Amelioration of the DSS‑induced colitis in mice by pretreatment with 4,4'‑diaponeurosporene‑producing Bacillus subtilis

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronically relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Current IBD treatments have poor tolerability and insufficient therapeutic efficacy, thus, alternative therapeutic approaches are required. Recently, a number of dietary supplements have emerged as promising interventions. In the present study oral administration of a carotenoid (4,4'‑diaponeurosporene)‑producing Bacillus subtilis markedly ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium salt‑induced mouse colitis, as demonstrated by a reduction in weight loss and the severity of bleeding, which indicated that 4,4'‑diaponeurosporene may have beneficial effects on treatments for colitis. This preliminary study indicated that 4,4'‑diaponeurosporene may function synergistically with probiotics to provide a novel and effective strategy to prevent colitis.