Insight of polysaccharide from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer on intestinal
inflammation: TLR4 contributes to the linkage between microbiota and
autophagy
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Polysaccharides from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer
(P. ginseng) are the main active component and exhibit significant
intestinal anti-inflammatory activity. However, the unclear therapeutic
mechanism of ginseng polysaccharide hinders the application for medicine
or functional food. Experimental Approach: In this study, a
polysaccharide was isolated from P. ginseng (GP). The primary structure
and morphology of GP were studied by HPLC, FT-IR spectra, and scanning
electron microscopy (SEM). Further, its intestinal anti-inflammatory
activity and its mechanism of function were evaluated in experimental
systems using DSS-induced rats, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT),
and LPS-stimulated HT-29 cells. Key Results: Results showed that GP
restored mTOR-dependent autophagic dysfunction via modulating the
structure of gut microbiota and blocking the TLR4-MyD88 pathway.
Consequently, active autophagy suppressed inflammation through the
inhibition of NF-κB, oxidative stress, and the release of cytokines.
Conclusion and Implications: Therefore, our research provided a
rationale for future investigations into the relationship between
microbiota and autophagy via TLR4 and revealed the therapeutic potential
of GP for inflammatory bowel disease.