Abstract:In order to investigate the effect of dietary fiber from pomelo fruitlets on intestinal health in mice, the mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, in accordance with the dose of 0.2 mL/10 g body weight for intragastric administration. After 4 weeks of gavage, the mouse feces and colon were collected, and the water content, pH value and short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) content were measured; HE staining was used to observe the damage of colon tissue. The total DNA of the fecal bacteria of each group of mice was extracted by the kit, and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using high-throughput sequencing technology. Finally, the sequencing data were analyzed by bioinformatics methods, and the correlation between blood glucose related indicators and intestinal flora was analyzed in combination with previous studies. The results showed that the water content, SCAFs content in the colon and feces of diabetic mice were increased, and the pH level was decreased in the dietary fiber experimental group. The water content in colon and feces of TDF group was increased most significantly, by 8.04% and 21.36%, respectively. SCAFs content in colon and feces were significantly increased in TDF group, increasing by 475.19% (acetic acid) and 702.56% (butyric acid), respectively. Meanwhile, the intestinal mucosal damage caused by diabetes was relieved by the dietary fiber of pomelo fruitlets to some extent in the HE staining experiment Moreover, the growth of beneficial bacteria could be promoted and the proliferation of harmful microorganisms could be inhibited. The blood glucose level of mice was regulated by the dietary fiber, which may be related to the fermentation of probiotics and the production of short-chain fatty acids after entering the intestinal tract. It can be seen that the dietary fiber of pomelo fruitlets can maintain the integrity of intestinal mucosal barrier, regulate the structure of intestinal flora, and improve the intestinal health of mice.
