MUC5AC and colitis: For example, Wang et al. demonstrated that berberine reduced the abundance of Akkermansia (Akk), a mucin degrader associated with intestinal inflammation, in Apc min/+ mice fed a high-fat diet and that excessive mucin degradation reduced the thickness of the intestinal mucus layer, which disrupted the intestinal barrier and ultimately exacerbated colitis and colorectal cancer development.