Protective properties of Ophiopogonin D in DSS-induced colitis: insights into microbiota modulation.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder, is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide. Ophiopogonin D, which is derived from Ophiopogon japonicus, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, yet its therapeutic potential in UC remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, we employed a mouse model of DSS-induced colitis to assess the impact of Ophiopogonin D on various parameters, including weight loss, bloody stools, and inflammation in the colon. RESULTS: Ophiopogonin-D treatment significantly mitigated these DSS-induced effects, improved colon permeability, and modulated inflammatory markers like ZO-1, MUC-2, TNF-α, and IL-1ß in mice compared with the control. Furthermore, compared to the DSS-treatment group, Ophiopogonin-D treatment improved the α- and ß-diversity indices of the mouse intestinal microbiota, along with an increase in the abundance of genera such as Akkermansia (AKK) and a decrease in the abundance of genera such as Enterobacter. Notably, propionic acid, a metabolite of AKK, demonstrated significant improvement in the symptoms of DSS-induced colitis in mice compared to the control. Moreover, propionic-acid administration also resulted in alterations in the levels of inflammatory factors and calreticulin within the intestinal tissues. CONCLUSION: Overall, Ophiopogonin D significantly affects intestinal microbiota composition, thereby improving symptoms of DSS-induced colitis in mice. These findings present promising therapeutic strategies and potential pharmaceutical candidates for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.