1-Deoxynojirimycin improves high fat diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by restoring gut dysbiosis

Effects of mulberry leaf powder water extract supplementation on the growth performance, immunity, antioxidant, meat quality and intestinal microbiota of yellow feather broilers

A 50-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of mulberry leaf powder water extract (MLE) on the growth performance, immunity, antioxidant, meat quality and intestinal microbiota of yellow feather broilers. A total of 720 birds (initial body weight 40.07 ± 0.05 g) were randomly distributed into four groups with six replicates per group and 30 birds per replicate. Four diets were formulated with 0% (CON), 200 mg/kg MLE (MLE200), 400 mg/kg MLE (MLE400) and 600 mg/kg MLE (MLE600) supplementation. Results showed that the addition of 200-600 mg/kg MLE to the diet significantly increased the body weight (BW) and average daily weight gain (ADG), but feed to gain ratio (F/G) were linearly decreased (p = 0.045) as dietary MLE increased. Birds fed MLE400 had higher (p < 0.05) total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), interleukin-10 (Il-10), secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and complement 3 (C3) contents than those fed CON, whereas MLE400 had lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content than CON (p < 0.05). Analysis of 16 S rDNA indicated that supplementation with 200 mg/kg MLE increased the Shannon indices in the caecum (p < 0.05). Supplementation with MLE decreased the abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria and genus Helicobacter, and increased the abundance of the phylum Bacteroidetes in the caecum in broiler chickens (p < 0.05). The drip loss rate in the MLE600 was significantly diminished (p < 0.05), whereas the shear force was significantly elevated (p < 0.05). In summary, dietary supplementation with MLE can effectively improve growth performance, intestinal immunity, serum antioxidant capacity, meat quality and intestinal microbiota of yellow feather broilers. The most appropriate MLE supplementation level was 400 mg/kg. This study provides a practical strategy for the dietary application of MLE in yellow feather broilers.

Study on the effect of licochalcone A on intestinal flora in type 2 diabetes mellitus mice based on 16S rRNA technology

Licorice, has a long history in China where it has various uses, including as a medicine, and is often widely consumed as a food ingredient. Licorice is rich in various active components, including polysaccharides, triterpenoids, alkaloids, and nucleosides, among which licochalcone A (LicA) is an active component with multiple physiological effects. Previous studies from our research group have shown that LicA can significantly improve glucose and lipid metabolism and related complications in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice. However, research on the mechanism of LicA in T2DM mice based on intestinal flora has not been carried out in depth. Therefore, in this study, LicA was taken as the research object and the effects of LicA on glucose and lipid metabolism and intestinal flora in T2DM mice induced by streptozotocin (STZ)/high-fat feed (HFD) were explored. The results indicated that LicA could reduce serum TC, TG, and LDL-C levels, increase HDL-C levels, reduce blood glucose, and improve insulin resistance and glucose tolerance. LicA also alleviated pathological damage to the liver. The results also showed that LicA significantly affected the intestinal microbiota composition and increased the α diversity index. β Diversity analysis showed that after the intervention of LicA, the composition of intestinal flora was significantly different from that in the T2DM model group. Correlation analysis showed that the changes in glucose and lipid metabolism parameters in mice were significantly correlated with the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Helicobacter, and Lachnospiraceae (p < 0.01). Analysis of key bacteria showed that LicA could significantly promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium, Turicibacter, Blautia, and Faecococcus, and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, such as Enterococcus, Dorea, and Arachnococcus. In conclusion, it was confirmed that LicA reversed the imbalanced intestinal flora, and increased the richness and diversity of the species in T2DM mice.

