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

Food Funct. 2022 Aug 15;13(16):8616-8626. doi: 10.1039/d2fo01347a.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Colitis* / chemically induced
  • Colitis* / drug therapy
  • Colitis* / metabolism
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / chemically induced
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / drug therapy
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / pathology
  • Colon / metabolism
  • Dextran Sulfate / adverse effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fermented Foods*
  • Glycine max / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Republic of Korea
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Interleukin-6
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Dextran Sulfate