Zhang, Chao-Wen;
Shui, Si-Zhe;
Liao, Shuang;
Kuang, Yu-Chao;
Yin, Dai-Zheng;
Gu, Yi;
Jalil, Banaz;
... Zou, Yuan-Feng; + view all
(2025)
Paeoniae Radix alba polysaccharide modulates gut microbiota to restore metabolites and promote the enteric nervous system development in colitis mice.
Food Bioscience
, 71
, Article 107093. 10.1016/j.fbio.2025.107093.
![[thumbnail of Zhang_Revised Manuscript - clean version.pdf]](https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text
Zhang_Revised Manuscript - clean version.pdf Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 19 June 2026. Download (1MB) |
Abstract
Paeoniae Radix alba polysaccharide (PRP-AP), a pectic polysaccharide, has shown potential for treating intestinal damage in vitro. However, the role and mechanism of PRP-AP in vivo remained unclear. The 6-week-old C57BL/6 male mice and Dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) were selected to construct a colitis mouse model. Using DSS-induced colitis mice, we observed that 7-days’ PRP-AP administration (i.g, 50, 100, 200 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.001) alleviated colitis in a dose-dependent manner. This was achieved by restoring gut microbiota balance, particularly involving Akkermansia muciniphila, and modulating both microbial and peripheral metabolites. PRP-AP also improved colonic barrier function by increasing the expression of Zonula occludens-1 (p = 0.004) and the number of goblet cells (p < 0.001). In addition, PRP-AP promoted the Enteric Nervous System (ENS) function by regulating dopamine metabolism in enteric glial cells and enhancing acetylcholine and vasoactive intestinal peptide biosynthesis in neurons. Further analysis suggested a link between gut microbiota, fatty acid biosynthesis, and gene expression, particularly the upregulation of Phox2a by microbial activity. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the potential of PRP-AP to serve as a novel strategy for colitis by targeting the gut microbiota-metabolite-ENS axis, revealing that PRP-AP is a promising prebiotic agent for the maintenance of gut health.
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
