Changes in Faecal Microbiota Profile and Plasma Biomarkers following the Administration of an Antioxidant Oleuropein-Rich Leaf Extract in a Rat Model Mimicking Colorectal Cancer
Sofia Chioccioli,
Gabriele Rocchetti,
Jessica Ruzzolini,
Silvia Urciuoli,
Francesco Vitali,
Gianluca Bartolucci,
Marco Pallecchi,
Giovanna Caderni,
Carlotta De Filippo,
Chiara Nediani,
Luigi Lucini
Affiliations
Sofia Chioccioli
Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Gabriele Rocchetti
Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
Jessica Ruzzolini
Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Silvia Urciuoli
PhytoLab (Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic, Food Supplement Technology and Analysis)-DiSIA, Department of Statistics, Informatics, Applications “Giuseppe Parenti”, Scientific and Technological Pole, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Francesco Vitali
Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council (CNR), Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Gianluca Bartolucci
Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Marco Pallecchi
Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Giovanna Caderni
Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Carlotta De Filippo
Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council (CNR), Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Chiara Nediani
Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Luigi Lucini
Department for Sustainable Food Process, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
Oleuropein (OLE), a phenolic compound particularly abundant in the olive leaves, has been reported to have beneficial activities against colorectal cancer (CRC). In vitro studies suggested that these latter could be due to a modulation of the intestinal microbiota. Aiming to evaluate if OLE could affect the intestinal microbiota and the plasma metabolome, an antioxidant oleuropein-rich leaf extract (ORLE) was administered for one week to PIRC rats (F344/NTac-Apcam1137), a genetic model mimicking CRC. ORLE treatment significantly modulated the gut microbiota composition. Plasma metabolomic profiles revealed a significant predictive ability for amino acids, medium-chain fatty acids, and aldehydes. Pathway analysis revealed a significant decrease in phosphatidylcholine accumulation (LogFC = −1.67) in PIRC rats. These results suggest a significant effect of ORLE administration on faecal microbiota profiles and plasma metabolomes, thereby offering new omics-based insights into its protective role in CRC progression.
