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

Comparison of lipidome profiles in serum from lactating dairy cows supplemented with Acremonium terrestris culture based on UPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS

This study evaluated the effects of supplementing the diet of lactating cows with Acremonium terrestris culture (ATC) on milk production, serum antioxidant capacity, inflammatory indices, and serum lipid metabolomics. Over 90 days, 24 multiparous Chinese Holstein cows in mid-lactation (108 ± 10.4 days in milk, 637 ± 25 kg body weight, 30.23 ± 3.7 kg/d milk yield) were divided into either a control diet (CON) or a diet supplemented with 30 g of ATC daily. All the data were analyzed using Student's t test with SPSS 20.0 software. The results showed that compared with CON feeding, ATC feeding significantly increased milk yield, antioxidant capacity, and immune function. Lipidome screening identified 143 lipid metabolites that differed between the two groups. Further analysis using "random forest" machine learning revealed three glycerophospholipid serum metabolites that could serve as lipid markers with a predictive accuracy of 91.67%. This study suggests that ATC can be a useful dietary supplement for improving lactational performance in dairy cows and provides valuable insights into developing nutritional strategies to maintain metabolic homeostasis in ruminants.

The "crosstalk" between gut microbiota, metabolites and genes in diet-induced hepatic steatosis mice intervened with Cordyceps guangdongensis polysaccharides

Cordyceps guangdongensis, a novel edible mushroom in China, has shown many positive health effects. In this study, we extracted the C. guangdongensis polysaccharides (CGP) from the fruiting bodies, and investigated the mechanism for CGP improved high-fat diet-induced (HFDI) metabolic diseases. We found that CGP notably reduced fat mass, improved blood lipid levels and hepatic damage, and restored the gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by high-fat diet (HFD). Metabolome analyses showed that CGP changed the composition of bile acids, and regulated HFDI metabolic disorder in hepatic tissue. Transcriptome comparison showed that the improvement of hepatic steatosis for CGP was mainly related to lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Association analysis result revealed that Odoribacter, Bifidobacterium and Bi. pseudolongum were negatively correlated to fat and blood lipid indicators, and were significantly associated with genes and metabolites related to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Collectively, these results indicate that CGP may be a promising supplement for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic diseases.

Cichorium glandulosum Ameliorates HFD-Induced Obesity in Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Bile Acids

Obesity is an ongoing global health problem, and Cichorium glandulosum (CG, chicory) is traditionally used as a hepatoprotective and lipid-lowering drug. However, there is still a lack of research on the role of CG in the treatment of obesity. In the present study, we found that CG significantly delayed weight gain and positively affected glucolipid metabolism disorders, serum metabolism levels, and the degree of liver and kidney oxidative stress in high-fat diet (HFD) mice. Further examination of the effects of CG on intestinal microenvironmental dysregulation and its metabolites in HFD mice revealed that the CG ethanol extract high-dose group (CGH) did not have a significant regulatory effect on short-chain fatty acids. Still, CGH significantly decreased the levels of 12α-OH/non-12α-OH bile acids and also found significant upregulation of proteobacteria and downregulation of cyanobacteria at the phylum level. CG may have ameliorated obesity and metabolic abnormalities in mice by repairing gut microbiota dysbiosis and modulating bile acid biosynthesis.

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

Cordyceps sinensis is a precious medicinal and edible fungus, which is widely used in body health care and disease prevention. The current research focuses on the comparison of metabolite characteristics between a small number of samples and lacks a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of C. sinensis in a large-scale space. In this study, LC-MS/MS, principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and the membership function method were used to comprehensively evaluate the characteristics and quality of metabolites in 15 main producing areas of C. sinensis in China. The results showed that a total of 130 categories, 14 supercategories, and 1718 metabolites were identified. Carboxylic acids and derivatives, fatty acyls, organo-oxygen compounds, benzene and substituted derivatives, prenol lipids, and glycerophospholipids were the main components of C. sinensis. The HCA analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of 559 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) showed that the accumulation models of fatty acids and conjugates and carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates in glycerophospholipid metabolism and arginine and proline metabolism may be one of the reasons for the quality differences in C. sinensis in different producing areas. In addition, a total of 18 biomarkers were identified and validated, which had a significant discrimination effect on the samples (p < 0.05). Overall, YS, BR, and ZD, with the highest membership function values, are rich and balanced in nutrients. They are excellent raw materials for the development of functional foods and provide scientific guidance for consumers to nourish health care.

Characterization of Metabolite Landscape Distinguishes Medicinal Fungus Cordyceps sinensis and other Cordyceps by UHPLC-Q Exactive HF-X Untargeted Metabolomics

Cordyceps represent a valuable class of medicinal fungi with potential utilization. The overexploitation and resource scarcity of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) have led to the emergence of Cordyceps such as Cordyceps militaris (CM) and Cordyceps cicadae (CC) as substitutes. The medicinal value of CS is often considered superior to other Cordyceps, potentially owing to differences in active ingredients. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in the composition and abundance of the primary and secondary metabolites of CS and its substitutes by untargeted metabolomics. A total of 4671 metabolites from 18 superclasses were detected. CS and its substitutes were rich in amino acids, lipids, organic acids, and their derivatives. We statistically analyzed the metabolites and found a total of 285 differential metabolites (3'-Adenylic acid, O-Adipoylcarnitine, L-Dopachrome, etc.) between CS and CC, CS and CM, and CM and CC, which are potential biomarkers. L-glutamate and glycerophospholipids were differential metabolites. A KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the tyrosine metabolic pathway and tryptophan metabolism pathway are the most differentially expressed pathways among the three Cordyceps. In contrast, CS was enriched in a higher abundance of most lipid metabolites when compared to CM and CC, which may be an indispensable foundation for the pharmacological functions of CS. In conclusion, systematic, untargeted metabolomics analyses for CS and other Cordyceps have delivered a precious resource for insights into metabolite landscapes and predicted potential components of disease therapeutics.

