Intestinal barrier exerts a fundamental role in homeostasis and loss of barrier integrity is often implicated in diseases. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of tectochrysin (TEC), a flavonoid broadly existing in dietary plants, on the intestinal barrier dysfunction in DSS-induced colitis mice. TEC treatment significantly improved DSS-induced clinical performances and intestinal pathological alterations including high scores of disease activity index (DAI), shortened colon length, apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells and loss of tight junction (TJ) molecules. As for the mechanism, TEC suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ), alleviated macrophage infiltration, and shifted macrophage polarization from the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Furthermore, TEC targeted DSS-induced MAPK-NF-κB-MLCK signal cascade in inflamed intestine. Consequently, our findings suggested that administration of dietary flavonoid TEC effectively ameliorated DSS-induced intestinal barrier damage and offered a potential therapeutic strategy for intestinal barrier dysfunction.

Sea cucumbers (holothurians), a classic marine invertebrate echinoderms, were found worldwide mainly as benthic organisms attached to sediments on the ocean floor. In particular, Sea cucumbers have long been esteemed as a valuable food due to their unique high nutritional value. Bioactives from Sea cucumbers play a crucial role in favor of human wellness. In this review, we collected recent research advances regarding this topic. First, we summarized the bioactive components from sea cucumbers including saponins, polysaccharides, polypeptides, proteins, fatty acids, cerebrosides, and gangliosides. Furthermore, we also outlined the role of sea cucumbers in anti-tumor, metabolic disease prevention, immune regulation and anti-aging. In a word, this review intends to cause further attention on the researches and development of sea cucumbers on the basis of the health protective mechanisms associated with the bioactives.

Propolis is a gelatinous mixture produced by honeybees for maintaining the structural integrity and aseptic environment of the hive. The bioactive compounds are crucial for the health effects of propolis. Given that propolis is generated by honeybees, its exact bioactives and health benefits are varied due to the sources of materials. Here we investigated whether propolis collected from Yaunqu County, Shanxi,China, potentially protected against mice intestinal damage-induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Our results indicated that propolis effectively alleviated DSS-induced intestinal injury and the mechanisms behind it involving in targeting macrophage inflammation including pro-inflammatory cytokines, pro-inflammatory signal pathways Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and tissue factors. This research enriches the evidence of propolis as a candidate for protection against intestinal injury.