The Volatile Oil of Dried Ginger Promotes Intestinal Epithelial Renewal through T-UCR uc.481

Dried ginger is widely used in condiments and in food materials. The volatile oil in ginger can regulate intestinal flora and affect the intestinal barrier function. First, we extracted the volatile oil of dried ginger (VOG) and analyzed it by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Subsequently, we investigated whether VOG has a protective effect on intestinal epithelium by constructing antibiotic-induced intestinal injury models in vivo and in vitro. VOG could reverse antibiotic-induced intestinal epithelial cell proliferation inhibition and repair delay (10 μg/mL, optimal concentration in vitro) and ameliorate intestinal mucosal injury (400 mg/kg, optimal dose in vivo). Finally, mechanistic studies showed that VOG reversed the downregulation of uc.481 induced by antibiotics in intestinal epithelial cells and intestinal tissues. Moreover, VOG reversed the growth inhibition and increased cell apoptosis caused by silencing uc.481. Our study revealed that VOG promotes intestinal mucosal repair by upregulating uc.481, indicating dried ginger could be developed as a functional food for gut health.