Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a
non-infectious disease characterized by chronic
inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Currently, management of IBD is still a clinical challenge. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of surfactin containing Bacillus licheniformis-fermented products (SBLF) and commercial surfactin (CS) on the treatment of
dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced
colitis in a mouse model. We found that mice that received
drinking water containing 3% DSS developed significant
colitis symptoms, including increased disease activity index,
body weight loss, shortening of the colon length,
splenomegaly, colonic
inflammation and colonic NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing
protein 3 (NLRP3)
inflammasome activation. Notably, orally received SBLF, CS or clinical anti-inflammatory
drug 5-aminosalicylic acid improved DSS-induced
colitis symptoms in mice. These findings show that SBLF can improve IBD in mice by reducing colonic
inflammation and inhibiting the NLRP3
inflammasome activation, suggesting that SBLF has the potential to be used as a nutraceutical in humans or a feed additive in economic and companion animals for preventing IBD.