Rhamnogalacturonan-I type polysaccharide from Curcuma longa attenuates DSS-induced colitis by modulating inflammatory...

While turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is widely recognized for its curcumin content, its bioactive turmeric polysaccharides (TP) remain relatively underexplored. This study investigated the protective efficacy of TP against colitis using both in vitro and in vivo models. In Caco-2 epithelial cells, under inflammatory conditions, TP did not exhibit significant cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 100 µg/mL, and significantly suppressed IL-1β-induced production of interleukin and monocyte chemoattractant protein. In a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model, TP administration markedly improved clinical outcomes, including DAI, body weight, and colon length, while restoring goblet cells and mucus layer integrity. Furthermore, TP modulated inflammatory responses by balancing pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in both serum and colonic tissues at the protein and mRNA levels. These results indicate that TP mitigates colitic symptoms by strengthening the intestinal barrier and inhibiting inflammatory signaling pathways. Consequently, TP represent a promising functional ingredient for the management of colitis.