Improvement on metabolic syndrome in high fat diet-induced obese mice through modulation of gut microbiota by sangguayin decoction

Mulberry leaf and its effects against obesity: A systematic review of phytochemistry, molecular mechanisms and applications

BACKGROUND

Obesity and hyperlipidemia can induce a variety of diseases, and have become major health problems worldwide. How to effectively prevent and control obesity has become one of the hot-spots of contemporary research. Mulberry leaf is the dried leaf of Morus alba L., which is approved by the Ministry of Health as a "homology of medicine and food", rich in diverse active constituents and with a variety of health effects including anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemia activities.

PURPOSE

The review attempts to summarize and provide the molecular basis, mechanism, safety and products for further exploration and application of mulberry leaf on the treatment on the control of weight gain and obesity.

METHODS

This review is conducted by using ScienceDirect, PubMed, CNKI and Web of Science databases following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA).

RESULTS

Based on the research progress of domestic and foreign scholars, the effective phytochemicals, molecular mechanisms and product applications of mulberry leaf in the prevention and treatment of obesity and related metabolic diseases were summarized.

CONCLUSION

Mulberry leaf has excellent medicinal and health care value in obesity treatment. However, its pharmacodynamic substance basis and molecular mechanisms need to be further studied.

Co-exposure to lead and high-fat diet aggravates systemic inflammation in mice by altering gut microbiota and the LPS/TLR4 pathway

This study reports the toxicity of Pb exposure on systemic inflammation in high-fat-diet (HFD) mice and the potential mechanisms. Results indicated that Pb exacerbated intestinal barrier damage and increased serum levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and diamine oxidase in HFD mice. Elevated LPS activates the colonic and ileal LPS-TLR4 inflammatory signaling pathway and further induces hepatic and adipose inflammatory expression. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that Pb promoted the abundance of potentially harmful and LPS-producing bacteria such as Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002, Alloprevotella, and Oscillibacter in the intestines of HFD mice, and their abundance was positively correlated with LPS levels. Additionally, Pb inhibited the abundance of the beneficial bacteria Akkermansia, resulting in lower levels of the metabolite short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Meanwhile, Pb inhibited adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase signaling-mediated lipid metabolism pathways, promoting hepatic lipid accumulation. The above results suggest that Pb exacerbates systemic inflammation and lipid disorders in HFD mice by altering the gut microbiota, intestinal barrier, and the mediation of metabolites LPS and SCFAs. Our study provides potential novel mechanisms of human health related to Pb-induced metabolic damage and offers new evidence for a comprehensive assessment of Pb risk.

Qidan Tiaozhi capsule attenuates metabolic syndrome via activating AMPK/PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Qidan Tiaozhi capsule (QD), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to treat metabolic syndrome for over a decade. However, the mechanism of QD in the treatment of metabolic syndrome is still unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Growing studies demonstrate that impaired mitophagy is one of the important causes of metabolic syndrome. Thus, this research aims to investigate the mechanism of mitophagy in the QD treatment of metabolic syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to probe the mechanism of QD treatment of metabolic syndrome. In an oleic acid-induced cell model, glucose consumption and uptake capacity, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ROS levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were examined. mRFP-GFP-LC3 adenovirus and GFP-LC3 lentivirus were used to examine the effect of QD on mitophagy. The IRS2-PI3K and AMPK/PINK1-Parkin signal pathways were also determined. What's more, the PINK1 gene was silenced to verify the above findings. In a high-fat diet-fed mouse model, body weight, organ indexes, OGTT, ITT, HOMA-IR, insulin sensitivity, serum MDA, SOD, TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C, hepatic TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C levels, hepatic steatosis, and IRS2-PI3K and AMPK/PINK1-Parkin signal pathways were investigated.

RESULTS

Results from network pharmacology and molecular docking suggested that QD might suppress oxidative stress to improve metabolic syndrome. In an oleic acid-induced cell model, compared with the model group, enhanced glucose consumption and uptake ability, inhibited intracellular lipid accumulation, TC, TG, MDA and ROS levels, and increased SOD level and MMP were found in QD groups. And mitophagy levels, IRS2-PI3K and AMPK/PINK1-Parkin signal pathways were promoted. Interestingly, PINK1 silencing reversed the therapeutic action of QD on oleic acid-induced cells. In high-fat diet-fed mice, inhibited body weight, abdominal fat indexes, liver indexes, HOMA-IR, serum and hepatic TC, TG and LDL-C, serum MDA and hepatic steatosis, and increased insulin sensitivity, serum and hepatic HDL-C, serum SOD, and activated IRS2-PI3K and AMPK/PINK1-Parkin signal pathways were found in QD groups.

CONCLUSION

QD activates AMPK/PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy to suppress oxidative stress to treat metabolic syndrome.

Identification of alternative splicing events related to fatty liver formation in duck using full-length transcripts

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of most common diseases in the world. Recently, alternative splicing (AS) has been reported to play a key role in NAFLD processes in mammals. Ducks can quickly form fatty liver similar to human NAFLD after overfeeding and restore to normal liver in a short time, suggesting that ducks are an excellent model to unravel molecular mechanisms of lipid metabolism for NAFLD. However, how alternative splicing events (ASEs) affect the fatty liver process in ducks is still unclear.

