Pectin from comfrey roots alleviate DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice through modulating the intestinal barrier

The objective of this study was to investigate whether pectin extracted from comfrey roots (CRPs) could alleviate ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by sodium dextran sulfate (DSS) in mice by improving the intestinal barrier. CRP was able to relieve symptoms associated with weight loss, diarrhea, and colon length in UC mice. CRP inhibited the excessive secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 and increased the level of IL-10 in the serum. After CRP treatment, the mRNA expression levels of ZO-1 and Muc2 increased. The colonic epithelial cells recovered well, and the mucous layer was relatively intact in the CRP group. CRP and 5-aminosalicylic acid (ASA) alleviated UC symptoms in mice by reducing the abundance of Oscillibacter, Alistipes, and Anaeroplasma and increasing the abundance of Lachnospiraceae_UCG-001 to regulate the intestinal microflora. The abundance of Rikenellaceae was positively correlated with the mRNA expression level of ZO-1, and the abundance of Monoglobus was positively correlated with the mRNA expression level of Muc2. These results suggested that CRP could repair the intestinal barrier and mitigate DSS-induced colon damage in mice, indicating that CRP may be a potential functional component in combating UC.