Extracts of pomegranate, persimmon, nettle, dill, kale and Sideritis specifically modulate gut microbiota and local cytokines production: in vivo study

Abstract

The aim of the work was to use the in vivo model to reveal main changes in gut microbiota of immune competent mice in dynamic and find out the specificity of immunomodulation action (activity) of traditional foods ingredients - edible plants extracts on local mucosal cytokines to its oral administration.Materials and methods. In this study, seven groups of immunocompetent BALB/c mice were formed. All experimental mice had been fed orally by plants’ extracts (15mg/200 µl/mouse) for the 14th days. The extracts of edible plants - ingredients of traditional food such as kale leaves, persimmon, pomegranate, dill, Sideritis scardica, and nettle were obtained as described and orally administrated to experimental animals. For microbiological analysis of gut microbiota changes, the colon content has been investigated, the key microbial representatives were isolated by plating of its serial dilution on selected chromogenic medium, identified serologically and biochemically. The production of cytokines in different gut compartments and gut associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results. In experiments in mice, the ability of Kale, Dill and Sideritis extracts, when administered orally, selectively inhibit the content of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, E. faecalis, L. acidophilus in the colon of mice had been demonstrated, and increasing of B. bifidum had been observed. Nettle extract leads to an increase in E. coli, and persimmon extract - to an increase in levels of E. faecalis, Bifidobacterium and a decrease in the content of Candida spp. Pomegranate extract specifically stimulates the growth of Bifidobacterium. There are sufficient differences in produced cytokines in fragment culture and serum of mice fed with different plants extracts. TNF-a, and IL-2 increased both systemically and locally in the different gut compartments by Dill extract, Nettle and Sideritis extracts only at mucosal sites. IL-2, but also IL-10 and IL-12, IFN-g, and IL-17 but not TNF-a were stimulated in different levels by Pomegranate, Persimmon and Kale extracts: both systemically and locally.Conclusions. No harmful influence of tested plants had been observed. The most beneficial properties are inherent to Persimmon extract and slightly less detected in Pomegranate and Kale extracts. Siderites extract rather show no significant influence on all the studied indices while the Nettle and Dill extracts are acting pro-inflammatory