Ameliorative Effects of Selenium-Containing Proteins and Peptides from Selenium-Enriched Cardamine L. against Ulcerative Colitis in Mice

Objective: To assess the mitigative effects of plant-derived organic selenium on ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: Selenium-containing proteins (SePro) and peptides (SePP) were prepared from natural selenium-enriched Cardamine L. in Ankang, Shaanxi province by alkali dissolution followed by acid pre...

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Main Author: MENG Yao, HE Ziyan, LUO Ying, ZHANG Zhong, LI Jianke, YUAN Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: China Food Publishing Company 2025-05-01
Series:Shipin Kexue
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Online Access:https://www.spkx.net.cn/fileup/1002-6630/PDF/2025-46-10-016.pdf
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author MENG Yao, HE Ziyan, LUO Ying, ZHANG Zhong, LI Jianke, YUAN Li
author_facet MENG Yao, HE Ziyan, LUO Ying, ZHANG Zhong, LI Jianke, YUAN Li
author_sort MENG Yao, HE Ziyan, LUO Ying, ZHANG Zhong, LI Jianke, YUAN Li
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To assess the mitigative effects of plant-derived organic selenium on ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: Selenium-containing proteins (SePro) and peptides (SePP) were prepared from natural selenium-enriched Cardamine L. in Ankang, Shaanxi province by alkali dissolution followed by acid precipitation and enzymatic hydrolysis, respectively. A mouse model of UC was induced by 3 g/100 mL dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) solution. Commercial selenium-enriched yeast tablets and mesalazine enteric-coated tablets were used as positive controls, and a control group, a DSS group, a DSS + mesalazine enteric-coated tablet group, a DSS + selenium-enriched yeast tablet group, a DSS + SePro group, and a DSS + SePP group were set up. The control group drank water freely, while all other groups drank 3 g/100 mL DSS solution intermittently. The disease activity index (DAI) score, spleen index, and colon length of the mice were recorded, histopathological changes of the colon were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, the expression of colonic barrier proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry, the levels of inflammatory cytokines in colonic tissues were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the feces were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing to reveal the ameliorative effects of SePro and SePP on DSS-induced UC mice. Results: Both SePro and SePP alleviated the symptoms of UC in mice (body mass loss, increased DAI score and spleen index), repaired the damage of colonic tissues, up-regulated the expression of the colonic barrier protein mucin 2 (MUC2), down-regulated the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines: Caspase-1, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interferon γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) in colonic tissues, promoted the growth of intestinal beneficial bacteria, inhibited the proliferation of harmful bacteria, and increased the fecal content of SCFAs. Further comparison showed that SePro was superior to SePP in maintaining and increasing the expression of MUC2 and inhibiting the mRNA expression of Caspase-1, TNF-α, and COX-2, while SePP was superior to SePro in inhibiting body mass loss, decreasing DAI score and spleen index, down-regulating the mRNA expression of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IFN-γ and increasing the fecal content of SCFAs. In addition, although selenium-enriched yeast tablets had the best effect in inhibiting body mass loss in mice, and mesalazine enteric-coated tablets had the best effect in reducing DAI score, the effects of SePro and SePP were generally better than those of commercial mesalazine enteric-coated tablets and selenium yeast tablets in reducing spleen index, alleviating colonic histopathological injury, up-regulating the expression of MUC2, down-regulating the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines and increasing the fecal content of SCFAs. Conclusion: SePro and SePP have preventive and ameliorative effects against DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice by repairing colonic mucosal injury, inhibiting inflammatory response, enhancing colonic barrier function, and regulating the balance of gut microbiota. Therefore, SePro and SePP have the potential to be developed as dietary supplements for intestinal health.
