Similar Preventive Effects of Arabinoxylan from Three Sources on Gut Microbiota and Colonic Metabolites in Mice with Colitis.

Arabinoxylan is an emerging prebiotic with potential anti-inflammatory effects in the intestines. However, its preventive potential against intestinal inflammation remains to be poorly understood. This study explored the protective effects of arabinoxylan from barley, rice bran, and highland barley on colitis mice. The results suggested that all arabinoxylan significantly ameliorated weight loss, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, and inflammatory cytokine levels in colitis mice. Notably, arabinoxylan interventions increased Bacteroides abundance while reducing Clostridium and Escherichia-Shigella abundance, thereby improving the microbiota composition. Metabolomics revealed that arabinoxylan from all three sources modulated colonic metabolism in colitis mice, particularly enriching the alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolic pathways. These results provide new insights into arabinoxylan-mediated interactions between gut microbiota and their metabolites with the host, supporting its potential as a functional food component for the prevention of DSS-induced colitis.