Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Function Restoration in Mice by Maize Diet Containing Enriched Flavan-4-Ols

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic intestinal inflammatory condition, awaits safe and effective preventive strategies. Naturally occurring flavonoid compounds are promising therapeutic candidates against IBD due to their great antioxidant potential and ability to reduce inflammation and improve immune signaling mediators in the gut. In this study, we utilized two maize near-isogenic lines flavan-4-ols-containing P1-rr (F+) and flavan-4-ols-lacking p1-ww (F−) to investigate the anti-inflammatory property of flavan-4-ols against carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)-induced low-grade colonic inflammation. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to either 1% CMC (w/v) or water for a total of 15 weeks. After week six, mice on CMC treatment were divided into four groups. One group continued on the control diet. The second and third groups were supplemented with F+ at 15% or 25% (w/w). The fourth group received diet supplemented with F− at 15%. Here we report that mice consuming F+(15) and F+(25) alleviated CMC-induced increase in epididymal fat-pad, colon histology score, pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 expression and intestinal permeability compared to mice fed with control diet and F−(15). F+(15) and F+(25) significantly enhanced mucus thickness in CMC exposed mice (p < 0.05). These data collectively demonstrated the protective effect of flavan-4-ol against colonic inflammation by restoring intestinal barrier function and provide a rationale to breed for flavan-4-ols enriched cultivars for better dietary benefits.

Characterization of Maize Near-Isogenic Lines With Enhanced Flavonoid Expression to Be Used as Tools in Diet-Health Complexity

“…Total phenolics assay and DPPH assay results revealed phlobaphenes in the kernel pericarp as dominant contributors, however, due to extraction difficulties of phlobaphenes from kernels at 45 DAP, this pattern was not observed at this stage. The great antioxidant capacity of phlobaphene was also verified and reported by other researchers, making it a desirable trait to be introduced into elite cultivars for a better dietary benefit ( Casas et al, 2014 ; Capocchi et al, 2017 ; Wu et al, 2020 ).…”

“…A previous study used two maize NILs, flavan-4-ols-rich and flavan-4-ols-free maize, as diet supplements in an experimental colitis model in mice. Results showed that a flavan-4-ols enriched maize diet was able to alleviate low-grade colonic inflammation by restoring intestinal barrier function ( Wu et al, 2020 ). The prophylactic efficacy of specific flavonoids were further investigated in a pilot mice study, where anthocyanins and phlobaphenes demonstrated anti-colitis potential.…”

“…Phlobaphenes and anthocyanins serve as potential UV protectants in plants ( Rius et al, 2012 , 2016 ; Cassani et al, 2017 ). Studies have demonstrated that phlobaphene-rich maize lines possess higher antioxidant activity than phlobaphene-lacking lines ( Casas et al, 2014 ; Wu et al, 2020 ).…”

Bioaccessibility and Bioactivity of Cereal Polyphenols: A Review

“…Furthermore, pigmented cereals are rich in phenolic compounds capable of promoting barrier function. Animal studies employing a colitis mice model have demonstrated that supplementation with maize cultivars rich in flavano-4-ols and anthocyanin phenolic compounds reduced gut permeability and proinflammatory cytokine secretion, and enhanced mucus secretion [ 21 , 88 ]. The molecular mechanisms involved in the modulation of barrier function, however, need elucidating.…”

Inclusion of high-flavonoid corn in the diet of broiler chickens as a potential approach for the control of necrotic enteritis

“…Corn (Zea mays L.) is commonly used source of energy for poultry in the United States ( Dei, 2017 ). Some cultivars of corn have been genetically selected to contain higher concentrations of flavonoids, which have shown important antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties ( Nessa et al, 2012 ; Wu et al, 2020 , 2021 ). A flavonoid-rich corn line (PennHFD) has been developed at The Pennsylvania State University.…”