Glycosidase-Derived Arabinoxylan Hydrolyzates Attenuate Intestinal Inflammation via Restructuring the Gut...

The highly polymeric structure and complex branching of arabinoxylan (AX) limit its immunomodulatory potential. This study investigated whether enzymatic hydrolysis using xylanase (XYN) and α-l-arabinofuranosidase (ARF) could enhance anti-inflammatory efficacy in DSS-induced colitis. Synergistic ARF-XYN treatment, yielding low-polymerization and debranched oligosaccharides, exhibited superior efficacy in ameliorating colitis symptoms, suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β), and restoring intestinal barrier integrity compared to native AX. Multiomics analyses revealed that ARF-XYN reshaped the gut ecosystem by enriching beneficial bacteria (Akkermansia, Faecalibaculum, Dubosiella) while suppressing pathogenic taxa (Bacteroides, Escherichia-Shigella, and Helicobacter). This microbial restructuring drove a metabolic shift characterized by increased bile acids and short-chain fatty acids, while suppressing inflammatory mediators (prostaglandin B2, histamine, quinolinic acid) and pro-inflammatory lipid metabolites (arachidonic acid, linoleic acid, and their derivatives). These findings demonstrate that precise enzymatic tailoring transforms AX into a potent functional prebiotic ingredient, offering a structure-guided prebiotic strategy for inflammatory bowel disease management through targeted microbiota-metabolite modulation.