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Gao X, Yang W, Li S, Liu S, Yang W, Song S, Sheng J, Zhao Y, Tian Y. Moringa oleifera leaf alleviates functional constipation via regulating the gut microbiota and the enteric nervous system in mice. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1315402. [PMID: 38192287 PMCID: PMC10773919 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1315402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Moringa oleifera Lam. leaf is not only a new food resource in China, but also a traditional medicinal plant. It is commonly used in the folk to alleviate constipation, but its laxative mechanism is not fully understood. Hence we investigated it in loperamide-induced functional constipation (FC) mice. The results showed that MOAE significantly regulated not only gastrointestinal hormones and neurotransmitters in serum but also important gastrointestinal motility factors in the enteric nervous system (ENS)-interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs)-smooth muscle cell (SMC) network. Meanwhile, MOAE attenuated intestinal inflammation, increased cecal short-chain fatty acid levels and colonic antimicrobial peptide expression, and improved the impaired intestinal barrier function in loperamide-induced FC mice. In addition, MOAE also increased fecal water content by inhibiting the mRNA expression of colonic aquaporins (Aqp3 and Aqp4) in FC mice. Interestingly and importantly, MOAE affected the intestinal microbiota by inhibiting some key "constipation-causing" microbiota, such as Bacteroidaceae, Clostridiaceae, Bacteroides, and Ruminococcus, and promoting the growth of other important "constipation-curing" microbiota, such as Butyricoccus, Tyzzerella, and Desulfovibrio. These important taxa are significantly associated with a variety of indicators of constipation. These findings suggest that MOAE can promote defecation through its rich chemical composition to modulate the ENS-ICCs-SMCs network and the gut microecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Gao
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Personalized Food Manufacturing, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- Engineering Research Center of Development and Utilization of Food and Drug Homologous Resources, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Weiqian Yang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- Department of Hotel Management, Chongqing Vocational Institute of Tourism, Chongqing, China
| | - Sijin Li
- College of Pu’er Tea West Yunnan University of Applied Sciences, Puer, China
| | - Shuangfeng Liu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- Engineering Research Center of Development and Utilization of Food and Drug Homologous Resources, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Weixing Yang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Shuang Song
- College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Jun Sheng
- Engineering Research Center of Development and Utilization of Food and Drug Homologous Resources, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Division of Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Yang Tian
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Personalized Food Manufacturing, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- Engineering Research Center of Development and Utilization of Food and Drug Homologous Resources, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
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