title: Germinated barley foodstuff, a prebiotic product, ameliorates inflammation of colitis through modulation of the enteric environment.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Nutrient Food and Feed Division, Kirin Brewery Co Ltd, 2-10-1 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8288, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kanauchi
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Serizawa
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Asuka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andoh
authors.forename: Yoshihide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiyama
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitsuyama
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takaki
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toyonaga
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bamba
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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