Lycium ruthenicum Anthocyanins Attenuate High‐Fat Diet‐Induced Colonic Barrier Dysfunction and Inflammation in Mice by Modulating the Gut Microbiota

Abstract

Scope: Gut barrier dysfunction and inflammation originating from a dysbiotic gut microbiota (GM) are strongly associated with a high-fat diet (HFD). Anthocyanins from Lycium ruthenicum (ACs) show antiobesity effects through modulating the GM. However, the mechanism linking the antiobesity effects of ACs and GM modulation remains obscure. Methods and results: To investigate the ameliorative effects of ACs on colonic barrier dysfunction and inflammation, mice are fed an HFD with or without ACs at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg kg −1 for 12 weeks. AC supplementation reduced weight gain, enriched short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria (e.g., Ruminococcaceae, Muribaculaceae, Akkermansia, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, and Bacteroides) and SCFA content, depleted endotoxin-producing bacteria (e.g., Helicobacter and Desulfovibrionaceae), and decreased endotoxin (i.e., lipopolysaccharide) levels. SCFAs substantially activated G protein-coupled receptors (GPRs), inhibited histone deacetylases (HDAC), increased intestinal tight junction mRNA and protein expression levels, reduced intestinal permeability, and protected intestinal barrier integrity in HFD-induced mice. These effects mitigate intestinal inflammation by inhibiting the LPS/NF-B/TLR4 pathway. Conclusion: These data indicates that ACs can mitigate colonic barrier dysfunction and inflammation, induce SCFA production and inhibit endotoxin production by modulating the GM in HFD-fed mice. This finding provides a clue for understanding the antiobesity effects of ACs.

Adzuki Bean Alleviates Obesity and Insulin Resistance Induced by a High-Fat Diet and Modulates Gut Microbiota in Mice

“…Serum LPS content can reflect the change of intestinal permeability, and then reflect the level of gut microbiota disorders [ 53 ]. HFD feeding can promote the proliferation of endotoxin-producing bacteria [ 54 ]. Meanwhile, HFDs can increase the permeability of the intestinal mucosal barrier, causing more LPS to enter the circulatory system and promoting systemic inflammation and obesity [ 55 ].…”

The Main Anthocyanin Monomer from Lycium ruthenicum Murray Fruit Mediates Obesity via Modulating the Gut Microbiota and Improving the Intestinal Barrier

“…Furthermore, several species in the family Lactobacillaceae were linked to body weight reduction in HFD-induced obese mice [ 63 ], and intervention with polyphenols significantly increased the abundance of Lactobacillaceae [ 64 , 65 ]. However, the relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae was elevated in mice fed a HFD, while the amount of this family of bacteria was lowered in the mice treated with anthocyanins (anthocyanins from the fruits of L. ruthenicum ) in a recent study [ 66 ]. Our findings also revealed that P3G treatment reduced the relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae, even though there was no significant difference between the NC and HFD groups ( Figure 4 E).…”

Leaky Gut: Effect of Dietary Fiber and Fats on Microbiome and Intestinal Barrier

“…HFD can induce an increase in intestinal permeability in mice or rats with decreased mRNA or protein expression of TJ including claudins-1, claudins-2, claudins-3, and ZO-1 [ 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 ]. More specifically, in IL-10 knockout mice with IBD, IBD-like colitis is spontaneously triggered with an increase in intestinal permeability [ 118 ].…”