Salvianolic acid B alters the gut microbiota and mitigates colitis severity and associated inflammation

Consumption of Salvia miltiorrhiza could improve dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis. Whether salvianolic acid B (Sal B) can ameliorate colitis is still unclear. Here, colitis induced by 2.2% DSS was treated with 100 mg/kg Sal B by oral gavage. Sal B improved weight loss, disease activity index, mucosal damage and inflammatory cell infiltration in colitis mice. Sal B could increase the production of acetic acid, propionic acid and valeric acid in colitis mice. The reduction of diversity and richness of gut microbiota in colitis mice was restored after Sal B treatment. Sal B reversed the decrease of S24-7 and the increase of Bacteroides in DSS-treated mice. There were 3 KEGG pathways related to enzyme families, cancer and lipid metabolism enriched in mice colitis after Sal B treatment. In conclusion, the beneficial aspects of dietary Sal B upon colitis are associated with microbial habitat.