Evaluation of Antioxidant Capacity and Gut Microbiota Modulatory Effects of Different Kinds of Berries

Abstract

Berries are fairly favored by consumers. Phenolic compounds are the major phytochemicals in berries, among which anthocyanins are one of the most studied. Phenolic compounds are reported to have prebiotic-like effects. In the present study, we identified the anthocyanin profiles, evaluated and compared the antioxidant capacities and gut microbiota modulatory effects of nine common berries, namely blackberry, black goji berry, blueberry, mulberry, red Chinese bayberry, raspberry, red goji berry, strawberry and white Chinese bayberry. Anthocyanin profiles were identified by UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS. In vitro antioxidant capacity was evaluated by four chemical assays (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and ORAC). In vivo antioxidant capacity and gut microbiota modulatory effects evaluation was carried out by treating healthy mice with different berry extracts for two weeks. The results show that most berries could improve internal antioxidant status, reflected by elevated serum or colonic T-AOC, GSH, T-SOD, CAT, and GSH-PX levels, as well as decreased MDA content. All berries significantly altered the gut microbiota composition. The modulatory effects of the berries were much the same, namely by the enrichment of beneficial SCFAs-producing bacteria and the inhibition of potentially harmful bacteria. Our study shed light on the gut microbiota modulatory effect of different berries and may offer consumers useful consumption guidance.

Effect of anthocyanins on gut health markers, Firmicutes-Bacteroidetes ratio and short-chain fatty acids: a systematic review via meta-analysis

“…This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that dietary anthocyanin supplementation profoundly improves rodent models' gut health biomarkers (Fir/Bac and SCFAs). This finding was supported by studies carried out after cut off time limit of this studies 77 – 81 .…”

Scientific Evidence for the Beneficial Effects of Dietary Blueberries on Gut Health: A Systematic Review

“…Furthermore, one study [ n = 1; 6.25%] assessed the colonic antioxidant status through levels of T‐AOC, glutathione (GSH), T‐SOD, CAT, glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐PX), and MDA. [ 25 ] This study observed an increase in the levels of SOD and AOC in the colon compared with the control group following the intake of blueberry extract.…”

“…The studies included in this article [ n = 16] were performed in four different countries that include China [ n = 7], [ 19–25 ] USA [ n = 4], [ 16,26–28 ] Canada [ n = 3], [ 29–31 ] Ukraine [ n = 1], [ 32 ] and Sweden [ n = 1]. [ 33 ] Regarding the animal model used in the studies, 11 of them were performed with mice [ 19–23,25,28–31,33 ] and five were performed with rats. [ 16,24,26,27,32 ] Most studies used male animals [ n = 14] [ 16,19–33 ] and two used both male and female animals.…”

In vivo oral toxicity and antioxidant capacity of Nothofagus antartica (ñire) leaves

“…It has been reported that, polyphenols and their metabolites, such us simple phenolic acids and phenolic acids conjugated with short chain fatty acids jointly modulate the microbial community. The administration of polyphenols may increase the levels of short chain fatty acids by changing the composition of the gut microbiota, promoting the short chain fatty acids producing bacteria [23,24]. Short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, propionate, and acetate are produced via fermentation of indigestible carbohydrates by intestinal anaerobic commensal bacteria, including clostridia, lactobacilli and bi dobacteria species [25].…”