A new study has found that an affordable and environmentally sustainable extract derived from oyster meat may have strong anti-inflammatory properties and help protect human intestinal cells. The findings were presented at the Society for Experimental Biology conference in Florence, Italy.
Researchers studied the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas)—the most widely farmed marine bivalve species in the world. This species has long been recognized for its high nutritional value and its content of biologically active compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and potentially anticancer properties. Previous studies have also shown that oyster-derived compounds can reduce inflammation in mouse white blood cells.
This time, the researchers aimed to investigate the direct effects of oysters on human intestinal cells. Chronic inflammation is a key factor underlying many serious diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and inflammatory bowel disorders.
One of the major contributors to inflammation is disruption of the intestinal barrier, a condition often referred to as increased intestinal permeability or "leaky gut syndrome." In this state, bacteria and toxins from the gut can enter the bloodstream and trigger immune responses. Diet plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of this protective barrier.
To investigate oyster-derived compounds, the scientists conducted a detailed analysis of oyster tissues, examining their content of proteins, lipids, minerals, polyphenols, and carotenoids. They then produced an extract from dried oyster meat and tested it on human intestinal epithelial cells exposed to TNF-α, a molecule known to trigger a strong inflammatory response.
The experiments showed that the oyster extract blocked activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, one of the central mechanisms responsible for initiating inflammation in cells. It also reduced production of the enzyme COX-2, which plays an important role in inflammatory processes.
As a result, intestinal cells maintained their normal structure and restored their protective barrier function even in the presence of inflammatory stimuli. These effects were confirmed using electron microscopy.
According to researcher Julia Trincheri from the University of Ferrara, this is the first time oyster tissue has been shown to produce an anti-inflammatory effect directly in human intestinal cells.
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