Astaxanthin nanoparticles ameliorate dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis by alleviating oxidative stress, regulating intestinal flora, and protecting the intestinal barrier

Food Funct. 2023 Oct 30;14(21):9567-9579. doi: 10.1039/d3fo03331g.

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a novel astaxanthin nanoparticle using gum arabic (GA) and whey protein powder enriched with milk fat globule membranes (MFGM-WPI) as carriers and to investigate its effect and alleviation mechanism on colitis in mice. We demonstrated that MFGM-GA-astaxanthin could improve the bioaccessibility of astaxanthin and cope with oxidative stress more effectively in a Caco-2 cell model. In vivo studies demonstrated that MFGM-GA-astaxanthin alleviated colitis symptoms and repaired intestinal barrier function by increasing the expression of mucin 2, occludin, and zonula occludens-1. This was attributed to the alleviating effect of MFGM-GA-astaxanthin on oxidative stress. Moreover, MFGM-GA-astaxanthin restored the abnormalities of flora caused by dextran sulfate sodium, including Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, and Shigella. This study provides a basis for the therapeutic effect of astaxanthin nanoparticles on colon diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Colitis* / chemically induced
  • Colitis* / drug therapy
  • Colitis* / metabolism
  • Colon / metabolism
  • Dextran Sulfate / adverse effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Oxidative Stress

Substances

  • Dextran Sulfate
  • astaxanthine