Protective effects of soluble dietary fibers from biribá fruit against DSS-induced colitis

Dietary fibers are plant-derived polysaccharides that contribute to intestinal homeostasis by modulating gut barrier integrity, immune responses, and the intestinal microbiota. Growing evidence suggests that these polysaccharides may attenuate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, the biological activity of soluble dietary fibers from biribá fruit (Annona mucosa) remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study evaluated the protective effects of soluble dietary fibers from A. mucosa (AMSDF) in DSS-induced colitis. Female BALB/c mice were subjected to DSS-induced colitis and treated orally with AMSDF (30, 100, or 300 mg/kg) for 7 days. Disease progression was monitored daily using the Disease Activity Index (DAI), based on body weight loss and stool consistency. On day 8, animals were euthanized, and colon samples were collected for evaluation of colon length, histopathology, and inflammatory mediator levels. AMSDF treatment significantly attenuated DSS-induced colitis. Mice treated with AMSDF at 100 and 300 mg/kg exhibited reduced body weight loss and lower DAI compared with the DSS group. In addition, the highest dose (300 mg/kg) significantly preserved colon length and was selected for subsequent analyses. Histopathological evaluation demonstrated marked protection against DSS-induced intestinal damage, characterized by reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, preservation of intestinal architecture, lower histopathological scores, and preserved acidic and neutral mucin content. These histopathological improvements were accompanied by significantly reduced colonic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β and the chemokine CXCL1. The parallel improvement of clinical signs, tissue preservation, and inflammatory markers suggests that AMSDF modulates key processes associated with the development of DSS-induced colitis. These findings support the potential of AMSDF as a bioactive dietary polysaccharide for promoting intestinal health. The authors would like to thank CAPES (Finance Code 001), Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe (IPPP), and CNPq for their financial support. Author GOMES, D.M.D. received a PhD scholarship from CAPES.