Protective effect of traditional Korean fermented soybean foods () on a dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mouse model

• Published in: Food & function 2022-08, Vol.13 (16), p.8616-8626
• Main Authors: Yang, Hee-Jong, Jeong, Su-Ji, Ryu, Myeong Seon, Ha, Gwangsu, Jeong, Do-Youn, Park, Young Mi, Lee, Hak Yong, Bae, Jun Sang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Blood cells; Body weight; Colitis - chemically induced; Colitis - drug therapy; Colitis - metabolism; Colitis, Ulcerative - chemically induced; Colitis, Ulcerative - drug therapy; Colitis, Ulcerative - pathology; Colon; Colon - metabolism; Damage; Dextran; Dextran sulfate; Dextran Sulfate - adverse effects; Dextrans; Diarrhea; Disease Models, Animal; Fermented food; Fermented Foods; Food; Glycine max - metabolism; Hemorrhage; Immunosuppressive agents; Inflammatory bowel disease; Inflammatory bowel diseases; Interleukin 6; Interleukin-6 - genetics; Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Mice; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Republic of Korea; Serum levels; Side effects; Signal Transduction; Signs and symptoms; Sodium; Soybeans; Sulfates; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Ulcerative colitis
• ISSN: 2042-6496; 2042-650X
• DOI: 10.1039/d2fo01347a

Objective : The cause of ulcerative colitis (UC) is unknown, and the use of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs with certain side effects is currently replacing treatment. Therefore, it is important to find new healthy foods or ingredients that exhibit potential protective and anti-inflammatory effects on UC. This study investigated the potential protective effect of doenjang on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in a mouse model. Materials and methods : Four doenjang samples (TCD21-51-1, TCD21-55-1, TMD21-16-1, and TFD21-1-1) were used. To examine the effects of the four doenjang samples on UC caused by DSS in a mouse model, the clinical symptoms of UC, such as body weight, disease activity index (DAI), and colon macroscopic damage index (CMDI) were analyzed. Moreover, immune-related blood cell counts, serum levels and protein expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO) production were measured in DSS-induced UC in mice for analysis. Results : The four doenjang samples increased the colon length shortened by DSS, reduced DAI (diarrhea and hemoccult), CMDI (ulceration, inflammation, and hemorrhage) and the content of immune-related cells in the blood. Moreover, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and NO increased by DSS were decreased by doenjang , and tissue damage was significantly reduced. Conclusions : These findings confirmed that doenjang exerts protective effects against UC, suggesting its possible use in developing therapeutic strategies or functional products. Doenjang had phytochemicals as the potent anti-inflammatory. Doenjang may reduce inflammatory factors in DSS-induced colitis in mice. Doenjang protects against UC and may be possibly use in developing functional foods.