• Meng Xu, Hui Xue, Gaoxiang Qiao, Mingfu Liao, Li Kong, Qingfeng Zhang, Lezhen Lin, Licong Yang, and Guodong Zheng.
• Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products and Functional Food, School of Food Science and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P. R. China.
• Am. J. Chin. Med. 2022 Jan 1; 50 (2): 553-568.

AbstractSmilax china L. is used not only as a kind of traditional Chinese herbal medicinal ingredients with various pharmacological properties, but also as food in certain parts of China. However, it is by far still unclear whether Smilax china L. polyphenols (SCP), as important bioactive constituents in Smilax china L., have effects on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). This study investigated the impact of SCP on the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced IBD and gut microbiota in mice. SCP treatments ameliorated typical symptoms of IBD as what was reflected through suppressing body weight loss, colonic shortening, intestinal barrier damage, and increasing intestinal disease activity index. SCP treatments simultaneously decreased the release of proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress, as well as promoted the release of anti-inflammatory factors. Furthermore, SCP ameliorated the ecological imbalance of gut microbiota and regulated the key bacteria associated with IBD (including Akkermansiaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Acidaminococcaceae, Muribaculaceae, and Anaeroplasmataceae). In general, SCP may improve DSS-induced IBD in mice by regulating inflammatory factors, inhibiting oxidative stress, reducing intestinal tissue damage, and regulating the ecological imbalance of intestinal microbiota. Thus, SCP might serve as a potential therapeutic agent against the inflammation-driven diseases.

20 keywords...

hide…