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Abstract Kale has been reported to have potential alleviating effects on colitis. However, the functional activities of kale dietary fibers and kale flavonoids (KF), as well as the effects of their combined use, were currently unknown. In this study, the efficacy of whole kale, kale soluble dietary fiber (KSDF), kale insoluble dietary fiber (KIDF), KF, mixture of KSDF and KF, and mixture of KIDF and KF on dextran sulfate sodium‐induced colitis mice was assessed to dissect which component(s) play the key role in alleviating colitis. The study demonstrated that administration of KSDF, KIDF, or KF resulted in various degrees of beneficial effects, including reduction of weight loss, colonic shortening, disease activity index score, and mRNA levels of inflammatory factors (TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐1β, and IL‐33), increase of mucin expression and suppression of intestinal g_Sutterella, g_Parabacteroides, f_Enterobacteriaceae relative abundance. However, 20% mouse mortality was found in group of KSDF combined with KF. Further analysis found that the combination antagonized the alleviating effects of both agents alone on colitis in mice. It is the first to report that there is antagonism between KSDF and KF in colitis, and the regulation of intestinal flora may be the mechanism. In addition, this study also showed that KSDF, KIDF, and KF alone had excellent effects to alleviate colitis. This study provides a new perspective and evidence to explore the effect of interaction among different food nutrients on intestinal inflammation.

Coix lachryma-jobi L. seed is an important food item in Asia with culinary and medicinal values. The effects of non-fermented coix seed (NFC), fermented coix seed with Lactobacillus plantarum NCU137 (FC) and polysaccharides from NFC, FC (FCP) on mice circulating nitrogen and immune disorder induced by high relative humidity (RH, 90 ± 2%) exposure were compared. All the treatments reduced circulating nitrogen (BUN and ammonia) might via increasing excretion of fecal nitrogen induced by altering gut microbiota. In comparison, FC and FCP restored erythrocyte morphology by promoting erythrocyte Na+/K+ ATPase activity more effectively, and immune function was modulated by reducing plasma IgM and IFN-γ levels, up-regulating IL-4 and IL-6 levels. Herein, these results indicated that FCP, as the main active ingredient in FC, modulated circulating nitrogen through altering gut microbiota, and restored immune homeostasis by regulating Th1/Th2 cytokines in mice receiving high RH exposure.

Both tea polysaccharides (TPS) and tea polyphenols (TPP) are promising in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the effects of their combination against IBD are still unknown. In the present study, the therapeutic effects of TPS, TPP and TPS + TPP on dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in mice were investigated. Our results showed that administration of TPS + TPP achieved the best effects, followed by TPP and TPS, which were evidenced by the restoration of various physical signs (body weight, colon length and disease activity index) and the promoted intestinal barrier function (colon damage, mucin secretion and tight junction proteins expression). Furthermore, TPP and TPS decreased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae, while TPP + TPS increased that of Lactobacillaceae and Lactobacillus. In conclusion, TPS together with TPP had greater effects on alleviating colitis and promoting intestinal barrier function. This result is interesting when developing functional foods against colitis.