Evaluating the galactooligosaccharide stability in chocolate milk beverage submitted to ohmic heating.

Among the emerging prebiotics, galactooligosaccharide (GOS) has a remarkable value with health-promoting properties confirmed by several studies. In addition, the application of ohmic heating has been gaining prominence in food processing, due to its various technological and nutritional benefits. This study focuses on the transformative potential of ohmic heating processing (OH, voltage values 30 and 60 V, frequencies 100, 300, and 500 Hz, respectively) in prebiotic chocolate milk beverage (3.0 %w/v galactooligosaccharide) processing. Chemical stability of GOS was assessed along all the ohmic conditions. In addition, microbiological analysis (predictive modeling), physical analysis (color and rheology), thermal load indicators assessment, bioactivity values, and volatile compound was performed. HPAEC-PAD analysis confirmed GOS stability and volatile compound evaluation supported OH's ability to preserve flavor-associated compounds. Besides, OH treatments demonstrated superior microbial reduction and decreased thermal load indicators as well as the assessment of the bioactivity. In conclusion, OH presented was able to preserve the GOS chemical stability on chocolate milk beverages processing with positive effects of the intrinsic quality parameters of the product.

UV Transmission in Prebiotic Environments on Early Earth.

Ultraviolet (UV) light is likely to have played important roles in surficial origins of life scenarios, potentially as a productive source of energy and molecular activation, as a selective means to remove unwanted side products, or as a destructive mechanism resulting in loss of molecules/biomolecules over time. The transmission of UV light through prebiotic waters depends upon the chemical constituents of such waters, but constraints on this transmission are limited. Here, we experimentally measure the molar decadic extinction coefficients for a number of small molecules used in various prebiotic synthetic schemes. We find that many small feedstock molecules absorb most at short (∼200 nm) wavelengths, with decreasing UV absorption at longer wavelengths. For comparison, we also measured the nucleobase adenine and found that adenine absorbs significantly more than the simpler molecules often invoked in prebiotic synthesis. Our results enable the calculation of UV photon penetration under varying chemical scenarios and allow further constraints on plausibility and self-consistency of such scenarios. While the precise path that prebiotic chemistry took remains elusive, improved understanding of the UV environment in prebiotically plausible waters can help constrain both the chemistry and the environmental conditions that may allow such chemistry to occur.

Identification of carbohydrate gene clusters obtained from in vitro fermentations as predictive biomarkers of prebiotic responses.

BACKGROUND: Prebiotic fibers are non-digestible substrates that modulate the gut microbiome by promoting expansion of microbes having the genetic and physiological potential to utilize those molecules. Although several prebiotic substrates have been consistently shown to provide health benefits in human clinical trials, responder and non-responder phenotypes are often reported. These observations had led to interest in identifying, a priori, prebiotic responders and non-responders as a basis for personalized nutrition. In this study, we conducted in vitro fecal enrichments and applied shotgun metagenomics and machine learning tools to identify microbial gene signatures from adult subjects that could be used to predict prebiotic responders and non-responders. RESULTS: Using short chain fatty acids as a targeted response, we identified genetic features, consisting of carbohydrate active enzymes, transcription factors and sugar transporters, from metagenomic sequencing of in vitro fermentations for three prebiotic substrates: xylooligosacharides, fructooligosacharides, and inulin. A machine learning approach was then used to select substrate-specific gene signatures as predictive features. These features were found to be predictive for XOS responders with respect to SCFA production in an in vivo trial. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the bifidogenic effect of commonly used prebiotic substrates along with inter-individual microbial responses towards these substrates. We successfully trained classifiers for the prediction of prebiotic responders towards XOS and inulin with robust accuracy (≥ AUC 0.9) and demonstrated its utility in a human feeding trial. Overall, the findings from this study highlight the practical implementation of pre-intervention targeted profiling of individual microbiomes to stratify responders and non-responders.

Paotianxiong polysaccharides potential prebiotics: Structural analysis and prebiotic properties.

