Acanthopanax seeds polysaccharide improve alcoholic fatty liver disease through the gut-liver axis

Naturally derived polysaccharides regulate gut microbiota structure via the gut-liver axis to ameliorate Alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). Acanthopanax seeds are abundant in polysaccharides; however, whether Acanthopanax seed polysaccharides (ASP) improve AFLD through the gut-liver axis remains unclear. In this study, ASP was extracted using ultrasonic-assisted extraction, followed by structural characterization and monosaccharide composition analysis. The polysaccharide is primarily composed of pyranose rings, uronic acids, and hydroxyl groups, with galacturonic acid, galactose, and arabinose as its monosaccharide constituents. A gradient alcohol gavage was used to establish an AFLD mice model, and the protective effects of ASP dietary intervention were assessed. Results demonstrated that ASP intervention ameliorated the pathological state, liver damage, and oxidative stress in AFLD mice, while reducing alcohol-induced inflammation. Additionally, ASP intervention modified the gut microbiota of AFLD mice by reducing the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio, enhancing beneficial bacterial populations, suppressing harmful bacteria, and elevating short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels. These findings indicate that ASP ameliorates AFLD through gut-liver axis modulation, supporting the development of functional foods based on Acanthopanax seed polysaccharides for AFLD improvement.