Beneficial and preventive effect of chitin nanofibrils in a dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute ulcerative colitis model

Chitin nanofibrils, which are prepared from dried crab shells by a grinding method, are newly developed natural materials with uniform widths of approximately 10–20 nm. The bioactivities of chitin nanofibrils have not been investigated. In this study, we examined the preventive effects of chitin nanofibrils in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute ulcerative colitis. The results indicated that chitin nanofibrils improved clinical symptoms and suppressed ulcerative colitis. Furthermore, chitin nanofibrils suppressed myeloperoxidase activation in the colon and decreased serum interleukin-6 concentrations. Conversely, chitin powder did not suppress DSS-induced acute ulcerative colitis. Our results suggested that chitin nanofibrils have potential as a functional substance for inflammatory bowel disease patients.