A main component, pectic polysaccharide (PPP-4), was isolated from persimmon peel. PPP-4 had the molecular weight of 56.48 kDa and primarily consisted of galacturonic acid, arabinose, galactose, rhamnose with the molar ratios of 60.80:32.12:3.67:2.20. The backbone of PPP-4 was formed by →4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→ and →2,4)-α-L-Rhap-(1→ with branches of →3)-α-L-Araf-(1→, and →3)-β-L-Galp-(1→, →5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, →3,5)-α-L-Araf-(1→ residues and terminals of 4-β/α-D-GalpA and T-α-L-Araf residues. Besides, PPP-4 consumption could relieve colonic pathological damage, inhibit the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in serum, increase the fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and improve antioxidant capacity in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice. Simultaneously, PPP-4 was revealed to regulate flora disorder, reduce the relative abundance of harmful microbe (Dubosiella, Odoribacter, Parasutterella, and Turicibacter, etc.) and increase the relative abundance of beneficial microbe (such as Akkermansia and Lactobacillus) in colitis mice. Overall, these data would furnish new theoretical basis for the structural information of PPP-4 and highlight its potentiality to be considered as a natural anti-inflammation reagent.

Lactobacillus exhibits considerable potential in preventing metabolic disorders. The identification and characterization of novel Lactobacillus species hold significant practical value for the development of functional dairy products. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KX041 is presumed to have potential probiotic functions due to its ability to produce functional extracellular polysaccharides. Therefore, this study aims to further investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of both live and heat-inactivated L. plantarum KX041 on inflammatory obesity, and to preliminarily assess its application potential in dairy fermentation. In vitro, L. plantarum KX041 significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation and reduced intracellular lipid accumulation, particularly at a concentration of 40%. The mechanism involved downregulating the mRNA expression of CEBPA and Fabp4. In vivo, activity and inactivated of L. plantarum KX041 can improve adipose accumulation (FAS and FABP2, CEBPA), intestinal barrier dysfunction (Occludin), systemic inflammation (IL-6) by regulating the transcription level of key genes. Additionally, L. plantarum KX041 improved inflammatory obesity by mitigating symptoms such as insulin resistance, liver dysfunction, and hyperlipidemia. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing and correlation analysis suggested intestinal microbiota community structure is significantly associated with the levels of SCFAs. L. plantarum KX041 may enhance the production of acetic and butyric acids by promoting Lactobacillus colonization and reducing the abundance of Ruminiclostridium_9. Finally, based on its favorable functional properties and fermentation performance, L. plantarum KX041 shows promise as a candidate single-strain starter culture for the development of functional dairy products.

Intestinal microbiota imbalance may worsen the progression of ulcerative colitis (UC). Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LS8 (LR) has the potential ability to regulate microbiota through producing a novel antibacterial substance, cyclic opine: cycloalanopine. This study aimed to investigate whether LR could ameliorate dextran sulfate sodium-induced UC in mice via modulating intestinal microbiota using fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiment. The results showed that both LR and FMT attenuated UC as evidenced by 1) alleviating disease activity index and colonic pathology; 2) up-regulating MUCs and tight junction proteins; 3) increasing oxidative mediators and decreasing antioxidant mediators; 4) down-regulating proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. These results were mainly attributable to the microbiota-regulating effect of LR, including increasing benefi cial bacteria (like Akkermansia) and its related SCFAs, while decreasing harmful bacteria (like Proteobacteria) and its related LPS, thereby suppressing the hyperactivation of TLR4/NF-κB pathway. Consequently, LR can alleviate UC and is a potential dietary supplement to attenuate UC.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers and supplementation of probiotics may be a promising intervention method. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-CRC effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KX041 on a CRC mouse model. The CRC mice were induced by 10 mg/kg azoxymethane and 2% dextran sulfate sodium. L. plantarum KX041 was orally administrated once daily (1 × 10⁹ CFU/mouse). Results showed that L. plantarum KX041 could significantly inhibit inflammation, tumor formation, and induce tumor cells apoptosis. Moreover, this probiotic could ameliorate the damage of intestinal barrier by recovering tight junction protein expression (like Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1) and preventing goblet cell loss. Furthermore, the oxidative stress was alleviated by increasing the level of antioxidant mediators (like GSH and SOD) and reducing the level of oxidative mediators (like MDA and MPO). In addition, treatment with L. plantarum KX041 could directly regulate gut microbiota, thereby increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria (like SCFAs-producing bacteria, Akkermansia) and decreasing the abundance of harmful bacteria (like pro-inflammatory bacteria, Parasutterella), which in turn raised SCFAs levels and lowered LPS levels. In conclusion, L. plantarum KX041 could effectively ameliorate CRC via reshaping intestinal microenvironment, alleviating inflammation, maintaining intestinal permeability, and attenuating oxidative stress.