Alleviation of DSS-induced colitis by Meconopsis polysaccharides correlated with reduced PI3K/AKT signaling and gut microbiome diversity.

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a recurrent gastrointestinal disorder that significantly impacts patients' quality of life globally. This study focuses on the polysaccharides (MP) extracted from Meconopsis integrifolia , to investigate its role in alleviating DSS (dextran sulfate sodium)-induced colitis in mice. Methods: The study commenced with a comprehensive chemical characterization of Meconopsis polysaccharides. Subsequently, the colitis-alleviating activity of MP was validated through in vivo experiments. Results: The results revealed that MP is primarily composed of ten monosaccharides, exhibits good thermal stability, and has a relatively uniform molecular weight distribution. In vivo experiments demonstrated that MP significantly mitigated DSS-induced weight loss, increased DAI, colon shortening, and tissue damage in mice. Furthermore, MP reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in serum. Mechanistically, MP exerted its anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Additionally, MP promoted gut microbiota diversity and regulated SCFA concentrations, contributing to an improved intestinal microenvironment and alleviation of colitis symptoms. Discussion: Our findings highlight the superior effectiveness of Meconopsis polysaccharides in alleviating DSS-induced colitis and open new avenues for targeted therapeutic strategies in the treatment of IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]