Protective effects of fermented rice extract on ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate in mice

Miao sour soup alleviates DSS-induced colitis in mice: modulation of gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function

Miao sour soup (MSS), a daily fermented food in Guizhou, China, is rich in microorganisms with various beneficial activities, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. However, the therapeutic effects of MSS on IBD remain unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of MSS against colitis in mice. In this study, we examined the microbial community structure of MSS by metagenomic sequencing and also explored the protective effect of MSS on DSS-induced colitis in mice. We investigated the effects of MSS on intestinal inflammatory response and intestinal barrier function in mice. Finally, the changes in intestinal flora were analyzed based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing results. Significantly, the experiment result shows that MSS ameliorated the severity of DSS-induced disease in mice by mitigating colitis-associated weight loss, reducing the disease activity index of IBD, alleviating colonic hemorrhagic lesions, increasing colon length, and improving colonic tissue damage. Moreover, MSS preserved intestinal barrier integrity and restored intestinal epithelial function in mice. Additionally, MSS modulated the structure and composition of the intestinal flora. Furthermore, MSS downregulated pro-inflammatory factors and attenuated the NF-κB p65 expression, thereby mitigating the inflammatory response. These findings highlight the protective effect of MSS against DSS-induced colitis, providing substantial scientific support for potential applications of MSS as a functional food.

Bacillus licheniformis-based intensive fermentation of Tibetan tea improved its bioactive compounds and reinforced the intestinal barrier in mice

Tibetan tea changes during microorganism fermentation. Research on microorganisms in Tibetan tea has focused on their identification, while studies on the influence of specific microorganisms on the components and health functions of Tibetan tea are lacking. Bacillus licheniformis was inoculated into Tibetan tea for intensive fermentation, and the components of B. licheniformis-fermented tea (BLT) were detected by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TOF-MS), and then the effects of BLT on intestinal probiotic functions were investigated by experiments on mice. The results revealed the metabolites of BLT include polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, amino acids, and lipids. Intensified fermentation also improved the antioxidant capacity in vivo and the protective effect on the intestinal barrier of Tibetan tea. In addition, the enhanced fermentation of Tibetan tea exerted intestinal probiotic effects by modulating the relative abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria in the intestinal flora. Therefore, intensive fermentation with B. licheniformis can improve the health benefits of Tibetan tea.

The Anti-ulcer Potential of Weissella cibaria Assisted Bio-fermented Product of Citrus limetta Waste Peel in Wistar Albino Rats

BACKGROUND

There are patents available related to fermented food and beverages which enhance to human health. Citrus limetta (Mosambi) has a high content of flavonoids and exhibits antioxidant activity, which could stimulate the digestive system and be useful for gastroprotective activity. It supports digestion by neutralizing the acidic digestive juices and reducing gastric acidity.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the potential of using waste peel extract from Citrus limetta to prevent ulcers. The study specifically sought to assess the anti-ulcer properties of fermented and non-fermented extracts and compare them. Further, the study looked at the potential benefits of treating or preventing ulcers with Citrus limetta waste peels and whether fermentation affected the efficacy of the treatment.

METHODS

Thirty female Wistar albino rats were equally distributed into five different groups. Group 1 received distilled water (20 ml/kg/b.w); Group 2 received indomethacin (mg/kg/b.w); Group 3 received omeprazole (20 mg/kg/b.w); Group 4 received aqueous extract of Mosambi peel (400 mg/kg/b.w) and Group 5 received fermented product of extract of Mosambi peel (400 mg/kg/b.w).

RESULTS

Findings explored that, compared to non-fermented citrus fruit juice, biofermented exhibited less gastric volume (1.58 ± 0.10 ml vs. 1.8 ± 0.14 ml), reduced MDA levels (355.23 ± 100.70 μmol/mg protein vs. 454.49 ± 155.88 μmol/mg protein), and low ulcer index (0.49 ± 0.07 vs. 0.72 ± 0.14).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that the bio-fermented product of Citrus limetta peel has better anti-ulcer potential against peptic ulcer induced by indomethacin in Wistar albino rats compared to non-fermented.

