Abstract: Objective: This work was designed to investigate the effect of konjac powder on acute gastric mucosal injury and chronic intestinal injury in mice in order to provide a theoretical basis for the development of natural food products against alcoholic organ damage. Methods: A mouse model of acute gastric mucosal injury and chronic intestinal injury was established by gavaging 56% (alcohol content by volume) Erguotou liquor, and then the mice were gavaged with different doses of konjac powder suspended in water. In addition, normal control and model groups were established in the experiment. The following indicators were measured: gastric mucosal ulcer index, the contents of SOD, MDA, NO and PGE2 in gastric tissue, the levels of free ammonia and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in cecum contents, and the intestinal microflora. Meanwhile, histopathological evaluation of the gastric mucosa and intestinal tissue was conducted. Results: Compared with the model group, gastric ulcer indexes in the middle-dose and high-dose treatment groups were reduced by 25.42% and 28.18%, while MDA levels were reduced by 38.07% and 47.32%, respectively. The levels of SOD, NO, PGE2, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in the two dose groups were significantly increased; free ammonia and enterococcus in cecum contents were significantly decreased, whereas the levels of acetic acid, butyric acid and valproic acid were increased. Moreover, the pathological changes of the gastric mucosa and intestine were significantly improved. Conclusion: Konjac powder can execute a protective effect against alcoholic gastric mucosal injury and chronic alcoholic intestinal injury presumably by reducing gastric mucosal lipid peroxidation, increasing the antioxidant capacity of gastric mucosa, improving the intestinal microenvironment, and enhancing gastrointestinal mucosal barrier function.

Key words: konjac powder, alcoholic disease, acute gastric mucosal injury, chronic intestinal injury, intestinal microflora