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Scientists have discovered apples have anti-inflammatory properties
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Scientists have found another reason to include apples in your daily diet - antioxidant polyphenols contained in apple skins suppress excessive T-cell activity, which prevents the development of inflammatory processes in the intestines.
This study is the first of its kind to show the importance of T cells and polyphenols in protecting against the development of autoimmune diseases, and may lead to the development of new treatments for disorders associated with intestinal inflammation, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and colitis associated with colorectal cancer.
The study was published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology.
"Many people with colitis use some form of dietary supplement in addition to conventional therapy, but much of the information about the health effects of alternative medicine remains anecdotal. In addition, we know little about how these treatments work, or whether they work at all," said study author David W. Pascual of Montana State University. "Our findings suggest that a natural component of apple peel may suppress inflammation in the colon by reducing the activity of inflammatory T cells, which may help prevent the development of autoimmune diseases."
In the study, the researchers used mice with chemically induced colitis using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). One group of mice was given a placebo, while the other was given a dose of apple polyphenols every day for the duration of the disease. The results showed that the mice given apple polyphenols orally were protected from colitis, and the number of T cells in the intestines was significantly reduced.
To confirm the effect of polyphenols, the scientists conducted an experiment on a group of genetically modified mice lacking T cells. Taking the antioxidant had no protective effect on the intestines, and the subjects eventually developed colitis, indicating that apple polyphenols may protect against colitis only by suppressing T cell activation.
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