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spelling doaj-art-8d4e4068796d4a33bce7ff12a47444d12025-08-20T03:25:07ZengChina Food Publishing CompanyShipin Kexue1002-66302025-05-01461014715910.7506/spkx1002-6630-20240806-055Ameliorative Effects of Selenium-Containing Proteins and Peptides from Selenium-Enriched Cardamine L. against Ulcerative Colitis in MiceMENG Yao, HE Ziyan, LUO Ying, ZHANG Zhong, LI Jianke, YUAN Li0(College of Food Engineering and Nutritional Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China)Objective: To assess the mitigative effects of plant-derived organic selenium on ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: Selenium-containing proteins (SePro) and peptides (SePP) were prepared from natural selenium-enriched Cardamine L. in Ankang, Shaanxi province by alkali dissolution followed by acid precipitation and enzymatic hydrolysis, respectively. A mouse model of UC was induced by 3 g/100 mL dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) solution. Commercial selenium-enriched yeast tablets and mesalazine enteric-coated tablets were used as positive controls, and a control group, a DSS group, a DSS + mesalazine enteric-coated tablet group, a DSS + selenium-enriched yeast tablet group, a DSS + SePro group, and a DSS + SePP group were set up. The control group drank water freely, while all other groups drank 3 g/100 mL DSS solution intermittently. The disease activity index (DAI) score, spleen index, and colon length of the mice were recorded, histopathological changes of the colon were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, the expression of colonic barrier proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry, the levels of inflammatory cytokines in colonic tissues were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the feces were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing to reveal the ameliorative effects of SePro and SePP on DSS-induced UC mice. Results: Both SePro and SePP alleviated the symptoms of UC in mice (body mass loss, increased DAI score and spleen index), repaired the damage of colonic tissues, up-regulated the expression of the colonic barrier protein mucin 2 (MUC2), down-regulated the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines: Caspase-1, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interferon γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) in colonic tissues, promoted the growth of intestinal beneficial bacteria, inhibited the proliferation of harmful bacteria, and increased the fecal content of SCFAs. Further comparison showed that SePro was superior to SePP in maintaining and increasing the expression of MUC2 and inhibiting the mRNA expression of Caspase-1, TNF-α, and COX-2, while SePP was superior to SePro in inhibiting body mass loss, decreasing DAI score and spleen index, down-regulating the mRNA expression of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IFN-γ and increasing the fecal content of SCFAs. In addition, although selenium-enriched yeast tablets had the best effect in inhibiting body mass loss in mice, and mesalazine enteric-coated tablets had the best effect in reducing DAI score, the effects of SePro and SePP were generally better than those of commercial mesalazine enteric-coated tablets and selenium yeast tablets in reducing spleen index, alleviating colonic histopathological injury, up-regulating the expression of MUC2, down-regulating the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines and increasing the fecal content of SCFAs. Conclusion: SePro and SePP have preventive and ameliorative effects against DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice by repairing colonic mucosal injury, inhibiting inflammatory response, enhancing colonic barrier function, and regulating the balance of gut microbiota. Therefore, SePro and SePP have the potential to be developed as dietary supplements for intestinal health.https://www.spkx.net.cn/fileup/1002-6630/PDF/2025-46-10-016.pdfselenium-enriched cardamine l.; ulcerative colitis; selenium-containing proteins; selenium-containing peptides; gut microbiota; inflammatory response
spellingShingle MENG Yao, HE Ziyan, LUO Ying, ZHANG Zhong, LI Jianke, YUAN Li
Ameliorative Effects of Selenium-Containing Proteins and Peptides from Selenium-Enriched Cardamine L. against Ulcerative Colitis in Mice
Shipin Kexue
selenium-enriched cardamine l.; ulcerative colitis; selenium-containing proteins; selenium-containing peptides; gut microbiota; inflammatory response
title Ameliorative Effects of Selenium-Containing Proteins and Peptides from Selenium-Enriched Cardamine L. against Ulcerative Colitis in Mice
title_full Ameliorative Effects of Selenium-Containing Proteins and Peptides from Selenium-Enriched Cardamine L. against Ulcerative Colitis in Mice
title_fullStr Ameliorative Effects of Selenium-Containing Proteins and Peptides from Selenium-Enriched Cardamine L. against Ulcerative Colitis in Mice
title_full_unstemmed Ameliorative Effects of Selenium-Containing Proteins and Peptides from Selenium-Enriched Cardamine L. against Ulcerative Colitis in Mice
title_short Ameliorative Effects of Selenium-Containing Proteins and Peptides from Selenium-Enriched Cardamine L. against Ulcerative Colitis in Mice
title_sort ameliorative effects of selenium containing proteins and peptides from selenium enriched cardamine l against ulcerative colitis in mice
topic selenium-enriched cardamine l.; ulcerative colitis; selenium-containing proteins; selenium-containing peptides; gut microbiota; inflammatory response
url https://www.spkx.net.cn/fileup/1002-6630/PDF/2025-46-10-016.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT mengyaoheziyanluoyingzhangzhonglijiankeyuanli ameliorativeeffectsofseleniumcontainingproteinsandpeptidesfromseleniumenrichedcardaminelagainstulcerativecolitisinmice