Effect of an inulin-type fructan from Platycodon grandiflorum on the intestinal microbiota in rats exposed to PM2.5

In this study, an inulin-type fructan (PGPI-1-a) was isolated from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum. PGPI-1-a was composed of (2 -> 1)-linked beta-D-fructofuranose (Fruf) and a terminal alpha-D-glucopyranose (Glcp) with a molecular weight of 12.1 kDa. PM2.5 exposure has brought a great threat to human health in recent years. Therefore, this study explored the effect of PGPI-1-a on the intestinal microbial community structure of rats exposed to PM2.5 using the animal model of PM2.5 inhalation exposure. The results showed that PGPI-1-a could regulate the intestinal microbiota by partly restoring the perturbed levels of Peptoniphilaceae_[G-2] and Lachnospiraceae_[G-2] caused by PM2.5 exposure. In addition, the relative abundance of Butyrivibrio, a butyric acid-producing genera, significantly increased after PGPI-1-a intervention. These results indicated that PGPI-1-a could improve the imbalance of intestinal microbiota due to PM2.5 exposure to a certain extent.