Cocoa and Polyphenol‐Rich Cocoa Fractions Fail to Improve Acute Colonic Inflammation in Dextran Sulfate Sodium‐Treated Mice

Abstract

ScopeA study is conducted to determine the anti‐inflammatory effects of cocoa and polyphenol‐rich cocoa fractions in the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‐induced mouse model of acute colonic inflammation.Methods and resultsMale C57BL/6J mice are treated with dietary cocoa powder, an extractable cocoa polyphenol fraction, or a non‐extractable cocoa polyphenol fraction for 2 weeks prior to treatment with 2.5% DSS in the drinking water for 7 days to induce colonic inflammation. Cocoa treatment continues during the DSS period. Cocoa and/or cocoa fractions exacerbate DSS‐induced weight loss and fail to mitigate DSS‐induced colon shortening but do improve splenomegaly. Cocoa/cocoa fraction treatment fails to mitigate DSS‐induced mRNA and protein markers of inflammation. Principal component analysis shows overlap between cocoa or cocoa fraction‐treated mice and DSS‐induced controls, but separation from mice not treated with DSS.ConclusionThe results suggest cocoa and cocoa polyphenols may not be useful in mitigating acute colonic inflammation.