Bletilla striata Oligosaccharides Improve Ulcerative Colitis by Regulating Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Metabolites in Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Mice

This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of Bletilla striata oligosaccharides (BO) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). A UC mouse model was induced by 3% Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), and BO (200 mg/kg/d) were administered for intervention. The results show that BO effectively inhibited the release of intestinal inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta. Also, BO profoundly elevated the secretion of mucins and the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins to attenuate dysfunction of the intestinal barrier. The 16S rDNA sequencing and liquid chromatography/gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC/GC-MS) analysis of mouse feces revealed that BO regulated the disturbance of gut microbiota and intestinal metabolites. By using the in vitro fermentation broth of BO and gut microbiota-depleted mice treated with antibiotics, we confirmed the protection of BO against UC. In conclusion, BO played a role in improving UC by modulating gut microbial composition and intestinal metabolites, which provided new therapeutic strategies for UC treatment.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of Bletilla striata oligosaccharides (BO) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). The results showed that BO effectively inhibited the release of inflammatory cytokines, promoted mucin secretion and tight junction protein expression, and regulated gut microbiota and intestinal metabolites. BO played a role in improving UC by modulating gut microbial composition and intestinal metabolites.