PROTEASE INHIBITORS AND INFLAMMATION

The ultimate goal of the proposed studies is to establish Bowman-Birk Inhibitor Concentrate (BBIC) as an anti-inflammatory agent. This SBIR/Phase 1 grant proposal has two goals. The first is to establish that Bowman Birk Inhibitor Concentrate (BBIC) can be used as an effective anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC), an inflammatory bowel disease. UC will be chemically induced in mice by adding 5% dextran sulfate sodium to the drinking water. The diet of some experimental groups will be supplemented with BBIC, and the effects of BBIC on histopathological alterations occurring in UC measured. The second goal of this proposal is to establish biological and biochemical assays to predict the efficacy of BBIC during the manufacturing of the product for use as an anti-inflammatory agent. Chymotrypsin inhibitory activity will be used for the biochemical parameter, and lipid peroxidation inhibition for the biological parameter.