Sesamol, a liposoluble lignan extract, has already been proved to possess potent anti-inflammatory properties, and it could also regulate gut dysfunction. The purpose of the present research is to explore the protective effect of sesamol on colitis mice. In the current research, sesamol treatment (100 mg/kg bodyweight/day) for 6 weeks inhibited the dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced bodyweight loss of mice. Transmission electron microscopy and hematoxylin and eosin staining results showed that the DSS-induced histopathological changes of mice were also recovered by sesamol supplementation. In addition, DSS-induced inflammatory responses were inhibited by sesamol supplementation via the NF-κB signaling pathway in mice colon. Moreover, sesamol treatment prevented gut barrier damages by enhancing the expression of tight junction proteins (occludin, claudin-1, and ZO-1) and recovering the loss of gut mucus layer. Furthermore, sesamol supplementation also increased the short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) contents of acetate, propionate, and butyrate. Furthermore, sesamol supplementation changed the gut microbiome structure by enhancing the relative abundance of Coprococcuscus, Butyricicoccus, Odoribacter, and AF12 in colitis mice. In conclusion, sesamol could effectively ameliorate DSS-induced colitis by promoting gut microecology.
Keywords: colitis; gut barrier; gut microbiome; inflammatory responses; sesamol.