Active hexose-correlated compound and Bifidobacterium longum BB536 exert symbiotic effects in experimental colitis

Active hexose-correlated compound (AHCC) is a commercial extract obtained from Basidiomycetes under controlled conditions, yielding a 74 % content in oligosaccharides, especially alpha-glucans. AHCC has a number of therapeutic effects, including intestinal anti-inflammatory activity. Bifidobacterium longum BB536 is a probiotic with potential health-promoting effect at the gut level. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the possibility of synergism between AHCC, which is believed to act as a prebiotic, and B. longum BB536. We used the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid model (TNBS) of colitis in rats. AHCC (100 or 500 mg kg(-1)) and B. longum BB536 (5 x 10(6) CFU rat(-1) day(-1)) were administered together or separately for 7 days prior to colitis induction and then for another 7 days and compared with control (noncolitic) and TNBS rats. The results show that both treatments had intestinal anti-inflammatory activity separately, which was enhanced when used in combination, as shown by changes in body weight gain, colonic weight to length ratio, myeloperoxydase activity and iNOS expression. Interestingly, the association of AHCC 100 mg kg(-1) B. longum BB536 showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity. Our data provide a preclinical experimental basis for the synergistic effect of AHCC and B. longum BB536 on inflammatory bowel disease.