Goji berry improves colitis in IL10‐/‐ mice through modulating gut microbiota

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic gut disorders with complex and obscured etiologies. Accumulating evidences implicate gut microbiota as a pivotal factor in the IBD pathogenesis. Goji berry, a tonic food in China, is known for its immune‐modulating properties. The objective of this study was to examine beneficial effects of Goji on experimental colitis in IL10‐ deficient (IL10 ‐/‐) mice and further explore underlying mechanisms. IL10‐/‐ mice that develop enterocolitis spontaneously were assigned to a standard rodent diet (CON) or a diet supplemented with Goji (1% of dry feed weight) for 10 weeks, when the colonic tissues and fecal contents were collected. Goji supplementation has no effect on body weight gain and feed intake in IL10‐/‐ mice. Histologically, Goji supplementation improved pathobiological scores in IL10‐/‐ mice. Pyrosequencing revealed that Goji supplementation dramatically increased Actinobacateria in gut microbiota with no change in other phyla. At family level, Goji supplementation increased Bifidobacteriaceae and Lachnospiraceae‐Ruminococcaceae, while decreased Peptostreptococcaceae abundance. At genus level, Goji supplementation was associated with increased Bifidobacterium, Clostridium XVIII, Pseudoflavonifractor, Sporobacter, Anaerotruncus and Butyriccicoccus, but has no effect on Bacteriodes, Akkemansia, Mucispirillum and Desulfovirio genus. qRT‐PCR further confirmed a drastic increase in the abundance of Bifidobacterium as well as Fecalibacterium prazusnitzii and Clostridium leptum and Roseburia spp. In conclusion, Goji supplementation ameliorates chronic colitis likely through promoting beneficial gut microbiota.