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Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease caused by genetic and environmental factors that has become a serious global health problem. There is evidence that gut microbiota is closely related to the occurrence and development of obesity. Erchen Decoction (ECD), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used for clinical treatment and basic research of obesity and related metabolic diseases in recent years. It can significantly improve insulin resistance (IR) and lipid metabolism disorders. However, there is no microbiological study on its metabolic regulation. In this study, we investigated the effects of ECD on obesity, especially lipid metabolism and the composition and function of gut microbiota in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, and explored the correlation between the biomarkers of gut microbiota and metabolite and host phenotype. The results showed that ECD could reduce body weight, improve IR and lipid metabolism, and reduce the concentration of free fatty acids (FFA) released from white adipose tissue (WAT) due to excessive lipolysis by interfering with the insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1)/protein kinase B (AKT)/protein kinase A (PKA)/hormone-sensitive triglyceride lipase (HSL) signaling pathway in ZDF rats. Additionally, ECD gradually adjusted the overall structure of changed gut microbiota, reversed the relative abundance of six genera, and changed the function of gut microbiota by reducing the content of propionic acid, a metabolite of gut microbiota, in ZDF rats. A potentially close relationship between biomarkers, especially , , and , propionic acid and host phenotypes were demonstrated through correlation analysis. The results suggested that the beneficial effects of ECD on obesity, especially lipid metabolism disorders, are related to the regulation of gut microbiota in ZDF rats. This provides a basis for further research on the mechanism and clinical application of ECD to improve obesity via gut microbiota.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.647529 | DOI Listing |
J Fish Dis
September 2025
Guangdong Provincial Water Environment and Aquatic Products Security Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases and Waterfowl Breeding, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, Guangdong
Vibrio infections cause enteritis in grouper fish, leading to high mortality and stunted growth, which is a major challenge for aquaculture. Oligochitosans, marine prebiotics with bioactive properties, have proven their potential for growth promotion and immune regulation. However, the impacts of Vibrio harveyi on the gut microbiome of grouper fish and the potential of oligochitosans to modulate these effects remain poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFZhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban
May 2025
Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Objectives: Recent evidence suggests that the gut may be a primary site of metformin action. However, studies on the effects of metformin on gut microbiota remain limited, and its impact on gut microbial metabolites such as short-/medium-chain fatty acids is unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of metformin on gut microbiota, short-/medium-chain fatty acids, and associated metabolic benefits in high-fat diet rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAPMIS
September 2025
Department of Chemistry, PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Kefir grains offer numerous health benefits, including boosting the immune system, alleviating digestive issues, and enhancing antimicrobial activity. They are rich in beneficial probiotic bacteria that promote gut health and support a balanced intestinal microbiota. "Beta-lactoglobulin (β-lg), a well-known milk protein," is used to create nanofibril structures that can serve as scaffolds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Obes Metab Syndr
September 2025
Center of Excellence in Digestive diseases and Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.
Background: The gut microbiota plays a vital role in various physiological processes, including metabolism. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) involves transferring fecal matter from a healthy donor to rebalance a patient's intestinal dysbiosis. The impact of FMT on metabolic syndrome (MetS) is subject to debate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Agric Food Chem
September 2025
College of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030000, China.
Atherosclerosis (AS) is increasingly recognized as a disease influenced not only by lipid metabolism and inflammation but also by the gut microbiota and their bioactive metabolites. Isoquercitrin (ISO), a natural flavonoid with food-medicine homology, has shown promising antiatherosclerotic potential, yet its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, ISO administration significantly reduced plaque burden, improved lipid profiles, and restored gut microbial balance by enriching beneficial taxa, such as , , and .
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