Apple peel polyphenols reduce mitochondrial dysfunction in mice with DSS-induced ulcerative colitis

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are multifaceted and relapsing immune disorders, which necessitate long-term dependence on powerful drugs. As the use of natural product-based therapies has emerged as a promising intervention, the present study aimed to further characterize dried apple peel powder (DAPP) mechanisms of action and evaluate the preventive and curative effects of DAPP on mitochondrial functions in a murine model. Induction of intestinal inflammation in mice is performed by oral administration of the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) at 2.5% for 10 days. Doses of DAPP (200 or 400 mg/kg/day) were administered by gavage for 10 days pre- and 1 day after colitis induction simultaneously with DSS treatment for a period of 10 days. The preventive (200 mg/kg/day) and therapeutic (400 mg/kg/day) doses of DAPP limited DSS-induced histological lesions, improved macroscopic parameters and attenuated clinical signs. DAPP at the same conditions reduced massive infiltration of inflammatory cells and concomitantly displayed a robust potential of counteracting inflammation and oxidative stress in DSS mice. Moreover, DAPP partially restored mitochondrial abnormalities related to size, density, redox homeostasis, fatty acid β-oxidation, ATP synthesis, apoptosis and regulatory mitochondrial transcription factors. Our findings demonstrate the preventive and therapeutic impact of DAPP on experimental colitis while underlying the role of mitochondria. They also suggest that this natural DAPP product may represent an interesting candidate for further studies on the prevention/treatment of IBD.