Lycium Berry Polysaccharides Strengthen Gut Microenvironment and Modulate Gut Microbiota of the Mice

Wenrui Xia,Guoxin Huang,Jiyan Su,Imran Khan,Xiaoang Li,W L Wendy Hsiao,Lu Su,Wai Kit Leong,Lin Yin,Xiqing Bian,Jianping Chen

doi:10.1155/2020/8097021

Abstract

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) are the main active components of Lycium barbarum with many cited health effects. We hypothesize that gut microbiota and their metabolites might contribute to the health benefits of LBP. To test this hypothesis, C57BL/6J mice were gavaged with LBP, and the impact on the gut microbiota was investigated. The results showed that LBP facilitates the shifting of the epithelial immunity from the pro- to the anti-inflammatory microenvironment. We further showed a significant reduction of the potentially pathogenic bacteria in mice treated with LBP based on the 16S sequencing of mouse fecal DNAs. Importantly, LBP treatment enriched the xylan/fiber degrading bacteria and the short-chain fatty acids– (SCFAs-) producing bacteria. Associated with the treatment was the increase of serum SCFAs detected by UHPLC-QTOF/MS analysis as well as the upregulation of the SCFA-sensing receptors, GPRs 41, 43, and 109a. These findings strongly suggest that the health benefits of LBP might act through the modulation of gut microbiota.

Highlights

Gut microbiota (GM), together with the gut epithelial layer and the local immune system, plays an essential role in maintaining the homeostasis of the gut microenvironment
In the past decade, merging evidence supports the notion that prebiotics, such as polyphenol, chitin, and dietary fibers, could significantly modulate the GM composition and regulate the host immune system to maintain the balance of gut microenvironment [4, 5]
As Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) is known as an immune modulator, we first looked into the immune responses in the gut mucosa upon LBP treatment. e Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) results showed that LBP significantly reduced the mRNA expressions of M1 macrophage markers, iNOS and CXCL 10, as well as the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18

Summary

Introduction

Gut microbiota (GM), together with the gut epithelial layer and the local immune system, plays an essential role in maintaining the homeostasis of the gut microenvironment. Polysaccharides derived from herbs and foods are the primary sources of prebiotics. Many such herbal polysaccharides have been pharmaceutically evaluated for anticancer, immunomodulation, antiaging, and antiobesity properties [6, 7]. E recent advancement of GM research has opened up an essential avenue to explore the health benefits of herbal medicines that fall into the category of prebiotics. It is not fully understood, studies revealed that GM modulation plays an integral part in the health promotion effects of dietary polysaccharides [8, 9]. We demonstrated that mushroom polysaccharides present prebiotic properties and promote the health of the treated animals [10]

Methods

Results

Conclusion