Gut Microbiota Regulation And Anti-Inflammatory Effect Of Beta-Carotene In Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Stimulated Ulcerative Colitis In Rats

beta-Carotene displays antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and prevents the development of cancer. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a kind of inflammatory bowel disease that is accompanied by a certain risk of colon cancer. However, the role of beta-carotene in the modulation of gut microbiota and UC improvement is unclear. In this research, the properties of beta-carotene on anti-inflammatory and the composition of gut microbiota were evaluated in a rat model of UC induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The results revealed that beta-carotene significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the severity of colitis in rats, as assessed using body weight (6.00 +/- 1.73%), colon length (22.23 +/- 0.53%), and disease activity index, and improved the structure of the colon damaged. Moreover, colonic levels of proinflammatory cytokines were significantly lower following beta-carotene supplementation. beta-Carotene intervention also lowered the expression levels of phosphorylated p65 (0.60 +/- 0.02), p38 (0.57 +/- 0.00), Erk (0.63 +/- 0.04), and JNK (0.70 +/- 0.00). The result of the relative abundance of gut microbiota showed that DSS administration significantly changed the microbial structure at the phylum and genus levels of rats. Furthermore, beta-carotene treatment significantly increased the abundance of Faecalibacterium, the levels of which negatively correlated with the levels of inflammatory cytokines. Faecalibacterium may be a potential target in the alleviation of DSS-induced UC. beta-Carotene can alleviate DSS-induced UC through the regulation of gut microbiota. This study provides a reference for the rational use of beta-carotene in the treatment of UC.Practical Application beta-Carotene can relieve ulcerative colitis and regulate the gut microbiota; the nutritional intervention of beta-carotene enhancing animal health.