Black Raspberries and Their Anthocyanin and Fiber Fractions Alter the Composition and Diversity of Gut Microbiota in F-344 Rats

Abstract

Natural compounds can alter the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome, potentially benefiting our health. We previously demonstrated chemopreventive effects of black raspberries (BRBs) in colorectal cancer, which associates with gut dysbiosis. To investigate the effects of whole BRBs and their fractions on gut microbiota, we fed F-344 rats a control diet, 5% BRBs, the BRB anthocyanin fraction, or the BRB residue fraction for 6 weeks. Feces were collected at baseline and at weeks 3 and 6, and bacterial sequence counts were analyzed. We observed distinct patterns of microbiota from different diet groups. Beta diversity analysis suggested that all diet groups exerted time-dependent changes in the bacterial diversity. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed that post-diet fecal microbiota was segregated from baseline fecal microbiota within each diet. It is interesting to note that fractions of BRBs induced different changes in gut bacteria compared to whole BRBs. The abundance of specific microbial species known to have anti-inflammatory effects, such as Akkermansia and Desulfovibrio, was increased by whole BRBs and their residue. Further, butyrate-producing bacteria, e.g., Anaerostipes, were increased by whole BRBs. Our results suggest that whole BRBs and their fractions alter the gut microbiota in ways that could significantly impact human health.

A Review of Factors Affecting Anthocyanin Bioavailability: Possible Implications for the Inter-Individual Variability

“…Gut microbiota breaking of glycosidic linkages and breakdown of anthocyanidin heterocycle are both meditated via bacterial enzymatic activity. This way, anthocyanins are transformed into their more bioavailable forms that, in turn, may regulate the colonic microbiota composition (Figure 2) [61,76,81,84].…”

A Novel Prebiotic Blend Product Prevents Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Mice by Improving Gut Microbiota and Modulating Immune Response

“…Inulins have been reported to stimulate growth or activity pf beneficial bacteria and suppress the level of harmful bacteria selectively [ 55 , 56 ]. Recent studies also showed that anthocyanins from blackberries could alter the composition and diversity of microbiota [ 57 ]. In the PB pretreatment group, the composition of the microbiota was more similar to health controls which suggest that the PB could help maintain the homeostasis of gut flora.…”

“…In recent studies, many new sequences have been isolated from human and animal intestine that can be identified as the genus Barnesiella . Nevertheless, it still remains unclear how the abundance of Barnesiella is linked to inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract [ 57 ]. Some reports shed light on the function of Barnesiella, reporting that Barnesiella bacteria contribute to the elimination and protection against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium colonization [ 58 ].…”

Protective Effects of Anthocyanins in Obesity‐Associated Inflammation and Changes in Gut Microbiome

“…In another study, healthy mice fed with 20% apple flesh/peel for 7 or 21 days showed increased number of beneficial Bifidobacterium and decreased expression of inflammatory genes in jejunum tissue including IL‐2 receptor b (IL2rb), chemokine receptor‐2 (ccr2), ccr10, and decreased plasma prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) and TNF‐α levels compared to control mice . Moreover, 5% black raspberries increased the abundance of Akkermansia and Desulfovibrio microbial species, which possess anti‐inflammatory effects and increased the Anaerostipes , butyrate‐(SCFA)‐producing bacteria, in F‐344 rats after 6 weeks of treatment . Mice fed with 300 mg per kg body weight per day pro‐anthocyanidin extract from grapes for 7 weeks modulated Clostridium , Roseburia , and Prevotella composition and decreased the epididymal fat mass .…”