Macadamia peptide MPAF alleviates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice by suppressing NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by recurrent inflammation of the colon, leading to significant morbidity and impaired quality of life. Current therapeutic strategies, often involving aminosalicylates or corticosteroids, can have limited efficacy or considerable side effects, highlighting the need for safer and more effective interventions. Natural compounds, particularly bioactive peptides derived from nuts, are gaining interest due to their ease of digestion, absorption, and diverse physiological functions, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study explores such a peptide, MPAF, as a potential therapeutic agent, focusing on its ability to modulate key inflammatory pathways like NF-κB/NLRP3 which are central to UC pathogenesis.

To investigate MPAF's protective effects, C57BL/6 mice were divided into five groups (n=10 each): control, DSS-induced colitis, low-dose MPAF (50 mg/kg), high-dose MPAF (100 mg/kg), and 5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA, 100 mg/kg) as a positive control. Ulcerative colitis was induced with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Colon, serum, and liver tissues were collected. Researchers assessed histopathology, antioxidant activity, and the expression of genes and proteins linked to the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. Primary endpoints included colon length, disease activity index (DAI) scores, goblet cell counts, and tight junction protein levels.