Protective Effects of Fermented Soybeans (Cheonggukjang) on Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS)-Induced Colitis in a Mouse Model

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease, and the incidence of IBD is increasing every year owing to changes in dietary structure. Although the exact pathogenesis of IBD is still unclear, recent evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis is closely associated with IBD pathogenesis. Cheonggukjang is a traditional Korean fermented soybean paste produced using traditional and industrial methods, and contains probiotics, which affect the gut microbiota composition. However, the protective effect of Cheonggukjang against IBD is unknown. In this study, we investigated the bacterial community structure of traditional and commercial Cheonggukjang samples, as well as the protective effect of Cheonggukjang on a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. Traditional and commercial Cheonggukjang were found to contain various type of useful probiotics in their bacterial community structure. Cheonggukjang reduced the progression of DSS-induced symptoms, such as body weight loss, colonic shortening, disease activity index, and histological changes. Further, Cheonggukjang improved the intestinal epithelial barrier integrity on DSS-induced colitis mice. In addition, Cheonggukjang suppressed the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators through the inactivation of NF-kappa B and MAPK signaling pathways. These results indicate that Cheonggukjang exerts protective effects against DSS-induced colitis, suggesting its possible application as a functional food for improving inflammatory diseases.

Automated summary

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease with increasing incidence due to changes in dietary structure. Recent evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis is closely associated with the pathogenesis of IBD. Cheonggukjang, a traditional Korean fermented soybean paste, contains probiotics that may affect the gut microbiota composition and potentially protect against IBD. This study found that traditional and commercial Cheonggukjang samples contain various types of beneficial probiotics. Cheonggukjang reduced the progression of DSS-induced colitis symptoms and improved intestinal barrier integrity. It also suppressed the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators through the inactivation of NF-kappa B and MAPK signaling pathways. These findings suggest that Cheonggukjang has protective effects against DSS-induced colitis and may be used as a functional food for improving inflammatory diseases.