A New Immunomodulatory Function of Low-Viscous Konjac Glucomannan with a Small Particle Size: Its Oral Intake Suppresses Spontaneously Occurring Dermatitis in NC/Nga Mice

Vol. 136, No. 3, 2005

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Original Paper

A New Immunomodulatory Function of Low-Viscous Konjac Glucomannan with a Small Particle Size: Its Oral Intake Suppresses Spontaneously Occurring Dermatitis in NC/Nga Mice
Nobukazu Onishi^a, Seiji Kawamoto^b, Masaru Nishimura^b, Toshiaki Nakano^b, Tsunehiro Aki^b, Seiko Shigeta^b, Hisao Shimizu^c, Kunihiko Hashimoto^a, Kazuhisa Ono^b

^aDepartment of Research and Development, Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd., Hiroshima,
^bDepartment of Molecular Biotechnology, Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, and
^cShimizu Chemical Corporation, Mihara, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2005;136:258-265 (DOI: 10.1159/000083952)

Key Words

Atopic dermatitis
Interferon-
IgE
Konjac glucomannan
NC/Nga mice
Particle size

Abstract

Background: Konjac glucomannan (GM) is a well-known dietary fiber with various beneficial functions: the higher viscosity displayed the stronger potency. However, the high-viscous GM powders, ordinary konjac powder and highly purified GM were mostly unsuitable for the application to various food industries. Our aims are to develop new physiological functions of low-viscous GM powder, pulverized GM or re-granulated fine GM, using a murine model of atopic dermatitis. Methods: Male 4-week-old NC/Nga mice were fed for 8 weeks on diets containing 5% of two high-viscous and two low-viscous GM powders, respectively. Results: Striking suppression against the aggravation of dermatitis, the increase in scratching behaviors, and the rise in IgE levels was recognized only in mice fed on the pulverized GM diet, but not in mice fed on the other GM diets or a control diet. Eczema prevention in the fine GM-fed mice was accompanied by a significant decrease in their plasma IFN- gamma levels, a positive regulatory cytokine for atopic skin inflammation. Conclusion: Only the pulverized GM possessed the ability to suppress the development of dermatitis in NC/Nga mice. This is the new immunomodulatory function of low-viscous GM with a small particle size.

Author Contacts

Correspondence to: Dr. Nobukazu Onishi
Department of Research and Development, Nishikawa Rubber Co. Ltd.
2-1-31 Yamamoto, Asaminami-ku
Hiroshima 731-0137 (Japan)
Tel. +81 82 875 0041, Fax +81 82 875 0610, E-Mail onishi@nishikawa-rbr.co.jp

Article Information

Received: January 27, 2004
Accepted after revision: October 19, 2004
Published online: February 16, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 5, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 29

Medline Abstract (ID 15722635)

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