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

Background

The intestinal microbiota (IM) has been found to contribute to metabolic disorders that lead to excessive fat accumulation, systemic and chronic low-grade inflammation, and insulin resistance in the host. Current research highlights a pivotal interaction between IM and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in mitigating obesity-related diseases. Undeniably, IM stands as a central focus in TCM research aimed at preventing and treating obesity. Therefore, tracing the progress and trends in this field can offer valuable references and insights for future studies.

Methods

On June 17, 2023, we conducted a literature search on the topic of "IM and obesity in TCM" spanning the period from 2009 to 2023. We extracted the primary information of the publications, which includes complete records and reference citations, from the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-E) within the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). To visualize and analyze the literature, we utilized CiteSpace and VOSviewer for bibliometric analysis.

Results

During the past fifteen years, a rapid increase in the number of publications has been observed. The cooperative networks demonstrate China, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and Food & Function as the most active countries, organizations, and journals in this field, respectively. Liu Bin has contributed the most publications. A paper by Xu Jia, published in 2014, holds the highest Local Citation Score (LCS). Analyses of keyword co-occurrence and reference co-citation indicate that the research hotspots of IM and obesity in TCM are primarily focused on the metabolic benefits driven by endogenous functional metabolic molecules generated by TCM regulation of IM. Other focal points include the mechanism by which TCM regulates IM to restore the intestinal mucosal barrier This is a provisional file, not the final typeset article, and manages the gut-organ axis, the metabolic advantages of acupuncture's regulation of IM, and the process by which Chinese medicine small molecules transform IM.

Conclusion

This research offers a comprehensive understanding of the current status, hotspots, and trends in global TCM research. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive summary and exploration of the latest advancements in this field, thereby emphasizing the essence of TCM more effectively.

Maternal Folic Acid Supplementation during Pregnancy Prevents Hepatic Steatosis in Male Offspring of Rat Dams Fed High-Fat Diet, Which Is Associated with the Regulation of Gut Microbiota

Maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy have been demonstrated to impact the structure of the gut microbiota in offspring, altering their susceptibility to diseases. This study is designed to elucidate whether the impact of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy on hepatic steatosis in male offspring of rat dams exposed to a high-fat diet (HFD) is related to gut-liver axis homeostasis. In this study, female rats were administered a HFD and simultaneously supplemented with 5 mg/kg folic acid throughout their pregnancy. Histopathological examination showed that folic acid supplementation effectively ameliorated hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammatory infiltrate in male offspring subjected to a maternal HFD. Maternal folic acid supplementation reduced the abundance of Desulfobacterota and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota (F/B) ratio in male offspring. The expression of tight junction proteins in the colon was significantly upregulated, and the serum LPS level was significantly reduced. Furthermore, there was a notable reduction in the hepatic expression of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and subsequent inflammatory mediators. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed significant associations between hepatic inflammation-related indices and several gut microbiota, particularly Desulfobacterota and Lactobacillus. With a reduction in hepatic inflammation, the expression of PPAR-α was upregulated, and the expression of SREBP-1c and its downstream lipid metabolism-related genes was downregulated. In summary, folic acid supplementation during pregnancy modulates gut microbiota and enhances intestinal barrier integrity in male offspring of HFD dams. This helps reduce the LPS leakage and suppress the expression of TLR4/NF-κB pathway in the liver, thereby improving lipid metabolism disorders, and alleviating hepatic steatosis.

An overview of traditional Chinese medicine affecting gut microbiota in obesity

Obesity, a chronic metabolic disease with a complex pathophysiology, is caused by several variables. High-fat diets lead to the disruption of the gut microbiota and impaired gut barrier function in obese people. The dysbiosis and its metabolites through the intestinal barrier lead to an imbalance in energy metabolism and inflammatory response, which eventually contributes to the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Current medicines are therapeutic to obesity in the short term; however, they may bring significant physical and emotional problems to patients as major side effects. Therefore, it is urgent to explore new therapeutic methods that have definite efficacy, can be taken for a long time, and have mild adverse effects. Numerous studies have demonstrated that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can control the gut microbiota in a multi-targeted and comprehensive manner, thereby restoring flora homeostasis, repairing damaged intestinal mucosal barriers, and eventually curbing the development of obesity. The active ingredients and compounds of TCM can restore the normal physiological function of the intestinal mucosal barrier by regulating gut microbiota to regulate energy metabolism, inhibit fat accumulation, affect food appetite, and reduce intestinal mucosal inflammatory response, thereby effectively promoting weight loss and providing new strategies for obesity prevention and treatment. Although there are some studies on the regulation of gut microbiota by TCM to prevent and treat obesity, all of them have the disadvantage of being systematic and comprehensive. Therefore, this work comprehensively describes the molecular mechanism of obesity mediated by gut microbiota based on the research state of obesity, gut microbiota, and TCM. A comprehensive and systematic summary of TCM targeting the regulation of gut microbiota for the treatment of obesity should be conducted in order to provide new strategies and ideas for the treatment of obesity.