The effect of Sasa quelpaertensis leaf extract on gut microbiota in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mice

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), is chronic inflammatory disorders of gastrointestinal tract, involves chronic relapsing. IBD is related with dysfunction of mucosal immune system and result from complex interactions between genetics and environmental factors, including lifestyle, diet and gut microbiome. Sasa quelpaertensis leaves have been reported anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-carcinogenic effects. We analyzed the microbial communities in fecal samples from dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice using pyrosequencing. For this purpose, mice were presupplemented with Sasa quelpaertensis leaves extract (SQE; 300 mg/kg body weight) by gavage for two weeks and then received SQE with 2.5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days twice and 7 days of water between DSS treatment. Supplementation of SQE alleviated disease activity score and shortening of colon length. The proportion of Bacteroidetes was increased, whereas that of Firmicutes was decreased by DSS treatment compared to control group. However, SQE supplementation recovered the proportion of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes back to control level. Furthermore, the proportions of Bacteroidia and Gammaproteobacteria were increased in DSS group, while that of Clostridia was decreased in the DSS group compared with the control group. Supplementation of SQE increased the proportion of Clostridia and reduced the proportions of Bacteroidia and Gammaproteobacteria compared with the DSS group and the diversity of microbiota was higher than those of the DSS group. In conclusion, SQE protected the microbial dysbiosis associated with colitis by modulating microbial composition and diversity, which provide a deeper comprehension of the role of the microbiota and host interaction in IBD.