increased the ratio of Bacteroides to Firmicutes bacteria and affected metabolic pathways in the gut microbiome. The study suggests that oral microplastic exposure may disrupt intestinal health by modifying the gut microbial community and its metabolism.

2021 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 238 citations
Article Tier 2

Oxidized/unmodified-polyethylene microplastics neurotoxicity in mice: Perspective from microbiota-gut-brain axis

Mice exposed to both regular and environmentally weathered polyethylene microplastics developed brain and gut damage, including behavioral changes, weakened gut and blood-brain barriers, and inflammation -- with weathered microplastics causing even more harm. Importantly, treatment with a probiotic (Lactobacillus) and a prebiotic partially reversed these effects, suggesting that gut-friendly supplements might help protect against microplastic-related brain and intestinal damage.

2024 Environment International 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Food-derived cyanidin-3-O-glucoside reverses microplastic toxicity via promoting discharge and modulating the gut microbiota in mice

Researchers found that cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), a naturally occurring anthocyanin compound found in many fruits and vegetables, helped reduce the harmful effects of polystyrene microplastics in mice. C3G supplementation promoted the excretion of microplastics, reduced tissue accumulation, and alleviated oxidative stress and inflammation caused by the particles. The study also showed that C3G helped restore healthy gut microbiota that had been disrupted by microplastic exposure.

2021 Food & Function 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Attenuative effects of poncirin against polyethylene microplastics-prompted hepatotoxicity in rats

Researchers tested whether poncirin, a natural plant compound, could protect rat livers from damage caused by polyethylene microplastics. They found that microplastic exposure caused significant oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver tissue damage, which poncirin was able to substantially reduce by activating protective antioxidant pathways. The study suggests that natural compounds like poncirin may help counteract some of the harmful effects of microplastic exposure on the liver.

2024 Journal of King Saud University - Science 4 citations