title: Anti-inflammatory effects of freeze-dried black raspberry powder in ulcerative colitis.
abstract: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colonic mucosa that can dramatically increase the risk of colon cancers. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of a dietary intervention of freeze-dried black raspberries (BRB), a natural food product with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities, on disease severity in an experimental mouse model of UC using 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). C57BL/6J mice were fed either a control diet or a diet containing BRB (5 or 10%) for 7-14 days and then the extent of colonic injury was assessed. Dietary BRB markedly reduced DSS-induced acute injury to the colonic epithelium. This protection included better maintenance of body mass and reductions in colonic shortening and ulceration. BRB treatment, however, did not affect the levels of either plasma nitric oxide or colon malondialdehyde, biomarkers of oxidative stress that are otherwise increased by DSS-induced colonic injury. BRB treatment for up to 7 days suppressed tissue levels of several key pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β. Further examination of the inflammatory response by western blot analysis revealed that 7 day BRB treatment reduced the levels of phospho-IκBα within the colonic tissue. Colonic cyclooxygenase 2 levels were also dramatically suppressed by BRB treatment, with a concomitant decrease in the plasma prostaglandin E₂ (276 versus 34 ng/ml). These findings demonstrate a potent anti-inflammatory effect of BRB during DSS-induced colonic injury, supporting its possible therapeutic or preventive role in the pathogenesis of UC and related neoplastic events.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine and Colon Cancer Prevention Program, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Montrose
authors.forename: Nicole A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Horelik
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Madigan
authors.forename: Gary D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Stoner
authors.forename: Li-Shu
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Hea Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giardina
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000633:toxicity; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D005612:Freeze Drying; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010766:Phosphorylation; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011208:Powders; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D027824:Rosaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011208:Powders; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D015232:Dinoprostone