ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Jiedu-jiangzhuo granules on gut microbiota of metabolic syndrome rats and TLR4/NF-κB pathway. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, metformin group, experimental high-dose of Jiedu-jiangzhuo granules 2.4 g•kg-1•d-1 group and experimental low-dose of Jiedu-jiangzhuo granules 1.2 g•kg-1•d-1 group, with 12 rats in each group. Except for rats in the control group, the other rats were fed with high-fat/ sugar/salt diet for 12 weeks. When fed for 8 weeks, the rats in metformin group (0.103 g•kg-1•d-1), experimental high-dose group (2.4 g•kg-1•d-1) or experimental low-dose group (1.2 g•kg-1•d-1) were simultaneously gavaged with metformin or Jiedu-jiangzhuo granules for 4 weeks. Body weight, serum lipid indexes and lipopolysaccharide(LPS) were determined by biochemical method, liver coefficient and epididymal fat tissue coefficient of rats were detected. Total genomic DNA of gut microbiota was extracted from fecal samples, then DNA library was built. Community structures of fecal microbes and α-diversity were sequenced on the Illumina Miseq platform. RESULTS: At the end of experiment, the body weight, LPS, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and fasting blood glucose(FBG) of rats in experimental high-dose group were lower than those in the model group and higher than those in the control group (P0.05). The liver coefficient and epididymal fat tissue coefficient of rats in experimental high-dose group were lower than those in the model group (P0.05). Besides, the NF-κB, IL-6, TNF-α levels of rats inexperimental high-dose group were lower than those in the model group, metformin group or low-dose group (P0.05). Chaol index of gut microbiota was higher than that in the other four groups (P0.05). The ratios of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Tenericutes and Prevotella, Phascolarctobacterium in experimental high-dose group were lower than those in model group (P<0.05), meanwhile the ratios of Bacteroidetes, Paraprevotella and Bacteroides were higher than those in model group (P<0.05). Finally, TLR4 and NF-κB proteins in colonic tissues of rats in experimental high-dose group were lower than those in model group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION:S There are significant evidences that Jiedu-jiangzhuo granules could play a role in lower of weight gain and blood lipids in metabolic syndrome rats by adjusting the gut microbiota and TLR4/NF-κB pathway.