Fermented Pueraria Lobata extract ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and recovering intestinal barrier function. Lab Anim Res. 2016;32:151-159. [PMID: 27729931 PMCID: PMC5057003 DOI: 10.5625/lar.2016.32.3.151]

Probiotic-fermented traditional Chinese herbal medicine, a promising approach to maintaining the intestinal microecology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Traditional Chinese herbal medicines (TCHM) have been extensively used in China and other East and Southeast Asian countries. Due to the low content of bioactive components in most TCHM and the potential toxicity of some herbal ingredients to humans, researchers have turned to probiotic fermentation to enhance the efficacy, mitigate the toxic or side effects and improve the taste of TCHM. Both probiotics and certain TCHM benefit the intestinal microbiota and intestinal barrier of human body, demonstrating synergistic effects on in intestinal microecology.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review aims to provide an overview of the development of fermentation technology, commonly used probiotic strains for TCHM fermentation, the advantages of probiotic fermentation and the challenges and limitations of probiotic-fermented TCHM. Additionally, it summarises and discusses the impact of probiotic-fermented TCHM on the intestinal barrier and microbiota, as well as the possible mechanisms involved.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An extensive search of primary literature was conducted using various databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Elsevier, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, CNKI, and others. All the plant names have been checked with World Flora Online (http://www.worldfloraonline.org) on August 7, 2024.

RESULTS

The literature mentioned above was analyzed and summarized comprehensively. Probiotic-fermented TCHM can improve the intestinal barrier, modulate gut microbiota, and maintain homeostasis of the intestinal microecology. Modulating intestinal microecology by probiotic-fermented TCHM may be a crucial mechanism for its beneficial effects.

CONCLUSIONS

This article establishes a theoretical basis for further research on the relationship between probiotic-fermented TCHM and the intestinal microecology, with the hope of inspiring innovative concepts for the development of TCHM and exploring the potential of probiotic-fermented TCHM as a promising strategy for maintaining intestinal microecological balance.

HOXD10 regulates intestinal permeability and inhibits inflammation of dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis through the inactivation of the Rho/ROCK/MMPs axis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) has been identified as a severe inflammatory disease with significantly increased incidence across the world. The detailed role and mechanism of HOXD10 in UC remain unclear. In present study, we found that HOXD10 was lowly expressed in UC samples and was notably decreased by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) administration. Overexpression of HOXD10 dramatically ameliorated DSS-induced UC symptoms, including the loss of weight, increased disease activity index values, and the shortened colon length. Additionally, terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling and immunohistochemistry staining assays showed that HOXD10 overexpression suppressed cell apoptosis and facilitated proliferation of colon tissues after DSS treatment. Moreover, HOXD10 overexpression obviously suppressed DSS-triggered inflammatory response by decreasing the expression level of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Furthermore, overexpression of HOXD10 effectively restored the intestinal permeability, thereby alleviating DSS-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction. Mechanistic study demonstrated that HOXD10 significantly reduced the activities of Rho/ROCK/MMPs axis in colon tissues of mice with UC. In conclusion, this study revealed that HOXD10 might effectively improve DSS-induced UC symptoms by suppressing the activation of Rho/ROCK/MMPs pathway.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HY7718 Improves Intestinal Integrity in a DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis Mouse Model by Suppressing Inflammation through Modulation of the Gut Microbiota

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic condition that causes persistent inflammation in the digestive system, is closely associated with the intestinal microbiome. Here, we evaluated the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HY7718 (HY7718) on IBD symptoms in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Oral administration of HY7718 led to significant improvement in the disease activity index score and the histological index, as well as preventing weight loss, in model mice. HY7718 upregulated the expression of intestinal tight junction (TJ)-related genes and downregulated the expression of genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines and genes involved in the TLR/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Additionally, HY7718 reduced the blood levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as reversing DSS-induced changes to the composition of the intestinal microbiome. HY7718 also increased the percentage of beneficial bacteria (Lactiplantibacillus and Bifidobacterium), which correlated positively with the expression of intestinal TJ-related genes. Finally, HY7718 decreased the population of pathogens such as Escherichia, which correlated with IBD symptoms. The data suggest that HY7718 improves intestinal integrity in colitis model mice by regulating the expression of TJ proteins and inflammatory cytokines, as well as the composition of the intestinal microflora. Thus, L. plantarum HY7718 may be suitable as a functional supplement that improves IBD symptoms and gut health.

