Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) Hassk fruit phenolic-rich extract mitigates intestinal barrier dysfunction and...

In this study, the mitigative effect of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) Hassk fruit extract rich in phenolic compounds (RTE) on high fat diet (HFD)-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction of mice and the underlying mechanism were explored. The results revealed that RTE supplementation obviously improved gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by HFD, which was evidenced by elevated alpha diversity, suppressed Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, enriched short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria (Odoribacter, Parabacteroides, Blautia and Akkermansia), and depleted harmful bacteria (Helicobacter, norank_f_ Desulfovibrionaceae and Mucispirillum). RTE intervention mitigated intestinal barrier dysfunction and inflammation by elevating tight junction proteins expression levels and decreasing proinflammatory cytokines levels. Furthermore, RTE administration inhibited the HFD-induced trigger of the lipopolysaccharide-toll-like receptor 4-nuclear factor kappa-B (LPS-TLR4-NF-κB) pathway in colonic tissue. Therefore, RTE supplementation may be an effective way to protect the intestinal tract in HFD-induced obese individuals.