Abstract
As an active ingredient of leguminous plants, genistein is extremely important for alleviating various human diseases. However, the regulatory effect of genistein on intestinal microbiota in alleviating enteritis is still unclear. In this study, the effect of genistein in alleviating dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis and the potential microbial metabolic regulation mechanism were explored. First, the effect of genistein on DSS-induced colitis was studied in mice. Then antibiotics were used to inhibit intestinal bacteria to verify that intestinal microorganisms play an important role in alleviating colitis of genistein. Finally, mice were administrated with live differential bacterium to confirm that genistein can regulate intestinal microorganisms to treat colitis. The results indicated that genistein alleviated DSS-induced colonic inflammation by inhibiting the Nuclear factor kappa-B and Cyclooxygenase-2/Prostaglandin E2 pathway. Genistein alleviated DSS-induced intestinal injury and decreased Mucin 2 secretion. Supplementation with genistein attenuated the DSS-induced decrease in the alpha diversity of gut bacteria. Genistein increased the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Marvinbryantia formatexigens, increased the concentration of short chain fatty acids in colitis. After antibiotics depleted the intestinal bacteria, genistein lost the effect of relieving colitis, indicating that genistein must relieve colitis through the intestinal bacteria. Mice fed with living Marvinbryantia formatexigens increased short-chain fatty acids and relieved colitis. The present study demonstrates that genistein alleviated colonic inflammation by regulating intestinal bacterium of Marvinbryantia formatexigens and increasing short-chain fatty acid production.