Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (Apr 2022)

Evaluating the effects of a standardized polyphenol mixture extracted from poplar-type propolis on healthy and diseased human gut microbiota

  • Emanuele Ugo Garzarella,
  • Beatriz Navajas-Porras,
  • Sergio Pérez-Burillo,
  • Hammad Ullah,
  • Cristina Esposito,
  • Cristina Santarcangelo,
  • Daniel Hinojosa-Nogueira,
  • Silvia Pastoriza,
  • Vincenzo Zaccaria,
  • Jianbo Xiao,
  • José Ángel Rufián-Henares,
  • Maria Daglia

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 148
p. 112759

Abstract

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Introduction: A large body of evidence suggests that propolis exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities, mostly ascribed to its polyphenol content. Growing evidence suggests that propolis could modulate gut microbiota exerting a positive impact on several pathological conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro impact of a poplar-type propolis extract with a standardized polyphenol content, on the composition and functionality of gut microbiota obtained from fecal material of five different donors (healthy adults, and healthy, obese, celiac, and food allergic children). Methods: The standardized polyphenol mixture was submitted to a simulated in vitro digestion-fermentation process, designed to mimic natural digestion in the human oral, gastric, and intestinal chambers. The antioxidant profile of propolis before and after the digestion-fermentation process was determined. 16 S rRNA amplicon next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to test the effects on the gut microbiota of propolis extract. The profile of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced by the microbiota was also investigated through a chromatographic method coupled with UV detection. Results: In vitro digestion and fermentation induced a decrease in the antioxidant profile of propolis (i.e., decrease of total polyphenol content, antiradical and reducing activities). Propolis fermentation exhibited a modulatory effect on gut microbiota composition and functionality of healthy and diseased subjects increasing the concentration of SCFA. Conclusions: Overall, these data suggest that propolis might contribute to gut health and could be a candidate for further studies in view of its use as a prebiotic ingredient.

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