Paotianxiong (PTX) is a processing product of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx., often used as a tonic food daily. However, the structure and activity of the polysaccharide component that plays a major role still need to be determined. In our work, two new polysaccharides were purified from PTX and named PTXP-1 and PTXP-2. Structural analysis showed that PTXP-1 is a glucan with a molecular weight of 915 Da and a structure of 4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ as the main chain. PTXP-2 is a glucose arabinoglycan with 4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ as the main chain, containing 8 glycosidic bonds attached, and a molecular weight of 57.9KDa. In vitro probiotic experiments demonstrated that PTXP-1 could significantly promote probiotic growth and acid production. In vivo experiments demonstrated that both PTXP-1 and PTXP-2 exhibited significant effectiveness in promoting the growth of intestinal probiotics. These findings help expand the application of polysaccharide components extracted from tonic herbs as functional food ingredients.

Tomato seed extract promotes health of the gut microbiota and demonstrates a potential new way to valorize tomato waste.

The current effort to valorize waste byproducts to increase sustainability and reduce agricultural loss has stimulated interest in potential utilization of waste components as health-promoting supplements. Tomato seeds are often discarded in tomato pomace, a byproduct of tomato processing, yet these seeds are known to contain an array of compounds with biological activity and prebiotic potential. Here, extract from tomato seeds (TSE), acquired from pomace, was evaluated for their ability to effect changes on the gut microbiota using an ex vivo strategy. The results found that TSE significantly increased levels of the beneficial taxa Bifidobacteriaceae in a donor-independent manner, from a range of 18.6-24.0% to 27.0-51.6% relative abundance following treatment, yet the specific strain of Bifidobacteriaceae enhanced was inter-individually variable. These structural changes corresponded with a significant increase in total short-chain fatty acids, specifically acetate and propionate, from an average of 13.3 to 22.8 mmol/L and 4.6 to 7.4 mmol/L, respectively. Together, these results demonstrated that TSE has prebiotic potential by shaping the gut microbiota in a donor-independent manner that may be beneficial to human health. These findings provide a novel application for TSE harvested from tomato pomace and demonstrate the potential to further valorize tomato waste products.

Validation of collection and anaerobic fermentation techniques for measuring prebiotic impact on gut microbiota.

BACKGROUND: Defining the ability of prebiotic dietary carbohydrates to influence the composition and metabolism of the gut microbiota is central to defining their health impact in diverse individuals. Many clinical trials are using indirect methods. This study aimed to validate collection and fermentation methods enabling their use in the context of clinical studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Parameters tested included stool sample acquisition, storage, and growth conditions. Stool from 3 infants and 3 adults was collected and stored under varying conditions. Samples were cultured anaerobically for two days in the presence of prebiotics, whereupon optical density and pH were measured across time. Whole genome shotgun sequencing and NMR metabolomics were performed. Neither the type of collection vial (standard vial and two different BD anaerobic collection vials) nor cryopreservation (-80 °C or 4 °C) significantly influenced either microbial composition at 16 h of anaerobic culture or the principal components of the metabolome at 8 or 16 h. Metagenomic differences were driven primarily by subject, while metabolomic differences were driven by fermentation sugar (2'-fucosyllactose or dextrose). CONCLUSIONS: These data identified a feasible and valid approach for prebiotic fermentation analysis of individual samples in large clinical studies: collection of stool microbiota using standard vials; cryopreservation prior to testing; and collecting fermentation read-out at 8 and 16 hr. Thus, fermentation analysis can be a valid technique for testing the effects of prebiotics on human fecal microbiota.

Production of prebiotic enriched maple syrup through enzymatic conversion of sucrose into fructo-oligosaccharides.

Maple syrup, a popular natural sweetener has a high content of sucrose, whose consumption is linked to different health issues such as obesity and diabetes. Hence, within this paper, the conversion of sucrose to prebiotics (fructo-oligosaccharides, FOS) was proposed as a promising approach to obtaining a healthier, value-added product. Enzymatic conversion was optimized with respect to key experimental factors, and thereafter derived immobilized preparation of fructosyltransferase (FTase) from Pectinex® Ultra SP-L (FTase-epoxy Purolite, 255 IU/g support) was successfully utilized to produce novel functional product in ten consecutive reaction cycles. The product, obtained under optimal conditions (60 °C, 7.65 IU/mL, 12 h), resulted in 56.0% FOS, 16.7% sucrose, and 27.3% monosaccharides of total carbohydrates, leading to a 1.6-fold reduction in caloric content. The obtained products` prebiotic potential toward the probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum 299v was demonstrated. The changes in physico-chemical and sensorial characteristics were esteemed as negligible.

