The balance of the intestinal lining is crucial for overall body\nhealth. When inflammation disrupts this balance, the risk of various\nchronic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and type 2\ndiabetes, increases. Interestingly, a natural solution to this problem\nmay come from marine farming waste that is often discarded.<\/p>\n
A recent study by a team of scientists from the University of Ferrara\n(Unife) in Italy found that an extract from whole Pacific oyster\n(Crassostrea gigas) meat can relieve inflammation in human intestinal\ncells while protecting the intestinal barrier. This discovery opens up\nsignificant opportunities to turn oysters that do not meet commercial\nstandards into high-value health products.<\/p>\n
The human intestinal wall consists of a single, tight layer of cells\nthat acts as a fortress, controlling substances that enter the body.\nWhen this layer weakens, a condition known as leaky gut, bacteria and\ntoxins can slip into the bloodstream. This triggers a continuous\nactivation of the immune system, known as chronic inflammation.<\/p>\n
The research, led by Giulia Trinchera, a doctoral student at Unife,\nfocused on the Pacific oyster, the most widely farmed saltwater\nshellfish species in the world. In an interview with Earth.com,\nTrinchera expressed surprise at the laboratory findings. \u201cWhat was most\nsurprising was that the extract of the whole soft oyster tissue, not\npurified peptides or isolated compounds, was able to provide a\nconsistent anti-inflammatory effect on intestinal epithelial models,\u201d\nTrinchera said.<\/p>\n
In their experiments, the research team collected adult oysters from\nthe Po River delta in northern Italy. The oyster meat was freeze-dried,\nground, and extracted using alcohol to capture its active compounds.\nWhen tested on inflamed human intestinal cells, the oyster extract\nblocked a key inflammatory switch and reduced the activity of\ninflammatory genes by half at the highest dose. Furthermore, the extract\nlowered levels of the COX-2 enzyme, which propagates inflammation. \u201cTo\nthe best of our knowledge, this is the first time that oyster tissue has\nbeen shown to exert an anti-inflammatory effect on intestinal cells,\u201d\nTrinchera added.<\/p>\n
Beyond chemically relieving inflammation, the oyster extract also\nmaintained the physical strength of the intestinal wall. Under an\nelectron microscope, intestinal cells treated with a high dose of the\nextract appeared smooth and tight, in stark contrast to the damaged and\nperforated appearance of untreated, inflamed cells.<\/p>\n
In addition to its health benefits, this innovation offers an\nenvironmental solution. The oysters studied came from Sacca di Goro,\nItaly, where approximately 30-40% of the annual harvest is discarded\nbecause the shellfish are too small or misshapen. Trinchera explained\nthat the findings show these discarded oysters can be a valuable source\nof bioactive materials for nutraceutical applications, contributing to a\nmore circular and sustainable aquaculture economy and creating added\nvalue from existing marine resources.<\/p>\n
Despite the promising results, Trinchera stressed that the research\nis still a proof of concept. She noted that many questions remain\nregarding efficacy, safety, dosage, and how the active compounds behave\nin a living organism. Animal and human trials will be the next crucial\nsteps before the extract can officially become a commercial\nsupplement.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/whole-oyster-extract-can-address-gut-issues-and-reduce-marine-waste-1783659032", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }