Mango and pomegranate polyphenolics in the modification of microbiota and short chain fatty acids in DSS‐induced colitis (1045.6)

Abstract

Dysregulation of the interactions between gut microbiota and the immune system is speculated to be involved in triggering colitis. Gut microbiota can be modulated by dietary compounds such as fiber and polyphenolics. To evaluate the effects of mango and pomegranate polyphenolics on fecal microbiota and SCFAs production, rats were administered control, mango, or pomegranate juice, and were exposed to three cycles of 3% DSS followed by 2‐week recovery period. Fecal samples were collected to characterize the fecal microbiota composition using selected representative genus by qPCR and to measure SCFAs concentration. Mango and pomegranate juice decreased the level of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, such as IL‐1b and GM‐CSF in serum, and induced the level of IL‐10. Pomegranate juice induced compositional changes in the fecal microbiota. In particular, the anti‐inflammatory Ruminococcaceae significantly was increased by pomegranate juice in the feces but the concentrations of SCFAs were not significantly affected. In response to the mango juice, fecal SCFAs isovalerate and valerate were increased, while there was no significant change in the composition of the intestinal microbiota at the genus level. Polyphenolics decreased the TLR4 expression, but only mango increased the GPR43 expression. In summary, mango juice induced changes in the SCFAs production while pomegranate juice induced changes in the composition of microbiota.