title: Effects of natural raw meal (NRM) on high-fat diet and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in C57BL/6J mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colitis is a serious health problem, and chronic obesity is associated with the progression of colitis. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of natural raw meal (NRM) on high-fat diet (HFD, 45%) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS, 2% w/v)-induced colitis in C57BL/6J mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Body weight, colon length, and colon weight-to-length ratio, were measured directly. Serum levels of obesity-related biomarkers, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin, leptin, and adiponectin were determined using commercial kits. Serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were detected using a commercial ELISA kit. Histological study was performed using a hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining assay. Colonic mRNA expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were determined by RT-PCR assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body weight and obesity-related biomarkers (TG, TC, LDL, HDL, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin) were regulated and obesity was prevented in NRM treated mice. NRM significantly suppressed colon shortening and reduced colon weight-to-length ratio in HFD+DSS induced colitis in C57BL/6J mice (P < 0.05). Histological observations suggested that NRM reduced edema, mucosal damage, and the loss of crypts induced by HFD and DSS. In addition, NRM decreased the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and inhibited the mRNA expressions of these cytokines, and iNOS and COX-2 in colon mucosa (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that NRM has an anti-inflammatory effect against HFD and DSS-induced colitis in mice, and that these effects are due to the amelioration of HFD and/or DSS-induced inflammatory reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, and Kimchi Research Institute, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63 beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 609-735, Korea. ; Erom R&D Center, Erom Co., Ltd., Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-943, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, and Kimchi Research Institute, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63 beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 609-735, Korea.
authors.forename: Jia-Le
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Erom R&D Center, Erom Co., Ltd., Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-943, Korea.
authors.forename: Myoung-Gyu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Erom R&D Center, Erom Co., Ltd., Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-943, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Hyun
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Erom R&D Center, Erom Co., Ltd., Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-943, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, and Kimchi Research Institute, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63 beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 609-735, Korea.
authors.forename: Kun-Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: COX-2; Natural raw meal (NRM); anti-inflammation; cytokines; iNOS