Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Seaweed polysaccharide relieves hexavalent chromium-induced gut microbial homeostasis

Researchers found that seaweed polysaccharides can restore gut microbial balance disrupted by hexavalent chromium exposure in mice, reducing pathogenic bacteria and increasing beneficial species, suggesting a potential dietary intervention for heavy metal-induced intestinal damage.

2023 Frontiers in Microbiology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Prevention of Loperamide-Induced Constipation in Mice and Alteration of 5-Hydroxytryotamine Signaling by Ligilactobacillus salivarius Li01

Researchers found that the probiotic Ligilactobacillus salivarius Li01 alleviates constipation in mice by modulating the serotonin signaling pathway, improving intestinal barrier function, and altering gut microbiota composition.

2022 Nutrients 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Fucoidan from Cladosiphon okamuranus enhances antioxidant activity and prevents reproductive dysfunction in polystyrene microplastic-induced male rats

Researchers tested whether fucoidan, a compound extracted from brown seaweed, could protect against reproductive damage caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure in male rats. They found that fucoidan treatment enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, reduced inflammation markers, and preserved testicular tissue structure and testosterone levels. The study suggests that fucoidan may help counteract microplastic-induced oxidative stress in reproductive tissues.

2023 Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 13 citations
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

Black Lycium barbarum polysaccharide attenuates LPS-induced intestine damage via regulation gut microbiota

Researchers studied whether a polysaccharide from black Lycium barbarum could protect against intestinal damage caused by bacterial toxins in mice. They found that the supplement alleviated intestinal tissue damage and improved gut microbiota diversity by promoting beneficial bacteria. The study suggests that this plant-derived polysaccharide may help maintain intestinal health by modulating the gut microbial community.

2023 Frontiers in Microbiology 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioactive Potential of Brown Algae

This review summarized the bioactive compounds found in brown algae, including phlorotannins, fucoxanthin, and fucoidan, which show a range of biological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers highlighted the potential of these marine-derived natural products as sources for novel therapeutic agents. The study examines how these compounds work at the molecular level and their possible applications across multiple fields.

2022 Adsorption Science & Technology 104 citations
Article Tier 2

Active compounds of licorice ameliorate microplastics-induced intestinal damage by targeting FADD

Researchers tested whether active compounds from licorice root could protect intestinal cells from damage caused by microplastic exposure in mice, finding that licorice compounds reduced inflammation and oxidative stress in the gut and partially restored intestinal barrier integrity.

2025 Food and Chemical Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Carvacrol attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal injury by down-regulating TLRs gene expression and regulating the gut microbiota in rabbit

Researchers tested whether carvacrol, a natural plant compound found in oregano and thyme, could protect the intestines of rabbits challenged with a bacterial toxin (lipopolysaccharide), finding it reduced inflammation, improved gut lining structure, and restored healthier gut bacteria communities. These results suggest carvacrol could be a useful dietary supplement for protecting intestinal health in rabbit farming.

2023 Scientific Reports 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Chestnut Shell Tannins: Effects on Intestinal Inflammation and Dysbiosis in Zebrafish

Researchers tested chestnut shell tannin extract in zebrafish with induced intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis, finding that tannin treatment reduced inflammatory markers and partially restored gut microbiome composition, suggesting potential as a natural anti-inflammatory dietary supplement.

2021 Animals 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Fermented Wheat Bran Polysaccharides Improved Intestinal Health of Zebrafish in Terms of Intestinal Motility and Barrier Function

Researchers found that fermented wheat bran polysaccharides improved intestinal health in zebrafish by enhancing intestinal motility and barrier function, suggesting their potential as functional food additives for gut health.

2023 Fermentation 7 citations
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Considering the Importance of Medicinal Plants and Natural Products and Their Mechanisms of Action for Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders

This bibliometric analysis of over a thousand articles reviewed medicinal plants and natural products for treating gastrointestinal disorders, highlighting their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and gut-protective mechanisms. While not focused on microplastics, the gut-protective properties of certain natural compounds are relevant to understanding how to mitigate gastrointestinal damage from environmental contaminants.

2025 Military Medical Science Letters
Article Tier 2

Potential of Red Seaweed (Dichotomania obtusata) on Immune Response and Histopathology of Rat Testis Exposed to Nanoplastics

Researchers found that red seaweed (Dichotomania obtusata) extract improved immune response and reduced histopathological damage in rat testes exposed to nanoplastics, suggesting potential protective effects against nanoplastic-induced reproductive toxicity.

2023 Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research 6 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

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

Microplastics contamination in seaweed: impacts on human health and mitigation approaches

This review found that microplastics contaminate many types of edible seaweed, with fibers and fragments being the most common forms. Since seaweed is consumed worldwide, these microplastics can enter the human body and potentially cause oxidative damage, cell toxicity, and neurotoxicity. More research is needed to fully understand the health risks of eating microplastic-contaminated seaweed.

2025 Discover Oceans 13 citations
Article Tier 2

The role of human intestinal mucus in the prevention of microplastic uptake and cell damage

Researchers studied how the mucus lining of the human intestine acts as a barrier against microplastic particles of different sizes and surface coatings. The mucus layer significantly reduced microplastic uptake by cells and protected against toxicity and inflammation. This study suggests that a healthy intestinal mucus layer is an important natural defense against the harmful effects of swallowed microplastics.

2025 Biomaterials Science 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics induced health risk: Insights into intestinal barrier homeostasis and potential remediation strategy by dietary intervention

Researchers showed that environmentally aged nanoplastics disrupt intestinal barrier integrity by increasing permeability, triggering inflammation via AP-1 signaling, and inducing mitochondrial apoptosis, and that dietary quercetin counteracts these effects by activating the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and suppressing p38/JNK phosphorylation.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Seaweed as a sink for microplastic contamination: Uptake, identifications and food safety implications

This review examines how seaweed, a widely consumed food, absorbs and accumulates microplastics from ocean water. Research shows seaweed can account for up to 45.5% of total dietary microplastic intake in some regions, with particularly high levels in South Asia. The findings are concerning for human health because seaweed is eaten directly and is also increasingly used in health supplements and food additives.

2025 Environmental Research 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Dietary Curcumin Promotes Gilthead Seabream Larvae Digestive Capacity and Modulates Oxidative Status

Adding curcumin to the diet of gilthead seabream larvae improved their digestive capacity and antioxidant status. The research explores natural dietary supplements for improving fish health in aquaculture, which is relevant as farmed seafood is a source of microplastic exposure for humans.

2021 Animals 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Engineered Probiotics Mitigate Gut Barrier Dysfunction Induced by Nanoplastics

Researchers engineered a probiotic-based system using modified E. coli Nissle 1917 bacteria to counteract gut barrier damage caused by nanoplastics derived from PET food packaging. The engineered probiotic was designed to produce an anti-inflammatory protein and was coated for better survival in the digestive tract, where it reduced inflammation, restored gut barrier function, and rebalanced gut bacteria in animal models. The study suggests that engineered probiotics could be a promising approach for protecting the gut from nanoplastic-related damage.

2025 Advanced Science 11 citations