Importance of Dendrobium officinale in improving the adverse effects of high-fat diet on mice associated with intestinal contents microbiota

A growing body of evidence suggests that the disturbance of intestinal microbiota induced by high-fat diet is the main factor causing many diseases. Dendrobium officinale (DO), a medicinal and edible homologous Chinese herbal medicine, plays essential role in regulating intestinal microbiota. However, the extent of DO on the intestinal contents microbiota in mice fed with a high-fat diet still remains unclear. Therefore, this study explored the role of intestinal contents microbiota in the regulation of adverse effects caused by high-fat diet by DO from the perspective of intestinal microecology. Twenty-four mice were randomly distributed into the normal saline-treated basal diet (bcn), normal saline-treated high-fat diet (bmn), 2.37 g kg−1 days−1 DO traditional decoction-treated high-fat diet (bdn) and 1.19 g kg−1 days−1 lipid-lowering decoction-treated high-fat diet (bjn) groups for 40 days. Subsequently, we assessed the changes in body weight, serum total cholesterol (TC), total triacylglycerol (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, and the characteristics of intestinal contents microbiota. Results demonstrated that DO exerted the modulating effect on the changes in body weight, TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels. Besides, DO decreased the richness and diversity of intestinal contents microbiota, and altered the structure as a whole. Dominant bacteria, Ruminococcus and Oscillospira, varied significantly and statistically. Moreover, DO influenced the carbohydrate, amino acid, and energy metabolic functions. Furthermore, Ruminococcus and Oscillospira presented varying degrees of inhibition/promotion of TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C. Consequently, we hypothesized that Ruminococcus and Oscillospira, as dominant bacteria, played key roles in the treatment of diseases associated with a high-fat diet DO

Toxicity evaluation of processing Evodiae fructus based on intestinal microbiota

BackgroundWith the development of healthcare services, drug efficacy, and safety have become the focus of drug use, and processing alters drug toxicity and efficacy, exploring the effects of processing on Evodiae fructus (EF) can guide the clinical use of drugs.MethodsFifty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into the control group (CCN), raw small-flowered EF group (CRSEF), raw medium-flowered EF group (CRMEF), processing small-flowered EF group (CPSEF), and processing medium-flowered EF group (CPMEF). The CRSEF, CRMEF, CPSEF, and CPMEF groups were gavaged with aqueous extracts of raw small-flowered EF dry paste (RSEF), medium-flowered EF dry paste (RMEF), processing small-flowered EF dry paste (PSEF) and processing medium-flowered EF dry paste (PMEF), respectively, for 21 days at 5 times the pharmacopeial dosage. Upon concluding the experiment, histopathological sections of liver and kidney tissues were examined. Additionally, levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum creatinine (SCr), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were determined. DNA from the intestinal contents of the mice was extracted, and 16S rRNA full-length high-throughput sequencing was performed.ResultsAfter fed EF 21 days, mice exhibited a decreasing trend in body weight. Comparative analysis with the CCN group revealed an upward trend in SCr, BUN, AST, and ALT levels in both CRSEF and CRMEF groups. The CRMEF group displayed notably elevated BUN and AST levels, with an observed increasing trend in Scr and ALT. Kidney sections unveiled cellular edema and considerable inflammatory cell infiltrates, whereas significant liver damage was not evident. Compared with CRSEF, Bun levels were significantly lower while AST levels were significantly higher in the CPMEF group. Additionally, the intestinal microbiota diversity and the relative abundance of Psychrobacter decreased significantly, and the relative abundance of Staphylococcus, Jeotgalicoccus, and Salinicoccus increased significantly in the CPMEF group. AST, ALT, and SCr were positively correlated with Staphylococcus, Jeotgalicoccus, and Salinicoccus.ConclusionIn conclusion, PMEF significantly increased harmful bacteria (Staphylococcus, Jeotgalicoccus, and Salinicoccu) and decreased beneficial bacteria. SEF with 5 times the clinical dose showed nephrotoxicity and SEF nephrotoxicity decreased after processing, but EF hepatotoxicity was not significant, which may be due to insufficient dose concentration and time

Baohe pill decoction treats diarrhea induced by high-fat and high-protein diet by regulating lactase-producing bacteria in intestinal mucosa

IntroductionThis study aimed to investigate the effects of Baohe pill decoction (BPD) on microbial, lactase activity, and lactase-producing bacteria in the intestinal mucosa of mice with diarrhea induced by high-fat and high-protein diet (HFHPD).MethodsThirty male Kunming (KM) mice were randomly divided into normal (NM), model (MD), and BPD groups. Diarrhea models were manufactured using HFHPD combined with a gavage of vegetable oil. At the end of modeling, the BPD group was given BPD (6.63 g·kg−1d−1) intervention twice daily for 3 d. The NM and MD groups were given equal amounts of sterile water. Subsequently, the intestinal mucosa of the mice was collected, one portion was used for microbial and lactase activity measurement, and the other portion was used for its lactase-producing bacterial characteristics by high-throughput sequencing technology.ResultsOur results showed that microbial and lactase activity of intestinal mucosa decreased significantly following diarrhea in mice (Pmicrobial < 0.05, Plactase < 0.001). After BPD intervention, microbial and lactase activity increased significantly (P < 0.01). The number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), richness, and diversity index of lactase-producing bacteria increased in the BPD group compared to the MD group (P > 0.05), and the community structure were significant differences (P < 0.01). Compared to other groups, Saccharopolyspora, Rhizobium, Cedecea, and Escherichia were enriched in the BPD group. Notably, the relative abundance of the dominant lactase-producing genus Bifidobacterium decreased after BPD intervention.DiscussionThe mechanism of BPD in relieving diarrhea induced by HFHPD is closely related to the promotion of lactase activity in the intestinal mucosa, which may be achieved by regulating the structure of lactase-producing bacteria