Cordyceps guangdongensis lipid-lowering formula alleviates fat and lipid accumulation by modulating gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in high-fat diet mice

Abstract

Obesity has caused serious health and economic problems in the world. Cordyceps guangdongensis is a high-value macrofungus with broad application potential in the food and bio-medicine industry. This current study aimed to estimate the role of C. guangdongensis lipid-lowering compound formula (CGLC) in regulating fat and lipid accumulation, gut microbiota balance, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents, and expression levels of genes involved in fat and lipid metabolism in high-fat diet (HFD) mice. The results showed that CGLC intervention markedly reduced body weights and fat accumulation in HFD mice, improved glucose tolerance and blood lipid levels, and decreased lipid droplet accumulation and fat vacuole levels in the liver. CGLC decreased the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and increased the relative abundances of Bacteroides (B. acidifaciens) and Bifidobacterium (B. pseudolongum). In addition, CGLC treatment significantly promoted the production of SCFAs and regulated the relative expression levels of genes involved in fat and lipid metabolism in liver. Association analysis showed that several species of Bacteroides and most of SCFAs were significantly associated with serum lipid indicators. These results suggested that CGLC is a novel candidate formulation for treating obesity and non-alcohol fatty liver by regulating gut microbiota, SCFAs, and genes involved in fat and lipid metabolism.

Exploring global research status and trends in anti-obesity effects of traditional Chinese medicine through intestinal microbiota: a bibliometric study

“…Other studies have reported similar benefits from the consumption of ginger, which increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium and SCFA-producing bacteria like Alloprevotella and Allobaculum (Wang et al, 2020). In addition, the Cordyceps guangdongensis lipid-lowering formula regulated the IM and SCFAs, affecting the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes mRNA, such as upregulating Pnliprp1, Pnliprp2, and Ppard, and down-regulating Cidea and Cidec (Wang et al, 2022). Other studies have shown that Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Decoction improves high blood sugar levels and insulin resistance in rats by increasing SCFAs and antiinflammatory bacteria such as Parabacteroides, Blautia, Akkermansia, and reducing conditional pathogens such as Aerococcus, Staphylococcus, and Corynebacterium (Chen et al, 2018).…”

“…At the same time, WEGL can not only reverse the intestinal microbial imbalance induced by HFD, such as the decrease F/B ratio and the level of endotoxin-containing Proteobacteria but also maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier and alleviate metabolic endotoxemia (Chang et al, 2015). Crocin-I alleviated intestinal microbial diseases, decreased the F/B ratio and the abundance of Proteobacteria, decreased the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, up-regulated the expression of occludin, Muc1, and Muc2 in colon tissue, increased the levels of SCFAs in the colon, and improved intestinal barrier function and colon tissue inflammation (Xie et al, 2022). In addition, the IM can interact with other organs, such as the liver, brain, and immune system, through various signaling pathways (Anlu et al, 2019).…”

Evaluation of Cordyceps sinensis Quality in 15 Production Areas Using Metabolomics and the Membership Function Method

“…Hypoxia leads to the inhibition of glycolysis and the TCA cycle. To obtain more energy, C. sinensis undergoes anaerobic respiration and accumulates more fatty acid compounds, which are involved in the fatty acid metabolism and synthesis [45,46]. At the same time, it leads to the accumulation of superoxide anions and oxygen-free radicals in C. sinensis.…”

An overview of traditional Chinese medicine affecting gut microbiota in obesity

“…Heat-treated adzuki SCFAs (98) Inhibits pathways leading to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines; reduces LPS, thereby reducing chronic low-grade inflammation The TCM compounds can regulate the abundance of gut microbiota and lipid metabolism to treat obesity. In the mechanism involving the regulation of gut microbiota abundance, SCFAs, and genes involved in lipid metabolism, the Cordyceps guangdongensis lipid-lowering formula dramatically reduced weight and fat accumulation in high-fat diet mice (86). By lowering total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels and increasing the quantity and variety of gut microbiota, the Jian Pi Tiao Gan Yin medicine helps mice with obesity (109).…”