β-Sitosterol and stigmasterol ameliorate dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice fed a high fat Western-style diet.

Abstract

Phytosterols, the plant analogues of cholesterol, widely occur in the human diet. In this study, we investigated and compared the effects of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol (both with purities ≥95%) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in C57BL/6J male mice fed a high fat Western-style diet. Mice treated with DSS developed severe mucosal colitis, with a marked distortion and crypt loss of colonic surface epithelium. Both β-sitosterol and stigmasterol significantly inhibited colon shortening, lowered fecal hemoglobin content, and reduced the severity of colitis in the middle and distal colon (p < 0.05). These phytosterols also significantly suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B. They also significantly decreased colony stimulating factor-1 and the nuclear translocation of inflammatory master regulator nuclear factor-kappa B. Stigmasterol significantly lowered the colonic inflammation score and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and colony stimulating factor-1, while β-sitosterol was less or not effective. These results suggest that dietary intake of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol ameliorates colitis. Such activities of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol in humans remain to be investigated.

• Authors: Simin Feng, Zhuqing Dai, Anna Liu, Hong Wang, Jayson Chen, Zisheng Luo, Chung S Yang
• Journal: Food & function (Food Funct) Vol. 8 Issue 11 Pg. 4179-4186 (Nov 15 2017) ISSN: 2042-650X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 29034917 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Sitosterols
• gamma-sitosterol
• Dextran Sulfate
• Stigmasterol

Topics

• Animals
• Colitis (chemically induced, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Dextran Sulfate (adverse effects)
• Diet, High-Fat (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Sitosterols (administration & dosage)
• Stigmasterol (administration & dosage)