A Basic Study of the Effects of Mulberry Leaf Administration to Healthy C57BL/6 Mice on Gut Microbiota and Metabolites

Mulberry leaves contain α-glucosidase inhibitors, which have hypoglycemic effects and are considered functional foods. However, few reports have covered the effects of mulberry leaf components on normal gut microbiota and gut metabolites. Herein, gut microbiota analysis and NMR-based metabolomics were performed on the feces of mulberry leaf powder (MLP)-treated mice to determine the effects of long-term MLP consumption. Gut microbiota in the mouse were analyzed using 16S-rRNA gene sequencing, and no significant differences were revealed in the diversity and community structure of the gut microbiota in the C57BL/6 mice with or without MLP supplementation. Thirty-nine metabolites were identified via 1H-NMR analysis, and carbohydrates and amino acids were significantly (p < 0.01-0.05) altered upon MLP treatment. In the MLP-treated group, there was a marked increase and decrease in maltose and glucose concentrations, respectively, possibly due to the degradation inhibitory activity of oligosaccharides. After 5 weeks, all amino acid concentrations decreased. Furthermore, despite clear fluctuations in fecal saccharide concentrations, short-chain fatty acid production via intestinal bacterial metabolism was not strongly affected. This study provides the knowledge that MLP administration can alter the gut metabolites without affecting the normal gut microbiota, which is useful for considering MLP as a healthy food source.

Effect of 1-Deoxynojirimycin on insulin resistance in prediabetic mice based on next-generation sequencing and intestinal microbiota study

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), the major alkaloid in Morus alba L., is the main effective constituent in "Mulberry twig Alkaloids Tablets" launched in China in 2020. Prediabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, is regarded as the key period for reversing Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through lifestyle intervention and glucose-lowering drugs. Besides the excellent activity as an α-glucosidase inhibitor, DNJ also improves insulin sensitivity in T2DM murine models, yet the mechanism is still unclear. Besides, the pharmaceutical effect of DNJ on prediabetes is also undocumented.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmaceutical effect of DNJ on high-fat and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced prediabetes mice, and to elucidate the mechanism of insulin resistance ameliorated by DNJ.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were performed to detect blood glucose level and insulin sensitivity in mice. The levels of circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the plasma of mice were measured by limulus reagent and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and intestinal microbiota sequencing were used to screen the alterations in the transcriptome of liver tissues and to assess the differences in intestinal flora composition, respectively. Expression of cytokine signaling pathway inhibitor 3 (SOCS3), insulin receptor substrate (IRS1), p-IRS1 (Tyr896), occludin, and toll like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB signaling pathway were confirmed by western blotting.

RESULTS

Our study revealed that DNJ decreased the blood glucose level and improve insulin sensitivity in prediabetic mice. DNJ significantly reduced the relative risk of T2DM in prediabetic mice by approximately 83.7%. Mechanistically, DNJ treatment suppressed the circulating levels of LPS, IL-6, and TNF-α in plasma and decreased the inflammatory infiltration in liver and colon tissues. DNJ-treatment increased the abundance of Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus, and decreased the abundance of Enterococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae. Moreover, DNJ suppressed the expression of SOCS3 and the activity of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, meanwhile improving the expression of occludin and the ratio of p-IRS1 (Tyr896)/IRS1.

CONCLUSIONS

DNJ effectively ameliorates glucose and lipid metabolism in prediabetic mice, and decreased the relative risk of progression into T2DM from prediabetes. The suppressed immune responses play essential roles in the improvement of insulin resistance by DNJ treatment. In conclusion, DNJ from Morus alba L. is a promising alternative agent in T2DM prevention.

Ramulus Mori (Sangzhi) Alkaloids Alleviate High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have highly related mechanisms. Ramulus Mori (Sangzhi) alkaloids (SZ-A) from Morus alba L. were approved in 2020 for the treatment of T2DM. In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects and mechanism of SZ-A on obesity and NAFLD in mice. Mice (C57BL/6J) fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 14 weeks were treated with SZ-A for another 6 weeks. HFD-induced weight gain was reduced by SZ-A in a dose-dependent manner. SZ-A treatment significantly stimulated adiponectin expression and secretion in adipose tissue and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Additionally, SZ-A markedly reduced hepatic steatosis (triglyceride, total cholesterol) and expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic genes. SZ-A regulated lipid metabolism and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione (GSH)) in the liver. Palmitic acid-induced insulin resistance and lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells were also repressed by SZ-A. Collectively, SZ-A protected mice from HFD-induced NAFLD through an indirect effect of improved systemic metabolism reducing bodyweight, and a direct effect by enhancing the lipid metabolism of HepG2 cells. The weight-loss effect of SZ-A in mice was partly due to improved fatty oxidation instead of influencing food consumption.

