Dietary polysaccharide from Mung bean [Vigna radiate (Linn.) Wilczek] skin modulates gut microbiota and short‐chain fatty acids in mice

Summary Cumulative evidence revealed that the gut microbiota play important role in human health. Polysaccharide from Mung bean [ Vigna radiate (Linn.) Wilczek] skin has been confirmed to have a variety of biological activities, but its effect on the gut microbiota has not been considered. This study aimed to investigate the effect of hot water extraction of mung bean skin water‐soluble polysaccharides (MBP‐2) on the gut microbiota of Balb/c mice and its main metabolite short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The results showed that supplementation with MBP‐2 increased the colon length and the production of SCFAs in Balb/c mice, and improved the intestinal microenvironment by producing SCFAs, which is beneficial to the intestinal health of mice. MBP‐2 increased the Chao1 index and ACE index in a dose‐depended manner, and changed the structure of the gut microbiota and significantly promoted the growth of probiotic bacteria in Balb/c mice. The faecal bacterial flora of mice is mainly composed of nine phyla and twenty‐seven genera, MBP‐2 can regulate the composition of intestinal flora by increasing Firmicutes , Bacteroidetes , Clostridium and decreasing TM7 , thereby maintaining intestinal health.