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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #400552
Research Project: Developing New Potatoes with Improved Quality, Disease Resistance, and Nutritional Content

Location: Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research

Title: Dietary purple potatoes shape gut microbiota and ameliorate colitis in IL-10-deficient mice

Author
item ZHU, MEI-JUN - Washington State University
item BIBI, SHIMA - Washington State University
item SUN, QI - Washington State University
item HE, YANG - Washington State University
item XUE, YANSONG - Washington State University
item SU, YUAN - Washington State University
item Navarre, Duroy - Roy
item DU, MIN - Washington State University

Submitted to: Journal of Functional Foods
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/16/2024
Publication Date: 7/3/2024
Citation: Zhu, M., Bibi, S., Sun, Q., He, Y., Xue, Y., Su, Y., Navarre, D.A., Du, M. 2024. Dietary purple potatoes shape gut microbiota and ameliorate colitis in IL-10-deficient mice. Journal of Functional Foods. 119. Article 106321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2024.106321.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2024.106321

Interpretive Summary: The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is rapidly increasing in the United States and worldwide. This study examined effects of dietary purple-flesh potatoes against spontaneous colitis using a mouse model commonly used for IBD studies. Colitis symptoms significantly improved in mice fed purple potatoes. Bacteria associated with gut health and with anti-inflammatory properties increased, while bacteria associated with colitis decreased. Furthermore, additional positive effects on gut health and structure were observed. These findings suggest that dietary purple potato consumption has strong prebiotic effects, improves gut health, and could provide an alternative therapeutic strategy for IBD patients.

Technical Abstract: This study explored the benefits of purple potatoes against colitis in IL-10-deficient mice. Mice were fed either a standard diet or one supplemented with 10 % purple potato for 11 weeks. The results demonstrated that purple potato intake notably improved colitis symptoms and pathobiological scores. It induced significant changes in the gut bacteria, reducing harmful phyla associated with colitis, Proteobacteria and Deferribacteres, while increasing beneficial phyla, Firmicutes and Tenericutes. It increased the abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, and Lachnospiraceae-Ruminococcaceae, a major butyrate-producing group while decreasing bacterial families commonly elevated in IBD patients, including Bacteroidaceae, Sutterellaceae, Coriobacteriaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Peptostreptococcaceae. Additionally, purple potatoes boosted intestinal integrity, evidenced by increased goblet cell density and enhanced expression of key markers in maintaining gut health. Furthermore, they promoted mitochondrial function and reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines. Collectively, purple potatoes show promise in protecting against colitis through their effects on gut microbiota, intestinal integrity, and oxidative function.