Wheat peptides with different hydrolysis degree have similar relief effect in constipated mice

Constipation has become more common in recent decades, affecting people’s quality of life. Natural bioactive substances could be effective in alleviating constipation. The goal of this study was to assess and compare the efficacy of low and high hydrolysis degree wheat peptides (WP-L and WP-H) at a dose of 1 mg/g.bw on relieving loperamide-induced constipation in mice and the underlying mechanisms. Here, we proved that both WP-L and WP-H treatment showed constipation relieving effect by improving defecation function and small intestinal propulsion rate while the different hydrolysis degree did not affect the efficacy of WP. Moreover, WP-L and WP-H could balance the secretion of excitatory and inhibitory factors, and enhance the activity of antioxidant enzyme (SOD and GSH-Px). Importantly, both of them could accelerate intestinal motility, improve water-salt metabolism and intestinal barrier, and ameliorate oxidative stress. In summary, our findings indicated that 1 mg/g.bw WP-L and WP-H effectively relieved loperamide-induced constipation by affecting multiple targets in mice.