Evaluation of Prebiotic Glycan Composition in Human Milk and Infant Formula: Profile of Galacto-Oligosaccharides and Absolute Quantification of Major Milk Oligosaccharides by UPLC-Cyclic IM-MS and UPLC-MS/MS.

Prebiotic oligosaccharides have attracted immense interest in the infant formula (IF) industry due to their unique health benefits for infants. There is a need for the reasonable supplementation of prebiotics in premium IF products. Herein, we characterized the profile of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) in human milk (HM) and IF using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-cyclic ion mobility-mass spectrometry (UPLC-cIM-MS) technique. Additionally, we further performed a targeted quantitative analysis of five essential HM oligosaccharides (HMOs) in HM (n = 196), IF (n = 50), and raw milk of IF (n = 10) by the high-sensitivity UPLC-MS/MS method. HM exhibited a more abundant and variable HMO composition (1183.19 to 2892.91 mg/L) than IF (32.91 to 56.31 mg/L), whereas IF contained extra GOS species and non-negligible endogenous 3'-sialyllactose. This also facilitated the discovery of secretor features within the Chinese population. Our study illustrated the real disparity in the prebiotic glycome between HM and IF and provided crucial reference for formula improvement.

Unlocking the mysteries of milk oligosaccharides: Structure, metabolism, and function.

Milk oligosaccharides (MOs), complex carbohydrates prevalent in human breast milk, play a vital role in infant nutrition. Serving as prebiotics, they inhibit pathogen adherence, modulate the immune system, and support newborn brain development. Notably, MOs demonstrate significant variations in concentration and composition, both across different species and within the same species. These characteristics of MOs lead to several compelling questions: (i) What distinct beneficial functions do MOs offer and how do the functions vary along with their structural differences? (ii) In what ways do MOs in human milk differ from those in other mammals, and what factors drive these unique profiles? (iii) What are the emerging applications of MOs, particularly in the context of their incorporation into infant formula? This review delves into the structural characteristics, quantification methods, and species-specific concentration differences of MOs. It highlights the critical role of human MOs in infant growth and their potential applications, providing substantial evidence to enhance infant health and development.

The effect of in vitro simulated colonic pH gradients on microbial activity and metabolite production using common prebiotics as substrates.

BACKGROUND: The interplay between gut microbiota (GM) and the metabolization of dietary components leading to the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) is affected by a range of factors including colonic pH and carbohydrate source. However, there is still only limited knowledge on how the GM activity and metabolite production in the gastrointestinal tract could be influenced by pH and the pH gradient increases along the colon. RESULTS: Here we investigate the effect of pH gradients corresponding to levels typically found in the colon on GM composition and metabolite production using substrates inulin, lactose, galactooligosaccharides (GOS), and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) in an in vitro colon setup. We investigated 3 different pH regimes (low, 5.2 increasing to 6.4; medium, 5.6 increasing to 6.8 and high, 6.0 increasing to 7.2) for each fecal inoculum and found that colonic pH gradients significantly influenced in vitro simulated GM structure, but the influence of fecal donor and substrate was more pronounced. Low pH regimes strongly influenced GM with the decreased relative abundance of Bacteroides spp. and increased Bifidobacterium spp. Higher in vitro simulated colonic pH promoted the production of SCFAs in a donor- and substrate-dependent manner. The butyrate producer Butyricimonas was enriched at higher pH conditions, where also butyrate production was increased for inulin. The relative abundance of Phascolarctobacterium, Bacteroides, and Rikenellaceae also increased at higher colonic pH, which was accompanied by increased production of propionate with GOS and FOS as substrates. CONCLUSIONS: Together, our results show that colonic substrates such as dietary fibres influence GM composition and metabolite production, not only by being selectively utilized by specific microbes, but also because of their SCFA production, which in turn also influences colonic pH and overall GM composition and activity. Our work provides details about the effect of the gradients of rising pH from the proximal to distal colon on fermenting dietary substrates in vitro and highlights the importance of considering pH in GM research.

