Homogalacturonan From Yellow Passion Fruit Peel Ameliorates Intestinal Injury in DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterised by persistent inflammation of the colonic mucosa. Symptoms include bloody diarrhoea and abdominal pain, which have a significant impact on quality of life. Current treatments mainly alleviate symptoms and maintain remission, but natural therapeutic alternatives are still needed. To investigate the therapeutic effect of pectic polysaccharides from the peel of Passiflora edulis on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice, focusing on colonic histoarchitecture, collagen remodelling, MUC-2 expression and immune cell distribution. Mice were assigned to a control group, a group with DSS-induced colitis, or a group with HPE treatment (P. edulis homogalacturonan, 100 mg/kg). Histomorphometric, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical analyses of the colonic wall, evaluation of collagen remodelling and MUC-2 expression, quantification of immune cells and in silico tests were performed. DSS caused atrophy of the muscular and submucosal layers, hypertrophy of the mucosa, increased crypt depth and decreased enterocyte height. HPE improved muscular and submucosal thickness, partially restored enterocyte height, reduced crypt depth and collagen deposition and increased intraepithelial lymphocytes. DSS significantly decreased MUC-2 expression in goblet cells, while HPE significantly restored it. Pharmacokinetic and toxicological predictions indicated a favourable safety profile for HPE, and molecular docking analyses suggested interactions with proteins involved in maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier. HPE effectively attenuated DSS-induced colon damage and restored MUC-2 expression, contributing to epithelial barrier restoration and supporting its therapeutic potential in ulcerative colitis.