Sinisan ameliorates colonic injury induced by water immersion restraint stress by enhancing intestinal barrier function and the gut microbiota structure

CONTEXT

Sinisan (SNS) has been used to treat psychosomatic diseases of the digestive system. But little is known about how SNS affects water immersion restraint stress (WIRS).

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of SNS on colonic tissue injury in the WIRS model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-eight Kunming (KM) mice were randomized into 6 groups (n = 8): The control and WIRS groups receiving deionized water; the SNS low-dose (SL, 3.12 g/kg/d), SNS middle-dose (SM, 6.24 g/kg/d), SNS high-dose (SH, 12.48 g/kg/d), and diazepam (DZ, 5 mg/kg/d) groups; each with two daily administrations for 5 consecutive days. The 5 treatment groups were subjected to WIRS for 24 h on day 6. The effects of SNS on colon tissue injury caused by WIRS were assessed by changes in colon histology, inflammatory cytokines, brain-gut peptides, and tight junction (TJ) proteins levels. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to detect the regulation of the gut microbiota.

RESULTS

SNS pretreatment significantly reduced TNF-α (0.75- to 0.81-fold), IL-6 (0.77-fold), and IFN-γ (0.69-fold) levels; and increased TJ proteins levels, such as ZO-1 (4.06- to 5.27-fold), claudin-1 (3.33- to 5.14-fold), and occludin (6.46- to 11.82-fold). However, there was no significant difference between the levels of substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the control and WIRS groups. SNS regulated the composition of gut microbiota in WIRS mice.

CONCLUSION

The positive effects of SNS on WIRS could provide a theoretical basis to treat stress-related gastrointestinal disorders.

Blood metabolomics reveals the therapeutic effect of Pueraria polysaccharide on calf diarrhea

BACKGROUND

Neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) is typically treated with antibiotics, while long-term application of antibiotics induces drug resistance and antibiotic residues, ultimately decreasing feed efficiency. Pueraria polysaccharide (PPL) is a versatile antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and antioxidative compound. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of different doses of PPL (0.2, 0.4, 0.8 g/kg body weight (BW)) and explore the effect of plasma metabolites in diarrheal calves by the best dose of PPL.

RESULTS

PPL could effectively improve the daily weight gain, fecal score, and dehydration score, and the dosage of 0.4 g/kg BW could reach curative efficacy against calf diarrhea (with effective rates 100.00%). Metabolomic analysis suggested that diarrhea mainly affect the levels of taurocholate, DL-lactate, LysoPCs, and intestinal flora-related metabolites, trimethylamine N-oxide; however, PPL improved liver function and intestinal barrier integrity by modulating the levels of DL-lactate, LysoPC (18:0/0:0) and bilirubin, which eventually attenuated neonatal calf diarrhea. It also suggested that the therapeutic effect of PPL is related to those differential metabolites in diarrheal calves.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that 0.4 g/kg BW PPL could restore the clinical score of diarrhea calves by improving the blood indexes, biochemical indexes, and blood metabolites. And it is a potential medicine for the treatment of calf diarrhea.

Effects of Pueraria Extract and Curcumin on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Status and Intestinal Integrity of Broiler Chickens

The current study was carried out to examine the effects of pueraria extract (PE) and curcumin (CUR) on growth performance, antioxidant capacity and intestinal integrity in broiler chickens. A complete randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was employed to assign 200 one-day-old Ross-308 broilers to four groups, each including five replicates of ten birds. Chickens in the control group (CON) were fed the basal diet, while the PE, CUR and PE+CUR groups were supplemented with 200 mg/kg PE or 200 mg/kg CUR or 200 mg/kg PE+ 200 mg/kg CUR. This trial lasted for 28 days. The PE supplementation decreased the average daily gain during the whole period (p < 0.05). The PE+CUR group had a higher feed conversion ratio than that of the PE and CUR groups during days 14-28 and 1-28 (p < 0.05). Dietary CUR supplementation increased duodenal T-SOD activity (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the other three groups increased the duodenal GSH-Px activity, the PE+CUR group reduced the duodenal H₂O₂ level, and the CUR and PE groups elevated the ileal GSH-Px activity and the ratio of jejunal villus height to crypt depth, respectively (p < 0.05). The addition of PE decreased crypt depth and increased villus area and mucin-2 mRNA level in the jejunum (p < 0.05). Overall, dietary supplementation with PE, CUR, or a combination of these, enhanced the antioxidant status and intestinal integrity of broilers.

