# Ginseng Oligopeptides Improve the Intestinal Physiology and Promote the Antioxidant Capacity of the Gut-on-a-Chip Model

## TL;DR

Ginseng oligopeptides may improve gut health by boosting antioxidant capacity and reducing cell proliferation in an aged intestinal model.

## Contribution

The study explores the novel role of ginseng oligopeptides in improving intestinal health during aging using a gut-on-a-chip model.

## Key findings

- Ginseng oligopeptides did not significantly affect intestinal barrier integrity.
- They inhibited excessive cell proliferation and promoted mucin secretion.
- They increased the antioxidant capacity of the aged intestinal model.

## Abstract

During ageing, the permeability of the intestinal barrier increases, the integrity of the intestinal barrier decreases, and the physiology of intestinal cells changes. Furthermore, intestinal inflammation and excessive oxidative stress are both likely to cause systemic diseases. Ginseng oligopeptides have a positive significant effect in terms of improving human health and delaying ageing, but their role in the ageing of the intestine has not been studied much. In our experiment, we constructed a gut-on-a-chip model and induced senescence of the chip with H2O2 so as to explore the effects of ginseng oligopeptides on the senescent intestine. The experimental results showed that ginseng oligopeptides had no obvious effects on the integrity of the intestine, including the TEER value and the expression of tight junction proteins. However, ginseng oligopeptides might have other positive effects, such as inhibiting excessive cell proliferation, promoting mucin secretion, and increasing the antioxidant capacity of the intestine, to improve intestinal health.