Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Improves Intestinal Gut Microbiota Homeostasis and Ameliorates Clostridioides difficile Infection

Abstract

<i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection is closely related to the intestinal flora disorders induced by antibiotics, and changes in the intestinal flora may cause the occurrence and development of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is one of the major bioactive ingredients of green tea and has been suggested to alleviate the growth of <i>C. difficile</i> in vitro. EGCG can ameliorate several diseases, such as obesity, by regulating the gut microbiota. However, whether EGCG can attenuate <i>C. difficile</i> infection by improving the gut microbiota is unknown. After establishing a mouse model of <i>C. difficile</i> infection, mice were administered EGCG (25 or 50 mg/kg/day) or PBS intragastrically for 2 weeks to assess the benefits of EGCG. Colonic pathology, inflammation, the intestinal barrier, gut microbiota composition, metabolomics, and the transcriptome were evaluated in the different groups. Compared with those of the mice in the CDI group, EGCG improved survival rates after infection, improved inflammatory markers, and restored the damage to the intestinal barrier. Furthermore, EGCG could improve the intestinal microbial community caused by <i>C. difficile</i> infection, such as by reducing the relative abundance of <i>Enterococcaceae</i> and <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i>. Moreover, EGCG can increase short-chain fatty acids, improve amino acid metabolism, and downregulate pathways related to intestinal inflammation. EGCG alters the microbiota and alleviates <i>C. difficile</i> infection, which provides new insights into potential therapies.