Sugarcane bagasse arabinoxylan alleviates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice by modulating the gut microbiota.

BGAX intervention significantly improved body weight change and disease activity index (DAI) in DSS-induced colitis mice.

• DSS (dextran sulfate sodium) was used to induce colitis in mice as the experimental model.
• BGAX was derived from sugarcane bagasse arabinoxylan.
• Body weight change and DAI were used as primary clinical indicators of colitis severity.
• BGAX treatment groups showed significant improvement compared to the DSS-only control group.

BGAX treatment significantly improved colon length in DSS-induced colitis mice.

• Colon length shortening is a hallmark of DSS-induced colitis severity.
• BGAX intervention restored colon length compared to DSS-treated controls.
• Colon length was measured as one of the primary outcome measures for colitis assessment.

BGAX intervention reduced inflammatory cytokine levels in mice with DSS-induced colitis.

• Inflammatory cytokine levels were measured as part of the colitis assessment.
• BGAX significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels compared to DSS-only controls.
• Modulation of cytokine levels indicates an anti-inflammatory mechanism of action for BGAX.

BGAX restored colonic architecture and goblet cell numbers in DSS-induced colitis mice.

• DSS-induced colitis disrupts normal colonic architecture and reduces goblet cell numbers.
• BGAX intervention played an important role in restoring colonic architecture.
• Goblet cell numbers, which are critical for mucus production and barrier function, were restored following BGAX treatment.

BGAX regulated the key genus Bacteroides and increased the relative abundance of several beneficial bacterial genera.

• Beneficial genera increased by BGAX included Roseburia, Akkermansia, Ligilactobacillus, and Parabacteroides.
• Bacteroides was identified as a key regulated genus following BGAX intervention.
• These genera are generally associated with gut health and short-chain fatty acid production.

BGAX significantly reduced the relative abundance of potentially harmful bacterial genera in colitis mice.

• Genera significantly reduced by BGAX included Clostridium, Enterococcus, and Escherichia-Shigella.
• These genera are associated with intestinal inflammation and pathogenicity.
• The reduction of these harmful genera contributed to an overall improvement in microbiota composition.