Tea (Camellia sinensis) ameliorates DSS-induced colitis and liver injury by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome in mice

The gut-liver axis is a bidirectional relationship between the gut with its microbiota and the hepatic. Ulcerative colitis (UC) disrupts the intestinal barrier and influx of intestinal microorganisms and their products into the liver, which trigger liver injury. Tea consumption is associated with a low incidence of UC in Asian countries. In this study, we revealed the mechanisms of six types of tea water extracts (TWEs) obtained from the leaves of Camellia sinensis on the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis and liver injury in mice. The TWEs significantly restored mucin production and increased the expression levels of tight junction (TJ) proteins such as zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occluding, and claudin-1. In addition, TWEs also reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the colon and liver tissue by inactivating the NF-κB/NLRP3. Moreover, TEWs treatment promoted the integrity of the intestinal barrier to reduce serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, thereby reducing liver injury caused by intestinal microbial translocation and LPS induction. Analysis of 16 S rRNA microbial sequencing revealed that tea water extracts (TWEs) restored the DSS-induced gut dysbiosis. Interestingly, our results showed that the degree of fermentation of tea leaves was negatively associated with the alleviation of DSS-induced colitis effects, and there was also an overall negative trend with colitis-induced liver injury, except for black tea. Taken together, tea consumption mitigated DSS-induced colitis and liver injury in mice via inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

Anti-Colitic Effect of an Exopolysaccharide Fraction from Pediococcus pentosaceus KFT-18 on Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis through Suppression of Inflammatory Mediators

We previously reported the immunostimulatory effect of an exopolysaccharide fraction from Pediococcus pentosaceus KFT18 (PE-EPS), a lactic acid bacterium, in macrophages and primary splenocytes, as well as in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice. In this study, the anti-colitic activity of PE-EPS was investigated in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis animal model. PE-EPS relieved DSS-induced colitis symptoms, such as stool blood, decreased colon length, crypt disruption, and mucus layer edema. Regarding the molecular mechanism, PE-EPS reduced the enhanced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1) in the colon tissue of colitis-induced mice. Additionally, PE-EPS protected against DSS-induced phosphorylation of p65 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1). These findings suggested that the exopolysaccharide fraction from Ped. pentosaceus KFT18 can be used to treat inflammatory bowel disease by alleviating colonic inflammation.

Soy Isoflavones and Gastrointestinal Health

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Soy isoflavones are known to have beneficial effects on several aspects of gastrointestinal physiological functions (contractility or motility, secretion, morphology, and barrier function). In this review, we discuss the effects of soy isoflavones on the overall gut function and inflammation and assess how these effects might be implicated in the treatment of several gut-related diseases.

RECENT FINDINGS

Soy isoflavones influence several key aspects of gastrointestinal health: improve basal intestinal secretion, alleviate inflammation, limit intestinal morphological damage, and improve epithelial barrier function in several clinically relevant murine models of gastrointestinal diseases. Dietary supplementation with isoflavones proves to be a key means to improve the overall gut function and health. Future mechanistic studies with isoflavone interventions will help treat clinically related diseases such as cystic fibrosis and inflammatory-related gut problems such as colitis and diabetes.

Chitosan Ameliorates DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis Mice by Enhancing Intestinal Barrier Function and Improving Microflora

