Modulation of the Gut Microbiota in Rats by Hugan Qingzhi Tablets during the Treatment of High‐Fat‐Diet‐Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Background Accumulative evidence showed that gut microbiota was important in regulating the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hugan Qingzhi tablet (HQT), a lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory medicinal formula, has been used to prevent and treat NAFLD. However, its mechanism of action is unknown. The aim of this study was to confirm whether HQT reversed the gut microbiota dysbiosis in NAFLD rats. Methods We established an NAFLD model of rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD), which was given different interventions, and measured the level of liver biochemical indices and inflammatory factors. Liver tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O. Changes in the gut microbiota composition were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Results The hepatic histology and biochemical data displayed that HQT exhibited protective effects on HFD-induced rats. Moreover, HQT also reduced the abundance of the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in HFD-fed rats and modified the gut microbial species at the genus level, increasing the abundances of gut microbiota which were reported to have an effect on relieving NAFLD, such as Ruminococcaceae, Bacteroidales_S24-7_group, Bifidobacteria, Alistipes, and Anaeroplasma, and significantly inhibiting the relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcus, Holdemanella, Allobaculum, and Blautia, which were reported to be potentially related to NAFLD. Spearman's correlation analysis found that [Ruminococcus]_gauvreauii_group, Lachnoclostridium, Blautia, Allobaculum, and Holdemanella exhibited significant (p < 0.001) positive correlations with triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and body weight and negative correlations with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.001). The norank_f__Bacteroidales_S24-7_group and Alistipes showed an opposite trend. Moreover, the HQT could promote flavonoid biosynthesis compared with the HFD group. Conclusion In summary, the HQT has potential applications in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD, which may be closely related to its modulatory effect on the gut microbiota.

Dysregulated Bile Acid Receptor-mediated Signaling and IL-17A Induction are Implicated in Diet-associated Hepatic Health and Cognitive Function

“…In contrast, inulin supplementation reduced Erysipelotrichaceae and Coriobacteriaceae, suggesting their roles in host lipid metabolism. It is likely that a diet rich in fat and cholesterol increased the abundances of Allobaculum, Holdemanella, and Olsenella, which obese mice and NAFLD patients also have increased abundance [51][52][53]. Our data revealed that inulin could prevent these changes along with reducing gut cholesterol and zymosterol.…”

Lonicera caerulea L. Polyphenols Alleviate Oxidative Stress‐Induced Intestinal Environment Imbalance and Lipopolysaccharide‐Induced Liver Injury in HFD‐Fed Rats by Regulating the Nrf2/HO‐1/NQO1 and MAPK Pathways

“…The results of this study are consistent with those of other studies, which reported that these microbial taxa were positively related to the factors promoting intestinal and liver OSD, such as IL‐6 and TNF‐α. [ 73‐76 ] Moreover, this study identified some specific taxa, such as Veillonellaceae , Clostridia , and Clostridiales , which are only positively correlated with the levels of ROS, and Tenericutes , which is only negatively correlated with ROS levels in the colon. Additionally, S24‐7 (phylum Bacteroidetes ), Bacteroides , Bacteroidia , and Bacteroidetes are only related to colon length.…”

Bacillus licheniformis-Fermented Products Reduce Diarrhea Incidence and Alter the Fecal Microbiota Community in Weaning Piglets

“…It has been reported that the abundance of the genus Ruminococcus gauvreauii was negatively associated with weaning body weight in meat rabbits [34]. Ruminococcus gauvreauii and Ruminococcaceae UCG-005 are positively correlated with chronic inflammation, metabolic diseases, and mycotoxin exposure in rats and weaning piglets [35,36]. In the present study, we found that the abundance of the [Ruminococcus] gauvreauii group, Ruminococcaceae UCG-005, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-008 were positively correlated with diarrhea incidence and negatively correlated with growth performance (BW, ADG, and AFI).…”