Study on raw and fermented Gegen Qinlian Decoction for treatment of diabetes based on 1H-NMR metabolomics in T2DM rats / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the antidiabetic effects between raw and fermented Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GQD) containing different endogenous metabolites by 1H NMR technology based on metabolomics. Methods The antidiabetic effects were evaluated using high glucose and high fat diet combined with streptozotocin (STZ). The treatment groups were fed with GQD and fermented GQD every day, respectively for 8 weeks.The general condition, body weight and fasting blood glucose (FBG) of rats were observed. The chemical compositions of serum were assigned by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Using the multivariate statistical analysis as the main data analysis methods, potential biomarkers were screened in the model. Results The body weight of the diabetic rats decreased significantly compared to the normal control group after injection of STZ. In addition, the FBG level was significantly increased in the diabetic rats than that in the normal control group. GQD and fermented GQD all can improve the general condition, body mass, and FBG level of T2DM rats. The results of the principal component analysis showed that the metabolic profile of the normal control group, the model group and drug treatment group was significantly differentiated. In total, 15 potential biomarkers associated with T2DM were identified by OPLS-DA binding univariate analysis. The corresponding S-plot combined with VIP > 1 revealed that the major variations in diabetic rats were the elevation of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB), choline, glycine, glycerol, β-glucose, and α-glucose, as well as the decline levels of lactate, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), acetate, glutamate, methionine, glutamine, pyruvate, and creatine. Both raw and fermented GQD displayed antidiabetic effects against STZ-induced diabetes by restoring 15 of biomarkers. Conclusion Detailed analysis of the altered metabolite levels indicated that raw and fermented GQD significantly ameliorated the disturbance in glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism in the therapeutic process of T2DM, while no significant difference was observed between them. The results of this study provide experimental data and theoretical basis for the clinical application of GQD fermentation from the perspective of metabolomics.