The Potential of Sulfur-Containing Mineral Water and Sulfur-Containing Bioactive Compounds to Modulate Inflammatory Markers in Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells: A Comparative Study

Background: The therapeutic potential of sulfur-containing mineral water (SMW) has been recognised since ancient times. Given the substantial amount of data on the bene-ficial effects of sulfur-containing active ingredients in foods, interest in SMW has been increasing in recent years, particularly regarding its contribution to human health as part of the daily diet. The anti-inflammatory potential of sulforaphane (SFN), allicin (ALL), and taurine (TAU) is well documented. This study aimed to analyse and com-pare the anti-inflammatory potential of SMW, SFN, ALL, and TAU on human intesti-nal epithelial cells (HIEC-6). Methods: A cell viability assay was conducted, selecting three concentrations from each sulfur-containing compound for analysis. In a model of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation, total RNA was extracted, and the gene ex-pressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), inter-leukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and IL-1ß receptor antagonist (IL1RN) were analysed. Results: With the exception of ALL, all studied compounds significantly decreased the expression of COX-2 in a dose-dependent manner. No change in IL-1ß expression was observed in SMW- and SFN-treated cells. All sulfur compounds, including SMW, significantly de-creased TNF-α expression, and this effect was particularly pronounced in TAU-treated cells. SMW, SFN, and ALL, but not TAU, increased the mRNA levels of IL-1RN in un-stimulated cells. Conclusions: SMW significantly modulated the expression of the studied markers, and these effects were comparable to those of SFN, TAU, and ALL. These results demonstrate the anti-inflammatory potential of SMW and elucidate the underlying mechanisms behind its therapeutic effects.