Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Rice Protein in the Disease Initiated by the Spinal Cord Injury in the Rat Model

Background/Objectives: Treatments of inflammatory ailments of the central nervous system including diseases of an aging brain and of mood disorders are not satisfactory or non-existent despite a great and increasing demand. We performed a preclinical study to measure and characterize anti-neuroinflammatory activity unexpectedly associated with rice protein. Methods: Rice protein was administered orally continuously at 12-48 mg, 3 times per day to rats with the spinal cord injury (SCI) and the anti-neuroinflammatory effect measured by the standardized macrophage count in the cavity of injury (COI) test to determine a dose-dependent effect at 7 days post-SCI. The dose of 24 mg was used to characterize the macrophage-lowering effect from 7-56 days postSCI.Results: Rice protein had macrophage-lowering effect which was enhanced with increasing dose. The macrophage-lowering effect of the highest dose tested, 48 mg, was 45.6% vs 100% in untreated rats at 7 days post-SCI. Continuous administration of a dose of 24 mg for 56 days resulted in consistent reduction of macrophage counts.Conclusions: Oral administration of rice protein potently reduced severe, destructive inflammation initiated by SCI. Rice protein, as a GRAS (generally accepted as safe) food supplement may contribute to effective dietary management of ailments of the brain with inflammatory pathogenesis.