Interaction between lactic acid bacteria and Polygonatum sibiricum saponins and its application to microencapsulated co-delivery.

This study aimed to investigate the interaction between L.casei and L.bulgaricus with Polygonatum sibiricum saponins (PSS) and to explore the co-microencapsulation to reduce their loss rate during storage and consumption. 1% PSS was added to the culture broth, and it was found that the growth and metabolism of the strains were accelerated, especially in the compound probiotic group, indicating that PSS has potential for prebiotics. LC-MS observed significant differences in the composition and content of saponins in PSS. The metabolomics results suggest that the addition of PSS resulted in significant changes in the metabolites of probiotics. In addition, it was found that the combination of probiotics and PSS may have stronger hypoglycemic ability (ɑ-glucosidase, HepG2). Finally, a co-microencapsulated delivery system was constructed using zein and isomaltooligosaccharide. This system can achieve more excellent resistance of probiotics and PSS in gastrointestinal fluids, effectively transporting both to the small intestine.

Characterization of Various Noncovalent Polyphenol-Starch Complexes and Their Prebiotic Activities during In Vitro Digestion and Fermentation.

This study explores the structural characterization of six noncovalent polyphenol-starch complexes and their prebiotic activities during in vitro digestion and fermentation. Ferulic acid, caffeic acid, gallic acid, isoquercetin, astragalin, and hyperin were complexed with sweet potato starch (SPS). The polyphenols exhibited high binding capacity (>70%) with SPS. A partial release of flavonoids from the complexes was observed via in vitro digestion, while the phenolic acids remained tightly bound. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation revealed that polyphenols altered the spatial configuration of polysaccharides and intramolecular hydrogen bonds formed. Additionally, polyphenol-SPS complexes exerted inhibitory effects on starch digestion compared to gelatinized SPS, owing to the increase in resistant starch fraction. It revealed that the different complexes stimulated the growth of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium bifidum, while inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli. Moreover, in vitro fermentation experiments revealed that complexes were utilized by the gut microbiota, resulting in the production of short-chain fatty acids and a decrease in pH. In addition, the polyphenol-SPS complexes altered the composition of gut microbiota by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and decreasing pathogenic bacteria. Polyphenol-SPS complexes exhibit great potential for use as a prebiotic and exert dual beneficial effects on gut microbiota.

Identification and structural characterization of key prebiotic fraction of soluble dietary fiber from grapefruit peel sponge layer and its regulation effect on gut microbiota.

In this study, the key prebiotic fraction of grapefruit peel sponge layer soluble dietary fiber (GSLSDF) was identified, and its structure characteristics and modulatory effect on intestinal microorganisms were investigated. Firstly, two fractions (GSLSDF-1 and GSLSDF-2) were isolated from GSLSDF, and the GSLSDF-1 showed a better prebiotic activity. Subsequently, GSLSDF-1 was found to have a low molecular weight and crystallinity, a loose and porous microstructure, and a high glucose content. Meanwhile, GSLSDF-1 was a dextran with a main chain linked by ß-1, 4 glycosidic bonds and branched by a ß-1, 6 glycosidic bonds. These structural characteristics were responsible for the favorable prebiotic activity of GSLSDF-1. Finally, the regulation effect of GSLSDF-1 on gut microbiota was analyzed in vitro fecal fermentation. Compared with the blank and GSLSDF groups, GSLSDF-1 could increase the relative abundances of Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium coupled with decrease the relative abundances of Clostridium and Clostridioides. Furthermore, GSLSDF-1 promoted the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by modulating the SCFAs synthesis pathway of intestinal microorganisms, while the NH3-N synthesis of intestinal microorganisms was inhibited by GSLSDF-1. Above results indicated that GSLSDF-1 was the key prebiotic fraction of GSLSDF, which could effectively optimize the intestinal microorganism composition.

