Dietary pectic substances enhance gut health by its polycomponent: A review

Abstract

Pectic substances, one of the cell wall polysaccharides, exist widespread in vegetables and fruits. A surge of recent research has revealed that pectic substances can inhibit gut inflammation and relieve inflammatory bowel disease symptoms. However, physiological functions of pectins are strongly structure dependent. Pectic substances are essentially heteropolysaccharides composed of homogalacturonan and rhamnogalacturonan backbones substituted by various neutral sugar sidechains. Subtle changes in the architecture of pectic substances may remarkably influence the nutritional function of gut microbiota and the host homeostasis of immune system. In this context, developing a structure–function understanding of how pectic substances have an impact on an inflammatory bowel is of primary importance for diet therapy and new drugs. Therefore, the present review has summarized the polycomponent nature of pectic substances, the activities of different pectic polymers, the effects of molecular characteristics and the underlying mechanisms of pectic substances. The immunomodulated property of pectic substances depends on not only the chemical composition but also the physical structure characteristics, such as molecular weight (Mw) and chain conformation. The potential mechanisms by which pectic substances exert their protective effects are mainly reversing the disordered gut microbiota, regulating immune cells, enhancing barrier function, and inhibiting pathogen adhesion. The manipulation of pectic substances on gut health is sophisticated, and the link between structural specificity of pectins and selective regulation needs further exploration.

Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) Fruit Polysaccharides Regulated IBD Mice Via Targeting Gut Microbiota: Association of JNK/ERK/NF-κB Signaling Pathways

“…32,33 SCFAs can enter cells through passive diffusion to inhibit MAPKs and NF-κB signaling pathways leading to the downregulated expression of proinflammatory cytokines. 4,34 NF-κB plays an important role in regulating the expression of many related genes during inflammation. 35 Both TNF-α and LPS can activate the NF-κB system.…”

“…SCFAs are produced by bacterial fermentation from indigestible carbohydrates. Ruminococcaceae , Muribaculaceae , Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 , and Dubosiella are SCFA-producing bacteria. , There are studies suggesting that butyric acid from polysaccharide fermentation has the potential of anti-IBD. , SCFAs can enter cells through passive diffusion to inhibit MAPKs and NF-κB signaling pathways leading to the downregulated expression of proinflammatory cytokines. , NF-κB plays an important role in regulating the expression of many related genes during inflammation . Both TNF-α and LPS can activate the NF-κB system.…”

“…Therefore, regulating the intestinal microbial environment through diet is considered to be the safest and most effective means to improve intestinal immunity. Increasing evidence suggest that polysaccharides can regulate microecological equilibrium, while initiating immune response through metabolites produced by intestinal microorganisms, suggesting that intestinal microecology plays a bridge role between polysaccharides and immunity. , The beneficial bacteria degrade polysaccharides to produce metabolites. Polysaccharides provide nutrition and energy for beneficial bacteria, maintaining the balance and diversity of microbiota, while metabolites strengthen the barrier function of intestinal mucosa and modulate innate and acquired immunity of intestinal mucosa .…”

Consistent Prebiotic Effects of Carrot RG-I on the Gut Microbiota of Four Human Adult Donors in the SHIME® Model despite Baseline Individual Variability

“…Besides probiotics and polyphenols, prebiotic carbohydrates that are defined as substrates that are selectively utilized by beneficial host microorganisms [17] are widely studied for their health-promoting properties. While fructans such as fructo-oligosaccharides [18] and inulin [19] have well-established prebiotic effects, novel classes of prebiotics include, amongst others, human milk oligosaccharides [20], arabinoxylans [21], and a specific class of pectin-derived polysaccharides such as rhamnogalacturonan-1 (RG-I) [22][23][24]. The backbone of RG-I consists of repeated units of the disaccharide [-4)-α-D-galacturonic acid-(1,2)-α-L-rhamnose- (1] with sidechains comprising mainly D-galactose (~galactans), L-arabinose (~arabinans), and D-xylose (~xylans) branching off the rhamnose residues [23].…”

Anti-inflammatory and intestinal microbiota modulation properties of high hydrostatic pressure treated cyanidin-3-glucoside and blueberry pectin complexes on dextran sodium sulfate-induced ulcerative colitis mice

“…The intestinal barrier is mainly composed of a single layer of epithelial cells, and the last barrier to separate the intestinal cavity from the circulatory system. 31 The improvement of intestinal permeability induces pathogen invasion of the intestinal microbiota and leads to inflammatory diseases in UC patients. 32 As shown in Fig.…”