Phenolic extract from passion fruit seeds (passiflora edulis) promotes gut microbiota modulation in mice fed a high-fat diet

Abstract

Objective

This study evaluated the effects of a phenolic extract from passion fruit seeds on gut microbiota modulation in mice fed a high-fat diet.

This study evaluated the effects of a phenolic extract from passion fruit seeds on gut microbiota modulation in mice fed a high-fat diet.

Methods

Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into three experimental groups (n = 10): HF (high-fat diet), HF + passion fruit seed phenolic extract (PEPFS), and HF + purified piceatannol (PC). Fecal genomic DNA was extracted using QIAamp PowerFecal Pro DNA kit according to manufacturer's instructions. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region was performed via Element AVITI Sequencer and sequences generated were analyzed using Qiime2 pipeline. This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee under protocol number 02/2025.

Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into three experimental groups (n = 10): HF (high-fat diet), HF + passion fruit seed phenolic extract (PEPFS), and HF + purified piceatannol (PC). Fecal genomic DNA was extracted using QIAamp PowerFecal Pro DNA kit according to manufacturer's instructions. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region was performed via Element AVITI Sequencer and sequences generated were analyzed using Qiime2 pipeline. This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee under protocol number 02/2025.

Results

Both PEPFS and PC significantly modulated the gut microbiota composition in mice fed a high-fat diet. Alpha diversity analyses showed that PEPFS increased microbial evenness (P < 0.05) and Shannon diversity (P < 0.05), while reducing Observed Features (P < 0.05) and Faith's phylogenetic diversity (P < 0.05) compared with the HF group. The PC group also exhibited higher Shannon diversity and evenness, although these changes were less pronounced. Beta diversity analyses using Unweighted and Weighted UniFrac metrics revealed a clear separation among the experimental groups, indicating that both PEPFS and PC promoted significant alterations in gut microbiota composition. PERMANOVA analysis confirmed significant differences among all groups evaluated (P < 0.05). Compared with the HF group, PEPFS promoted more pronounced changes in the gut microbiota, increasing the abundance of UBA1819, Blautia, and Parabacteroides, while reducing Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002 and Faecalibaculum.

Both PEPFS and PC significantly modulated the gut microbiota composition in mice fed a high-fat diet. Alpha diversity analyses showed that PEPFS increased microbial evenness (P < 0.05) and Shannon diversity (P < 0.05), while reducing Observed Features (P < 0.05) and Faith's phylogenetic diversity (P < 0.05) compared with the HF group. The PC group also exhibited higher Shannon diversity and evenness, although these changes were less pronounced. Beta diversity analyses using Unweighted and Weighted UniFrac metrics revealed a clear separation among the experimental groups, indicating that both PEPFS and PC promoted significant alterations in gut microbiota composition. PERMANOVA analysis confirmed significant differences among all groups evaluated (P < 0.05). Compared with the HF group, PEPFS promoted more pronounced changes in the gut microbiota, increasing the abundance of UBA1819, Blautia, and Parabacteroides, while reducing Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002 and Faecalibaculum.

Conclusion

The HF group showed a higher abundance of Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002 and Faecalibaculum, taxa associated with intestinal dysbiosis and obesity-induced metabolic alterations, whereas taxa enriched by PEPFS have been linked to short-chain fatty acid production, maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity, and modulation of inflammation. The PC group also modulated the microbial community, but to a lesser extent than PEPFS, suggesting that other bioactive compounds present in the extract act synergistically and contribute to its effects. Therefore, the phenolic extract from passion fruit seeds demonstrates potential to attenuate obesity-associated intestinal alterations.

The HF group showed a higher abundance of Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002 and Faecalibaculum, taxa associated with intestinal dysbiosis and obesity-induced metabolic alterations, whereas taxa enriched by PEPFS have been linked to short-chain fatty acid production, maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity, and modulation of inflammation. The PC group also modulated the microbial community, but to a lesser extent than PEPFS, suggesting that other bioactive compounds present in the extract act synergistically and contribute to its effects. Therefore, the phenolic extract from passion fruit seeds demonstrates potential to attenuate obesity-associated intestinal alterations.