Quinoa protein and its hydrolysate ameliorated DSS-induced colitis in mice by modulating intestinal microbiota and inhibiting inflammatory response

Int J Biol Macromol. 2023 Dec 31;253(Pt 8):127588. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127588. Epub 2023 Oct 22.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of quinoa protein (QPro) and its derived peptides (QPep) in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. The results demonstrated that oral administration of QPro and QPep significantly alleviated colitis symptoms, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloody stools, weight loss, as well as reduced colonic shortening, inflammatory factor release, and intestinal barrier injury. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production rose as QPro and QPep modulated the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Western blotting results revealed that QPro and QPep also suppressed TLR4 levels and inhibited IκB-α and NF-κB phosphorylation in colon tissue, implying that the TLR4/IκB-α/NF-κB signaling pathway may be involved in the amelioration of QPro and QPep in DSS-induced colitis. These results indicate the potential of quinoa protein and its hydrolysate to serve as bioactive components in functional diets for intestinal health and to significantly lower intestinal inflammation.

Keywords: IBD; Intestinal microbiota; Quinoa protein and its hydrolysate.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chenopodium quinoa*
  • Colitis* / chemically induced
  • Colitis* / drug therapy
  • Colitis* / metabolism
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / metabolism
  • Colon
  • Dextran Sulfate / adverse effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism

Substances

  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha
  • NF-kappa B
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Dextran Sulfate