Lycium barbarum L polysaccharide ameliorates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by improving gut barrier function and modulating gut microbiota

Polysaccharides had a certain remission potential for ulcerative colitis, but there were few reports on natural Lycium barbarum L polysaccharides. The purpose of this study was to investigate the structural characterization of polysaccharides from Lycium barbarum L and they're protectively effected by DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. The results showed that the polysaccharide (LBP 2-1) isolated and purified from Lycium barbarum was mainly composed of arabinose, galactose, glucose, rhamnose and mannose. LBP 2-1 effectively alleviated the symptoms of weight loss, colon shortens, and disease activity index scores increase in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis. Furthermore, gut microbiota analysis showed that LBP 2-1 administration reversed the shift in the gut microbiota by enriching potential probiotics (norank-f-Muribaculaceace, Turicibacter, Lactobacillus) and inhibiting the proliferation of harmful bacteria (Bacteroides, Escherichia shigella, Faecalibaculum, Dubosiella). Thus, all the results suggested that LBP2-1 may be a potential second-generation therapeutic candidate against ulcerative colitis.