Triclosan targeting of gut microbiome ameliorates hepatic steatosis in high fat diet-fed mice

Antibiotic use provides a promising strategy for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by regulating the gut microbiota composition. Triclosan, a widely used antibiotic, may improve gut microbiome dysbiosis associated with NAFLD through the suppression of pathogenic gram-negative bacteria. However, the effects of triclosan on gut microbiota and hepatic steatosis and have not been explored in NAFLD mouse model. In this study, C57BL/6J mice were fed with high fat diet (HFD) for continuous 20 weeks and treated with triclosan at 400 mg/kg/d for 8 weeks from week 13. We explored the effects of triclosan on hepatic lipid accumulation and gut microbiome in HFD-fed mice by histological examination and 16 S ribosomal RNA sequencing, respectively. Analysis on the composition of gut microbiota indicated that triclosan suppressed pathogenic gram-negative bacteria, including Helicobacter, Erysipelatoclostridium and Citrobacter, and increased the ratio of Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes in HFD-fed mice. Meanwhile, triclosan increased the relative abundance of beneficial gut microbiomes including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Lachnospiraceae, which protected against metabolic abnormality. The results of alpha-diversity and beta-diversity also showed the improvement of triclosan on bacterial diversity and richness in HFD-fed mice. Pathway analysis further confirmed that triclosan can regulate nutrient and energy metabolism through the elimination of deleterious bacteria. As a result, triclosan intervention significantly reduced lipid accumulation and alleviated hepatic steatosis in HFD-fed mice. In conclusion, our results suggest that triclosan can alleviate liver steatosis in HFD-fed mice by targeting the gut microbiome.

Metformin inhibits tumor growth and affects intestinal flora in diabetic tumor-bearing mice

Many studies have found that diabetes increases the risk of some cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma. However, there are few studies on the relationship between the two diseases and their effects on intestinal flora. Therefore, we used streptozotocin and high-fat diet to establish a mouse model of type 2 diabetes, and then inoculated the Huh-7 hepatocellular carcinoma cells to obtain mouse diabetic tumor model. Mice inoculated with Huh-7 cells alone served as control. The tumor size in the diabetic tumor group was significantly higher than that in the tumor group. Our study also showed that the expression levels of inflammation-related factors (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, TLR4 and MCP1) in the diabetic tumor group were significantly higher than that in the tumor group. We found that metformin alleviated blood glucose level, reduced the expressions of inflammation-related factors and retarded xenograft tumor growth in the diabetic tumor group, but it couldn't reduce the tumor growth in the tumor group. Subsequent studies found that the content of some short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) including acetic acid, propionic acid and isobutyric acid decreased significantly in diabetic tumor group. Metformin increased short chain fatty acid levels (acetic acid, butyic acid and valeric acid) and enriched the abundance of SCFA-producing bacterial genera such as Ruminococcaceae, Clostridiales, Anaerovorax, Odoribacter and Marvinbryantia. In conclusion, type 2 diabetes could promote the growth of hepatoma cells in mice. Metformin could inhibit the growth of tumor under the condition of diabetes and play a role in the intestinal homeostasis in mice.

The Beneficial Effect of Coarse Cereals on Chronic Diseases through Regulating Gut Microbiota

In recent years, chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative disorders have been the leading causes of incapacity and death globally. Increasing evidence suggests that improvements of lifestyle habits and diet is the most commonly adopted strategy for the prevention of chronic disorders. Moreover, many dietary compounds have revealed health-promoting benefits beyond their nutritional effects. It is worth noting that diet plays an important role in shaping the intestinal microbiota. Coarse cereals constitute important sources of nutrients for the gut microbiota and contribute to a healthy gut microbiome. Furthermore, the gut microbiota converts coarse cereals into functional substances and mediates the interaction between the host and these components. In this study, we summarize the recent findings concerning functional components of cereal grains and their potential chemopreventive activity via modulating the gut microbiota.

