?-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 ?-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 ?-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 ?-sitosterol was less or not effective. These results suggest that dietary intake of stigmasterol and ?-sitosterol ameliorates colitis. Such activities of stigmasterol and ?-sitosterol in humans remain to be investigated.

SUBMITTER: Feng S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5875920 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature