Dietary intake of yacon roots (<i>Smallanthus sonchifolius</i>) affects gut microbiota and fecal mucin and prevents intestinal inflammation in mice

Abstract

Consumption of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is associated with beneficial effects such as prevention of metabolic diseases.Yacon root is known to contain various bioactive components including indigestible carbohydrates, but the alteration of intestinal environment after treatment with yacon has not been fully investigated. This study investigated yacon-containing diet effects on the intestinal environment in mice, including microbial composition, short-chain fatty acid levels, and mucus content. After mice were administered yacon-containing diet for 4 weeks, 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses revealed their fecal microbiota profiles. Organic acid concentrations in cecal contents were measured using an HPLC system. Compared to the control group, yacon-containing diet-received mice had significantly higher the concentrations of succinic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, and propionic acid. The fecal mucin content was also higher in yacon-containing diet-received mice. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses showed that the relative abundances of 27 taxa differed significantly in yacon-containing diet-received mice. Furthermore, results show effects of yacon administration on intestinal inflammation using 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid induced colitis model in mice. Increased colonic damage and myeloperoxidase activity after 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid treatment were suppressed in yacon-containing diet-received mice. Results suggest that oral intake of yacon root modulates the intestinal environment, thereby inhibiting intestinal inflammation.

Functional effects of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) and kefir on systemic inflammation, antioxidant activity, and intestinal microbiome in rats with induced colorectal cancer

“…34 It is worth mentioning that SCFAs are rapidly absorbed in the proximal colon and further metabolized in the muscle, kidneys, heart, or brain, and thus, the identification of these compounds in the luminal content can be underestimated. 33 This higher acetate production caused by yacon flour was also observed in other studies in rats with CRC 12,13,23 and mice with induced colitis 35 and CRC. 36,37…”

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) root extracts affect laying performance, egg quality, serum biochemical parameters and intestinal microbiota in hens

“…1 index [4]. Our results showed that 0.8% YREs treatment increased diversity parameters in intestinal microbiota, such as the Observed species, Chao1, ACE, and PD whole tree.…”

“…One plant yacon can produce more than 10 kilos of tuberous roots. The yacon root extracts (YREs) exhibit health activities of antioxidant [1], lipid-lowering [2], promoting the growth of bifidogenic bacteria while inhibiting the establishment of pathogenic and putrefactive bacteria [3], and preventing animal from intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer [4].…”

Interaction between gut microbiota and sex hormones and their relation to sexual dimorphism in metabolic diseases

“…SCFAs (mainly acetic, propionic and butyric acids) from bacterial fermentation of dietary fiber have been linked to a decrease in inflammation [138,139], as well as improved glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity [140]. These compounds improve gut barrier function and inflammatory status through several mechanisms: (1) upregulation of intestinal tight junction proteins [141][142][143]; (2) regulation of tight junction assembly via an activation-dependent mechanism of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) [144][145][146]; (3) increase in Treg cells [141,147]; and (4) increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines and decrease in inflammatory cytokines [147,148].…”