Myricetin and myricetrin alleviate liver and colon damage in a chronic colitis mice model: Effects on tight junction and intestinal microbiota

Abstract This study investigated the protective effects of myricetin (MYR) and myricetrin (MYRR) in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced liver and colon damage in mice. The results showed that MYR and MYRR alleviate liver damage of colitis mice via tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway. After dexamethasone acetate (DXMS) and MYR treatment, the expressions of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) were increased in mice colon. The expression of occludin was increased after MYR treatment, while MYRR significantly increased tight junction protein 1 (ZO1) expression compared to colitis mice. MYR significantly reduced the abundance of intestinal Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria to alleviate colitis. At the species level, treatment with MYR and MYRR reduced the abundance of Helicobacter-sp-MIT and Lachnospiraceae bacterium, and increased the abundance of Lactobacillus gasseri. The protective role of MYR and MYRR in DSS induced colitis mice may attribute to their intestinal microbiota and tight junction proteins modulation activities.