Orange Pectin with Compact Conformation Effectively Alleviates Acute Colitis in Mice

Abstract

A comprehensive understanding of the relationships between the structure and function is critical for the targeted preparation of functional pectins. In this study, we compared the alleviating effects of five orange pectins (200 mg/kg) extracted using acid (<b>P2</b>), alkali (<b>P10</b>), cellulase (<b>C</b>), acid + cellulase (<b>P2 + C</b>), and alkali + cellulase (<b>P10 + C</b>) on dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute colitis. The physiological and histopathological indicators revealed that the alleviating effects were most significant for <b>P10 + C</b>, followed by <b>P10</b>, <b>P2 + C</b>, <b>P2</b>, and <b>C</b>. <b>P10 + C</b> increased the diversity and relative abundance of <i>Akkermansia</i>, leading to increased generation of colonic short-chain fatty acids as well as mRNA and protein expressions of GPR43, GPR109A, claudin-1, ZO-1, and occludin. Therefore, proinflammatory cytokines were decreased, and anti-inflammatory cytokines were increased. A compact conformation of <b>P10 + C</b> contributed to the alleviation effects on acute colitis. Alkali + cellulase-extracted orange pectin with a compact conformation has potential as adjuvant treatment for intestinal inflammation.