Effects of Turnip on Intestinal Flora of Mice

Objective:To explore the effects of turnip of different concentrations on intestinal flora and short-chain fatty acids in the feces of mice. Methods:48 BalB/C male mice(18~22 g)were randomly assigned to control group,low-dose group,middle-dose group and high-dose group. The three dose groups were fed with turnip of different doses(1,2,4 g/kg·BW·d),while the control group was fed normally for 14 days. The mice were weighed and feces were collected for the determination of the number of intestinal flora and the content of short-chain fatty acids at 0,7,14 days. The number of intestinal flora and the content of short-chain fatty acids was detected by plate counting method and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry,and the results were analyzed by SPSS 21.0. Results:Turnip could increase the number of Lactobacillus,Bifidobacterium,and Enterobacteriaceae(p<0.05),while decrease the number of Enterococcus and Clostridium perfringens(p<0.05),and the effect of middle dose(2 g/kg·BW·d)was obviously. In addition,the increase rate of Enterobacteriaceae was lower than that of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium(p<0.05). Turnip could promote the production of acetic acid,propionic acid,n-butyric acid,isobutyric acid,so as to improve the contents of short chain fatty acids,and the high dose(4 g/kg·BW·d)was the most significant(p<0.05). Conclusion:Turnip could promote the proliferation of beneficial bacteria and inhibit the proliferation of pathogens in mice and promote the production of short chain fatty acids in mice.