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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Healthy Processed Foods Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #403301
Research Project: Prevention of Obesity Related Metabolic Diseases by Bioactive Components of Food Processing Waste Byproducts and Mitigation of Food Allergies

Location: Healthy Processed Foods Research

Title: Protection of allergic asthma in mice by black rice bran bioprocessed with shiitake mushroom mycelia

Author
item KWON, KI SUN - Str Biotech Co Ltd
item HWANG, WOON SANG - Str Biotech Co Ltd
item HEE LEE, KYUNG - Str Biotech Co Ltd
item KIM, KYUNG JIN - Str Biotech Co Ltd
item LEE, WHA YOUNG - Str Biotech Co Ltd
item KIM, JEANMAN - Str Biotech Co Ltd
item LEE, SANG JONG - Str Biotech Co Ltd
item KIM, SUNG PHIL - Str Biotech Co Ltd
item Friedman, Mendel

Submitted to: Food and Nutrition Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/23/2023
Publication Date: 4/26/2023
Citation: Kwon, K., Hwang, W., Hee Lee, K., Kim, K., Lee, W., Kim, J., Lee, S., Kim, S., Friedman, M. 2023. Protection of allergic asthma in mice by black rice bran bioprocessed with shiitake mushroom mycelia. Food and Nutrition Sciences. 14:341-368. https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2023.144023.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2023.144023

Interpretive Summary: The results of the present study show that a new functional food created by bioprocessing black rice bran with shiitake mushroom mycelia inhibits mast cell degranulation and the pro-inflammatory effects seen in ovalbumin-induced asthma cell and mice models. Histology of lung tissues revealed that the treatment also reversed the thickening of the airway wall and the contraction and infiltration of bronchial and blood vessels and inflammatory cells. The novel food products may have useful therapeutic applications in humans. We are challenged to determine if the new food products might protect humans against allergic asthma, and possibly also ameliorate the acute respiratory syndromes associated with other diseases, including the viral infections caused by COVID-19, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, as well as peanut protein and other food allergies.

Technical Abstract: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the anti-asthma mechanism of a new functional food produced by bioprocessing (fermenting) black rice bran and shiitake mushroom mycelia and three isolated products (fractions) in mast cells and orally fed mice and to compare the result with not bioprocessed black rice bran. In vitro, the treatments inhibited the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells and immunoglobulin E (IgE) production. The in vitro anti-asthma effects in cells were confirmed in orally fed mice following the induction of asthma by alumina and chicken egg ovalbumin (OVA). The suppression of asthma resulted from the inhibition of inflammation- and immune-related substances, including eotaxin; thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP); OVA-specific IgE; leukotriene C4 (LTC4); prostaglandin D2 (PGD2); and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum. The treatment also reversed the thickening of the lung airway wall. The inflammation and asthma inhibitions seem to be regulated by the balance of the T-helper cells Thl/Th2 immune response and the inhibition of multiple biomarkers associated with the cause of asthma. Future human clinical studies with adults and children should determine the potential therapeutic value of the anti-asthma effects of the new functional foods.