Preparation of Nano-selenium-enriched jujube polysaccharides and their ameliorative effects on DSS-induced colitis in mice

Jujube polysaccharides and nano‑selenium have gained attention for their bioactivity. This study used jujube polysaccharides to stabilize selenium nanoparticles (JP-SeNPs) via redox method. The optimized JP-SeNPs had an average size of 142.0 nm (PDI 0.1989), contained zero-valent selenium, showing no HepG2 toxicity at 5–40 μg/mL. In DSS-induced colitis mice, JP-SeNPs alleviated weight loss, disease activity, and colon shortening, reduced histopathological damage, restored goblet cells and tight junctions, and lowered colonic TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and serum endotoxin. Cecal short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, butyrate) rebounded. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed enhanced α-diversity, enrichment of butyrate-producers, and restored carbohydrate metabolism. JP-SeNPs ameliorate colitis via barrier repair, inflammation suppression, microbiota modulation, and SCFA promotion, supporting its development as a functional formulation. • Stable amorphous JP-SeNPs were synthesized. • JP-SeNPs alleviated DSS-colitis symptoms (weight loss, colon length, DAI). • JP-SeNPs suppress TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ; repair barrier; reduce endotoxin. • JP-SeNPs modulate gut microbiota, increase SCFAs, and have low cytotoxicity.