Ulcerative colitis (UC) has been identified as one of the inflammatory diseases. Intestinal mucosal barrier function and microflora play major roles in UC. Modified-chitosan products have been consumed as effective and safe drugs to treat UC. The present work aimed to investigate the effect of chitosan (CS) on intestinal microflora and intestinal barrier function in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mice and to explore the underlying mechanisms. KM (Kunming) mice received water/CS (250, 150 mg/kg) for 5 days, and then received 3% DSS for 5 days to induce UC. Subsequently, CS (250, 150 mg/kg) was administered daily for 5 days. Clinical signs, body weight, colon length, and histological changes were recorded. Alterations of intestinal microflora were analyzed by PCR-DGGE, expressions of TNF-α and tight junction proteins were detected by Western blotting. CS showed a significant effect against UC by the increased body weight and colon length, decreased DAI (disease activity index) and histological injury scores, and alleviated histopathological changes. CS reduced the expression of TNF-α, promoted the expressions of tight junction proteins such as claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1 to maintain the intestinal mucosal barrier function for attenuating UC in mice. Furthermore, Parabacteroides, Blautia, Lactobacillus, and Prevotella were dominant organisms in the intestinal tract. Blautia and Lactobacillus decreased with DSS treatment, but increased obviously with CS treatment. This is the first time that the effect of original CS against UC in mice has been reported and it is through promoting dominant intestinal microflora such as Blautia, mitigating intestinal microflora dysbiosis, and regulating the expressions of TNF-α, claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1. CS can be developed as an effective food and health care product for the prevention and treatment of UC.

Allyl Isothiocyanate Ameliorates Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis in Mouse by Enhancing Tight Junction and Mucin Expression

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic or recurrent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Even though the current strategies to treat IBD include anti-inflammatory drugs and immune modulators, these treatments have side-effects. New strategies are, therefore, required to overcome the limitations of the therapies. In this study, we investigated the anti-colitic effects of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), which is an active ingredient present in Wasabia japonica. The DSS-induced colitis model in the mouse was used to mimic human IBD and we observed that AITC treatment ameliorated the severity of colitis. We further studied the mechanism involved to ameliorate the colitis. To investigate the involvement of AITC on the intestinal barrier function, the effect on the intercellular tight junction was evaluated in the Caco-2 cell line while mucin expression was assessed in the LS174T cell line. AITC positively regulated tight junction proteins and mucin 2 (MUC2) against DSS-induced damage or depletion. Our data of in vivo studies were also consistent with the in vitro results. Furthermore, we observed that MUC2 increased by AITC is dependent on ERK signaling. In conclusion, we propose that AITC can be considered as a new strategy for treating IBD by modulating tight junction proteins and mucin.

Therapeutic potential of flavonoids in inflammatory bowel disease: A comprehensive review

The inflammatory process plays a central role in the development and progression of numerous pathological situations, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disorders. IBDs involve inflammation of the gastrointestinal area and mainly comprise Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Both pathological situations usually involve recurring or bloody diarrhea, pain, fatigue and weight loss. There is at present no pharmacological cure for CD or UC. However, surgery may be curative for UC patients. The prescribed treatment aims to ameliorate the symptoms and prevent and/or delay new painful episodes. Flavonoid compounds are a large family of hydroxylated polyphenolic molecules abundant in plants, including vegetables and fruits which are the major dietary sources of these compounds for humans, together with wine and tea. Flavonoids are becoming very popular because they have many health-promoting and disease-preventive effects. Most interest has been directed towards the antioxidant activity of flavonoids, evidencing a remarkable free-radical scavenging capacity. However, accumulating evidence suggests that flavonoids have many other biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticancer, and neuroprotective activities through different mechanisms of action. The present review analyzes the available data about the different types of flavonoids and their potential effectiveness as adjuvant therapy of IBDs.

Wasabia japonica is a potential functional food to prevent colitis via inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are prevalent and debilitating health problems worldwide. Many types of drugs are used to treat IBDs, but they exhibit adverse effects such as vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. In order to overcome the limitations of current therapeutic drugs, scientists have searched for functional foods from natural resources. In this study, we investigated the anti-colitic effects of Wasabia japonica extract in a DSS-induced colitis model. Wasabi japonica is a plant of the Brassicaceae family that has recently been reported to exhibit properties of detoxification, anti-inflammation, and induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. In this study, we generated wasabi ethanol extract (WK) and assessed its anti-colitic effect. In addition, in order to improve delivery of the extract to the colon, WK was coated with 5% Eudragit S100 (WKE), after which the anti-colitic effects of WKE were assessed. In conclusion, WK prevented development of colitis through inhibition of the NF-kB signaling pathway and recovery of epithelial tight junctions. In addition, the anti-colitic effect of WK was enhanced by improving its delivery to the colon by coating the WK with Eudragit S100. Therefore, we suggest that wasabi can be used as a new functional food to prevent IBDs due to its anti-colitic effect.