Enhanced amelioration of Camellia Oil on Colitis with the supplementation of Squalene and α-Tocopherol

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, recurring gastrointestinal disease that not only threatens human health but also increases the risk of colon cancer. Camellia oil has potential for the treatment of colitis. However, bioactive compounds, namely squalene and α-tocopherol, vary greatly in Camellia oil from different regions, and their therapeutic efficacy in colitis varies. We therefore investigated the effect of Camellia oil with different concentrations of squalene and α-tocopherol on colitis. Our results showed that Camellia oil attenuated the weight loss, decreased disease activity index (DAI), increased colon length, improved colon histology in DSS-induced colitis in mice, and reduced the gene expression and serum concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6. Camellia oil supplemented with squalene (final concentration of 375 mg/kg of Camellia oil) and α-tocopherol (final concentration of 600 mg/kg of Camellia oil) had the most potent effects on the alleviation of colitis symptoms. In conclusion, the intake of Camellia oil relieved DSS-induced colitis, and the modulation of squalene and α-tocopherol contents in Camellia oil further impacted its efficacy, which provides a theoretical basis for the development of novel Camellia oil with potent therapeutic potential to lower the risk of colitis.