Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate reduces colon inflammation in mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis

Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate (BBIC) is a soybean extract enriched in t he Bowman-Birk inhibitor, a protein protease inhibitor. The Bowman-Birk inh ibitor can inhibit proteases released from inflammation mediating cells and suppress superoxide anion radical secretion from immunocytes. This study i nvestigates the ability of Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate to inhibit col on inflammation in the dextran sulfate sodium model of ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease. When compared to mice on a standard diet, mi ce given food supplemented with 0.5% BBIC during and after dextran sulfate sodium treatment showed suppression of three of four scored histopathologic al inflammation criteria (P < 0.01), total histopathological score (P < 0.0 1), a 15% lower mortality rate (P < 0.01), and a delayed onset of mortality . We conclude that dietary Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate can beneficial ly affect dextran sulfate sodium-treated mice and may be useful in the trea tment of human inflammatory bowel diseases, particularly ulcerative colitis .