Effects of dietary β-glucan and rice fermented on growth performance, fatty acids, and Newcastle disease immune response in turkey broilers

Poultry production has been developing in Vietnam with challenges of disease. Thus, feed additive should be investigated not only growth but also health enhancement. Here, we aimed to determine the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae-fermented rice (FR) and β-glucan on turkey's growth performance, carcass characteristics, immune and fatty acid (FA) profiles. A total of 180 turkey chicks aged 1-56 days were randomly assigned to five sextuplicate groups and the birds had ad libitum feed and water access throughout the experiment. The five treatment groups were given the same diet with different proportions of FR and β-glucan. Broilers supplemented with 4% β-glucan and 4% FR presented the highest and second-highest growth performance, respectively. The 4% β-glucan and 4% FR treatments resulted in the highest carcass characteristic values without significantly affecting the breast or thigh meat pH or cooking loss. The 4% β-glucan and 4% FR treatments maximally increased the Newcastle disease (ND) antibody titers at 28, 42 and 56 days, respectively as well as thymus organ index. The foregoing treatments did not significantly affect the blood profiles relative to the control. However, the 4% FR treatment lowered the blood cholesterol levels (p > 0.05). The total FA profiles did not significantly differ among treatments. Nevertheless, both the β-glucan and FR treatments increased the MUFA levels compared to that of the control (p > 0.05). Hence, the dietary administration of 4% β-glucan and FR to turkey broilers could effectively improve their growth performance and immunity.

Alleviative mechanism and effect of Bifidobacterium animalisA6 on dextran sodium sulfate-induced ulcerative colitis in mice

Probiotics have been increasingly investigated for their role in alleviating symptoms of ulcerative colitis (UC), but the specific mechanism involved remains unclear. We investigated the alleviating effect of Bifidobacterium animalis A6 (BAA6) in UC through a mouse dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) model. When treated with a high dose of BAA6 (1 × 10¹⁰ cfu/ml), it was found that colitis symptoms were significantly alleviated, and mucosal damages experienced obvious relief. Moreover, a high dose of BAA6 effectively upregulated free fatty acid receptors 2 and 3 (FFAR2 and FFAR3) expression and butyric acid metabolism specifically. Furthermore, the supplement of BAA6 significantly suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines levels (interleukin-13) and the expression of pore-forming protein claudin-2. The upstream regulatory genes of claudin-2, such as STAT6, GATA4, Cdx2, were also significantly inhibited by BAA6. Collectively, this study concludes that BAA6 attenuated DSS-induced colitis by increasing the levels of intestinal butyric acid, activating the butyric acid-FFAR pathway, suppressing excessive proinflammatory response, and protecting the function of the colon epithelial barrier.

R- Is Superior to S-Form of α-Lipoic Acid in Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects in Laying Hens

The development of single enantiomers with high efficiency and low toxic activity has become a hot spot for the development and application of drugs and active additives. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of the application of α-lipoic acid with a different optical rotation to alleviate the inflammation response and oxidative stress induced by oxidized fish oil in laying hens. Sixty-four 124-week-old Peking Red laying hens were randomly allocated to four groups with eight replicates of two birds each. The normal group was fed basal diets supplemented with 1% fresh fish oil (FO), and the oxidative stress model group was constructed with diets supplemented with 1% oxidized fish oil (OFO). The two treatment groups were the S-form of the α-lipoic acid model with 1% oxidized fish oil (OFO + S-LA) and the R-form of the α-lipoic acid model with 1% oxidized fish oil (OFO + R-LA) added at 100 mg/kg, respectively. Herein, these results were evaluated by the breeding performance, immunoglobulin, immune response, estrogen secretion, antioxidant factors of the serum and oviduct, and pathological observation of the uterus part of the oviduct. From the results, diets supplemented with oxidized fish oil can be relatively successful in constructing a model of inflammation and oxidative stress. The OFO group significantly increased the levels of the serum inflammatory factor (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ) and the oxidative factor MDA and decreased the activity of the antioxidant enzyme (T-AOC, T-SOD, GSH-Px, GSH, and CAT) in the oviduct. The addition of both S-LA and R-LA significantly reduced the levels of serum inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ), increased the activity of antioxidant indexes (T-AOC, T-SOD, GSH-Px, GSH, and CAT), and decreased the MDA contents in the serum and oviduct. Meanwhile, the supplementation of S-LA and R-LA also mitigated the negative effects of the OFO on the immunoglobulins (IgA and IgM) and serum hormone levels (P and E2). In addition, it was worth noting that the R-LA was significantly more effective than the S-LA in some inflammatory (IL-1β) and antioxidant indices (T-SOD, GSH, and CAT). Above all, both S-LA and R-LA can alleviate the inflammation and oxidative damage caused by oxidative stress in aged laying hens, and R-LA is more effective than S-LA. Thus, these findings will provide basic data for the potential development of α-lipoic acid as a chiral dietary additive for laying hens.

