Polyphenols and Polysaccharides from Morus alba L. Fruit Attenuate High-Fat Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome Modifying the Gut Microbiota and Metabolite Profile

Abstract

Morus alba L. fruit, a medicinal and edible fruit in East Asia, showed potential health-promoting effects against metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, both the protective effects and mechanism of different fractions extracted from Morus alba L. fruit against MetS remain unclear. Additionally, the gut microbiota and its metabolites are regarded as key factors in the development of MetS. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of polyphenols and polysaccharides derived from Morus alba L. fruit against MetS in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice, individually and in combination, focusing on remodeling effects on gut microbiota and metabolite profiles. In the study, polyphenols and polysaccharides derived from Morus alba L. fruit improved the traditional pharmacodynamic parameters of MetS, including reductions in body weight (BW) and fat accumulation, improvement in insulin resistance, regulation of dyslipidemia, prevention of pathological changes in liver, kidney and proximal colon tissue, and suppressive actions against oxidative stress. In particular, the group treated with polyphenols and polysaccharides in combination showed better efficacy. The relative abundance of beneficial bacterial genera Muribaculum and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group were increased to various degrees, while opportunistic pathogens such as Prevotella_2, Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium and Fusobacterium were markedly decreased after treatments. Moreover, fecal metabolite profiles revealed 23 differential metabolites related to treatments with polyphenols and polysaccharides derived from Morus alba L. fruit, individually and in combination. Altogether, these results demonstrated that polyphenols and polysaccharides derived from Morus alba L. fruit attenuated MetS in HFD-fed mice, and improved the gut microbiota composition and fecal metabolite profiles.

Functional Fermented Milk with Fruit Pulp Modulates the In Vitro Intestinal Microbiota

“…Moreover, F. prausnitzii can produce large amounts of SCFAs, especially butyrate, which is secreted into the intestinal lumen [ 103 ]. Bacteria from the Lachnospiraceae family were observed to maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier in mice, and their abundance was negatively correlated with chronic kidney disease [ 104 ].…”

“…Alistipes is a member of the Bacteroidetes phylum, Rickenellaceae family, known to be an SCFA producer; its low abundance is associated to patients with non-alcoholic fat liver disease and liver fibrosis. However, it may be pathogenic in anxiety disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression, although it exerts a protective role in the health phenotype [ 104 ]. The Flintibacter genus is characterized by rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacteria from the Ruminococcaceae family.…”

Qingrequzhuo capsule alleviated methionine and choline deficient diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice through regulating gut microbiota, enhancing gut tight junction and inhibiting the activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway

“…In summary, our results demonstrated that HD-QRQZ could regulate the disordered gut microbiota in NASH mice, and this alteration may have a potential association with improved lipid metabolism. Besides, aqueous extract of Morus alba L. could reinforce Muribaculaceae while polyphenols and polysaccharides from Morus alba L. could increase Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and decrease Faecalibaculum in mice fed with HFD ( 66 , 67 ). Coptis chinensis Franchcan could increase the abundance of Blautia in ulcerative colitis rats ( 68 ).…”

Anti-Obesity Effects of the Larval Powder of Steamed and Lyophilized Mature Silkworms in a Newly Designed Adult Mouse Model

“…Although numerous R&D achievements have been reported on obesity and its treatment to date, problems associated with obesity have not yet been fully addressed. Several studies have reported the inhibitory effects of silkworms and silkwormrelated sericultural products, such as silkworms on the 3rd day of the 5th instar larvae [17], silk peptide (SP) [18], silk sericin [19,20], silkworm pupa peptide [18,21], and mulberry leaves [22,23] and fruits [24], on obesity and/or BW gain (BWG). However, obesity-related activities have not yet been reported for MS or SMSP.…”

“…In the previous obesity-related in vivo animal studies, the age of the mice at the start of long-term drug treatment varied from study to study. In many studies, in fact, long-term administration of test agents was initiated in mice younger than 10 weeks of age [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. Adulthood in animals is biologically defined as the age at which sexual maturity is attained.…”