A comprehensive review on the production, pharmacokinetics and health benefits of mulberry leaf iminosugars: Main focus on 1-deoxynojirimycin, d-fagomine, and 2-O-ɑ-d-galactopyranosyl-DNJ

Mulberry leaves are rich in biologically active compounds, including phenolics, polysaccharides, and alkaloids. Mulberry leaf iminosugars (MLIs; a type of polyhydroxylated alkaloids), in particular, have been gaining increasing attention due to their health-promoting effects, including anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hypercholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory, and gut microbiota-modulatory activities. Knowledge regarding the in vivo bioavailability and bioactivity of MLIs are crucial to understand their role and function and human health. Therefore, this review is aimed to comprehensively summarize the existing studies on the oral pharmacokinetics and the physiological significance of selected MLIs (i.e.,1-deoxynojirimycin, d-fagomine, and 2-O-ɑ-d-galactopyranosyl-DNJ). Evidence have suggested that MLIs possess relatively good uptake and safety profiles, which support their prospective use for oral intake; the therapeutic potential of these compounds against metabolic and chronic disorders and the underlying mechanisms behind these effects have also been studied in in vitro and in vivo models. Also discussed are the biosynthetic pathways of MLIs in plants, as well as the agronomic and processing factors that affect their concentration in mulberry leaves-derived products.

Traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common chronic liver disease in clinical practice. It has been considered that NASH is one of the main causes of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and carcinoma. The mechanism of the NASH progression is complex, including lipid metabolism dysfunction, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, fibrosis and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Except for lifestyle modification and bariatric surgery, there has been no pharmacological therapy that is being officially approved in NASH treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as a conventional and effective therapeutic strategy, has been proved to be beneficial in treating NASH in numbers of studies. In the light of this, TCM may provide a potential therapy for treating NASH. In this review, we summarized the associated mechanisms of action TCM treating NASH in preclinical studies and systematically analysis the effectiveness of TCM treating NASH in current clinical trials.

Synthesis and glycosidase inhibition of 5-C-alkyl-DNJ and 5-C-alkyl-l-ido-DNJ derivatives

5-C-Alkyl-DNJ and 5-C-alkyl-l-ido-DNJ derivatives have been designed and synthesized efficiently from an l-sorbose-derived cyclic nitrone. The DNJ and l-ido-DNJ derivatives with C-5 alkyl chains ranging from methyl to dodecyl were assayed against various glycosidases to study the effect of chain length on enzyme inhibition. Glycosidase inhibition study of DNJ derivatives showed potent and selective inhibitions of α-glucosidase; DNJ derivatives with methyl, pentyl to octyl, undecyl and dodecyl as C-5 branched chains showed significantly improved rat intestinal maltase inhibition. In contrast, most 5-C-alkyl-l-ido-DNJ derivatives were weak or moderate inhibitors of the enzymes tested, with only three compounds found to be potent α-glucosidase inhibitors. Docking studies showed different interaction modes of 5-C-ethyl-DNJ and 5-C-octyl-DNJ with ntMGAM and also different binding modes of 5-C-alkyl-DNJ and 5-C-alkyl-l-ido-DNJ derivatives; the importance of the degree of accommodation of the C-5 substituent in the hydrophobic groove and pocket may account for the variation of glycosidase inhibition in the two series of derivatives. The results reported herein are helpful in the design and development of α-glucosidase inhibitors; this may lead to novel agents for the treatment of viral infection and type II diabetes.

The Beneficial Effects of Edible Kynurenic Acid from Marine Horseshoe Crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) on Obesity, Hyperlipidemia, and Gut Microbiota in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice

The marine horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) has been considered as food and traditional medicine for many years. Kynurenic acid (KA) was isolated from horseshoe crab in this study for the first time in the world. A previous study in 2018 reported that intraperitoneal administration of KA prevented high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced body weight gain. Now, we investigated the effects of intragastric gavage of KA on HFD mice and found that KA (5 mg/kg/day) inhibited both the body weight gain and the increase of average daily energy intake. KA reduced serum triglyceride and increased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. KA inhibited HFD-induced the increases of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, coronary artery risk index, and atherosclerosis index. KA also suppressed HFD-induced the increase of the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (two dominant gut microbial phyla). KA partially reversed HFD-induced the changes in the composition of gut microbial genera. These overall effects of KA on HFD mice were similar to that of simvastatin (positive control). But the effects of 1.25 mg/kg/day KA on HFD-caused hyperlipidemia were similar to the effects of 5 mg/kg/day simvastatin. The pattern of relative abundance in 40 key genera of gut microbiota from KA group was closer to that from the normal group than that from the simvastatin group. In addition, our in vitro results showed the potential antioxidant activity of KA, which suggests that the improvement effects of KA on HFD mice may be partially associated with antioxidant activity of KA. Our findings demonstrate the potential role of KA as a functional food ingredient for the treatment of obesity and hyperlipidemia as well as the modulation of gut microbiota.

