Kiwi berry (Actinidia arguta) polysaccharides alleviate constipation: Defecation characteristics, gut microbiota and metabolites analysis

● Kiwi berry is antioxidant-rich due to their polysaccharides. ● Treatment with kiwi berry raised frequency of defecation and intestinal transit. ● Kiwi berries restructure gut microbiota. ● Polysaccharides can alleviate constipation by related metabolites and pathways. Functional constipation is a prevalent gastrointestinal condition. Polysaccharide molecules, present in several organisms, can modulate intestinal function. Our research indicated that kiwi berry polysaccharides (KBP) could prevent and treat functional constipation. Nevertheless, the mechanism remained unidentified. ELISA, TEM, HE staining, 16S rDNA sequencing, and metabolite LC-MS/MS analysis were used for analysis. This study combined defecation characteristics, gut microbiota, and metabolites outcomes of constipated mice after KBP supplementation. The research suggested that KBP contained glyoxylate. In the high-dose polysaccharide group, body weight growth, fecal pellet number, water content, and intestinal transport rate rose by factors of 2.8, 2.7, 2.6, and 1.5, respectively, when compared with the constipation group. Moreover, KBP controlled the amounts of neurotransmitters and aquaporins in the organism, and helped the colonic mucosal microvilli reorganize themselves in an orderly manner to support the defense and absorption functions of intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, KBP also significantly influenced the abundance of gut microbiota, levels of SCFAs, metabolites including lipids, organic acids, organoheterocyclic compounds, as well as metabolic pathways including those of Arginine and proline metabolism, and Arachidonic acid metabolism. Collectively, our results demonstrate that KBP can alleviate functional constipation via various mechanisms without adverse effects.