Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ameliorative effects of Rosa roxburghii Tratt fruit polysaccharides (RTFP) on ileal mucosal barrier dysfunction and intestinal inflammation in mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and the effect of RTFP on the intestinal flora. In this study, a mouse model of NAFLD was established by feeding mice with high fat diet (HFD), and was then intragastrically administered with RTFP for seven weeks. Results showed that RTFP significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress in the ileum of NAFLD mice, and improved lipid metabolism disorders. Microscopic histopathological observations showed that RTFP could restore the structure of the ileum of NAFLD mice to normal, reduce the crypt lesion and protect the intestinal barrier. The changes in the fecal microbiota of mice in all tested groups were evaluated by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. It was found that RTFP could regulate the diversity and composition of the intestinal flora of NAFLD mice, significantly reduce the ratio between Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, improve the abundance of beneficial flora and reduce the abundance of pathogenic flora. These results suggest that RTFP can be used as a prebiotic to regulate the intestinal flora, improve intestinal microecology, reduce intestinal barrier dysfunction and maintain normal intestinal function in NAFLD mice.

Key words: Rosa roxburghii Tratt polysaccharides; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; high-fat diet; intestinal barrier disorder; intestinal microorganisms