Enrichment of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria by pH-responsive sodium alginate and chitosan-encapsulated quercetin.

ABSTRACT: Conventional approaches to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) focus on suppressing excessive inflammation and immune responses. Nevertheless, these treatments fail to address gut dysbiosis or restore the intestinal mucosal barrier effectively. Regulating the intestinal microenvironment may be pivotal to more effective therapies for UC. Herein, oral colon-targeted microspheres, sodium alginate-chitosan-encapsulate quercetin (SA-Q-CS MPs), were developed. The stability and pH responsiveness of SA-Q-CS MPs were explored. Therapeutic effects were assessed in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in female C57BL/6 mice via 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing, Disease Activity Index (DAI) scoring, colonic histopathology, inflammatory and antioxidant levels, and intestinal barri

SUBMITTER: Bai Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12364867 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature