Recently, Oil Crop Science published a research article titled "Camellia oil (Camellia oleifera Abel.) alleviates gastric injury induced by ethanol associated with modulation of gut microbiota in mice" by Dr. Yang Chen from the Institute of Oil Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Studies have reported that camellia oil can effectively prevent alcohol-induced gastric mucosal damage, and its effect is similar to that of gastric drug omeprazole. Its mechanism of action is related to improving oxidative stress, inflammatory state, and regulating intestinal flora and its metabolites. The findings help to deepen the understanding of the mechanism by which camellia oil improves gastrointestinal health, as well as the relationship between gut microbiota and host oxidative stress.
Research Background
Alcohol can damage the mucosal tissue of the gastrointestinal tract, and excessive drinking can induce severe gastric damage leading to gastric bleeding or gastric ulcer. Camellia oil is a popular woody edible oil. It is rich in nutrients and has a long history of application in nourishing the intestines and stomach and relieving various inflammations. However, its mechanism is still unclear.
Research strategy
In order to evaluate the function of camellia oil in protecting the gastrointestinal tract, the common stomach drug omeprazole was used as a positive control. After 15 days of oral administration of camellia oil to mice, a single gavage of alcohol was induced to establish an acute gastric injury model, and then the camellia oil was evaluated separately. The intervention effect of omeprazole and omeprazole on ulcer symptoms, intestinal inflammation and intestinal flora in mice with gastric mucosal injury.
Research result
1. Camellia oil pretreatment can effectively reduce alcohol-induced gastric ulcer damage, and the effect is equivalent to that of omeprazole.
2. Camellia oil reduces the level of oxidative stress in the body and significantly inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory factors in mucosal tissue.
3. Camellia oil increases the diversity of intestinal flora, changes the structure and composition of intestinal flora, and enriches the beneficial intestinal bacteria Dorea and Bosea.
4. The metabolomics of mouse feces found that camellia oil regulated cofactor and vitamin metabolism, lipid, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism and other pathways.
