Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Stocking Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Department of Nutrition and Health, Federal University of Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2022 Apr 25;27(5):140. doi: 10.31083/j.fbl2705140.
Biofortification is a method that improves the nutritional value of food crops through conventional plant breeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of intra-amniotic administration of soluble extracts from zinc (Zn) biofortified and Zn standard cowpea ( L. Walp.) flour on intestinal functionality and morphology, inflammation, and gut microbiota, .
Seven treatment groups were utilized: (1) No Injection; (2) 18 MΩ H2O; (3) 50 mg/mL Inulin; (4) 50 mg/mL BRS Pajeú soluble extract (Zn standard); (5) 50 mg/mL BRS Aracê soluble extract (Zn biofortified); (6) 50 mg/mL BRS Imponente soluble extract (Zn biofortified); (7) 50 mg/mL BRS Xiquexique soluble extract (Zn biofortified).
Treatment groups with BRS Imponente and BRS Xiquexique reduced the abundance of and when compared with all other experimental groups. All cowpea soluble extracts increased villi goblet cell number (total), specifically acidic goblet cell type number per villi relative to inulin and 18MΩ H2O groups. Moreover, BRS Xiquexique increased the crypt goblet diameter and the crypt depth compared to all treatments and controls. The Zn content in the Zn biofortified cowpea flours was higher when compared to the Zn standard flour (BRS Pajeú), and the phytate: Zn molar ratio was lower in the Zn biofortified flours compared to the Zn standard flour. In general, all cowpea soluble extracts maintained the gene expression of proteins involved with Zn and iron absorption, brush border membrane (BBM) functionality and inflammation compared to inulin and 18MΩ H2O.
This study demonstrates the potential nutritional benefit of standard and biofortified cowpea treatment groups to improve intestinal morphology, BBM functionality, inflammation, and gut microbiota, with the highest effect of BRS Xiquexique soluble extracts to improve assessed cecal microflora populations and intestinal morphology.
生物强化是一种通过常规植物育种提高粮食作物营养价值的方法。本研究旨在评估在羊膜内给予锌（Zn）生物强化和 Zn 标准豇豆（L. Walp.）面粉的可溶性提取物对肠道功能和形态、炎症和肠道微生物群的影响。
本研究使用了 7 个处理组：（1）无注射；（2）18 MΩ H2O；（3）50 mg/mL 菊粉；（4）50 mg/mL BRS Pajeú 可溶性提取物（Zn 标准）；（5）50 mg/mL BRS Aracê 可溶性提取物（Zn 生物强化）；（6）50 mg/mL BRS Imponente 可溶性提取物（Zn 生物强化）；（7）50 mg/mL BRS Xiquexique 可溶性提取物（Zn 生物强化）。
与所有其他实验组相比，BRS Imponente 和 BRS Xiquexique 处理组减少了和的丰度。与菊粉和 18 MΩ H2O 组相比，所有豇豆可溶性提取物均增加了绒毛杯状细胞数量（总数），特别是每绒毛酸性杯状细胞的数量。此外，与所有处理组和对照组相比，BRS Xiquexique 增加了隐窝杯状细胞直径和隐窝深度。与 Zn 标准面粉（BRS Pajeú）相比，Zn 生物强化豇豆面粉中的 Zn 含量更高，与 Zn 标准面粉相比，Zn 生物强化面粉中的植酸盐：Zn 摩尔比更低。一般来说，与菊粉和 18 MΩ H2O 相比，所有豇豆可溶性提取物均维持了与 Zn 和铁吸收、刷状缘膜（BBM）功能和炎症相关的蛋白质的基因表达。
本研究表明，标准和生物强化豇豆处理组具有改善肠道形态、BBM 功能、炎症和肠道微生物群的潜在营养益处，其中 BRS Xiquexique 可溶性提取物的效果最高，可改善盲肠微生物群的种群和肠道形态。
