Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is on the rise all over the world. Zingiber officinale polysaccharide (ZOP-1) has good anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, but the therapeutic effect and mechanism of ZOP-1 on UC are still unclear. METHODS: ZOP-1 obtained by water extraction and alcohol precipitation was analyzed by methylation and NMR. At the same time, the mechanism of ZOP-1 in the treatment of UC was clarified by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, metagenomics, immunohistochemistry, and protein blot (Wb). RESULTS: ZOP-1 was the structure of the by →4,6)-β-Glcp-1→ and →3,6)-α-Galp-(1→ constitute the main chain, there were two branched chain by →4)-β-Glcp(1→, and α-Araf(1→ as the end group. ZOP-1 significantly improved the shortening and thickening of the colon, changed the index of immune organs, inhibited the production of inflammatory factors in mice with ulcerative colitis, changed the intestinal flora of mice, increased the content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the intestine, and controlled the TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway, thus preventing and treating DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. CONCLUSIONS: ZOP-1 alleviated UC by controlling the expression of cytokines, thereby reducing intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress, enhancing intestinal integrity, modulating intestinal flora, and regulating the levels of SCFAs.