LAUSR

BACKGROUND Soluble dietary fiber (SDF) obtained from Lentinula edodes byproducts has beneficial effects on human intestinal health. This study aimed to examine the combined preventive and ameliorative effects of a kind of synbiotic (SDF with a molecular weight of 1.58 × 102  kDa and Lactobacillus plantarum LP90 (LP) at 1 × 109  CFU kg-1 ) on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mice. RESULTS The results demonstrated that synbiotic treatment could alleviate weight loss, decrease the disease activity index level and cause histological amelioration. Synbiotic treatment also promoted the production of goblet cells, increased the expression of tight junction proteins, and adjusted the production of myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase to repair intestinal epithelial injury. Clinical symptoms were alleviated by maintaining Th17/Treg balance, increasing interleukin 10 and immunoglobulin A levels, reducing interleukin 17a and tumor necrosis factor α production, and promoting mRNA to highly express of Foxp3 and vitamin D receptors. Moreover, synbiotic treatment could upregulate butyric acid production (4.71 ± 0.46 mol g-1 feces, P < 0.05) and diversity of intestinal microbial to maintain intestinal homeostasis. CONCLUSION This study suggested that the combination of LP and SDF as a synbiotic has the potential for use as a nutritional supplement to alleviate colitis. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.