Chemical modifications of xylan from sugarcane bagasse and their regulatory effects on gut microbiota in mice

Abstract

The absorption and metabolism of indigestible dietary glycans play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier and shaping the gut microbiota. Three chemically modified products of xylan, including carboxymethylated xylan, xylan–zinc complex, and carboxymethylated xylan–zinc complex, were synthesized using xylan from sugarcane bagasse. The potential effects of xylan before and after modification on the intestinal barriers and intestinal microbiota of mice were subsequently investigated and compared, revealing distinct changes in the gut microbiota of mice. The results suggest that the chemically modified xylan products have the potential to induce specific regulatory functions on the gut microbiota.