Integrated transcriptomic and 16S rRNA analyses reveal colon and brain barrier-preserving effects of red radish (Raphanus sativus L.) sprout supplementation in high-fat diet-fed mice

Abstract

BackgroundRadish sprouts (Raphanus sativus L.) are rich in dietary fibers and phytochemicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, their whole-food effects on the gut-brain axis remain poorly defined.ObjectiveThis study examined the preventive potential of whole-food red radish sprout (RS) powder against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and cognitive decline in mice, focusing on its effects on barrier integrity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut microbiota.MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice were fed an HFD for 16 weeks with or without RS powder (low or high dose). Assessments included body and tissue indices, oral glucose tolerance, serum leptin, cognitive performance, oxidative stress in brain, gene expression of tight junction and inflammatory markers in colon and brain, and fecal microbiota profiling using 16S rRNA sequencing.ResultsRS supplementation attenuated HFD-induced weight gain, improved glucose tolerance, and reduced leptin levels, with stronger effects at the higher dose. Cognitive deficits were rescued by RS, accompanied by alleviation of brain oxidative stress and reduced expression of neuroinflammatory genes (Tnf, Il6, Il1b, Aif1, Gfap). RS restored tight-junction genes (Tjp1, Ocln, Cldn1, Jam2, Cdh5) while simultaneously decreasing Cldn2 and pro-inflammatory transcripts, and upregulating Il10. Although alpha diversity was unchanged, beta diversity differed significantly; RS reduced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio, enriched Akkermansia and Lactobacillus, and suppressed Oscillibacter and Desulfovibrio.ConclusionWhole-food RS powder prevents HFD-induced obesity and cognitive decline by reinforcing barrier integrity, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and reshaping gut microbiota. These findings support RS as a practical functional food for early obesity intervention via gut-brain axis regulation.