Protective Effects of Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch Polysaccharide Against Polyethylene-Microplastic-Induced Intestinal and Testicular Injury in Male Mice

Background: Microplastics can cause intestinal flora imbalance and testicular damage. Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch polysaccharide (ASKP) is a plant-derived polysaccharide with antioxidant activity and immunomodulatory properties, but the protective effects of ASKP against polyethylene-microplastic-induced intestinal and testicular injury remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of ASKP on intestinal and testicular damage in male mice induced by polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs). Methods: Sixty male ICR mice were randomly assigned to five groups: untreated mice (control group, CON); PE-MP-only-treated mice (MP group); and PE-MP-exposed mice orally administered with a crude ASKP preparation at 150, 300, and 450 mg/kg BW (LAM, MAM, and HAM groups, respectively) for 60 days. Results: PE-MP exposure reduced the average daily gain, jejunal villus height, and serum testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels while increasing inflammatory responses and oxidative stress levels. However, ASKP supplementation, particularly at 300 mg/kg, partially restored growth performance, intestinal villus morphology, antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, sex hormone concentrations and seminiferous tubule diameter. Gut microflora analysis showed that crude ASKP preparation increased the Anaerotruncus, Mucispirillum and Candidatus Arthromitus abundances while reducing Desulfovibrio abundance. Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant associations between these microbial taxa and inflammatory/oxidative stress markers. Conclusions: Crude ASKP preparation mitigates PE-MP-induced toxicity in male mice by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation levels and improving gut microbiota composition and reproductive hormone levels.