The Combined Administration of Rice Bran and Bacteria Producing Feruloyl Esterase Alleviates DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has emerged as a global health concern. This study aimed to evaluate the ameliorative effects of the combined application of rice bran (RB) and Lactobacillus johnsonii 23, a producer of feruloyl esterase, on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice. High-yielding ferulic acid esterase bacteria (FAEb) were screened and administered to DSS-induced UC mice along with rice bran. Disease symptoms, histopathology, oxidative stress, inflammatory factors, and cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were assessed to evaluate the alleviating effects on UC mice. The combined intervention effectively improved body weight changes, disease activity index (DAI) scores, and colon length in UC mice, reversing DSS-induced epithelial cell necrosis, crypt structural loss, inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell depletion, and mucosal erosion and edema. The combination also reduced colonic MDA levels, enhanced SOD, GSH, and GSH-Px levels, thereby boosting antioxidant capacity. It decreased the expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α while increasing the expression of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10, promoting anti-inflammatory capacity. Furthermore, the combined application resisted DSS-induced depletion of SCFAs. The combined administration of rice bran and L. johnsonii 23 holds the potential to emerge as a novel dietary supplement for the prevention or treatment of UC.