Oroxylin A maintains the colonic mucus barrier to reduce disease susceptibility by reconstituting a dietary fiber-deprived gut microbiota. (1st September 2021) - Bai, Dongsheng
Abstract: Dietary fiber intake helps to maintain gut homeostasis. Fiber deficiency causes commensals to utilize mucins as an energy source to destroy mucus layer, thus promoting susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease. Here, we reported that oroxylin A, a natural flavonoid, ameliorated low-grade colonic inflammation caused by fiber deficiency, alleviated colitis, and further prevented colitis-associated colon cancer in mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of oroxylin A was due to its alteration of gut microbiota. We found that the levels of Eubacterium coprostanoligenes was significantly increased by oroxylin A and the colonized Eubacterium coprostanoligenes significantly protected against colitis and carcinogenesis in colon of mice. Together, our results in this study suggest that oroxylin A may reduce the susceptibility to intestinal diseases by increasing the level of Eubacterium coprostanoligenes which could provide a therapeutic alternation for the treatment of intestinal diseases. Highlights: The disruption of the mucus layer caused by a fiber-free diet increases intestinal disease risk in mice. Oroxylin A protects mucus layer and altered the gut microbiota in mice. Oroxylin A ameliorates colitis and colon cancer by altering the gut microbiota in mice. Eubacterium coprostanoligenes ameliorates colitis and colon cancer by protecting mucus layer in mice.