Rhubarb extract prevents hepatic inflammation induced by acute alcohol intake, an effect related to the modulation of the gut microbiota

Abstract

These findings suggest that some bacterial genders involved in gut barrier function, are promoted by phytochemicals present in rhubarb extract, and could therefore be involved in the modulation of the susceptibility to hepatic diseases linked to acute alcohol consumption.

Gut microbiome and liver diseases

“…Alcohol disrupts the intestinal microbiome, alters the intestinal barrier and might affect various other intestinal functions such as mucosal immunity. Therapies such as various diets, prebiotics and probiotics might have the potential to influence and correct these disturbances and appear as potential future therapies for these diseases 60. In addition, manipulation of the gut microbiota by prebiotics/probiotics or FMT selectively targeting key pathobionts might reflect another promising treatment strategy.…”

Strategies to promote abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, an emerging probiotics in the gut, evidence from dietary intervention studies

“…Rhubarb mainly contains anthraquinone derivatives which have been reported with anticancer and hepatoprotective activities (Huang et al, 2007; Zhao, Wang, Zhou, Shan, & Xiao, 2009). A recent paper however showed that Rhubarb extract modified gut microbiota of a standard diet (AIN93M)-fed DIO mice (Neyrinck et al, 2016). Supplementation of Rhubarb extract (0.3% in a standard AIN93M diet for 17 days) increased the relative abundance of A. muciniphila to 38.9% of fecal total bacteria (measured by pyrosequencing of 16sRNA gene) in DIO mice (12-wk-old) mice (as compared to 9.4% for mice on the standard diet only).…”

“…The increase was very remarkable considering the treatment only lasted for 17 days. Coincidentally, the relative abundance of Firmicutes was reduced to 24.1% (from 48.7% in control mice) (Neyrinck et al, 2016). Rhubarb extract also improved intestinal homeostasis and alcohol-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver (Neyrinck et al, 2016).…”

“…Coincidentally, the relative abundance of Firmicutes was reduced to 24.1% (from 48.7% in control mice) (Neyrinck et al, 2016). Rhubarb extract also improved intestinal homeostasis and alcohol-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver (Neyrinck et al, 2016). It remains to be determined that how Rhubarb extract could induce such a drastic change on gut microbiota especially the increase of A. muciniphila .…”

New Progress Regarding the Use of Lactic Acid Bacteria as Live Delivery Vectors, Treatment of Diseases and Induction of Immune Responses in Different Host Species Focusing on Lactobacillus Species

“…Lactobacillus fermentum HY01 strain in some studies showed that had significant preventive effects in dextran sulfate sodium induced-colitis; at the same time, it can efficiently reduce edema, inflammatory cells infiltration, and colon mucosa injury. In addition to play a significant function in the down-regulation of concentrations of pro-inflammatory factors (IFN-, IL-12, TNF, and IL-6) in particular shows a hopeful prevention for I_B_ degradation, decreases the protein levels of iNOS and COX-2 along with inhibition of NF-_B p65 phosphorylation cascades [17,96,97]. The outcome from some studies obtained from Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus rhamnosus KLSD, Lactobacillus helveticus IMAU70129, and Lactobacillus casei IMAU60214 demonstrated that strains induced early proinflammatory cytokines for example IL-8, TNF-α, IL-12p70, IL-6 and IL-1β.…”