Intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of combined quercitrin and dietary olive oil supplemented with fish oil, rich in EPA and DHA (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids, in rats with DSS-induced colitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Previous studies have described the intestinal anti-inflammatory effects exerted by the bioflavonoid quercitrin (QR) and by an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)-enriched diet in experimental models of rat colitis. The aim of the present study was to test if the combination of both treatments would result in an improvement in the intestinal anti-inflammatory effect achieved separately. METHODS: Colitis was induced in female Wistar rats by incorporating dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in drinking water at 5% (w/v) for 5 days and at 2% (w/v) for the following 10 days. Five groups of rats (n=10) were used: two of them received an olive-oil-based diet with fish oil, rich in n-3 PUFA (FO diet) for 2 weeks before colitis induction and until the end of the experiment, and one of those also was administered daily QR (1mg/kg, PO), starting when DSS concentration was changed. DSS colitis was induced in other two groups fed with standard rat diet, one of them being administered QR as before. A non-colitic group fed standard diet was also included. After that period, the rats were sacrificed and colonic damage was assessed both histologically and biochemically. RESULTS: The concurrent administration of FO diet and QR exhibited an intestinal anti-inflammatory effect, as evidenced by a significant improvement of all biochemical parameters of colonic inflammation assayed in comparison with non-treated colitic rats. Thus, both colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities were significantly reduced compared with untreated colitic rats. In addition, a complete restoration of colonic glutathione content, which was depleted as a consequence of the colonic insult, was obtained in rats treated with QR plus FO diet; this content was even higher than that obtained when colitic rats were treated with FO diet alone. When compared with the control colitic group, the combined treatment was also associated with a lower colonic nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression as well as with a significant reduction in different colonic proinflammatory mediators assayed, i.e. leukotriene B(4), tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1beta, showing a significantly greater inhibitory effect of the latter in comparison with rats receiving FO diet without the flavonoid. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the potential synergism between the administration of the flavonoid and the incorporation of olive oil and n-3 PUFA to the diet for the treatment of these intestinal inflammatory disorders.

Intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of dietary fiber (Plantago ovata seeds) in HLA-B27 transgenic rats.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Dietary fiber has been proven to be beneficial in maintaining remission in human ulcerative colitis, an effect related with an increased luminal production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). The aim of the present study was to further investigate the mechanisms involved in the intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of dietary fiber in an experimental model of rat colitis. METHODS: HLA-B27 transgenic rats (8-10 weeks old) were fed a fiber-supplemented diet (5% Plantago ovata seeds) for 13 weeks before evaluation of the colonic inflammatory status, both histologically and biochemically. The luminal colonic production of SCFA was quantified. In vitro studies were also performed to test the interaction between two SCFA (butyrate and propionate) as inhibitors of cytokine production in THP-1 cells. RESULTS: Dietary fiber supplementation ameliorated the development of colonic inflammation in transgenic rats as evidenced by an improvement of intestinal cytoarchitecture. This effect was associated with a decrease in some of the pro-inflammatory mediators involved in the inflammatory process: nitric oxide, leukotriene B(4), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). The intestinal contents from fiber-treated colitic rats showed a significant higher production of SCFA, butyrate and propionate, than non-treated colitic animals. In vitro studies revealed a synergistic inhibitory effect of butyrate and propionate on TNFalpha production. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary fiber supplementation ameliorated colonic damage in HLA-B27 transgenic rats. This effects was associated with an increased production of SCFA, which can act synergistically in inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory mediators.