Abstract
This study aimed to assess the anti-inflammatory properties of mare milk by analyzing immune markers in mice following gavage of mare milk. Metagenomic sequencing was employed to examine variations in the composition and functional profiles of the intestinal microbiota across different experimental groups. Bacterial diversity, abundance, and functional annotations of gut microbiota were evaluated for each group. The results show that, compared to the control group, the mare milk group exhibited a significant decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 levels and a significant increase in secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) levels (p < 0.05). The fermented mare milk group and the pasteurized fermented mare milk group demonstrated a significant downregulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β, along with a significant increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 levels (p < 0.05). Additionally, metagenomic analysis revealed that both the mare milk and fermented mare milk groups were able to regulate the imbalance of the intestinal microenvironment by improving the diversity of the gut microbiota and reshaping its structure. Specifically, the mare milk group enhanced gut barrier function by increasing the abundance of Bacteroides acidifaciens, while the fermented mare milk group increased the proportion of Bacillota and the relative abundance of beneficial bacterial genera such as Faecalibaculum and Bifidobacterium. KEGG pathway annotation highlighted prominent functions related to carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, followed by coenzyme and vitamin metabolism activities. In conclusion, mare milk and its fermented products demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects, particularly in modulating immune responses and inhibiting inflammatory cascades. Additionally, the administration of mare milk enhances the composition and metabolic activity of intestinal microbiota in mice, supporting intestinal microecological balance and overall gut health, and offering valuable insights for the development of mare milk-based functional foods.