TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of a cocoa diet on an intestinal inflammation model in rats
AU - Pérez-Berezo, Teresa
AU - Ramírez-Santana, Carolina
AU - Franch, Angels
AU - Ramos-Romero, Sara
AU - Castellote, Cristina
AU - Pérez-Cano, Francisco J.
AU - Castell, Margarida
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (AGL2005-02823). The authors thank Dr Ruth Ferrer for her technical assistance in the performance of the radiolabelled assay and María Pérez-Cano for the preparation of the histological sections. They also thank Dr Mónica Comalada at the University of Granada for her expert advice in establishing the DSS colitis.
PY - 2012/10
Y1 - 2012/10
N2 - Cocoa is a rich source of fiber and flavonoids with recognized antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a cocoa-enriched diet on rats with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Wistar rats were fed with either a 5% cocoa diet or standard diet. Colon inflammation was induced by DSS in the drinking water: 5% for six days and 2% over the following nine days. Colitis was assessed by body weight loss, stool consistency and blood presence in stools. A group of animals fed standard diet was treated with quercitrin (1 mg/kg) after colitis establishment. After two weeks of DSS treatment, the colon oxidative and inflammatory status and lymphocyte composition from blood and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were assessed. The cocoa-fed group did not exhibit amelioration of clinical colitis but displayed higher antioxidant activity than the colitic reference group by the restoration of colon glutathione content and prevention of lipid peroxidation. The cocoa diet showed anti-inflammatory potential because it down-regulated serum tumor necrosis factor-α, colon inducible nitric oxide synthase activity and decreased colon cell infiltration. The lymphocyte composition in MLNs was not modified by drinking DSS, but there was an increase in the proportion of natural killer and regulatory T-cells in the blood. These changes were not modified by cocoa. In conclusion, cocoa intake may help to inhibit the negative oxidative effects consequent to colitis, although this action is not enough to abrogate the intestinal inflammation significantly.
AB - Cocoa is a rich source of fiber and flavonoids with recognized antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a cocoa-enriched diet on rats with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Wistar rats were fed with either a 5% cocoa diet or standard diet. Colon inflammation was induced by DSS in the drinking water: 5% for six days and 2% over the following nine days. Colitis was assessed by body weight loss, stool consistency and blood presence in stools. A group of animals fed standard diet was treated with quercitrin (1 mg/kg) after colitis establishment. After two weeks of DSS treatment, the colon oxidative and inflammatory status and lymphocyte composition from blood and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were assessed. The cocoa-fed group did not exhibit amelioration of clinical colitis but displayed higher antioxidant activity than the colitic reference group by the restoration of colon glutathione content and prevention of lipid peroxidation. The cocoa diet showed anti-inflammatory potential because it down-regulated serum tumor necrosis factor-α, colon inducible nitric oxide synthase activity and decreased colon cell infiltration. The lymphocyte composition in MLNs was not modified by drinking DSS, but there was an increase in the proportion of natural killer and regulatory T-cells in the blood. These changes were not modified by cocoa. In conclusion, cocoa intake may help to inhibit the negative oxidative effects consequent to colitis, although this action is not enough to abrogate the intestinal inflammation significantly.
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U2 - 10.1258/ebm.2012.012083
DO - 10.1258/ebm.2012.012083
M3 - Research Article
C2 - 23104506
AN - SCOPUS:84868233730
SN - 1535-3702
VL - 237
SP - 1181
EP - 1188
JO - Experimental Biology and Medicine
JF - Experimental Biology and Medicine
IS - 10
ER -