Ligustrum robustum (Roxb.) blume extract modulates gut microbiota and prevents metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet-fed mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In Chinese folk medicine, Ligustrum robustum (Roxb.) Blume has been widely used as a healthy tea beverage for improvement in obesity and lipidemic metabolic disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We aimed to investigate the effect of L. robustum extract (LRE) on metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and to explore the underlying role of gut microbiota during the treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The ground dried leaves of L. robustum (Roxb.) Blume were extracted with ethanol and then purified by a resin column. The composition of L. robustum extract (LRE) was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). C57BL/6 J mice fed with HFD were treated with LRE for 16 weeks. RT-qPCR and morphological staining were utilized to reveal the impact of LRE on hepatic glucolipid metabolism and gut integrity. The next-generation sequencing of 16 S rDNA was applied for analyzing the gut microbial community of fecal samples.

RESULTS

LRE, mainly composed of ligupurpuroside A and aceteoside, alleviated insulin resistance, improved hepatic metabolism, enhanced intestinal integrity, and suppressed inflammatory responses in HFD-fed mice. Moreover, LRE treatment reshaped the gut microbiota structure by increasing the levels of genera Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Mucispirillum and decreasing the populations of Alistipes and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group in HFD-fed mice. The alteration of gut microbiota was associated with several metabolic pathways of gut bacteria. Spearman's correlation analysis further confirmed the links between the changed intestinal bacteria and multiple disease indices.

CONCLUSIONS

LRE prevented gut microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic disorder in HFD-fed mice, which helps to promote the application in LRE-mediated prevention from metabolic syndrome as a gut microbial regulator.

Hypoglycemic Effect of Prolamin from Cooked Foxtail Millet (Setaria italic) on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

Millet proteins have been demonstrated to possess glucose-lowering and lipid metabolic disorder modulation functions against diabetes; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their anti-diabetic effects remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of prolamin from cooked foxtail millet (PCFM) on type 2 diabetic mice, and explore the gut microbiota and serum metabolic profile changes that are associated with diabetes attenuation by PCFM. Our diabetes model was established using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin before PCFM or saline was daily administrated by gavage for 5 weeks. The results showed that PCFM ameliorated glucose metabolism disorders associated with type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, the effects of PCFM administration on gut microbiota and serum metabolome were investigated. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis indicated that PCFM alleviated diabetes-related gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice. Additionally, the serum metabolomics analysis revealed that the metabolite levels disturbed by diabetes were partly altered by PCFM. Notably, the decreased D-Glucose level caused by PCFM suggested that its anti-diabetic potential can be associated with the activation of glycolysis and the inhibition of gluconeogenesis, starch and sucrose metabolism and galactose metabolism. In addition, the increased serotonin level caused by PCFM may stimulate insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells, which contributed to its hypoglycemic effect. Taken together, our research demonstrated that the modulation of gut microbiota composition and the serum metabolomics profile was associated with the anti-diabetic effect of PCFM.

