Advances in Carotenoid Based Delivery Systems for Alleviating Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, and its etiology remains unclear. Presently, main drugs such as aminosalicylic acid, glucocorticoid, immunosuppressive and biological agents are employed to treat IBD. However, because of the long-term use of medication, it adversely affects other human organs. Therefore, natural bioactive compounds are applied as supplements or alternative drugs to alleviate IBD. As a kind of plant natural compounds with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, carotenoids have exhibited potent effects in reducing intestinal inflammation. However, direct oral administration of carotenoids might cause the low specificity of inflammatory sites, which is attributed to its poor aqueous solubility and limited stability. The construction of nutrient delivery system has become an effective, efficient and dependable means. This review summarizes the delivery systems loaded with carotenoids, explores their mechanism and applications in alleviating IBD, and aims to provide corresponding theoretical references for developing novel delivery systems and their practical prospects in IBD.