The Beneficial Effects of a Polysaccharide from Leaf on Gut Microecology in Mice.

is a natural plant with high nutritional and pharmacological value. Leaves of contain a variety of active substances. In our previous research, we had obtained a polysaccharide separated from leaf, namely MOs-2-a (1.35 × 10 Da). In this study, this polysaccharide was administrated daily to 6 week-old ICR mice for 4 weeks. Then, the body weight, immunity, intestinal digestion, and intestinal microenvironment of Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were investigated. After 4 weeks of feeding intervention with the polysaccharide, the immune and intestinal digestive ability of the ICR mice were significant as shown by the organ index, digestive enzymes, and reduction of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and diamine oxidase levels. The polysaccharide could regulate the microbial composition of the intestinal tract in mice by increasing the bacteria that have been reported for antiobesity effects, short chain fatty acid production, and lactic acid production. These findings indicate that the polysaccharide of leaf might be a promising prebiotic that exhibits health promotion effects.