<i>Akkermansia muciniphila</i> Growth Promoted by Lychee Major Flavonoid through <i>Bacteroides uniformis</i> Metabolism

<i>Akkermansia muciniphila</i> (<i>A. muciniphila</i>) possesses health-promoting properties. Nevertheless, <i>A. muciniphila</i> enrichment remains a challenging endeavor. Quercetin-3-<i>O</i>-rutinose-7-<i>O</i>-α-l-rhamnoside (QRR), a flavonoid found in lychee pulp, has a unique double-substituted glycosylated structure, requiring a specific intestinal microbiota for effective metabolism. Here, QRR was fermented using a coculture of <i>Bacteroides uniformis</i> and <i>A. muciniphila</i>, and the interactions between the two were elucidated in terms of QRR regulation of microbial growth changes and metabolic properties. The results demonstrated that QRR effectively promoted the proliferation of <i>A. muciniphila</i> based on the metabolic action of <i>B. uniformis</i> in vitro, which was evidenced by a notable increase in the number of viable bacteria. Furthermore, the coculture sample exhibited a significant increase in SCFAs. Qualitative analysis of metabolites by UPLC-ESI-Triple-TOF-MS/MS showed that <i>B. uniformis</i> could release sugars on QRR to produce quercetin-3-<i>O</i>-glucoside-7-<i>O</i>-α-rhamnoside and further quercetin. In the coculture and <i>B. uniformis</i> culture, quercetin was converted to taxifolin, which was identified as a crucial intermediate in the metabolism of QRR. Notably, the metabolite kaempferol was only detected in the coculture. The present study reveals the interaction between QRR and the coculture of <i>A. muciniphila</i> and <i>B. uniformis</i>, providing a practical basis for the potential prebiotic value of QRR.