Changes of intestinal microbiota and microbiota-based treatments in IBD

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has gained increasing attention from researchers in terms of its pathophysiology as a global disease with a growing incidence. Although the exact etiology of IBD is still unknown currently, various studies have made us realize that it is related to the dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota and the link between the two may not just be a simple causal relationship, but also a dynamic and complicated one. The intestinal microbiota has been confirmed to be closely related to the occurrence, development, and treatment of IBD. Therefore, this review focuses on the changes in the structure, function, and metabolites of intestinal bacteria, fungi, and viruses in influencing IBD, as well as various approaches to IBD treatment by changing disordered intestinal microbiota. Ultimately, more clinical studies will be needed to focus on the efficacy of intestinal microbiota-based treatments in IBD, because of the existence of both advantages and disadvantages.

Preventive effect of Chinese dwarf cherry [Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok.] fermentation juice on dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis rats through the regulation of IgA and the intestinal immune barrier

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a modern, refractory disease, and studies have shown that UC is closely associated with the gut microbiota and intestinal immune barrier. This study evaluated the protective effects and regulatory mechanism of Chinese dwarf cherry [Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok.] fermentation juice (CFJ) on UC induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The results indicated that CFJ could significantly modulate the oxidative stress index in the serum and colon, observably reduce MPO and NO activity, and increase the SOD level. CFJ significantly downregulated the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 and reduced inflammation caused by DSS. SIgA and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels were effectively improved in the CFJ group, especially the acetic acid and butyric acid levels. Intestinal flora analysis showed that DSS could enrich harmful bacteria such as Alistipes and Oribacterium and that CFJ could increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria (Parasutterella, Bacteroides, Roseburia and Blautia). SIgA in the colon was positively correlated with Lachnoclostridium, Blautia, Lachnospiraceae_UCG-004, Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group and other beneficial bacteria. The results showed that DSS group rats had immunity and signalling pathway disorders and that CFJ could regulate immune disorders, mainly by regulating the expression of IgA pathway components. Taken together, our results demonstrated that CFJ could regulate changes in the gut microbiota, improve the expression of immune protein-related genes, further regulate intestinal mucosal immune function and maintain intestinal mucosal barrier homeostasis.

Baccharis dracunculifolia DC Hydroalcoholic Extract Improves Intestinal and Hippocampal Inflammation and Decreases Behavioral Changes of Colitis Mice

The hydroalcoholic extract of B. dracunculifolia (HEBD) and its major compound p-coumaric acid were evaluated against the severity of intestinal inflammation and behavioral changes like depressive and anxious behavior in colitis mice. Colitis was induced in Swiss mice by oral dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) administration for five days. The mice received vehicle (10 ml/kg), HEBD (3, 30, or 300 mg/kg), or p-coumaric acid (15 mg/kg) orally, once a day for twelve days. Behavioral tests were performed on the 11^th and 12^th days after the beginning of the treatments. Moreover, the colon, cortex, and hippocampus were collected to analyze oxidative and inflammatory parameters. The treatment with HEBD (300 mg/Kg), but not p-coumaric acid, showed decreased disease activity index (DAI) values compared to the vehicle group and partially preserved the villi architecture and mucin levels. Furthermore, the HEBD increased the antioxidant defenses in the colon and hippocampus and reduced the myeloperoxidase activity and IL-6 levels in the colon from colitis mice. Colitis mice treated with HEBD did not show depressive-like behavior in the tail suspension test. HEBD reduced colon inflammation, while it maintains antioxidant defenses and mucin levels in this tissue. It may reduce neuropsychiatric comorbidities associated with colitis through its antioxidant effects.

Transcriptome and Gut Microbiota Profiling Revealed the Protective Effect of Tibetan Tea on Ulcerative Colitis in Mice

Traditionally, Ya’an Tibetan tea is routinely consumed by local people in the Tibet region. It is believed to possess promising anti-inflammatory benefits. This study was conducted to elucidate the protective impact of Tibetan tea extract (TTE) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Mice were split into four groups: control (C) group, Tibetan tea (T) group, DSS-induced model (CD) group, and Tibetan tea + DSS (TD) group. The intake of TTE significantly reduced the clinical symptoms of ulcerative colitis (UC) by alleviating the impact of cellular damage and reducing glandular hypertrophy and the infiltration of inflammatory cells. UC led to a prominent shift of the microbial communities in the gut. Interestingly, the beneficial microbes, such as Lactobacillus reuteri, Bifidobacterium choerinum, and Lactobacillus intestinalis, were significantly increased in TTE-treated mice when compared to any other experimental group. The transcriptome analysis revealed that the positive effect of TTE on UC could be attributed to changes in the G alpha (i) signaling pathway and the innate immune system. The genes related to inflammation and immune system pathways were differentially expressed in the TTE-treated group. Moreover, the relative expression of genes linked to the inflammatory TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway was significantly downregulated toward the level of normal control samples in the TD group. Overall, this study revealed the modulatory effect by which TTE reversed the development and severity of chronic colon damage.

