Baked Corn (Zea mays L.) and Cooked Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Snack Consumption Reduced Inflammation and Upregulated NRF2 and SOD2 in Chronic Colitis In Vivo

Abstract

Abstract Objectives This research aimed to evaluate the effect of the consumption of a baked corn and bean snack in the intestinal oxidative stress and energetic metabolism in chronic colitis in vivo. Methods The polyphenolic composition of baked 70% nixtamalized corn (Zea mays L.) and 30% cooked common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) snack (70/30) was characterized by UHPLC-QTOF/MS. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS, 2% v/v) was used as chemical inductor of colitis in 45 CD-1/ICR male mice (6–8 weeks age) randomly distributed in 5 groups (treatment 5 weeks): G1 (basal diet: BD + water), G2 (BD), G3 (20 g 70/30/kg body weight: BW/day + BS), G4 (40 g 70/30/kg BW/day + BS), and G5 (60 g 70/30/kg BW/day + BS). G2-G5 groups were administered DSS every other week, during 5-weeks. BW and disease activity indexes (DAI) were measured weekly. Liver and colon histopathological and immunohistochemical (TGF-b and Ki-67) analysis was performed. Serum antioxidant capacity, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and fecal composition (polyphenols and short-chain fatty acids) were quantified. The colonic mRNA expression of genes associated with oxidative stress and energy metabolism was performed using a mice gene array. Results p-Coumaric and ferulic acids were the main identified phenolics (72–103 mg/g snack, respectively). G3 and G4 exhibited the highest BW (+2.94%) and lowest DAI scores (0.5–1.5) (p < 0.05) among the DSS-induced groups, compared to G2. G4 showed preservation of colon architecture from 70/30-administered groups (histological score: 4.30 ± 0.13), while G3 and G4 exhibited the highest seric antioxidant capacity values (130–147 mg equivalents Trolox/mL). Snack-added groups displayed the lowest IL-6 and TNF-a values (598–657 pg/mL and 82–277 pg/mL, respectively) (p < 0.05) and the highest amount of fecal polyphenols and short-chain fatty acids (21–25 mM). G1 and G4 were clustered in the same groups from the gene analysis (p < 0.05), being the adiponectin receptor 1 (ADIPOR1) (-0.17 fold), erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (NRF2) (0.32–0.34 fold), and superoxide dismutase (SOD2) (0.58–1.25 fold) the main regulated genes, compared to G2. Conclusions Results suggested that 70/30 baked corn and bean snack consumption protects the colon from inflammatory symptoms, decreasing oxidative stress in vivo. Funding Sources The funding received by CONACyT is appreciated.