Structure-anti-inflammatory activity relationship of garlic fructans in mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis: Impact of chain length

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 346; p. 122582
• Main Authors: Qiu, Zhichang, Xiang, Lu, Han, Yanhui, Zhang, Bin, Qiao, Xuguang, Zheng, Zhenjia, Xiao, Hang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.12.2024
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - chemistry; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-inflammatory effect; Colitis; Colitis - chemically induced; Colitis - drug therapy; Colitis - pathology; Colon - drug effects; Colon - metabolism; Colon - pathology; Cytokines - metabolism; Dextran Sulfate; Fructans - chemistry; Fructans - pharmacology; Garlic - chemistry; Garlic oligo/poly-saccharides; Gastrointestinal Microbiome - drug effects; Intestinal microbiota; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Molecular Weight; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Structure-Activity Relationship; Structure-function relationship; Anti-inflammatory effect; Garlic oligo/poly-saccharides; Colitis; Intestinal microbiota; Molecular weight; Structure-function relationship
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122582

The present study identified the protective effects of garlic oligo/poly-saccharides of different chain lengths against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and elucidated the structure-function relationships. The results showed that oral intake of garlic oligo/poly-saccharides decreased disease activity index, reduced colon shortening and spleen enlargement, and ameliorated pathological damage in the mouse colon. The dysregulation of colonic pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines was significantly alleviated, accompanied by up-regulated antioxidant enzymes, blocked TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway, enhanced intestinal barrier integrity, and restored SCFA production. Garlic oligo/poly-saccharides also reversed gut microbiota dysbiosis in colitic mice by expanding beneficial bacteria and suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria. High-molecular-weight polysaccharides exhibited stronger alleviating effects on DSS-induced colitic symptoms in mice than low-molecular-weight oligo/poly-saccharides did, probably due to their greater ability to be fermented in the colon. Taken together, this study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of garlic oligo/poly-saccharides and revealed that high-molecular-weight polysaccharide fractions were more effective in alleviating DSS-induced colitis. [Display omitted]