The Gut Microbiota-Produced Indole-3-Propionic Acid Confers the Antihyperlipidemic Effect of Mulberry-Derived 1-Deoxynojirimycin

Hyperlipidemia is a worldwide epidemic with an obvious gender disparity in incidence. Modulations on gut microbiota by traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) are emerging as a potential rationale governing the profitable effects of drugs on hyperlipidemia. However, it is unclear how gut microbes regulate the progression of hyperlipidemia. Here, we found that mulberry leaf extract (MLE) and its active component 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) diminished hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia with similar efficacy in male and female mice but preferentially alleviated hypercholesterolemia in female mice. Further investigations showed that DNJ sex-specifically downregulated the expression of lipogenic genes, especially cholesterol-biosynthetic genes. Oral administration of DNJ imposed more profound modulation on gut microbiota in female mice than in male ones, as estimated by 16S rRNA metatranscriptomic analysis. DNJ markedly enriched Akkermansia and Clostridium group XIVa and promoted the production of indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) in a sexually dimorphic way. Importantly, IPA tightly associates with the antihyperlipidemic effect of DNJ and exhibited a potent lipid-lowering effect both in vitro and in vivo Together, our results have established a regulatory mechanism by which DNJ sex-specifically improves hyperlipidemia, offering an in-depth theoretical basis for therapeutic exploitation of DNJ as a sex-specific intervention against hyperlipidemia.IMPORTANCE Hyperlipidemia has been intensively focused on by researchers around the world owing to its major contribution to cardiovascular diseases. Various evidence reveals that women are more susceptible than male counterparts to dyslipidemia, making sex-dependent therapeutic strategies and drugs urgently needed. In the present work, we demonstrate that DNJ, the main active component of mulberry leaves, exerts an obvious female-preferential antihyperlipidemic effect through specifically enriching Akkermansia and Clostridium XIVa and elevating an active microbial metabolite, indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), in female mice. Moreover, we have corroborated the potent lipid-lowering efficacy of IPA both in vitro and in vivo These findings not only indicate a potential mechanism by which gut microbes and their metabolites confer the beneficial role of DNJ in ameliorating hyperlipidemia but also provide an in-depth theoretical basis for therapeutic exploitation of DNJ as a female-specific intervention against hyperlipidemia.

1-Deoxynojirimycin from mulberry leaves changes gut digestion and microbiota composition in geese

This study was aimed to investigate whether 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) affects the digestion system of young geese and assess whether mulberry leaf, which contains this substance, has disadvantages that compromise its value as poultry feed. One hundred and twenty-eight 12-day-old male Wanxi white geese were randomly assigned into 4 treatment groups. The control group was fed an ordinary diet without DNJ. The other groups namely L-DNJ, M-DNJ, and H-DNJ had their basic diets supplemented with 0.05 mg/g, 0.1 mg/g, and 0.15 mg/g DNJ, respectively. The geese were fed for 6 wk, and the apparent digestibility test was conducted in the last week. Intestinal parameters, digestive organs, and enzymes were determined. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted for cecal flora composition. The results revealed that DNJ decreased body and liver weight and increased feed conversion ratio in comparison with the control (P < 0.05); however, it did not influence the weight and length of the intestine or the pancreas weight. The utilization of organic matter, metabolizable energy, ether extract, acid detergent fiber, and calcium in feed were reduced in the M-DNJ and L-DNJ groups compared with those in the control (P < 0.05); however, the utilization of crude protein was increased in all DNJ-treated groups (P < 0.01). In the H-DNJ group, the usage of soluble phosphorus was also increased (P < 0.05). High-dose DNJ increased the activity of trypsin in the pancreas but reduced those of amylase (P < 0.05) and lipase (P > 0.05) in the pancreas and duodenum. The intestinal villi were short, even impaired, in DNJ-treated groups. High-throughput sequencing data revealed that DNJ supplement reduced the α-diversity indices of the cecal microbiota. The principal component analysis further suggested a difference in community structure between the DNJ treatment groups and control. High-dose DNJ increased the relative abundance of Bacteroides, Escherichia-Shigella, and Butyricicoccus but reduced that of unclassified Ruminococcaceae compared with the control (P < 0.05). In conclusion, changes in the digestive system caused by DNJ seriously affected the metabolism of nutrients in geese and reduced their growth performance. Attention should be paid to the adverse effects of DNJ when using mulberry leaves as poultry feed.

Supplementation ofBacillus amyloliquefaciensAS385 culture broth powder containing 1-deoxynojirimycin in a high-fat diet altered the gene expressions related to lipid metabolism and insulin signaling in mice epididymal white adipose tissue

Supplementation ofBacillus amyloliquefaciensAS385 culture broth powder in high-fat diet restored adiposity, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in mice.