Fructosyl-mangiferin ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice via the STAT3/M1/Th17 axis

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic inflammatory condition categorized into ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), affects a growing global patient population. Despite the prevalence, clinically there is a scarcity of effective therapeutic agents. Purpose: This study investigated the therapeutic effects of fructosyl mangiferin (FM) on UC and elucidated its underlying mechanisms through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Methods: In vivo, a UC model of C57BL/6J mice was established via dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induction, and the therapeutic effects were assessed through intragastric administration. In vitro, the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 was stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to establish an M1 polarization model and introduced to explore the role of FM in immune cells. Molecular docking was further employed to investigate the specific molecular mechanisms of FM. Results: In vivo experimental findings indicate that FM, like mangiferin (M), preserves mucin secretion and the expression of occludin protein, and both significantly impede the progression of fibrosis associated with colitis. Additionally, FM effectively suppresses M1 macrophage polarization and exerts a pronounced inhibitory effect on the adaptive immune response, outperforming M in mitigating UC. In vitro results corroborate FM's inhibitory action on M1 polarization. Molecular docking studies identified FM as a potential signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor, aligning with western blot analyses from both in vivo and in vitro experiments. Conclusion: In conclusion, following fructosylation, FM exhibits remarkable anti-inflammatory and colonic protective effects. FM's ability to control the progression of UC offers a novel strategy for its potential treatment, warranting further investigation into its clinical application.