RESULTS

Here we identify 126,277 unique transcripts in liver tissue from an overfed duck (77,237 total transcripts) and its sibling control (69,618 total transcripts). We combined these full-length transcripts with Illumina RNA-seq data from five pairs of overfed ducks and control individuals. Full-length transcript sequencing provided us with structural information of transcripts and Illumina RNA-seq data reveals the expressional profile of each transcript. We found, among these unique transcripts, 30,618 were lncRNAs and 1,744 transcripts including 155 lncRNAs and 1,589 coding transcripts showed significantly differential expression in liver tissues between overfed ducks and control individuals. We also detected 27,317 ASEs and 142 of them showed significant relative abundance changes in ducks under different feeding conditions. Full-length transcript profiles together with Illumina RNA-seq data demonstrated that 10 genes involving in lipid metabolism had ASEs with significantly differential abundance in normally fed (control) and overfed ducks. Among these genes, protein products of five genes (CYP4F22, BTN, GSTA2, ADH5, and DHRS2 genes) were changed by ASEs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents an example of how to identify ASEs related to important biological processes, such as fatty liver formation, using full-length transcripts alongside Illumina RNA-seq data. Based on these data, we screened out ASEs of lipid-metabolism related genes which might respond to overfeeding. Our future ability to explore the function of genes showing AS differences between overfed ducks and their sibling controls, using genetic manipulations and co-evolutionary studies, will certainly extend our knowledge of genes related to the non-pathogenic fatty liver process.

Matrine alleviates depressive-like behaviors via modulating microbiota-gut-brain axis in CUMS-induced mice

BACKGROUND

The realization of the "microbiota-gut-brain" axis plays a critical role in neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly depression, is advancing rapidly. Matrine is a natural bioactive compound, which has been found to possess potential antidepressant effect. However, the underlying mechanisms of regulation of the "microbiota-gut-brain" axis in the treatment of depression by oral matrine remain elusive.

METHODS

Its antidepressant effects were initially evaluated by behavioral tests and relative levels of monoamine neurotransmitters, and matrine has been observed to attenuate the depression-like behavior and increase neurotransmitter content in CUMS-induced mice. Subsequently, studies from the "gut" to "brain" were conducted, including detection of the composition of gut microbiota by 16S rRNA sequencing; the metabolomics detection of gut metabolites and the analysis of differential metabolic pathways; the assessment of relative levels of diamine oxidase, lipopolysaccharide, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) by ELISA kits or immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

Matrine could regulate the disturbance of gut microbiota and metabolites, restore intestinal permeability, and reduce intestinal inflammation, thereby reducing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood circulation and brain regions, and ultimately increase the levels of BDNF in brain.

CONCLUSION

Matrine may ameliorate CUMS-induced depression in mice by modulating the "microbiota-gut-brain" axis.

Alternative to Sugar, Honey Does Not Provoke Insulin Resistance in Rats Based on Lipid Profiles, Inflammation, and IRS/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways Modulation

Insulin resistance (IR) is the central link to metabolic syndrome (MS), and IR prevention has become the key to overcoming this worldwide public health problem. A diet rich in simple sugars is an important pathogenic factor in IR development. To investigate the effect of honey on IR compared to the sugar-water diet, we analyzed phenolics and oligosaccharides in jujube honey and rape honey based on LC-MS and silane derivatization/GC-MS. The effects of different diets on glucose and lipid profile, histopathology and IR-related mechanism pathways were analyzed and compared by equal sugar levels intervention of fructose, fructose + glucose and two kinds of unifloral honey (high-/low-dose) in rats. The results suggested that sugar-equivalent honey, which differs from sugar solution, especially 17.1 g/kg BW jujube honey rich in phenolics (1.971 mg/100 g of isoquercitrin) and oligosaccharides (2.18 g/100 g of turanose), suppressed IR via maintaining glucose (OGTT and ITT) and lipid (TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, and NEFA) homeostasis, improving histological structural abnormalities of the liver, adipose and skeletal muscle, reducing oxidative stress (GSH-Px and MDA) and inflammation (IL-6 and TNF-α), modulating the NF-κB (NF-κB gene expression was down-regulated to 0.94) and IRS/PI3K/AKT signaling pathways (e.g., AKT and GLUT2 expression in liver increased by 4.56 and 13.37 times, respectively) as well as reshaping the gut microbiota. These revealed a potential nutritional contribution of substituting honey for simple sugar in the diet, providing a theoretical basis for controlling IR development via dietary modification and supplementation.

The dynamic effects of maternal high-calorie diet on glycolipid metabolism and gut microbiota from weaning to adulthood in offspring mice

Dysbiosis of gut microbiota can contribute to the progression of diabetes and obesity. Previous studies have shown that maternal high-fat (HF) diet during the perinatal period can alter the microbiota and induce metabolic disorders at weaning. However, whether dysbiosis of gut microbiota and metabolism could be recovered by a normal diet after weaning and the dynamic changes of gut microbiota have not been fully studied. In this study, C57BL/6J female mice were fed with a normal chow (NC) or HF diet for 4 weeks preconception, during gestation, and until pup weaning. After weaning, male offspring were fed with an NC diet until 9 weeks of age. The microbiota of offspring at weaning and 9 weeks of age was collected for 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We found that dams fed with an HF diet showed glucose intolerance after lactation. Compared with the offspring from NC dams, the offspring from HF dams exhibited a higher body weight, hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, hypercholesterolemia, and leptin resistance and lower adiponectin at weaning. Fecal analysis indicated altered microbiota composition between the offspring of the two groups. The decrease in favorable bacteria (such as norank f Bacteroidales S24-7 group) and increase in unfavorable bacteria (such as Lachnoclostridium and Desulfovibrio) were strongly associated with a disturbance of glucose and lipid metabolism. After 6 weeks of normal diet, no difference in body weight, glucose, and lipid profiles was observed between the offspring of the two groups. However, the microbiota composition of offspring in the HF group was still different from that in the NC group, and microbiota diversity was lower in offspring of the HF group. The abundance of Lactobacillus was lower in the offspring of the HF group. In conclusion, a maternal HF diet can induce metabolic homeostasis and gut microbiota disturbance in offspring at weaning. Gut microbiota dysbiosis can persist into adulthood in the offspring, which might have a role in the promotion of susceptibility to obesity and diabetes in the later life of the offspring.

Beneficial effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum honey paste on obesity via counteracting oxidative stress and inflammation: An exploration of functional food developed from two independent foods rich in saponins and phenolics

The development of functional foods that possess a combination of biological functions and good sensory properties is an emerging topic in the field of food and function. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (G. pentaphyllum) is widely considered to exert anti-obesity effect owing to its abundant saponins and other bioactive components, but bitter and unacceptable taste limit its utilization. While honey, a natural sweetener, not only has the pleasure sense but is also usually used as the carrier of functional food due to its phenolic oligosaccharide, etc. In the present study, we proposed the preparation method of a G. pentaphyllum honey paste (GH) and its beneficial effects on obese mice. The results showed that GH contented 0.055 mg/g Gypenoside XLIX, 0.01 mg/g Gypenoside A, and 11 kinds of phenolics. It could down-regulate 23.3% of liver TC level, increase serum ALT activity, improve liver tissue damage and epididymal adipocyte hypertrophy than obese mice. Besides, GH regulated enzyme activities such as SOD and GSH to enhance oxidative stress defense and exerted anti-inflammatory activity via IL-6 (52.4%), TNF-α (38.7%), IFN-γ (32%) and NF-κB (28%) genes down-regulation, which also reshaped the gut microbiota structure, exerting anti-obesity effects. More importantly, GH promoted obese mice appetite with orexin-A compared to G. pentaphyllum alone. This study provided a new perspective on the development of G. pentaphyllum functional foods with both good organoleptic performance and obesity therapy.

The Antioxidant Activity of Thymus serpyllum Extract Protects against the Inflammatory State and Modulates Gut Dysbiosis in Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice

Nowadays, there is an increasing interest in alternative therapies in the treatment of metabolic syndrome that combine efficacy and safety profiles. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of an extract of Thymus serpyllum, containing rosmarinic acid, on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mice, highlighting the impact of its antioxidant activity on the inflammatory status and gut dysbiosis. The extract was administered daily (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg) in HFD-fed mice. The treatment reduced body weight gain, glucose and lipid metabolic profiles. Moreover, the extract ameliorated the inflammatory status, with the c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JUNK) pathway being involved, and showed a significant antioxidant effect by the reduction of radical scavenging activity and the mitigation of lipid peroxidation. Moreover, the extract was able to modulate the altered gut microbiota, restoring microbial richness and diversity, and augmenting the counts of short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria, which have been associated with the maintenance of gut permeability and weight regulation. In conclusion, the antioxidant activity of Thymus serpyllum extract displayed a positive impact on obesity and its metabolic alterations, also reducing systemic inflammation. These effects may be mediated by modulation of the gut microbiota.

The Microbiota and It’s Correlation With Metabolites in the Gut of Mice With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

In recent years, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common liver disease in the world. As an important model animal, the characteristics of gut microbiota alteration in mice with NAFLD have been studied but the changes in metabolite abundance in NAFLD mice and how the gut microbiota affects these intestinal metabolites remain unclear. In this experiment, a mouse model for NAFLD was established by a high-fat diet. The use of 16S rDNA technology showed that while there were no significant changes in the alpha diversity in the cecum of NAFLD mice, the beta diversity changed significantly. The abundance of Blautia, Unidentified-Lachnospiraceae, Romboutsia, Faecalibaculum, and Ileibacterium increased significantly in NAFLD mice, while Allobaculum and Enterorhabdus decreased significantly. Amino acids, lipids, bile acids and nucleotide metabolites were among the 167 significantly different metabolites selected. The metabolic pathways of amino acids, SFAs, and bile acids were significantly enhanced, while the metabolic pathways of PUFAs, vitamins, and nucleotides were significantly inhibited. Through correlation and MIMOSA2 analysis, it is suggested that gut microbiota does not affect the changes of lipids and bile acids but can reduce thiamine, pyridoxine, and promote L-phenylalanine and tyramine production. The findings of this study will help us to better understand the relationship between gut microbiota and metabolites in NAFLD.

Relationship between gut microbiome characteristics and the effect of nutritional therapy on glycemic control in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the characteristics of gut microbiome and the effect of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) on glycemic control in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Seventy-four pregnant women newly diagnosed with GDM received MNT for one-week. The effect of glycemic control was evaluated by fasting and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose; and stool samples of pregnant women were collected to detect the gut microbiome before and after MNT. We used a nested case-control study design, with pregnant women with GDM who did not meet glycemic standards after MNT as the ineffective group and those with an age difference of ≤5 years, matched for pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) 1:1, and meeting glycemic control criteria as the effective group. Comparison of the gut microbiome characteristics before MNT showed that the ineffective group was enriched in Desulfovibrio, Aeromonadales, Leuconostocaceae, Weissella, Prevotella, Bacillales_Incertae Sedis XI, Gemella and Bacillales, while the effective group was enriched in Roseburia, Clostridium, Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacteriales, Bifidobacteriaceae, Holdemania and Proteus. After treatment, the effective group was enriched in Bifidobacterium and Actinomycete, while the ineffective group was enriched in Holdemania, Proteus, Carnobacteriaceae and Granulicatella. In conclusion, the decrease in the abundance of characteristic gut microbiome positively correlated with blood glucose may be a factor influencing the poor hypoglycemic effect of MNT in pregnant women with GDM. Abundance of more characteristic gut microbiome negatively correlated with blood glucose could help control blood glucose in pregnant women with GDM.

Metabolomics Analysis Reveals the Effects of Compound Fuzhuan Brick Tea (CFBT) on Regulating Dyslipidemia and Metabolic Disorders in Mice Induced by High-Fat Diet

Background: It is well known that obesity induced by high-fat diet (HFD) poses a serious threat to people’s health. Fuzhuan brick tea, one of the most popular beverages, is reported to possess a significant effect on regulating lipid metabolism, attributed to its many bioactive ingredients. However, the efficacy and mechanism of compound Fuzhuan brick tea (CFBT) made from Fuzhuan brick tea and other six Chinese herbal medicines are still not well defined. Methods: Sixty mice were divided into six groups: normal control group (CK), high-fat model group (NK), positive control group with anti-hyperlipidemic drug (YK), CFBT at low-(FL), medium-(FM) and high-(FH) dosage. Intervening for 30 days, conventional indexes analysis combined with metabolomics were performed to evaluate the changes in biochemical indexes and liver metabolic profiles in mice submitted to HFD. Results: CFBT treatment was able to ameliorate obesity, serum biochemical parameters, antioxidant activity and hepatic steatosis. In addition, significant alterations in the liver tissue metabolic profiles were observed, with most of these associated with inflammation, glucose and lipid metabolism. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that consumption of CFBT is capable of preventing dyslipidemia, reducing weight gain, restoring liver injury, as well as improving metabolic disorders.

Pueraria lobata Targeted Preparation Improves the Clinical Symptoms of Cervical Spondylosis by Regulating the Balance of Gut Microbiota

BACKGROUND

Nanotargeted preparations can enhance the safety and effectiveness of medication by altering the pharmacokinetic behavior of drugs in the human body, and Pueraria lobata is shown to be effective in the treatment of neck and back pain.

PURPOSE

This study prepared a nano-Pueraria targeted preparation, in order to analyze its effect on improving the clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis by adjusting the balance of intestinal flora.

METHODS

A total of 200 patients with cervical spondylosis admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine were enrolled and divided into an observation group and a control group. The control group was given Tuina therapy, and the observation group was given nano-Pueraria targeted preparation + Tuina therapy. The clinical symptoms and intestinal microflora of the two groups were examined before intervention.

RESULTS

It was found that the markedly effective of treatment efficacy of the observation group (98%) was higher than that of the control group (78%) after 15 days of intervention, and the clinical symptoms were obviously fewer than those of the control group. The distribution of gut microbiota showed that there were significant differences in the composition of gut microbiota between the two groups. Compared with the control group, the abundance of Firmicutes in the observation group was significantly higher, while the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria was significantly lower.

CONCLUSION

The targeted preparation of nano-Pueraria can improve the clinical symptoms of patients with cervical spondylosis by adjusting the balance of gut microbiota.

Sesquiterpene glycoside isolated from loquat leaf targets gut microbiota to prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus in db/db mice

• SG1 prevents obesity, ameliorates insulin resistance, and reduces systemic inflammation. • SG1 keeps the gut microbial diversity. •The efficacy of SG1 in the treatment of T2DM is strongly linked with the enhancement of several gut genera.

Hypothalamic Overexpression of Neurosecretory Protein GL Leads to Obesity in Male C57BL/6J Mice

INTRODUCTION

The mechanisms underlying obesity are not fully understood, necessitating the creation of novel animal models for the investigation of metabolic disorders. We have previously found that neurosecretory protein GL (NPGL), a newly identified hypothalamic neuropeptide, is involved in feeding behavior and fat accumulation in rats. However, the impact of NPGL on obesity remains unclear in any animal model. The present investigation sought to elucidate whether NPGL causes obesity in the obesity-prone mouse strain C57BL/6J.

METHODS

We overexpressed the NPGL-precursor gene (Npgl) in the hypothalamus using adeno-associated virus in male C57BL/6J mice fed normal chow (NC) or a high-calorie diet (HCD). After 9 weeks of Npgl overexpression, we measured adipose tissues, muscle, and several organ masses in addition to food intake and body mass. To assess the effects of Npgl overexpression on peripheral tissues, we analyzed mRNA expression of lipid metabolism-related genes by quantitative RT-PCR. Whole body energy consumption was assessed using an O2/CO2 metabolism measurement before an apparent increase in body mass.

RESULTS

Npgl overexpression increased food intake, body mass, adipose tissues and liver masses, and food efficiency under both NC and HCD, resulting in obesity observable within 8 weeks. Furthermore, we observed fat accumulation in adipose tissues and liver. Additionally, mRNA expression of lipid metabolism-related factors was increased in white adipose tissue and the liver after Npgl overexpression. Npgl overexpression inhibited energy expenditure during a dark period.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, the present study suggests that NPGL can act as an obesogenic factor that acts within a short period of time in mice. As a result, this Npgl overexpression-induced obesity can be widely applied to study the etiology of obesity from genes to behavior.

Bioactive compounds from Prosthechea karwinskii decrease obesity, insulin resistance, pro-inflammatory status, and cardiovascular risk in Wistar rats with metabolic syndrome

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The orchid Prosthechea karwinskii is a species endemic to Mexico, which is used in traditional medicine to lower glucose levels in patients with diabetes, and to treat inflammation-related problems. Recent studies have shown that this orchids can reduce glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in Wistar rats, which were previously induced to have metabolic syndrome (MS).

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the effect of P. karwinskii leaves extract on the components of metabolic syndrome: obesity, insulin resistance, pro-inflammatory status, and cardiovascular risk in a Wistar rat model, and to identify the bioactive compounds in the extract.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

UPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS/MS was used to identify the compounds present in the extract. MS was induced in Wistar rats through administration of a 40% sucrose diet for 20 weeks. The rats were divided into five groups that received different treatments for 4 weeks: one group without any treatment, one group receiving metformin (200 mg/kg p.o.), and three groups receiving different doses of P. karwinskii leaves extract (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg p.o.). The animals' body weights were recorded weekly, and at the end of the experiment, they were sacrificed after fasting for 18 h to determine the levels of glucose, insulin, insulin resistance index, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and adiponectin in the serum, as well as levels of TNF-α and HS-CRP in the serum and liver homogenates. The abdominal and pericardial fat weights were also recorded.

RESULTS

The main bioactive compounds of the extract were quinic acid, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, kaempferol-3-o-β-rutinoside, and embelin, known to exhibit MS-related bioactivity. Oral administration of P. karwinskii leaves extract at a dose of 300 mg/kg decreased weight gain, abdominal and pericardial fat deposits, and insulin resistance. At the end of the treatment, levels of triglycerides, TNF-α, HS-CRP, and adiponectin returned to levels similar to normal.

CONCLUSION

P. karwinskii extract (300 mg/kg) had an anti-obesity effect, decreased insulin resistance, pro-inflammatory status, and cardiovascular risk in rats with induced MS by increasing adiponectin levels and decreasing TNF-α and HS-CRP levels. The compounds identified in the extract could be responsible for these effects, acting alone or in synergy, as several compounds in the extract are known to have MS-related bioactivity. The foliar extract of P. karwinskii has potential as an effective alternative to a cocktail of drugs used to treat problems associated with MS.

Ruminant fat intake improves gut microbiota, serum inflammatory parameter and fatty acid profile in tissues of Wistar rats

This study tested the hypothesis that naturally and industrially produced trans-fatty acids can exert distinct effects on metabolic parameters and on gut microbiota of rats. Wistar rats were randomized into three groups according to the diet: CONT-control, with 5% soybean oil and normal amount of fat; HVF-20% of hydrogenated vegetable fat (industrial); and RUM-20% of ruminant fat (natural). After 53 days of treatment, serum biochemical markers, fatty acid composition of liver, heart and adipose tissue, histology and hepatic oxidative parameters, as well as gut microbiota composition were evaluated. HVF diet intake reduced triglycerides (≈ 39.39%) and VLDL levels (≈ 39.49%). Trans-fatty acids levels in all tissue were higher in HVF group. However, RUM diet intake elevated amounts of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (≈ 14.7%) compared to CONT, but not to HVF. Furthermore, RUM intake led to higher concentrations of stearic acid and conjugated linoleic acid in all tissue; this particular diet was associated with a hepatoprotective effect. The microbial gut communities were significantly different among the groups. Our results show that ruminant fat reversed the hepatic steatosis normally caused by high fat diets, which may be related to the remodelling of the gut microbiota and its anti-inflammatory potential.

Comprehensive RNA-Seq Profiling Reveals Temporal and Tissue-Specific Changes in Gene Expression in Sprague-Dawley Rats as Response to Heat Stress Challenges

Understanding heat stress physiology and identifying reliable biomarkers are paramount for developing effective management and mitigation strategies. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying thermal tolerance in animals. In an experimental model of Sprague–Dawley rats subjected to temperatures of 22 ± 1°C (control group; CT) and 42°C for 30 min (H30), 60 min (H60), and 120 min (H120), RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) assays were performed for blood (CT and H120), liver (CT, H30, H60, and H120), and adrenal glands (CT, H30, H60, and H120). A total of 53, 1,310, and 1,501 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly identified in the blood (P < 0.05 and |fold change (FC)| >2), liver (P < 0.01, false discovery rate (FDR)–adjusted P = 0.05 and |FC| >2) and adrenal glands (P < 0.01, FDR-adjusted P = 0.05 and |FC| >2), respectively. Of these, four DEGs, namely Junb, P4ha1, Chordc1, and RT1-Bb, were shared among the three tissues in CT vs. H120 comparison. Functional enrichment analyses of the DEGs identified in the blood (CT vs. H120) revealed 12 biological processes (BPs) and 25 metabolic pathways significantly enriched (FDR = 0.05). In the liver, 133 BPs and three metabolic pathways were significantly detected by comparing CT vs. H30, H60, and H120. Furthermore, 237 BPs were significantly (FDR = 0.05) enriched in the adrenal glands, and no shared metabolic pathways were detected among the different heat-stressed groups of rats. Five and four expression patterns (P < 0.05) were uncovered by 73 and 91 shared DEGs in the liver and adrenal glands, respectively, over the different comparisons. Among these, 69 and 73 genes, respectively, were proposed as candidates for regulating heat stress response in rats. Finally, together with genome-wide association study (GWAS) results in cattle and phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) analysis in humans, five genes (Slco1b2, Clu, Arntl, Fads1, and Npas2) were considered as being associated with heat stress response across mammal species. The datasets and findings of this study will contribute to a better understanding of heat stress response in mammals and to the development of effective approaches to mitigate heat stress response in livestock through breeding.

Lycium ruthenicum Anthocyanins Attenuate High-Fat Diet-Induced Colonic Barrier Dysfunction and Inflammation in Mice by Modulating the Gut Microbiota

SCOPE

Gut barrier dysfunction and inflammation originating from a dysbiotic gut microbiota (GM) are strongly associated with a high-fat diet (HFD). Anthocyanins from Lycium ruthenicum (ACs) show antiobesity effects through modulating the GM. However, the mechanism linking the antiobesity effects of ACs and GM modulation remains obscure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To investigate the ameliorative effects of ACs on colonic barrier dysfunction and inflammation, mice are fed an HFD with or without ACs at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg kg-1 for 12 weeks. AC supplementation reduced weight gain, enriched short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria (e.g., Ruminococcaceae, Muribaculaceae, Akkermansia, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, and Bacteroides) and SCFA content, depleted endotoxin-producing bacteria (e.g., Helicobacter and Desulfovibrionaceae), and decreased endotoxin (i.e., lipopolysaccharide) levels. SCFAs substantially activated G protein-coupled receptors (GPRs), inhibited histone deacetylases (HDAC), increased intestinal tight junction mRNA and protein expression levels, reduced intestinal permeability, and protected intestinal barrier integrity in HFD-induced mice. These effects mitigate intestinal inflammation by inhibiting the LPS/NF-κB/TLR4 pathway.

CONCLUSION

These data indicates that ACs can mitigate colonic barrier dysfunction and inflammation, induce SCFA production and inhibit endotoxin production by modulating the GM in HFD-fed mice. This finding provides a clue for understanding the antiobesity effects of ACs.

Ligustrum robustum (Roxb.) blume extract modulates gut microbiota and prevents metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet-fed mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In Chinese folk medicine, Ligustrum robustum (Roxb.) Blume has been widely used as a healthy tea beverage for improvement in obesity and lipidemic metabolic disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We aimed to investigate the effect of L. robustum extract (LRE) on metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and to explore the underlying role of gut microbiota during the treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The ground dried leaves of L. robustum (Roxb.) Blume were extracted with ethanol and then purified by a resin column. The composition of L. robustum extract (LRE) was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). C57BL/6 J mice fed with HFD were treated with LRE for 16 weeks. RT-qPCR and morphological staining were utilized to reveal the impact of LRE on hepatic glucolipid metabolism and gut integrity. The next-generation sequencing of 16 S rDNA was applied for analyzing the gut microbial community of fecal samples.

RESULTS

LRE, mainly composed of ligupurpuroside A and aceteoside, alleviated insulin resistance, improved hepatic metabolism, enhanced intestinal integrity, and suppressed inflammatory responses in HFD-fed mice. Moreover, LRE treatment reshaped the gut microbiota structure by increasing the levels of genera Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Mucispirillum and decreasing the populations of Alistipes and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group in HFD-fed mice. The alteration of gut microbiota was associated with several metabolic pathways of gut bacteria. Spearman's correlation analysis further confirmed the links between the changed intestinal bacteria and multiple disease indices.

CONCLUSIONS

LRE prevented gut microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic disorder in HFD-fed mice, which helps to promote the application in LRE-mediated prevention from metabolic syndrome as a gut microbial regulator.

Pivotal Role of the Interaction Between Herbal Medicines and Gut Microbiota on Disease Treatment

With the recognition of the important role of gut microbiota in both health and disease progression, attempts to modulate its composition, as well as its co-metabolism with the organism, have attracted special attention. Abundant studies have demonstrated that dysfunction or imbalance of gut microbiota is closely related to disease progression, including endocrine diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, tumors, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Herbal medicines have been applied to prevent and treat diseases worldwide for hundreds of years. Although the underlying mechanism seems to be complex, one of the important ones is through modulating gut microbiota. In this review, co-metabolism between herbal medicines and microbiota, as well as the potential pathways are summarized from most recent published papers.

Therapeutic mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine to improve metabolic diseases via the gut microbiota

Metabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia are associated with the dysfunction of gut microbiota. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have shown considerable effects in the treatment of metabolic disorders by regulating the gut microbiota. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Studies have shown that TCMs significantly affect glucose and lipid metabolism by modulating the gut microbiota, particularly mucin-degrading bacteria, bacteria with anti-inflammatory properties, lipopolysaccharide- and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, and bacteria with bile-salt hydrolase activity. In this review, we explored potential mechanisms by which TCM improved metabolic disorders via regulating gut microbiota composition and functional structure. In particular, we focused on the protection of the intestinal barrier function, modulation of metabolic endotoxemia and inflammatory responses, regulation of the effects of SCFAs, modulation of the gut-brain axis, and regulation of bile acid metabolism and tryptophan metabolism as therapeutic mechanisms of TCMs in metabolic diseases.

Chicoric Acid Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease via the AMPK/Nrf2/NFκB Signaling Pathway and Restores Gut Microbiota in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Mice

This study examines the effects of chicoric acid (CA) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in high-fat-diet- (HFD-) fed C57BL/6 mice. CA treatment decreased body weight and white adipose weight, mitigated hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, and reduced hepatic steatosis in HFD-fed mice. Moreover, CA treatment reversed HFD-induced oxidative stress and inflammation both systemically and locally in the liver, evidenced by the decreased serum malondialdehyde (MDA) abundance, increased serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, lowered in situ reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the liver, decreased serum and hepatic inflammatory cytokine levels, and reduced hepatic inflammatory cell infiltration in HFD-fed mice. In addition, CA significantly reduced lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in palmitic acid- (PA-) treated HepG2 cells. In particular, we identified AMPK as an activator of Nrf2 and an inactivator of NFκB. CA upregulated AMPK phosphorylation, the nuclear protein level of Nrf2, and downregulated NFκB protein level both in HFD mice and PA-treated HepG2 cells. Notably, AMPK inhibitor compound C blocked the regulation of Nrf2 and NFκB, as well as ROS overproduction mediated by CA in PA-treated HepG2 cells, while AMPK activator AICAR mimicked the effects of CA. Similarly, Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 partly blocked the regulation of antioxidative genes and ROS overproduction by CA in PA-treated HepG2 cells. Interestingly, high-throughput pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA suggested that CA could increase Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio and modify gut microbial composition towards a healthier microbial profile. In summary, CA plays a preventative role in the amelioration of oxidative stress and inflammation via the AMPK/Nrf2/NFκB signaling pathway and shapes gut microbiota in HFD-induced NAFLD.

Integrative analysis of hepatic metabolomic and transcriptomic data reveals potential mechanism of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in high-fat diet-fed mice

BACKGROUND

Due to the complex pathogenesis, the molecular mechanism of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to reveal the comprehensive metabolic and signaling pathways in the occurrence of NASH.

METHODS

C57BL/6 mice were treated with high-fat diet for 4 months to mimic the NASH phenotype. After the treatment, the physiochemical parameters were evaluated, and the liver tissues were prepared for untargeted metabolomic analysis with ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Then, three relevant Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were selected for integrative analysis of differentiated messenger RNA and metabolites.

RESULTS

The levels of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) (16:1(9Z)/20:4(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)), oleic acid, and sphingomyelin (SM) (d18:0/12:0) were significantly increased, and the content of adenosine was severely reduced in NASH mice. The integrated interpretation of transcriptomic and metabolomic data indicated that the glycerophospholipid metabolism and necroptosis signaling were evidently affected in the development of NASH. The high level of SM (d18:0/12:0) may be related to the expression of acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase), and the elevated arachidonic acid was coordinated with the upregulation of cytosol phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in the necroptosis pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the inflammatory response, necroptosis, and glycerophospholipid may serve as potential targets for mechanistic exploration and clinical practice in the treatment of NASH.

Modeling Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rodents

Standardized animal models represent one of the most valuable tools available to understand the mechanism underlying the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and to seek for new therapeutic strategies. However, there is considerable variability in the studies conducted with this essential purpose. This review presents an updated discussion of the most recent studies using diverse experimental conditions to induce MetS in rodents with unbalanced diets, discusses the key findings in metabolic outcomes, and critically evaluates what we have been learned from them and how to advance in the field. The study includes scientific reports sourced from the Web of Science and PubMed databases, published between January 2013 and June 2020, which used hypercaloric diets to induce metabolic disorders, and address the impact of the diet on metabolic parameters. The collected data are used as support to discuss variables such as sex, species, and age of the animals, the most favorable type of diet, and the ideal diet length to generate metabolic changes. The experimental characteristics propose herein improve the performance of a preclinical model that resembles the human MetS and will guide researchers to investigate new therapeutic alternatives with confidence and higher translational validity.

Osteoprotective effect of green tea polyphenols and annatto-extracted tocotrienol in obese mice is associated with enhanced microbiome vitamin K2 biosynthetic pathways

The role of the gut microbiome in bone health has received significant attention in the past decade. We investigated the effects of green tea polyphenols (GTP) and annatto-extracted tocotrienols (AT) on bone properties and gut microbiome in obese mice. Male mice were assigned to a two (no AT vs. 400 mg/kg diet AT) × two (no GTP vs. 0.5% w/v GTP) factorial design, namely control, G, T, and G+T group respectively, for 14 weeks. The 4th lumbar vertebra (LV-4) and femur were harvested for bone microstructural analysis using μ-CT. Microbiome analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of cecal feces was performed. AT increased bone volume at distal femur. GTP increased serum procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide concentration, bone volume at the distal femur and the LV-4, and trabecular number at distal femur; whereas GTP decreased trabecular separation at distal femur. Interactions between GTP and AT were observed in serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen level (control>G=T=G+T) as well as the cortical bone area (control<G=T=G+T) and thickness (T≥G+T≥G≥control) at femur mid-diaphysis. Redundancy analysis showed a significant difference in the gut microbiome profile among different groups and the relative abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, Clostridum saccharogumia, and Subdoligranulum variabile was increased in the GTP- and AT-supplemented groups. Functional profiling of the gut microbiome showed the combination of GTP and AT induced biosynthetic pathways for vitamin K₂. Our results suggest that GTP and AT supplementation benefits bone properties in obese mice through modifying gut microbiome composition and function.

Long-Term Consumption of 2-O-β-d-Glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic Acid from the Fruits of Lycium barbarum Modulates Gut Microbiota in C57BL/6 Mice

The modulating effect of 2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic acid (AA-2βG), a natural derivative of ascorbic acid from the fruits of Lycium barbarum, on mice gut microbiota was investigated in the present study. It was found that AA-2βG was able to adjust the structure of mice gut microbiota, elevated the relative abundances of Verrucomicrobia, Porphyromonadaceae, Verrucomicrobiaceae, and Erysipelotrichaceae, and meanwhile reduced the relative abundances of Firmicutes, Lachnospiraceae, Rikenellaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Bdellovibrionaceae, Anaeroplasmataceae, and Peptococcaceae. Through the linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis, the key microbiota that were found to be significantly changed after long-term consumption of AA-2βG were Ruminococcaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Rikenellaceae. In addition, AA-2βG could upregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines, promote tight junctions between intestinal cells, facilitate the generation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and upregulate the mRNA expression level of SCFAs receptors, indicating that AA-2βG might promote organism health. The results demonstrated that AA-2βG might maintain organism health by modulating gut microbiota.

High Fat High Calories Diet (HFD) Increase Gut Susceptibility to Carcinogens by Altering the Gut Microbial Community

Objective: To investigate the risk of colorectal cancer and its relationship with colonic flora and microenvironment under high-fat and high-calorie diet. Methods: Wistar rats were used to study, and they were given normal diet, high-fat diet, and dimethyl hydrazine (DMH) to induce the occurrence of colorectal cancer. Then observe the difference in tumor formation and the relationship among microbial community, inflammatory factors and metabolism. Results: No tumors were found in the normal diet group (G1) and the high-fat diet group (G3). Four nodules were found in the four rats in the normal diet + DMH group (G2) and 8 cancerous nodules were formed in 7 rats (70%) from high-fat diet + DMH group (G4). Cholesterol and TNF-α increased, IL-1, IL-6 and LEP decreased in the high-fat diet group. The difference was statistically significant. In the cancer-inducing group, only the difference in cholesterol was statistically significant. Compared with the normal diet group (G1) and the high-fat diet group (G3), the rat's gut bacterial abundance was not significantly different, but the gut flora structure was significantly changed. The content of Candida in the intestinal tract of rats in the high-fat diet group was reduced (P = 0.015), while the content of Verrucomicrobia increased (P = 0.035); In the comparison of genus content, Ruminococcus, Candida, Saccharibacteria genera incertae sedis, Enterobacter, Clostridium IV, Enterococcus, Enterorhabdus, Acetivibrio, Adlercreutzia, Lactococcus, etc., decreased significantly, while Akkermansia, Warthococcus, Staphylococcus, Butyricimonas, Clostridium XVIII, etc. increased significantly.

Conclusion: This study found that high-fat, high-calorie diet can increase the susceptibility of the intestine to carcinogenic factors. The reason may be that the high-fat diet causes the body to appear inflammatory states and microbial community imbalance, especially rumenococcus, candida, Saccharomyces, Enterobacter, Clostridium IV, Enterococcus, Enterobacter, Vibrioaceticus and other genus reduction are important links. Exploring ways to improve these floras is an important factor to improve the resistance of the intestinal tract to cancer-inducing agents.

Rotundic Acid Protects against Metabolic Disturbance and Improves Gut Microbiota in Type 2 Diabetes Rats

Rotundic acid (RA) is a major triterpene constituent in the barks of Ilex rotunda Thunb, which have been widely used to make herbal tea for health care in southern China. RA has a variety of bioactivities such as anti-inflammation and lipid-lowering effect. However, little is known about the effects and mechanisms of RA on metabolic disturbance in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its effect on gut microbiota. A T2D rat model induced by high fat diet (HFD) feeding and low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) injection was employed and RA showed multipronged effects on T2D and its complications, including improving glucolipid metabolism, lowering blood pressure, protecting against cardiovascular and hepatorenal injuries, and alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation. Furthermore, 16s rRNA gene sequencing was carried out on an Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform and RA treatment could restore the gut microbial dysbiosis in T2D rats to a certain extent. RA treatment significantly enhanced the richness and diversity of gut microbiota. At the genus level, beneficial or commensal bacteria Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Leuconostoc and Streptococcus were significantly increased by RA treatment, while RA-treated rats had a lower abundance of opportunistic pathogen Klebsiella and Proteus. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that the abundances of these bacteria were strongly correlated with various biochemical parameters, suggesting that the improvement of gut microbiota might help to prevent or attenuate T2D and its complication. In conclusion, our findings support RA as a nutraceutical agent or plant foods rich in this compound might be helpful for the alleviation of T2D and its complications through improving gut microbiota.

Osteoarthritis Is a Low-Grade Inflammatory Disease: Obesity's Involvement and Herbal Treatment

Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered a major cause of disability around the globe. This handicapping disease causes important cartilage and bone alteration that is associated with serious pains and loss of joint function. Despite its frequent association with obesity, the aetiology of OA is not fully understood. In this review, the different aspects of OA and its correlation with obesity were analysed. Through examining different mechanisms by which obesity may trigger and/or exacerbate OA, we point out some relevant signalling pathways that may evolve as candidates for pharmacological drug development. As such, we also suggest a review of different herbal medicines (HMs) and their main compounds, which specifically interfere with the identified pathways. We have shown that obesity's involvement in OA is not only limited to the mechanical weight exerted on the joints (mechanical hypothesis), but also induces an inflammatory state by different mechanisms, including increased leptin expression, compromised gut mucosa, and/or gut microbiota disruption. The main signalling pathways involved in OA inflammation, which are associated with obesity, are protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and TLR4 or DAP12. Moreover, we also underline the contamination of plant extracts with LPS as an important factor to consider when studying HM's effects on articular cells. By summarizing recent publications, this review aims at highlighting newly established aspects of obesity involvement in OA other than the mechanical one.