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Nanoformulated Curcumin Ameliorates Ulcerative Colitis via Gut Microbiota Modulation and Barrier Function Restoration
Yin-Zhuo Xie1,2, Chen-Xi Sun1, Tian-Tian Fu1
1Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Restoration of Damaged Coastal Ecosystems International Science and Technology Cooperation Base in Biomass Resources Development and Utilization Authorized by Zhejiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology Taizhou Key Laboratory of Biomedicine and Advanced Dosage Forms School of Life Sciences, Taizhou University, Zhejiang, Taizhou 318000, P. R. China.
Abstract:
The gut microbiota is increasingly recognized as a key mediator of the anticolitis effects of curcumin (CUR). However, the clinical translation of this promising activity is severely hampered by CUR's low solubility and poor bioavailability. Although nanoencapsulation represents a promising strategy to address these limitations, the preventive effect of nanocurcumin (nano-CUR) against colitis remains largely unexplored. The present study aimed to elucidate the preventive effects of nano-CUR on intestinal barrier function, gut microbiota composition, and metabolic profiles in a murine model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. The results demonstrated that pre-supplementation of nano-CUR significantly ameliorated disease severity, attenuated intestinal barrier disruption, and suppressed colonic inflammation in mice with DSS-induced colitis. Mechanistically, integrated 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics demonstrated that nano-CUR-restored microbial homeostasis and enhanced the production of short-chain fatty acids, linking microbial shifts to anti-inflammatory outcomes. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) further validated the causal role of the nano-CUR-remodeled microbiota in conferring protection. Collectively, these findings decipher the mechanism by which nano-CUR interacts with the gut microbiota, confirming that dietary nano-CUR consumption protects against ulcerative colitis by modulating the gut microbiome and its metabolic output.
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