Characterization of Choerospondias axillaris polysaccharide‑iron (III) complex and its effect on iron deficiency anemia mice

Jingjing Xie; Nansheng Wu; Dongming Li; Shiyi Xiong; Jinjiao Dong; Ruiling Wang; Guodong Zheng; Jingen Li

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139759

Characterization of Choerospondias axillaris polysaccharide‑iron (III) complex and its effect on iron deficiency anemia mice

Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Jan 10:139759. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139759. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jingjing Xie¹, Nansheng Wu², Dongming Li¹, Shiyi Xiong¹, Jinjiao Dong¹, Ruiling Wang¹, Guodong Zheng³, Jingen Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Food Science and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China.
² Choerospondias Axillaris Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China.
³ College of Food Science and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China. Electronic address: zrs150716@aliyun.com.
⁴ College of Food Science and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China. Electronic address: enen928@163.com.

PMID: 39800014
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139759

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a prevalent nutritional deficiency problem. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of Choerospondias axillaris polysaccharide-Fe (III) complex and its effect on IDA mice. CAP-Fe (III) complex was synthesized by co-thermal synthesis method with an iron content of 27.31 ± 0.97 %. The chelation of Fe³⁺ reduced the crystallinity, increased the thermal stability and changed the morphological features of CAP, which was evidenced by XRD, TG, and SEM analysis. The probable existence of the β-FeOOH structure was supported by the characteristic absorption peaks in the FT-IR, XRD, and Mössbauer spectra. The CAP-Fe (III) complex showed a therapeutic effect on IDA mice, confirmed by improved erythroid parameters, iron levels, and oxidative stress. The results of gene expression levels determined by RT-qPCR demonstrated that the CAP-Fe (III) complex could regulate iron metabolism homeostasis, alleviate liver inflammation, and enhance intestinal barrier function. Furthermore, the dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota induced by IDA was effectively restored by CAP-Fe (III) complex, through enriching beneficial bacteria (Firmicutes, Blautia, Oscillibacter, Colidextribacter) and depleting harmful bacteria (Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Parasutterella, Faecalibaculum, Escherichia-Shigella). These findings suggested that CAP-Fe (III) may serve as a novel iron supplement for treating IDA.

Keywords: Characterization; Choerospondias axillaris polysaccharide‑iron (III) complex; Gut microbiota; Iron deficiency anemia.