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CC BY 4.0 · Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU 2024; 14(03): 426-430
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1773807
Brief Report

Modulation of Small-Intestine Morphology in Mice by a Novel Supplement Containing Silybum marianum, Yeast β-Glucan, Prebiotics, and Minerals

Ricardo Aparecido Baptista Nucci 
1   Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2   Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Aging (LIM-66), Division of Geriatrics, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
Victor Abou Nehmi-Filho
3   Research and Development of Efeom Nutrition S/A, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
4   Department of Surgery, Natural Products and Derivatives Laboratory (LIM-26), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
Marta Ferreira Bastos
5   Postgraduate Program in Aging Sciences, São Judas Tadeu University, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Jéssica Alves de Freitas
3   Research and Development of Efeom Nutrition S/A, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
4   Department of Surgery, Natural Products and Derivatives Laboratory (LIM-26), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
José Pinhata Otoch
3   Research and Development of Efeom Nutrition S/A, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
4   Department of Surgery, Natural Products and Derivatives Laboratory (LIM-26), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
Ana Flávia Marçal Pessoa 
3   Research and Development of Efeom Nutrition S/A, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
4   Department of Surgery, Natural Products and Derivatives Laboratory (LIM-26), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
6   Brazilian Academic Consortium for Integrative Health (CABSIN), Natural Products Committee, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
Wilson Jacob-Filho
1   Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2   Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Aging (LIM-66), Division of Geriatrics, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Abstract

Silymarin, derived from Silybum marianum, has recently demonstrated its potential to improve health in conditions such as obesity and metabolic disturbances. Understanding the impact of nutraceuticals on intestinal morphology is crucial for developing supplements that promote a higher quality of life. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of nutraceutical supplementation with silymarin on the morphology of the small intestine. Sixty-day-old adult male C57BL/6 mice were divided into two groups: one receiving a standard chow (control) and the other receiving a novel silymarin supplement (experimental). Following the experimental period, the animals were euthanized, and fragments of the small intestine were collected for histochemical analysis using Masson's trichrome and periodic acid-Schiff with Alcian blue staining techniques. Our results revealed an increase in the number of villi per analyzed field in the experimental group, accompanied by a decrease in basic mucin, crypt depth, mucosal thickness, and villus spacing. In conclusion, this novel nutraceutical supplementation may play a crucial role in modulating small intestine morphology and enhancing absorption capacity.

Keywords

intestine - mice - morphology - Silymarin - supplementation

Authors' Contributions

R.A.B.N. was involved in formal analysis, investigation, and writing-original draft. V.A.N.-F. helped in investigation, resources, and writing—review and editing. M.F.B. and J.A.de F. contributed to methodology, validation, writing—review and editing. J.P.O. helped in data curation, visualization, writing—review and editing. A.F.M.P. was involved in conceptualization, resources, writing—review and editing. W.J.-F. helped in conceptualization, resources, supervision, writing—original draft.


Data Availability Statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.


Ethical Publication Statement

The authors confirm that they have read the journal's position and issues involved in the ethical publication and affirm that this report is consistent with those guidelines.




Publication History

Article published online:
31 August 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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