Dietary Intake of Whole Strawberry Inhibited Colonic Inflammation in Dextran-Sulfate-Sodium-Treated Mice via Restoring Immune Homeostasis and Alleviating Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis

Abstract

Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) is a major edible berry with various potential health benefits. This study determined the protective effects of whole strawberry (WS) against dextran-sulfate-sodium-induced colitis in mice. In colitic mice, dietary WS reduced the disease activity index, prevented the colon shortening and spleen enlargement, and alleviated the colonic tissue damages. The abundance of proinflammatory immune cells was reduced by dietary WS in the colonic mucosa, which was accompanied by the suppression of overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines. Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that dietary WS decreased the expression of proinflammatory proteins in the colonic mucosa. Moreover, dietary WS partially reversed the alteration of gut microbiota in the colitic mice by increasing the abundance of potential beneficial bacteria, e.g., Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, and decreasing the abundance of potential harmful bacteria, e.g., Dorea and Bilophila. Dietary WS also restored the decreased production of short-chain fatty acids in the cecum of the colitic mice. The results revealed the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of dietary WS in the colon, which is critical for the rational utilization of strawberry for the prevention of inflammation-driven diseases.

The Gut Microbiota and Its Implication in the Development of Atherosclerosis and Related Cardiovascular Diseases

“…The most important polyphenols groups, mainly founded in fruits, are flavonoids, flavones and flavonols [239]. Accordingly, it has been shown that the intake of whole fruits is a good strategy for the prevention of diseases by increasing the growth of beneficial bacteria (i.e., Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus) [241], which is in agreement with previous research with pomegranate polyphenol extracts [242] and in animal studies [239].…”

Dietary Intake of Pleurotus eryngii Ameliorated Dextran‐Sodium‐Sulfate‐Induced Colitis in Mice

“…The DSS‐induced colitis mouse model was used as we previously described . All mice experimental protocols were performed according to the guidelines of the National Institutes of Health guide for the care and use of Laboratory animals, approved by the Ethical Committee of Experimental Animal Center of University of Massachusetts, Amherst (#2014‐0079).…”

Foodborne Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Induce Stronger Adverse Effects in Obese Mice than Non‐Obese Mice: Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis, Colonic Inflammation, and Proteome Alterations

“…To determine the composition of microbiota in the fecal samples, 16s rRNA sequencing was conducted as previously described. [61] Metagenomics DNA was extracted from the fecal samples utilizing a PowerFecal DNA isolation kit (MoBio Laboratories, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA), and the 16s rRNA gene was amplified, uniquely barcoded, and pooled in an equimolar mixture prior to sequencing library construction. The multiplexed library was sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq platform (Illumina, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA).…”

“…Processed colon sections were treated with myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibody for immunohistochemical analysis as previously described. [61] The percentage of positively stained area was measured by ImageJ software. The score system was as follows: percentage of positively stained area: 0, 0%; 1, <25%; 2, 25% to 50%; 3, 51% to 75%, 4, >75%.…”