Anti-Inflammatory Properties and Gut Microbiota Modulation of <i>Porphyra tenera</i> Extracts in Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis in Mice

• Main Authors: Jungman Kim (Author), Jae Ho Choi (Author), Gwangpyo Ko (Author), Hyejun Jo (Author), Taehwan Oh (Author), Byungjae Ahn (Author), Tatsuya Unno (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2020-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/antiox9100988; 2076-3921
• Keywords: <i>Porphyra tenera</i>; colitis; gut microbiota; inflammation; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950
• Source: Antioxidants, Vol 9, Iss 10, p 988 (2020)

<i>Porphyra tenera</i> (PT) is a functional seaweed food that has been reported for health benefits such as antioxidant, immunostimulant, anti-inflammation, and hepatoprotective effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of PT extracts on gut microbiota modulation in colitis-induced mice. The mice experiment was designed as three groups including normal mice (CTL), dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-fed mice, and DSS plus PT extracts-fed mice (PTE). DSS was administrated through drinking water containing DSS for 1 week, and the PT extract was ingested into the gastrointestinal tract in mice. PT extract ameliorated the decreased body weight and colon length and improved disease activity index and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. In addition, PT extract significantly shifted the gut microbiota of mice. DSS treatment significantly increased the portion of harmful bacteria (i.e., <i>Helicobacter</i>, <i>Mucipirillum</i>, and <i>Parasutterella</i>) and decreased the butyrate producing bacteria (i.e., <i>Acetatifactor</i>, <i>Alistipes</i>, <i>Oscillibacter</i>, and <i>Clostridium_XIVb</i>). PT extract increased the abundance of genera <i>Clostridium_XIVb</i> and also enriched some of predicted metabolic activities such as glyoxylate cycle, ethylmalonyl-CoA pathway, nitrate reduction, creatinine degradation, and glycine betaine metabolism. These results suggest that PT extract may ameliorate the DSS-induced colitis inflammation through regulating the compositions and functions of gut microbiota in mice.