Dietary supplementation with <i>Nopalea cochenillifera</i> enhances fecal mucin production and modulates serum immunoglobulin levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner in BALB/c mice

The aim of this study was to determine the time-dependent effects of the prickly pear (Nopalea cochenillifera) on the intestinal environment and immune function in BALB/c mice, which exhibit a predominant T helper 2 immune response. Five-week-old female BALB/c mice were divided into a control group and groups fed diets supplemented with 5% or 10% N. cochenillifera powder (NCP). Blood and feces were collected every 7 days. On day 28, in addition to blood and feces, the small intestine, cecum, and large intestine were collected. The cecum content weight, cecum content pH, and fecal mucin were examined. Serum antibody levels (total Immunoglobulin (Ig)M) were lower on days 14 and 21 in the 10% NCP group than in the control and 5% NCP groups. Total serum IgG levels were higher at all time points and total IgA levels were higher on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 in the 5% NCP and 10% NCP groups than in the control group. Total fecal IgA levels were lower in the 5% NCP and 10% NCP groups than in the control group from 14 days. Fecal mucin contents were higher in the 10% NCP group than in the control group from 7 days. These results suggest that N. cochenillifera supplementation exerts time-dependent effects on serum antibodies and the intestinal environment in BALB/c mice. In particular, NCP at 10% may enhance the intestinal mucosal barrier function and promote systemic immune responses. Further mechanistic studies are needed to determine the effects on immune responses.