Pea (Pisum sativum L.) seed albumin extracts show anti-inflammatory effect in the DSS model of mouse colitis

Scope: This study investigates the preventive effects of two pea (Pisum sativum) seed albumin extracts, either in the presence (pea seed extract [PSE]) or absence (albumin fraction from PSE [AF-PSE]) of soluble polysaccharides, in the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced colitis in mice. Methods and results: Male C57BL/6J mice were assigned to five groups: one noncolitic and four colitic. Colitis was induced by incorporating DSS (3.5%) in the drinking water for 4 days, after which DSS was removed. Treated groups received orally PSE (15 g/kg.day), or AF-PSE (1.5 g/kg.day), or pure soy Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI; 50 mg/kg.day), starting 2 wk before colitis induction, and maintained for 9 days after. All treated groups showed intestinal anti-inflammatory effect, evidenced by reduced microscopic histological damage in comparison with untreated colitic mice. The treatments ameliorated the colonic mRNA expression of different proinflammatory markers: cytokines, inducible enzymes, metalloproteinases, adhesion molecules, and toll-like receptors, as well as proteins involved in maintaining the epithelial barrier function. Furthermore, the administration of PSE, AF-PSE, or soy BBI restored bacterial counts, partially or totally, to values in healthy mice. Conclusion: PSE and AF-PSE ameliorated DSS-induced damage to mice, their effects being due, at least partially, to the presence of active BBI.