Arabinoxylans: A review on protocols for their recovery, functionalities and roles in food formulations.

Arabinoxylans (AXs) are compounds with high nutritional value and applicability, including prebiotics or supplementary ingredients, in food manufacturing industries. Unfortunately, the recovery of AXs may require advanced separation and integrated strategies. Here, an analysis of the emerging techniques to extract AXs from cereals and their by-products is discussed. This review covers distinct methods implemented over the last 2-3 years, identifying that the type of method, extraction source, AX physicochemical properties and pre-treatment conditions are the main factors influencing the recovery yield. Alkaline extraction is among the most used methods nowadays, mostly due to its simplicity and high recovery yield. Concurrently, recovered AXs applied in food applications is timely reviewed, such as potential bread ingredient, prebiotic and as a wall material for probiotic encapsulation, in beer and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturing, complementary ingredient in bakery products and cookies, improvers in Chinese noodles, 3D food printing and designing of nanostructures for delivery platforms.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Effects of Small Intestinal Fermentation on Enhancement of Prebiotic Characteristics of Cellulose in the Large Intestine.

Knowledge about the prebiotic characteristics of cellulose by in vitro fermentation is not complete due to the neglect of small intestinal fermentation. This study investigated the effects of small intestinal fermentation on the prebiotic characteristics of cellulose in the large intestine and potential mechanisms through an approach of combined in vivo small intestinal fermentation and in vitro fermentation. The structural similarity between cellulose in feces and after processing by the approach of this study confirmed the validity of the approach employed. Results showed that small intestinal fermentation of cellulose increased both acetate and propionate content and enriched Corynebacterium selectively. Compared to in vitro fermentation after in vitro digestion of cellulose, the in vitro fermentation of cellulose after in vivo small intestinal fermentation produced higher contents of acetate and propionate as well as the abundance of probiotics like Ruminococcaceae_UCG-002, Blautia, and Bifidobaterium. The changes in the structural features of cellulose after in vivo small intestinal fermentation were more obvious than those after in vitro digestion, which may account for the greater production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and the abundance of probiotics. In summary, small intestinal fermentation enhanced the prebiotic characteristics of cellulose in the large intestine by predisrupting its structure.

PETR: A novel peristaltic mixed tubular bioreactor simulating human colonic conditions.

A novel bioreactor simulating human colonic conditions for in vitro cultivation of intestinal microbiota is presented. The PEristaltic mixed Tubular bioReactor (PETR) is modular designed and periodically kneaded to simulate intestinal peristalsis. The reactor is introduced, characterized from a bioprocess engineer's perspective and discussed in its ability to mimic colon conditions. PETR provides physiological temperature and appropriate anaerobic conditions, simulates intestinal peristalsis, and has a mean residence time of 32.8 ± 0.8 h comparable to the adult human colon. The single-tube design enables a time-constant and longitudinally progressive pH gradient from 5.5 to 7.0. Using a dialysis liquid containing high molecular weight polyethylene glycol, the integrated dialysis system efficiently absorbs short chain fatty acids (up to 60%) and water (on average 850 mL d-1 ). Cultivation of a typical gut bacterium (Bifidobacterium animalis) was performed to demonstrate the applicability for controlled microbiota cultivation. PETR is unique in combining simulation of the entire colon, peristaltic mixing, dialytic water and metabolite absorption, and a progressive pH gradient in a single-tube design. PETR is a further step to precise replication of colonic conditions in vitro for reliable and reproducible microbiota research, such as studying the effect of food compounds, prebiotics or probiotics, or the development and treatment of infections with enteric pathogens, but also for further medical applications such as drug delivery studies or to study the effect of drugs on and their degradation by the microbiota.

High Viscosity Slows the Utilization of Rapidly Fermentable Dietary Fiber by Human Gut Microbiota.

