Intake of Protein Hydrolysates and Phenolic Fractions Isolated from Flaxseed Ameliorates TNBS‐Induced Colitis

Scope In the attempt to develop new therapeutic treatments for colitis, fractions containing phenolic compound isolate (Phi) and phenolic reduced‐flaxseed protein hydrolysate (phr‐FPH) from flaxseed are evaluated for their effects on the in vitro production of pro‐inflammatory mediators and on the course of experimental colitis. Methods and results The anti‐inflammatory effects of Phi and phr‐FPH from flaxseeds are studied in RAW264.7 cells and in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) colitis model. It is observed that the incubation with Phi or phr‐FPH result in lower levels of tumor necrosis factor α and nitric oxide in macrophages stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide + interferon‐γ. Prophylactic and therapeutic treatments with Phi and phr‐FPH, respectively, greatly contribute to the prevention of weight loss and colon inflammation in colitic BALB/c mice. T cell proliferation, expansion of TH1 and TH17 cells, and pro‐inflammatory cytokines are lower, whereas Treg cells are higher in spleen cell cultures from Phi‐treated mice. In addition, therapeutic phr‐FPH treatment is able to reduce the expansion of TH17 in splenic cell cultures. Conclusion The consumption of phenolic and protein compounds extracted from flaxseeds has a protective effect on TNBS‐induced colitis, and may be useful in the control of other inflammatory disorders. Flaxseed phenolic compounds and protein hydrolysates are able to ameliorate intestinal inflammation in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid–colitic mice, indicating that it might be a promising new treatment for inflammatory bowel disease.