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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #393365
Research Project: Molecular, Immune and Microbiome Approaches for Mitigating GI Nematode Infections of Livestock

Location: Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory

Title: Multi-omics analysis detected multiple pathways by which pomegranate punicalagin exerts its biological effects in modulating host–microbiota interactions in murine colitis models

Author
item LIU, F - Zhengzhou University
item Smith, Allen
item Wang, Thomas - Tom
item PHAM, Q - Non ARS Employee
item YANG, H - Zhengzhou University
item Li, Robert

Submitted to: Food & Function
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/2023
Publication Date: 4/3/2023
Citation: Liu, F., Smith, A.D., Wang, T.T., Pham, Q., Yang, H., Li, R.W. 2023. Multi-omics analysis detected multiple pathways by which pomegranate punicalagin exerts its biological effects in modulating host–microbiota interactions in murine colitis models. Food & Function. 14:3824. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO00286A.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO00286A

Interpretive Summary: Pomegranate has been used around the globe for centuries and is a rich source of bioactive compounds. The health benefit claims on pomegranate and its key component, punicalagin, have increased dramatically. These claims have been focused on its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and antimicrobial properties. Punicalagin is also known for its nematocidal activities. In this study, we use cutting edge technologies to understand the mechanisms by which punicalagin exerts its biological effects. We focus on the potential of punicalagin as a potent alternative to antimicrobials. Our findings will be conducive to the optimization of the use of punicalagin as a therapeutic agent in the treatment and management of various disorders.

Technical Abstract: As one of the key bioactive food ingredients in pomegranate, punicalagin (PA) possesses wide-ranging functional activities. However, the knowledge on PA-modulated microbial interactions and their physiological relevance in the gastrointestinal tract is limited. In this study, the modulating effects of PA on host–microbiota interactions were examined using multi-omics approaches in two colitis models. In a chemical colitis model, PA ingestion dampened intestinal inflammation and repressed gut microbial diversity. PA significantly reversed multiple lipids and '-glutamyl amino acids from elevated levels in colitis mice to the baseline. Anti-inflammatory and microbiota-modulating effects of PA were further validated in an infectious colitis model induced by Citrobacter rodentium, in which PA also restored the microbial dysbiosis index to the baseline and promoted microbial interactions. Multiple microbial signatures with high predictive accuracy for key colitis pathophysiological parameters were identified, which can be developed as biomarkers for monitoring the efficacy of PA-containing functional foods in promoting gut health. Our findings should facilitate the exploitation of dual applications of PA as a bioactive food ingredient and a therapeutic agent.