Germinated barley foodstuff, a prebiotic product, ameliorates inflammation of colitis through modulation of the enteric environment.
BACKGROUND
Germinated barley foodstuff (GBF), which contains glutamine-rich protein and hemicellulose-rich fiber, exhibits therapeutic effects in ulcerative colitis; however, its mechanism is still under investigation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of GBF on colitis in terms of the epithelial inflammatory response.


METHODS
Mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis were used. The effects of GBF on the colitis were evaluated by measuring the body weight; disease activity; mucosal damage (histology, mucosal inflammatory parameters, nuclear factor kappa B [NFkB] activation, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 [STAT3]); serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) level; cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs); and bile acid contents.


RESULTS
GBF significantly prevented disease activity and body weight loss after induction of colitis. Serum IL-6 level and mucosal STAT3 expression were also significantly attenuated, with a conspicuous reduction of mucosal damage; NFkB activity showed the same tendency. Cecal butyrate content was significantly higher and, interestingly, GBF mice had lower bile acid concentrations than the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
GBF has the potential to reduce the epithelial inflammatory response by depressing STAT-3 expression and inhibiting NFkB binding activity. These effects may be brought about by an increase of butyrate production and adsorption of bile acids.
Kanauchi
Osamu
O
Nutrient Food and Feed Division, Kirin Brewery Co Ltd, 2-10-1 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8288, Japan.
Serizawa
Isao
I
Araki
Yoshio
Y
Suzuki
Asuka
A
Andoh
Akira
A
Fujiyama
Yoshihide
Y
Mitsuyama
Keiichi
K
Takaki
Kosuke
K
Toyonaga
Atsushi
A
Sata
Michio
M
Bamba
Tadao
T
D000818:Animals; D002087:Butyrates / Q000378:metabolism; D003092:Colitis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D018525:Germination; D001467:Hordeum; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000032:analysis; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis
D002087:Butyrates; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; D028321:Plant Preparations; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494087:Stat3 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators