Combined metabolomics and gut microbiome to investigate the effects and mechanisms of Yuquan Pill on type 2 diabetes in rats

Effects of high-intensity interval training on metabolic impairments in liver tissue of rats with type 2 diabetes: a metabolomics-based approach

Our aim was to study the metabolic effects of eight weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the liver of rats with type 2 diabetes (T2D) using untargeted metabolomics. Twenty male Wistar rats, were divided into four groups (n = 5 per group): control (CTL), type 2 diabetes (DB), HIIT (EX), and type 2 diabetes + HIIT (DTX). A two months of a high-fat diet followed by a single dose of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg body weight) was used to induce T2D. Animals in the EX and DTX groups were trained for eight weeks (5 times per week, 4-10 running intervals at 80-100% of their maximum velocity). Metabolomic data were collected using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) to assess metabolic changes in the liver after training. Data were then pre-processed using ProMetab (MATLAB) for baseline correction, normalisation and binning. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were analysed using a repeated-measures mixed ANOVA [i.e., time as the within-subject factor (Baseline - Month 0, Post-induction - Month 2, and Post-intervention - Month 4) and gruop (CTL, DB, HIIT, DTX) as the between-subject factor]. A one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test (p < 0.05) was applied to assess differences in Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Multivariate analysis - using sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA) - was performed to identify key metabolites, followed by pathway analysis (MetaboAnalyst) to determine significantly affected metabolic pathways. DB group showed higher HOMA-IR than CTL and DTX groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, distinct clustering patterns was shown for metabolites by multivariate analysis. Key altered metabolic pathways included valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis; glutathione metabolism; pantothenate and coenzyme A biosynthesis; fructose and mannose metabolism; glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism; cysteine and methionine metabolism; arginine biosynthesis; tyrosine metabolism; histidine metabolism; beta-alanine metabolism; propanoate metabolism; glycolysis/gluconeogenesis; phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; arginine and proline metabolism; and thiamine metabolism. These results suggest that eight weeks of HIIT may reverse metabolic changes induced by T2D in the rat liver, potentially contributing to reduced FBG and HOMA-IR levels. Clinical trial number: Not applicable.

Dendrobium officinale leaf phenolic extracts alleviate diabetes mellitus in mice via modulating metabolism and reshaping gut microbiota

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder posing a significant public health challenge. Dendrobium officinale is a valuable edible-medicinal homologous plant. Phenolic extracts from fermented D. officinale leaves (DOLP) demonstrate a hypoglycemic effect. However, the effects of DOLP on physiological metabolism and gut microbiota under diabetic conditions remain unknown.

RESULTS

Untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that DOLP reversed 98 significantly differential metabolites (SDMs) in diabetic mice. Indoxyl sulfate and palmitoyl sphingomyelin were identified as the primary candidate biomarkers associated with the hypoglycemic effect. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis underscored the significance of arginine and proline metabolism, ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism in the regulatory effects of DOLP. Furthermore, DOLP reversed the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in diabetic mice, significantly influencing the relative abundance of the genera Intestinimonas, GCA_900066575, Muribaculum, and Enterorhabdus. These differential genera exhibited various correlations with SDMs, including l-hydroxyarginine, γ-guanidinobutyrate, l-threonate, d-galactarate, l-ascorbic acid, palmitic acid, cis-9-palmitoleic acid, octadecanoic acid, and oleic acid.

CONCLUSION

The protective effect of DOLP against diabetes mellitus is closely linked to its regulation of physiological metabolism and gut microbiota. DOLP may serve as a promising agent for the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Screening immunomodulatory Q-markers in Astragali Radix based on UHPLC-QTOF-MS analysis and spectrum-effect relationship

Astragali Radix (AR) is one of the famous traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) for boosting immunity, whereas the quality markers (Q-markers) of AR have not been clearly researched. The immunomodulatory activities of the bioactive extractions and components were evaluated by NO inhibition rate; phagocytic index; IL-10, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 cytokines in RAW264.7 cells; and the relative proliferation rate of spleen cells. The total saponins (TS) and the grade 2 (Xiaoxuan, XX) of AR showed the strongest immunomodulatory activities. At the concentration of 40 μg/mL, the TS increased spleen cells proliferation by 48.0% and upregulated the level of IL-1β and IL-6. Cytokines in the XX-treated group were at least 1.6 times higher than the control group. A total of 190 common peaks were detected in AR by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS). The multivariate statistical analyses revealed that 41 compounds were positively correlated with immune responses, and bioactive compounds were verified by using RAW264.7 cell assay. Subsequently, the contents of six compounds in different commercial grades were determined, and the results showed the same trend in contents and activities. Finally, calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, astragaloside IV, astragaloside II, astragaloside I, isomucronulatol-7-O-glucoside, and 9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan-3-O-glucoside were screened out as immunomodulatory Q-markers of AR.

In-depth investigation of the therapeutic effect of Tribulus terrestris L. on type 2 diabetes based on intestinal microbiota and feces metabolomics

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The fruit of Tribulus terrestris L. (TT) is extensively documented in the Tibetan medical literature 'Si Bu Yi Dian', has been used to treat diabetes mellitus for more than a thousand years. However, the underlying mechanisms and comprehensive effects of TT on diabetes have yet to be investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study was to systemically elucidate the potential mechanisms of TT in treating diabetes mellitus, and further investigate the therapeutic effects of the water extract, small molecular components and saccharides from TT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fecal metabolomics was employed to draw the metabolic profile based on UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. The V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the bacteria 16S rRNA gene were amplified to explore the structural changes of the intestinal microbiome after TT intervention and to analyze the differential microbiota. The microbial metabolites SCFAs were determined by GC-MS, and the BAs and tryptophan metabolites were quantified by UPLC-TQ-MS. Spearman correlation analysis was carried out to comprehensively investigate the relationship among the endogenous metabolites profile, intestinal microbiota and their metabolites.

RESULTS

TT exhibited remarkably therapeutic effect on T2DM rats, as evidenced by improved glucolipid metabolism and intestinal barrier integrity, ameliorated inflammation and remission in insulin resistance. A total of 24 endogenous biomarkers were screened through fecal metabolomics studies, which were mainly related to tryptophan metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, bile acid metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis and arachidonic acid metabolism. Investigations on microbiomics revealed that TT significantly modulated 18 differential bacterial genera and reversed the disordered gut microbial in diabetes rats. Moreover, TT notably altered the content of gut microbiota metabolites, both in serum and fecal samples. Significant correlation among microbial community, metabolites and T2DM-related indicators was revealed.

CONCLUSIONS

The multiple components of TT regulate the metabolic homeostasis of the organism and the balance of intestinal microbiota and its metabolites, which might mediate the anti-diabetic capacity of TT.