Smectite as a Preventive Oral Treatment to Reduce Clinical Symptoms of DSS Induced Colitis in Balb/c Mice

Abstract

Natural smectites have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of diarrhea. The present study evaluated the prophylactic effect of a diosmectite (FI5pp) on the clinical course, colon damage, expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins and the composition of the gut microbiota in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis. Diosmectite was administered daily to Balb/c mice from day 1 to 7 by oral gavage, followed by induction of acute DSS-colitis from day 8 to 14 (“Control”, n = 6; “DSS”, n = 10; “FI5pp + DSS”, n = 11). Mice were sacrificed on day 21. Clinical symptoms (body weight, stool consistency and occult blood) were checked daily after colitis induction. Colon tissue was collected for histological damage scoring and quantification of tight junction protein expression. Stool samples were collected for microbiome analysis. Our study revealed prophylactic diosmectite treatment attenuated the severity of DSS colitis, which was apparent by significantly reduced weight loss (p = 0.022 vs. DSS), disease activity index (p = 0.0025 vs. DSS) and histological damage score (p = 0.023 vs. DSS). No significant effects were obtained for the expression of TJ proteins (claudin-2 and claudin-3) after diosmectite treatment. Characterization of the microbial composition by 16S amplicon NGS showed that diosmectite treatment modified the DSS-associated dysbiosis. Thus, diosmectites are promising candidates for therapeutic approaches to target intestinal inflammation and to identify possible underlying mechanisms of diosmectites in further studies.

Ameliorative effect of Aconite aqueous extract on diarrhea is associated with modulation of the gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism

“…The gut microbiota is an important microbial community in the body and plays a central role in the maintenance of health ( Zhang C. et al, 2022 ). Growing evidence has proven that disruption of the gut microbiota is characteristic of diarrhea ( Chen et al, 2019 ; Breitrück et al, 2021 ; Wu et al, 2021 ; Zhen et al, 2021 ; Chen et al, 2022 ; Lu et al, 2022 ). In our study, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was used to explore whether the structure of the gut microbiota in mice with diarrhea would be altered by administration of AA.…”

“…Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group (belonging to the Lachnospiraceae family), a probiotic, produces short-chain fatty acids that inhibit pathogenic bacteria and are considered anti-inflammatory molecules. Multiple studies have identified decreased levels of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group in the stool of mice with diarrhea, and a decrease in diarrhea symptoms is associated with increased Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group levels ( Breitrück et al, 2021 ; Wu et al, 2021 ; Zhen et al, 2021 ; Chen et al, 2022 ; Lu et al, 2022 ). Escherichia-Shigella are Gram-negative, and this is the main pathogen that causes diarrhea and diarrhea-related deaths ( Yan et al, 2022 ).…”

Matrine Ameliorates DSS-Induced Colitis by Suppressing Inflammation, Modulating Oxidative Stress and Remodeling the Gut Microbiota

“…Nevertheless, these pharmaceutical interventions have exhibited numerous limitations and side effects, and their efficacy may not extend to all patient populations [ 8 ]. For these reasons, it is urgent to explore novel therapeutic strategies and to develop cost-effective formulations for UC patients [ 9 ]. Recently, drug development strategies based on natural products from medicinal plants have been considered a promising approach for UC prevention due to their widespread biological activities and good biosafety [ 10 ].…”

“…therapeutic strategies and to develop cost-effective formulations for UC patients [9] cently, drug development strategies based on natural products from medicinal pl have been considered a promising approach for UC prevention due to their widesp biological activities and good biosafety [10].…”