Abstract:To evaluate the effects of black rice alone and in combination with dietary fiber on intestinal and bowel movements in mice with constipation, male ICR mice were divided into a blank control group, a constipation model group, a black rice group (100% black rice), a black rice combined with inulin group (90% black rice+10% inulin), a black rice combined with polydextrose group (90% black rice+10% polydextrose), and a black rice combined with dietary fiber group (80% black rice+10% inulin+10% polydextrose). Mice were fed custom feed for 14 days and continuously gavaged with diphenoxylate for 5 days to develop the model. After 2 days of recovery, the mice were dissected for analysis. The results showed that black rice alone or in combination with dietary fiber exhibited good laxative and intestinal-hydration effects. When black rice was used alone, the daily average defecation weight and number of defecated particles increased by 11.65% and 19.05%, respectively, compared to those in the model group. Moreover, black rice demonstrated retention of intestinal structural characteristics, prevention of the decrease in colonic mucus cell count, significant increase in intestinal glutathione peroxidase activity by 105.32%, and reduction of the malondialdehyde content by 33.27%. Black rice alone or in combination with dietary fiber significantly reduced the content of inhibitory neurotransmitters, nitric oxide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, in the serum of mice with constipation, and increased the content of excitatory neurotransmitters, MTL, SP, and acetylcholine. The combination of black rice and polydextrose showed a more significant downregulation effect on the expression levels of aquaporin (AQP) 3, AQP4, AQP8, and AQP9. These findings indicate that black rice alone or in combination with dietary fiber have remarkable laxative effects.
