Modulating gut dysbiosis and mitochondrial dysfunction in oxazolone-induced ulcerative colitis: the restorative effects of ?-glucan and/or celastrol

Objectives: Microbiome–Mitochondria interaction is gaining a significant attention; thus, studying its
mechanism emerges as a must to provide restorative lines in managing diseases. The aim is to study
the mechanistic effects of β-Glucan and/or Celastrol in oxazolone-induced ulcerative colitis (UC).
Methods: 75 Wistar rats were allocated into 5 equal groups. Group I: control group. Group II: UC
group, Group III: β-Glucan-treated UC group, Group IV: Celastrol-treated UC group & Group V:
mutual treatment group. All groups were subjected to the detection of free fatty acid receptor 2
(FFAR-2) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator1α (PGC-1α) mRNA
gene expressions. Citrate synthase (CS) activity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ATP
concentration, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO)
concentration was measured.
Results: After treatment we monitored significant upregulation of FFAR-2 and PGC-1α mRNA
expression. Likewise, ATP level and CS activity were significantly increased. On the contrary, there
was a significant lessening in ROS and TMAO levels with improvement of MMP.
Conclusion: Mutual use of β- Glucan and Celastrol had a greater effect than each alone against UC,
which is considered a novel finding highlighting the ameliorative effects of this combined treatment
in modulating Microbiome/Mitochondria axis, thus launching promising avenues for UC.