In the present study, the influence of viscosity on the fermentation characteristics of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) by gut microbiota was examined. Different concentrations of methylcellulose (MC) were added to create varying viscosities and the mixture was fermented with FOS by gut microbiota. The results demonstrated that higher viscosity had a significant impact on slowing down the fermentation rate of FOS. Specifically, the addition of 2.5 wt% MC, which had the highest viscosity, resulted in the lowest and slowest production of gas and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), indicating that increased viscosity could hinder the breakdown of FOS by gut microbiota. Additionally, the slower fermentation of FOS did not significantly alter the structure of the gut microbiota community compared to that of FOS alone, suggesting that MC could be used in combination with FOS to achieve similar prebiotic effects and promote gut health while exhibiting a slower fermentation rate.

Comprehensive evaluation of the prebiotic properties of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides, ß-glucan, and inulin during in vitro fermentation via multi-omics analysis.

Dietary fiber is crucial for human health mainly due to its impact on gut microbiota structure and metabolites. This study aimed to investigate the impact of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides (DOP) and two common fibers (ß-glucan and inulin) on the gut microbiome structure and metabolic profile in vitro. Fecal samples were obtained from 30 healthy volunteers, which were then individually subjected to fermentation with each type of fiber. The results revealed that all fibers were efficiently degraded by gut microbiota, with DOP exhibiting a slower fermentation rate compared to ß-glucan and inulin. The fermentation of all fibers led to a significant increase in the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and a reduction in branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs), sulfides, phenols, and indole. Moreover, the abundance of unclassified Enterobacteriaceae, which was positively correlated with sulfide, phenols, and indole levels, was significantly reduced by all fibers. Additionally, DOP specifically promoted the growth of Parabacteroides, while ß-glucan and inulin promoted the growth of Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium. Taken together, these findings enhance our understanding of the role of DOP, ß-glucan, and inulin in modulating gut microbiota and metabolites, where the fermentation with fecal bacteria from different volunteers could provide valuable insights for personalized therapeutic approaches.

An exopolysaccharide from Lactobacillus pentosus YY-112: structure and effect on the human intestinal microbiota.

The development of novel prebiotics, which could regulate the intestinal microbiota, may help prevent and treat intestinal diseases. Here, we studied a homogeneous polysaccharide, LPE-2, produced by Lactobacillus pentosus YY-112 during fermentation. Methylation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, combined with nuclear magnetic resonance results, suggested that the structural unit of LPE-2 comprises a branched mannan moiety and a linear glucan moiety. In vitro simulated intestinal fermentation showed that LPE-2 reduced harmful intestinal gas production and promoted short-chain fatty acid production (especially propionic acid). Moreover, it reduced the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, increased that of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, and had a stronger regulatory effect on intestinal flora in women than in men. The potential sex-specific prebiotic effects of LPE-2 on human intestinal health, were possibly related to its mannan branch with (1→2) and (1→3) linkages and backbones with flexible α configurations, which are sheared and degraded/utilized easier by Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.

Fermentation patterns of prebiotics fructooligosaccharides-SCFA esters inoculated with fecal microbiota from ulcerative colitis patients.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is believed to arise from an imbalance between the intestinal microbiota and mucosal immunity, leading to excessive intestinal inflammation. Modulating the gut microbial community through dietary components presents a valuable strategy in aiding the treatment of UC. In this study, esters formed by binding of well-known prebiotics, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), with short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) via both enzymatic and chemical methods were evaluated for their impact on the gut microbiota of UC patients. An in vitro human colonic fermentation model was employed to monitor changes in total carbohydrates and SCFAs production during the fermentation of these esters by microbiota from patients with active and remission UC. The results showed that pronounced abundance of [Ruminococcus]_gnavus_group, Escherichia_Shigella, Lachnoclostridium, Klebsiella and other potential pathogens were detected in the fecal samples from UC patients, with a milder condition observed during the remission phase. Significant higher levels of corresponding SCFA were observed in the groups with addition of FOS-SCFAs esters during fermentation. Butyrylated fructooligosaccharides (B-FOS) and propionylated fructooligosaccharides (P-FOS) by enzymatic synthesis successfully promoted the proliferation of Bifidobacterium and inhibited Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and Klebsiella. Overall, B-FOS and P-FOS exhibit promising potential for restoring intestinal homeostasis and alleviating intestinal inflammation in individuals with UC.