Akkermansia muciniphila Growth Promoted by Lychee Major Flavonoid through Bacteroides uniformis Metabolism

Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) possesses health-promoting properties. Nevertheless, A. muciniphila enrichment remains a challenging endeavor. Quercetin-3-O-rutinose-7-O-α-l-rhamnoside (QRR), a flavonoid found in lychee pulp, has a unique double-substituted glycosylated structure, requiring a specific intestinal microbiota for effective metabolism. Here, QRR was fermented using a coculture of Bacteroides uniformis and A. muciniphila, and the interactions between the two were elucidated in terms of QRR regulation of microbial growth changes and metabolic properties. The results demonstrated that QRR effectively promoted the proliferation of A. muciniphila based on the metabolic action of B. uniformis in vitro, which was evidenced by a notable increase in the number of viable bacteria. Furthermore, the coculture sample exhibited a significant increase in SCFAs. Qualitative analysis of metabolites by UPLC-ESI-Triple-TOF-MS/MS showed that B. uniformis could release sugars on QRR to produce quercetin-3-O-glucoside-7-O-α-rhamnoside and further quercetin. In the coculture and B. uniformis culture, quercetin was converted to taxifolin, which was identified as a crucial intermediate in the metabolism of QRR. Notably, the metabolite kaempferol was only detected in the coculture. The present study reveals the interaction between QRR and the coculture of A. muciniphila and B. uniformis, providing a practical basis for the potential prebiotic value of QRR.