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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Polygonatum cyrtonema Polysaccharide Ameliorates Functional Constipation in Mice via the Gut Microbiota–Pentadecanoic Acid–GPR40 Axis

  • Xiaoying Liu1
  • Zhongyu Zhang1
  • Yuanyuan Fang1
  • Beixin Yuan1
  • Huilong Lian1
  • Wenxin Yin1
  • Jinming Zhang2
  • Qin Yuan2
  • Shengpeng Wang1,3
  1. 1State Key Laboratory of Mechanism and Quality of Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
  2. 2School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
  3. 3Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
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Abstract

Constipation is a widespread gastrointestinal dysfunction that severely diminishes life satisfaction, yet current pharmacological interventions frequently carry risks of dependency. This study investigates the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanism ofPolygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharide (PCP), an inulin neoseries-type fructan, in mitigating loperamide-induced constipation in mice. Our results demonstrated that PCP treatment significantly normalized defecation indicators, including increased fecal water content and accelerated small-intestinal transit. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) confirmed that the anti-constipation efficacy of PCP was driven by the gut microbiota. Integrated 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomic profiling revealed that PCP remodeled the gut microbiota, particularly enriching Lachnospiraceae, which subsequently drove the accumulation of pentadecanoic acid (PDA). Mechanistically, PDA served as a key microbial metabolite that enhanced colonic motility, likely by activating the GPR40 receptor. These findings identify the “PCP–microbiota–PDA–GPR40” axis as an novel pathway for alleviating functional constipation, supporting PCP as a promising prebiotic candidate or functional food ingredient.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{liu2026polygonatum,
  title = {{Polygonatum cyrtonema Polysaccharide Ameliorates Functional Constipation in Mice via the Gut Microbiota–Pentadecanoic Acid–GPR40 Axis}},
  author = {Xiaoying Liu and Zhongyu Zhang and Yuanyuan Fang and Beixin Yuan and Huilong Lian and Wenxin Yin and Jinming Zhang and Qin Yuan and Shengpeng Wang},
  journal = {Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.6c06937},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6c06937},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Polygonatum cyrtonema Polysaccharide Ameliorates Functional Constipation in Mice via the Gut Microbiota–Pentadecanoic Acid–GPR40 Axis
AU  - Xiaoying Liu
AU  - Zhongyu Zhang
AU  - Yuanyuan Fang
AU  - Beixin Yuan
AU  - Huilong Lian
AU  - Wenxin Yin
AU  - Jinming Zhang
AU  - Qin Yuan
AU  - Shengpeng Wang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/20
JO  - Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
DO  - 10.1021/acs.jafc.6c06937
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6c06937
AB  - Constipation is a widespread gastrointestinal dysfunction that severely diminishes life satisfaction, yet current pharmacological interventions frequently carry risks of dependency. This study investigates the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanism ofPolygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharide (PCP), an inulin neoseries-type fructan, in mitigating loperamide-induced constipation in mice. Our results demonstrated that PCP treatment significantly normalized defecation indicators, including increased fecal water content and accelerated small-intestinal transit. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) confirmed that the anti-constipation efficacy of PCP was driven by the gut microbiota. Integrated 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomic profiling revealed that PCP remodeled the gut microbiota, particularly enriching Lachnospiraceae, which subsequently drove the accumulation of pentadecanoic acid (PDA). Mechanistically, PDA served as a key microbial metabolite that enhanced colonic motility, likely by activating the GPR40 receptor. These findings identify the “PCP–microbiota–PDA–GPR40” axis as an novel pathway for alleviating functional constipation, supporting PCP as a promising prebiotic candidate or functional food ingredient.
SN  - 0021-8561
SN  - 1520-5118
ER  -