An arabinogalactan from Lycium barbarum mitigated DSS caused intestinal injury via inhibiting mucosal damage and regulating the gut microbiota disorder

Carbohydr Polym. 2025 Mar 15:352:123155. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.123155. Epub 2024 Dec 15.

Abstract

Intestinal injury and microbiota disorder take part in the development of UC. In this research, we obtained an arabinogalactan (LBP-m) from Lycium barbarum and firstly characterized its physicochemical properties. LBP-m was a homogeneous polysaccharide (172 kDa) consisted of Ara, Gal, Glc, GalA, and GlcA with a mole ratio of 1.00: 0.73: 0.18: 0.20: 0.07, and constructed a →6)-β-Galp(1→ backbone with different Araf branches at O-3 position, which exerted as random coil in PBS with single helical structure. Furthermore, oral administration of LBP-m ameliorated the DSS induced UC from different aspects, including regulating barrier dysfunction by promoting the expression of TJs, elevating the anti-oxidative stress capacity through activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, relieving the mucosal inflammation via inhibiting NF-κB pathway. In addition, LBP-m regulated the gut microbiota disorder by reshaping the microbial composition and enhancing the generation of SCFAs. Our research revealed the physicochemical properties of LBP-m and systematically indicated its mitigative effect against DSS induced UC, which could benefit its application in food and pharmacy fields.

Keywords: Arabinogalactan; Gut microbiota; Inflammatory damage; Lycium barbarum; Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / chemically induced
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / drug therapy
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / pathology
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • Galactans* / chemistry
  • Galactans* / pharmacology
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome* / drug effects
  • Intestinal Mucosa* / drug effects
  • Intestinal Mucosa* / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa* / pathology
  • Lycium* / chemistry
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects

Substances

  • arabinogalactan
  • Galactans
  • Dextran Sulfate