Glucan versus pectin: Structurally distinct polysaccharides differentially protect against ethanol-induced gastric...

Structural distinctions among polysaccharides are closely linked to their differential gastroprotective activities. This study employs an ethanol-induced gastric injury model in mice to compare the gastroprotective effects of the structurally distinct Chinese yam polysaccharide (CYP) and White hyacinth bean polysaccharides (WBP) through physiological, microbiota, and metabolomic analyses. The results indicate that CYP and WBP mitigate gastric injury through reductions in MDA and cytokine modulation, yet exhibit divergent anti-inflammatory responses, with high-dose WBP (WBP-H) decreasing TNF-α (612.27 to 552.75 pg/mL) and low-dose CYP increasing IL-10 (639.06 to 702.78 pg/mL). Additionally, CYP and WBP also restored ethanol-disrupted gut microbiota by enriching beneficial genera like Sutterella and Anaerostipes, which support barrier integrity and reduce inflammation. Metabolomic analysis revealed that WBP-H more effectively modulated metabolic pathways, downregulating glycerophospholipid metabolism and upregulating the TCA cycle and glyoxylate metabolism, enhancing energy homeostasis and microbiota-derived metabolites. Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant microbiota-metabolite interactions in WBP-H group. These results indicate that CYP and WBP differ in their structure-dependent gastroprotective mechanisms, with the glucan-type WBP exhibiting a stronger overall effect primarily by modulating key metabolic pathways, improving beneficial microbiota, and reducing inflammatory markers. Further clarification of their key structural domains and signaling interactions may facilitate their targeted application in gastric mucosal protection.