AUTHOR=Liang Xiaoxiao , Ru Meng , Zhai Zhenya , Huang Jianzhen , Wang Wanwan , Wang Ruxia , Zhang Zhihong , Niu Kai-Min , Wu Xin 

TITLE=In vitro antibacterial effects of Broussonetia papyrifera leaf extract and its anti-colitis in DSS-treated mice

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1255127

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2023.1255127

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=Recently, the hybrid Broussonetia papyrifera (BP) has been extensively cultivated and predominantly utilized for ruminants, attributable to its high content of protein and bioactive compounds. In the present study, the effects of ethanolic extract of BP leaves (BPE, 200 mg/kg) on mitigating 2% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced intestinal inflammation in mice were evaluated. BPE exhibits a rich constitution of flavonoids, polyphenols, and polysaccharides, displaying potent antioxidant and antibacterial activities against pathogenic strains such as Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica in vitro. In the mice study, oral administration of DSS resulted in weight loss, incidence of diarrhea, enlargement of liver and spleen, impaired colonic morphology, down-regulation of both gene and protein expression related to intestinal antioxidant (Nrf2) and barrier function (ZO-1), decreased diversity of colonic microbiota, and 218 differentially altered colonic metabolites; however, co-treatment with BPE did not restore these modified aspects except for the liver index and colonic bacterial diversity. The singular treatment with BPE did not manifest evident side effects in the normal mice but induced a mild occurrence of diarrhea and a notable alteration in the colonic metabolite profile. Moreover, single BPE administration augmented the abundance of commensal beneficial bacteria Faecalibaculum and Akkermansia genera. Overall, the extract of BP leaves did not demonstrate the anticipated effectiveness in the alleviation of DSS-induced intestinal inflammation.