Amelioration of the DSS-induced colitis in mice by pretreatment with 4,4′-diaponeurosporene-producing Bacillus subtilis

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronically relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Current IBD treatments have poor tolerability and insufficient therapeutic efficacy, thus, alternative therapeutic approaches are required. Recently, a number of dietary supplements have emerged as promising interventions. In the present study oral administration of a carotenoid (4,4′-diaponeurosporene)-producing Bacillus subtilis markedly ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium salt-induced mouse colitis, as demonstrated by a reduction in weight loss and the severity of bleeding, which indicated that 4,4′-diaponeurosporene may have beneficial effects on treatments for colitis. This preliminary study indicated that 4,4′-diaponeurosporene may function synergistically with probiotics to provide a novel and effective strategy to prevent colitis.