Suppressive effects of cellulose nanofibers—made from adlay and seaweed—on colon inflammation in an inflammatory bowel-disease model

In this study, we investigated the suppressive effects of cellulose nanofibers made from adlay (A-CNF) and seaweed (S-CNF) on colon inflammation using the mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A-CNF and S-CNF suppressed shortening of the colon length and improved the histological tissue injury in mice. A-CNF and S-CNF also suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B in the colon. Furthermore, A-CNF and S-CNF suppressed the myeloperoxidase activities of inflammatory cells such as leukocytes. On the other hand, cellulose nanofibers made from wood did not improve the histological tissue injury or suppress the shortening of the colon length and colon inflammation in mice. These results revealed that A-CNF and S-CNF have suppressive effects on colon inflammation in an experimental IBD mouse model. Furthermore, our results indicate that A-CNF and S-CNF may be a potential source of dietary fiber for patients with IBD.