Natural-derived alkaloids exhibit great potential in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic nonspecific inflammatory disease of colon and rectum with unknown etiology, and the lesions are mainly confined to the mucosa and submucosa of large intestine. The main clinical features of UC include diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloody purulent stool and tenesmus, which seriously affect patients' quality of life. Most of UC patients would receive drug therapy with the exception of surgery for some severe cases. However, current drugs for the treatment of UC have certain limitations including difficulty of radical treatment, adverse reactions and drug resistance after long-term use and exorbitant price of some drugs. The research and development of new drugs for the treatment of UC is urgent, and natural alkaloids are an important source. This research paid close attention to the progress of natural alkaloids from diverse medicinal plants for treating UC in the last twenty years. The potential mechanisms for the natural alkaloids in the treatment of UC was closely related to its modulation of oxidative stress, immune response, intestinal flora and improvement of the gut barrier function. Remarkable effectiveness and safety of natural-derived alkaloids make them potential candidates of UC therapy.

Zeolite-containing mixture alleviates microbial dysbiosis in dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in mice

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a multifactorial immunomodulatory disorder. In relative nosogenesis, gut microbiota has been the focus of research on IBD. In our previous study, we demonstrated the ameliorating effect of zeolite-containing mixture (Hydryeast®, HY) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis, through transcriptomics and proteomics. In the present study, we performed further investigation from the perspective of metagenomics using the gut microbiota. C57BL6 mice were provided an AIN-93G basal diet or a 0.8% HY-containing diet, and sterilized tap water for 11 days. Thereafter, colitis was induced by providing 1.5% (w/v) DSS-containing water for 9 days. DNA was extracted from the cecal contents and pooled into libraries in a single Illumina MiSeq run. The resulting sequences were analyzed using Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology (QIIME) software. According to the alterations in the relative abundance of certain bacteria, and the related gene and protein expressions, HY supplementation could improve the gut microbiota composition, ameliorate the degree of inflammation, inhibit the colonic mucosal microbial growth, and, to some extent, promote energy metabolism in the colon compared with the DSS treatment. Thus, we believe that HY may be a candidate to prevent and treat IBD.

A novel aqueous extract from rice fermented with Aspergillus oryzae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae possesses an anti-influenza A virus activity

Human influenza virus infections occur annually worldwide and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Hence, development of novel anti-influenza drugs is urgently required. Rice Power^® extract developed by the Yushin Brewer Co. Ltd. is a novel aqueous extract of rice obtained via saccharization and fermentation with various microorganisms, such as Aspergillus oryzae, yeast [such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae], and lactic acid bacteria, possessing various biological and pharmacological properties. In our previous experimental screening with thirty types of Rice Power^® extracts, we observed that the 30^th Rice Power^® (Y30) extract promoted the survival of influenza A virus-infected Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Therefore, to identify compounds for the development of novel anti-influenza drugs, we aimed to investigate whether the Y30 extract exhibits anti-influenza A virus activity. In the present study, we demonstrated that the Y30 extract strongly promoted the survival of influenza A H1N1 Puerto Rico 8/34 (A/PR/8/34), California 7/09, or H3N2 Aichi 2/68 (A/Aichi/2/68) viruses-infected MDCK cells and inhibited A/PR/8/34 or A/Aichi/2/68 viruses infection and growth in the co-treatment and pre-infection experiments. The pre-treatment of Y30 extract on MDCK cells did not induce anti-influenza activity in the cell. The Y30 extract did not significantly affect influenza A virus hemagglutination, and neuraminidase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activities. Interestingly, the electron microscopy experiment revealed that the Y30 extract disrupts the integrity of influenza A virus particles by permeabilizing the viral membrane envelope, suggesting that Y30 extract has a direct virucidal effect against influenza A virus. Furthermore, we observed that compared to the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract, the water extract of Y30 extract considerably promoted the survival of cells infected with A/PR/8/34 virus. These results indicated that more anti-influenza components were present in the water extract of Y30 extract than in the EtOAc extract. Our results highlight the potential of a rice extract fermented with A. oryzae and S. cerevisiae as an anti-influenza medicine and a drug source for the development of anti-influenza compounds.