The gastrointestinal mucosa can be subject to disorders and lesions

• burning
• dyspepsia
• gastroesophageal reflux
• gastritis
• ulcer
• etc

 for a variety of causes:

• intake of anti-inflammatory drugs/non-steroidal pain relievers
• stress
• improper diet and lifestyle
• etc

and it is therefore necessary to put in place different mechanisms of action in a protective effect. In response to various harmful stimuli, glucocorticoid hormones come into defense.

Flavonoids represent a very diverse class of secondary metabolites with potentially beneficial effects on human health. These compounds protect the gastrointestinal mucosa from injury produced by various experimental models of ulceration and against various necrotic agents (1). 

An unsaturated acid such as linoleic acid, an omega-6, has been shown to protect the gastric mucosa (2).

Polyphenols (e.g., curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, green tea) and their metabolites may provide help as a protective effect, but stress, alcohol, and foods that may be incompatible with a proper lifestyle should be avoided (3).

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Mota KS, Dias GE, Pinto ME, Luiz-Ferreira A, Souza-Brito AR, Hiruma-Lima CA, Barbosa-Filho JM, Batista LM. Flavonoids with gastroprotective activity. Molecules. 2009 Mar 3;14(3):979-1012. doi: 10.3390/molecules14030979. 

(2) Martins JLR, Silva DM, Gomes EH, Fava SA, Carvalho MF, Macedo IYL, Gil ES, Ghedini PC, Rocha FF, Silva ON, Fajemiroye JO, Pinto EMH, Costa EA. Evaluation of Gastroprotective Activity of Linoleic acid on Gastric Ulcer in a Mice Model. Curr Pharm Des. 2020 Sep 8. doi: 10.2174/1381612826666200908144053.

(3) Chiu HF, Venkatakrishnan K, Golovinskaia O, Wang CK. Gastroprotective Effects of Polyphenols against Various Gastro-Intestinal Disorders: A Mini-Review with Special Focus on Clinical Evidence. Molecules. 2021 Apr 6;26(7):2090. doi: 10.3390/molecules26072090.