Anti-inflammation and intestinal flora modulation ability of Moutan Cortex polysaccharide and its interaction with...

The development of plant polysaccharides for anti-inflammation and gut flora modulation has attracted extensive attention; however, it remains to be investigated whether the interaction between active polysaccharides and other macromolecules in the food matrix influences polysaccharide activity. In this study, a homogeneous heteropolysaccharide was purified from Moutan Cortex polysaccharide (PMCW1), the main glycosidic bonds of which were comprised of T-α-Araf-(1→, →5)-α-Araf-(1→, →3,5)-α-Araf-(1→, →3,4)-α-Glcp-(1→, and →4)-β-Galp-(1 → residues. PMCW1 reduced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetesh ratio, promoted the growth of Prevotella, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus, and increased SCFAs levels. Additionally, PMCW1 down-regulated the NO production and pro-inflammatory factor levels in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. In the simulated plant protein beverage system, the PMCW1-soybean protein isolate complex formed in non-covalent interactions with better stability and solubility, which maintained their anti-inflammation effects after gastrointestinal digestion. These results provide a new perspective for the development of PMCW1 as a promising functional food ingredient for preventing and mitigating metabolic diseases.