β-Glucan, extracted from oat, enhances disease resistance against bacterial and parasitic infections

Abstract

The effect of β-glucan, extracted from oats, on the enhancement of resistance to infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Eimeria vermiformis was studied in mice. In vitro study using macrophages isolated from the peritoneal cavity showed that β-glucan treatment significantly enhanced phagocytic activity. In vivo study further demonstrated that β-glucan treatment induced a significant (P8 of S. aureus in mice. Fecal oocyst shedding in the C57BL/6 mice infected with E. vermiformis was diminished by β-glucan treatment by 39.6% in intraperitoneal and 28.5% in intragastric group compared to non-treated control. Patency period was shorter and antigen (sporozoites and merozoites) specific antibodies were significantly (P+, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells) in the mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyer's patches in mice infected with E. vermiformis. In conclusion, the oral or parenteral oat β-glucan treatment enhanced the resistance to S. aureus or E. vermiformis infection in the mice.