title: Polysaccharide from seeds of Plantago asiatica L. increases short-chain fatty acid production and fecal moisture along with lowering pH in mouse colon.
abstract: Mice (20.0 ± 2.0 g, n = 48 per group) were given 30 days oral administration of polysaccharide from Plantago asiatica L. seeds at the dose of 0.4 g/kg body weight by gavage to investigate the effects of the polysaccharide on mouse colon. Results showed that the concentrations of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), acetic, propionic, and n-butyric acids in mouse colonic content of polysaccharide treated group were all significantly higher than that of control group (water) (p < 0.05). In addition, moisture of mouse colonic content of polysaccharide treated group was also notably higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05) indicating the intake of polysaccharide from P. asiatica L. resulted in a stronger water-holding capacity for colonic content throughout the experimental period. Furthermore, a decreased pH (from 7.5 ± 0.1 to 7.2 ± 0.1) was observed in mouse colon of the polysaccharide treated group compared with the control group (pH from 7.5 ± 0.1 to 7.5 ± 0.1). These results suggested that the intake of the polysaccharide from P. asiatica L. might be beneficial for the colon health.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, China.
authors.forename: Jie-Lun
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Shao-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Fang-Fang
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Ming-Yong
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010943:Plantago / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014867:Water