Characterization of a pectic heteropolysaccharide isolated from persimmon peel and its anti-inflammatory activity

A main component pectic polysaccharide (PPP-4) was isolated from persimmon peel. PPP-4 had the molecular weight of 56.48 kDa and primarily consisted of galacturonic acid, arabinose, galactose, rhamnose with the molar ratios of 60.80:32.12:3.67:2.20. The backbone of PPP-4 was formed by →4)-<em>α</em>-D-Gal<em>p</em>A-(1→ and →2,4)-<em>α</em>-L-Rha<em>p</em>-(1→ with branches of →3)-<em>α</em>-L-Ara<em>f</em>-(1→, and →3)-<em>β</em>-L-Gal<em>p</em>-(1→, →5)-α-L-Ara<em>f</em>-(1→, →3,5)-<em>α</em>-L-Ara<em>f</em>-(1→ residues and terminals of 4-<em>β</em>/<em>α</em>-D-Gal<em>p</em>A and T-<em>α</em>-L-Ara<em>f</em> residues. Besides, PPP-4 consumption could relieve colonic pathological damage, inhibit the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1<em>β</em>, IL-6, and TNF-<em>α</em>) in serum, increase the fecal SCFAs and improve antioxidant capacity in DSS-induced colitis mice. Simultaneously, PPP-4 was revealed to regulate flora disorder, reduce the relative abundance of harmful microbe (<em>Dubosiella</em>, <em>Odoribacter</em>, <em>Parasutterella</em>, and <em>Turicibacter </em>etc.) and increase the relative abundance of beneficial microbe (such as <em>Akkermansia </em>and<em> Lactobacillus</em>) in colitis mice. Overall, these data would furnish new theoretical basis for the structural information of PPP-4 and highlight its potentiality to be considered as a natural anti-inflammation reagent.