Flavonoides y enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal
- Ballester, I.
- Camuesco, D.
- Gálvez, J.
- Sánchez de Medina, F.
- Zarzuelo, A.
ISSN: 2340-9894, 0004-2927
Year of publication: 2006
Volume: 47
Issue: 1
Pages: 5-21
Type: Article
More publications in: Ars pharmaceutica
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have revealed the important role that foodstuffs of vegetable origin have to play in the prevention of numerous illnesses. The natural antioxidants present in such foodstuffs, among which the fl avonoids are widely present, may be responsible for such an activity. Flavonoids are compounds that are low in molecular weight and widely distributed throughout the vegetable kingdom. They may be of great utility in states of accute or chronic diarrhoea through the inhibition of intestinal secretion and motility, and may also be benefi cial in the reduction of chronic infl ammatory damage in the intestine, by affording protection against oxidative stress and by preserving mucosal function. For this reason, the use of these agents is recommended in the treatment of infl ammatory bowel disease, in which various factors are involved in extreme immunological reactions, which lead to chronic intestinal infl ammation.