ABSTRACT
There is a rejuvenated interest in functional food research on polyphenols due to their gut microbial modulation and capacity to alleviate clinical conditions. In this study, polyphenol-rich extracts (PREs) from Finger millet (FM) and Kodo millet (KM) were assessed for modulating effects on selected human gut bacteria during fecal batch fermentation along with the protective effects on Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-induced colonic aberrations in vitro. Fecal batch fermentation of FM-PRE and KM-PRE enhanced the abundance of selected beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium spp. Lactobacillus spp. and the production of SCFAs. Catechin and naringin were the main phenolic fractions of fermented FM-PRE and KM-PRE. Moreover, the millet polyphenols protected the intestinal cells against DSS-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction by reducing inflammatory cytokines, TEER by ~40%, FITC-dextran fluorescence and upregulating the expression of tight junction genes, signifying improved gut functions. The study also imply that FM and KM polyphenols may inhibit intestinal inflammation.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank NABI and the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, for providing research grant and infrastructure to KK and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for providing a fellowship to Ms Ruchika Maurya. DelCON (DBT e-library consortium) is acknowledged for providing access to journals to NABI.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).