The protective effect of protopanaxatriol-type saponin on intestinal health in antibiotic-treated mice.

Protopanaxatriol saponin (PPT) has excellent anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, and anti-anemia effects, but its effect on intestinal bacteria has rarely been studied. In this study, we investigated whether PPT has the ability to improve intestinal health in antibiotic-treated mice. Model mice were constructed using a broad-spectrum antibiotic, cephalosporin. The composition of the gut microbiota and relative concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), short-chain fatty acid receptor proteins (GPR41, GPR43 and GPR109A), tight junction components (ZO-1 and occludin) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-22 and IFN-γ) were determined. The results showed that PPT improved the composition of the gut microbiota, increased the concentration of SCFAs as well as receptor proteins and tight junction proteins, and decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokines. These findings indicate that PPT has a protective effect on intestinal microbes and enhances the integrity of the intestinal barrier as well as alleviates colonic inflammation in antibiotic-treated mice.