The Effect of Cucumaria frondosa Tentacles Hydrolysates on Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis: Integrated Metagenomics and Metabolomics Analysis

Inflammatory bowel disease continues to pose substantial therapeutic challenges in modern gastroenterology. This study systematically evaluated the anti-colitis efficacy of <i>Cucumaria frondosa</i> tentacles hydrolysates (CFTHs) using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced murine colitis model. Characterized by enhanced stability and solubility with molecular weights below 1000 Da, administration of CFTHs demonstrated a significant mitigation in colitis pathology. Therapeutic outcomes included an improved splenic index, attenuated colonic mucosal damage, and substantial decreases in serum pro-inflammatory cytokines. Relative to the DSS group, the MPO value in the CFTHs-H group decreased by 27.6%, and the IL-6 value exhibited a reduction of 33%. Metagenomic profiling revealed that CFTHs mediated gut microbiota modulation, particularly the enrichment of beneficial <i>Bacteroidetes</i> and suppression of pro-inflammatory <i>Proteobacteria</i>. Metabolomic analysis identified elevated colonic concentrations of anti-inflammatory metabolites such as gamma-linolenic acid and prostaglandin I2, suggesting a microbiome-metabolome crosstalk in the therapeutic mechanism. These multi-omics findings in a murine model suggest that CFTHs may represent a promising candidate for future studies as a nutraceutical intervention for inflammatory bowel disorder. This intervention may operate through mechanisms that include simultaneous immunomodulation, microbiota restoration, and metabolic reprogramming.