Gut dysbiosis induced by antibiotics is improved by tangerine pith extract in mice

The gut microbiota can affect the intestinal barrier and other physiological functions. Tangerine pith contains various citrus pectins, which modulate the gut microbiota in a structure-dependent manner. We hypothesized that tangerine pith extract (TPE) has prebiotic effects on gut dysbiosis in antibiotic-treated mice. TPE was prepared via acid hydrolysis and isolated using an ultrafiltration method. Gut dysbiosis was induced through treatment with antibiotic cocktail for 7 days in mice. After spontaneous recovery or being supplemented with 0.5 mL TPE for 14 days, the gut microbiota composition and other parameters were examined. The 16s ribosomal DNA high-throughput sequencing and analysis confirmed that TPE positively improved the gut microbiota. The relative abundance of some probiotics such as [Ruminococcus]_torques_group, [Clostridium]_innocuum_group, and Enterorhabdus were significantly increased and harmful bacteria such as Alistipes were decreased in TPE-supplemented mice. Furthermore, the production of propionate and butyrate in the colonic contents were significantly enhanced in the TPE-treated mice. Serum D-lactic acid and diamine oxidase activity were increased in the antibiotic treatment group and reversed in the TPE-treated group. Moreover, protein expression of intestinal occludin was significantly increased by TPE. In conclusion, TPE is effective in restoring the gut microbiota in mice after antibiotic treatment and may act as a prebiotic in combatting gut dysbiosis.