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. 2022 Nov 3:9:1035619.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1035619. eCollection 2022.

Polysaccharides from Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (jackfruit) pulp improves intestinal barrier functions of high fat diet-induced obese rats

Shunjiang Zeng  1   2 , Jun Cao  2 , Yuzi Chen  1   3 , Chuan Li  2 , Gang Wu  1 , Kexue Zhu  1   4 , Xiaoai Chen  1   4 , Fei Xu  1   4 , Qibing Liu  5 , Lehe Tan  1
Affiliations

Polysaccharides from Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (jackfruit) pulp improves intestinal barrier functions of high fat diet-induced obese rats

Shunjiang Zeng et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

Polysaccharides show protective effects on intestinal barrier function due to their effectiveness in mitigating oxidative damage, inflammation and probiotic effects. Little has been known about the effects of polysaccharides from Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. pulp (jackfruit, JFP-Ps) on intestinal barrier function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of JFP-Ps on intestinal barrier function in high fat diet-induced obese rats. H&E staining and biochemical analysis were performed to measure the pathological and inflammatory state of the intestine as well as oxidative damage. Expression of the genes and proteins associated with intestinal health and inflammation were analyzed by RT-qPCR and western blots. Results showed that JFP-Ps promoted bowel movements and modified intestinal physiochemical environment by lowering fecal pH and increasing fecal water content. JFP-Ps also alleviated oxidative damage of the colon, relieved intestinal colonic inflammation, and regulated blood glucose transport in the small intestine. In addition, JFP-Ps modified intestinal physiological status through repairing intestinal mucosal damage and increasing the thickness of the mucus layer. Furthermore, JFP-Ps downregulated the inflammatory genes (TNF-α, IL-6) and up-regulated the free fatty acid receptors (GPR41 and GPR43) and tight junction protein (occludin). These results revealed that JFP-Ps showed a protective effect on intestinal function through enhancing the biological, mucosal, immune and mechanical barrier functions of the intestine, and activating SCFAs-GPR41/GPR43 related signaling pathways. JFP-Ps may be used as a promising phytochemical to improve human intestinal health.

Keywords: Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. polysaccharide; inflammation; intestinal function; obese rats; protective effect.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The handling editor declared a shared parent affiliation with the several authors KZ and LT at the time of review.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Effect of JFP-Ps on fecal water content (A) and fecal pH value (B) in obese rats. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 6 for each group) and analyzed using one-way ANOVA. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 compared to the NC group; #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01 compared with the HFD group.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Effect of JFP-Ps on colon length and intestinal micromorphology in obese rats. (A) Representatives of colonic tissue in each group, (B) colon length, (C) jejunal micromorphology (original magnification 20X). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 6 for each group) and analyzed using one-way ANOVA. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 compared to the NC group; ##p < 0.01 compared with the HFD group.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Effect of JFP-Ps on SGLT1 activity in small intestinal tissues. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 6 for each group) and analyzed using one-way ANOVA. No significant difference was observed.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Effect of JFP-Ps on the expression of inflammatory genes, free fatty acid receptor genes and tight junction protein in the small intestine of obese rats. (A) TNF-α, (B) IL-6, (C) GPR43, (D) GPR41, (E) protein expression of occludin, (F) relative band intensities of occludin. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 6 for each group) and analyzed using one-way ANOVA. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 compared to the NC group; #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01 compared with the HFD group.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
The beneficial effects of JFP-Ps on intestinal barrier function in high fat diet-induced obese rats.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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