Phytoestrogen arctigenin preserves the mucus barrier in inflammatory bowel diseases by inhibiting goblet cell apoptosis via the ERβ/TRIM21/PHB1 pathway.

Intestinal mucus barrier dysfunction is closely involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). To investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanism of arctigenin, a phytoestrogen isolated from the fruits of Arctium lappa L., on the intestinal mucus barrier under colitis condition.