Structural Characterization and Deconstruction of Polysaccharides from Chenopodium quinoa Willd. Bran: Mechanistic Insights into Their Protective Effects against Colitis.

This research is the inaugural investigation into the anti-IBD properties of a polysaccharide derived from Chenopodium quinoa Willd. bran (CWBP-2-1). CWBP-2-1 is a polysaccharide with a multibranched structure mainly composed of Gal, Man, Glc, and Ara. Its molecular weight is 23.267 kDa. The main chain consists of →4)-β-d-Galp-(1→, →2)-α-d-Manp-(1→, →3,6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, →2,6)-α-d-Galp-(1→, and →6)-β-d-Glcp-(1→. CWBP-2-1 exhibits preventive effects against dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. It can alleviate tissue damage and inflammatory symptoms of colitis and inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway. CWBP-2-1 relieved the imbalance in the gut microbiota caused by DSS and inhibited the growth of harmful bacteria. Additionally, metabolomic analysis of the colon and liver indicated that CWBP-2-1 could prevent metabolic disorders caused by DSS-induced colitis in the gut-liver axis. These results suggest that CWBP-2-1 exhibits preventive potential against DSS-induced colitis in mice and may serve as a promising plant-derived polysaccharide for further investigation in intestinal health-related research.