# Combined Prebiotic Extract of Mung Bean, Red Bean, and Fennel Improves Intestinal Barrier Integrity in HT-29 Cells and DSS-Induced Colitis via Gut Microbiota Alteration

## TL;DR

A prebiotic extract from mung bean, red bean, and fennel improves gut health by reducing inflammation and supporting the intestinal barrier in cells and a mouse model of colitis.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates a novel prebiotic extract's ability to modulate gut microbiota and enhance intestinal barrier integrity in inflammatory conditions.

## Key findings

- PME reduced inflammation and improved intestinal barrier markers in LPS-stimulated HT-29 cells.
- PME alleviated colitis symptoms in mice by modulating gut microbiota and reducing inflammatory cytokines.
- PME increased beneficial gut bacteria and suppressed harmful taxa in a DSS-induced colitis model.

## Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves chronic inflammation and disruption of the intestinal barrier, often accompanied by alterations in gut microbiota composition. This study examined the protective potential of a prebiotic mixture extract (PME) prepared from Vigna radiata (mung bean), Vigna angularis (red bean), and Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) using the HT-29 cell and colitis animal model. PME exhibited concentration-dependent antioxidant activity, with greater radical-scavenging capacity in the ABTS assay than in the DPPH assay. In LPS-stimulated HT-29 epithelial cells, PME reduced the mRNA expression of inflammation-associated genes (TNF-α, IL-1β, NF-κB) and upregulated tight junction markers (CLDN1 and OCLN), demonstrating its anti-inflammatory and supportive effects on the intestinal barrier. Vitexin, a C-glycosylated flavonoid, was detected in PME and is expected to mediate these protective effects. In a DSS-induced colitis mouse model, PME administration alleviated disease severity by increasing colon length, reducing serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and COX-2/PGE2, and restoring intestinal permeability. Furthermore, PME modulated the gut microbiota by enhancing beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Faecalibaculum while suppressing inflammation-associated taxa, including Escherichia, Bacteroides, and Mucispirillum. These improvements collectively suggest that PME reinforces epithelial barrier integrity and promotes intestinal homeostasis through both anti-inflammatory and microbiota-regulating actions.