{
  "abstract": "Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory bowel disease with a rising global incidence and a considerable economic burden. Conventional treatments, such as steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressants, are often associated with adverse effects and high costs. In this context, flavonoids—such as those identified in the chemical composition of propolis—are emerging as highly promising therapeutic alternatives. This review highlights how diverse classes of flavonoids, including flavones, flavonols, flavanones, isoflavones, and flavan-3-ols, mitigate colitis through multiple interconnected mechanisms. Their main actions include reducing inflammation by decreasing the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and modulating key signaling pathways; exerting potent antioxidant activity; and improving intestinal barrier integrity by increasing tight junction proteins and mucin production. Numerous studies reporting significant improvements in clinical parameters such as body weight, colon length, and the disease activity index are discussed. Innovation in formulations, for example, the use of nanoparticles, is crucial to improve the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of flavonoids, allowing for their targeted delivery to the inflamed colon. In summary, flavonoids are promising candidates for the development of complementary or alternative treatments for ulcerative colitis. Although further clinical evidence is needed to establish their safety and conditions for use in humans, the available preclinical results are promising.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prol. de Carpio y Plan de Ayala, Miguel Hidalgo, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico",
    "Laboratory in Nano and Dental Biomaterials, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico",
    "Carrera de Médico Cirujano, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico",
    "Laboratorio de Inmunología, Unidad de Morfología y Función, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico",
    "Laboratorio de Bioactividad de Productos Naturales, Unidad de Biotecnología y Prototipos (UBIPRO), Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico",
    "Laboratorio de Toxicología Molecular, Departamento de Farmacia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Wilfrido Massieu, Esq. Manuel L. Stampa s/n, Gustavo A. Madero, Ciudad de México 07738, Mexico",
    "Laboratorio de Toxicología de Productos Naturales, Departamento de Farmacia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Wilfrido Massieu, Gustavo A. Madero, Ciudad de México 07738, Mexico",
    "División de Investigación y Posgrado, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico"
  ],
  "article_type": "review article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Karla Mariela Hernández-Sánchez",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4188-3044"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Oscar Nieto-Yañez",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4584-144X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Claudia Rebeca Rivera-Yañez"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Alexander Pedroza-González",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8890-7656"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Laura Francisco-Cruz",
      "orcid": "0009-0008-9025-8027"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Claudia Tzasna Hernández-Delgado",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5041-6264"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Axel Rodrigo Molina-Gallardo",
      "orcid": "0009-0004-4416-8304"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Nancy Aline Hernández-Rosas",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8859-4688"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Porfirio Alonso Ruiz-Hurtado",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5760-9955"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Cecilia Carlota Barrera-Ortega",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2369-6402"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Nelly Rivera-Yañez"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/50kcjg0529ehj.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/ijms27209048",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13705463/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "50kcjg0529ehj",
  "issns": [
    "1422-0067"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9048",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1109|Bee Products Chemical Analysis"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221529444",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13705463/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13705463",
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/50kcjg0529ehj.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:55Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/ijms27209048",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9048"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:40Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13705463",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13705463"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1109|Bee Products Chemical Analysis",
      "subfield": "zoology-behaviour"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Propolis Flavonoids: Current Evidence in Animal Models and Future Promise for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis",
  "title_text": "Propolis Flavonoids: Current Evidence in Animal Models and Future Promise for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:21:40Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/50kcjg0529ehj",
  "venue": "International Journal of Molecular Sciences",
  "versions": []
}