Abstract
The present study investigated whether the purified polysaccharide from Cereus sinensis (CSP-1) had beneficial effects on mice with antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). The effects of CSP-1 on gut microbiota were evaluated by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that CSP-1 increased the diversity and richness of gut microbiota. CSP-1 enriched Phasecolarctobacterium, Bifidobacterium and reduced the abundance of Parabacteroides, Sutterella, Coprobacillus to near normal levels, modifying the gut microbial community. Microbial metabolites were further analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results indicated CSP-1 promoted the production of various short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and significantly improved intestinal microflora dysfunction in AAD mice. In addition, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and hematoxylin-eosin staining were used to assess the effects of CSP-1 on cytokine levels and intestinal tissue in AAD mice. Results demonstrated that CSP-1 inhibited the secretion of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and improved the intestinal barrier. Correspondingly, the daily records also showed that CSP-1 promoted recovery of diarrhea status score, water intake and body weight in mice with AAD. In short, CSP-1 helped alleviate AAD by regulating the inflammatory cytokines, altering the composition and richness of intestinal flora, promoting the production of SCFAs, improving the intestinal barrier as well as reversing the dysregulated microbiota function.
Highlights
Antibiotics are highly effective in treating numerous bacterial or pathogenic infections [1]
As for the Mice in the natural recovery group (MNR) group, the diarrhea status scores began to drop from the 4th day, while water intake began to decrease from the 5th day
On the 12th day, in terms of diarrhea status score and water consumption, the MNR group was obviously higher than the Mice in the normal control group (MNC) group, while the Mice in the Low- (MCL), MCM and MCH groups were similar to the MNC group
Summary
Antibiotics are highly effective in treating numerous bacterial or pathogenic infections [1]. The misuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics may alter the structure of the gut microbiota, disrupt the microbial balance, and thereby cause potential clinical complications in the host [2]. As a common intestinal complication due to the use of antibiotics, AAD may manifest as symptoms, such as mild diarrhea, colitis and toxic megacolon. Many reports have shown that longterm probiotic therapy can significantly improve intestinal flora, promote the recovery of intestinal tissue architecture, and alleviate systemic inflammation, suggesting that probiotics are beneficial to the recovery of AAD mice [3]. Probiotic therapy is the principal method to alleviate. It was still a hot topic to find effective alternatives with long-term stable storage
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