Berberine attenuates TNBS-induced colitis in mice by improving the intestinal microbiota

Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of berberine (BBR) on TNBS-induced enteritis in mice and the changes of intestinal microecology. Methods The mice were randomly divided into the healthy group (Ctrl), TNBS induced enteritis group (TNBS) and berberine treatment group (BBR),there were 7 mice in each group. After 7 days, the mice were sacrificed, weighed, hematological detection and imaging evaluation of colon pathology and Illumina high-throughput intestinal microecological analysis was performed. Results Through a series of tests and observations, the changes of colon length, immune cells subpopulations, inflammatory factors and intestinal microecology of mice induced by BBR were improved. Intestinal microecological analysis found that BBR can improve the abundance of bacteria such as Akkermansia muciniphila, Verrucomicrobia, Bacteroides and Lactobacillus. Conclusion BBR has therapeutic effect on TNBS-induced colitis in mice, which is related to the changes of intestinal microecology and immune cell subpopulations, and provides a promising strategy as the potential probiotics (such as Akkermansia muciniphila) to IBD therapy in clinic.