Cordia africana fruit hydrocolloid alleviates sodium dextran sulfate-induced colitis in mice

Abstract

Cordia africana fruit contains a mucilaginous pulp rich in hydrocolloid with nutraceutical potential, whose composition and bioactive potential remain uncertain. This study evaluated its structural characterization, toxicity and ability to prevent DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. The hydrocolloid was extracted with hot water and precipitated with ethanol (1:3 v/v), yielding 7.2 % (w/w). The extracted hydrocolloid was administered for 15 days to study its preventive effect on ulcerative colitis, which was subsequently induced by the administration of DSS (3 %) in drinking water. The hydrocolloid (65 kDa) was composed mainly of negatively charged polysaccharides (glucans and uronic acids) with a high degree of esterified phenolic acids, preventing their degradation during digestion (6.6 ± 0.5 and 13.2 ± 0.5 mg GAE/g free and bound, respectively, including syringic, hydroxybenzoic, and dihydrocaffeic acids). At a dose of 2000 mg/kg, the hydrocolloid did not induce systemic toxic effects in vivo and alleviated DSS-induced colitis, reducing clinical symptoms such as colon inflammation. These effects were associated with lower disease activity indices, increased colon length, enhanced myeloperoxidase and eosinophil peroxidase activity, as well as preservation of microvilli and a reduction of inflammatory infiltrate (with a pretreatment dose of 100 mg/kg hydrocolloid). The hydrocolloid has potential as a prebiotic, as it increased the proliferation of probiotic Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and reduced Acetobacteraceae and stimulated short-chain fatty acids synthesis in the gut microbiota of mice subjected to colitis. These findings highlight C. africana hydrocolloid's potential as a functional ingredient with prebiotic and anti-inflammatory properties for maintaining colon health.