An insoluble polysaccharide from the sclerotium of Poria cocos improves hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice via modulation of gut microbiota
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Abstract
Metabolic syndrome characterized by obesity, hyperglycemia and liver steatosis is
becoming prevalent all over the world. Herein, a water insoluble polysaccharide (WIP)
was isolated and identified from the sclerotium of Poria cocos , a widely used Traditional
Chinese Medicine. WIP was confirmed to be a (1-3)- β -D-glucan with an average Mw
of 4.486 x 10 6 Da by NMR and SEC-RI-MALLS analyses. Furthermore, oral treatment
with WIP from P. cocos significantly improved glucose and lipid metabolism and alleviated
hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice. 16S DNA sequencing analysis of cecum content from
WIP-treated mice indicated the increase of butyrate-producing bacteria Lachnospiracea,
Clostridium. It was also observed that WIP treatment elevated the level of butyrate
in gut, improved the gut mucosal integrity and activated the intestinal PPAR- γ pathway.
Fecal transplantation experiments definitely confirmed the causative role of gut microbiota
in mediating the benefits of WIP. It is the first report that the water insoluble
polysaccharide from the sclerotium of P. cocos modulates gut microbiota to improve
hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. Thereby, WIP from P. cocos , as a prebiotic, has
the potential for the prevention or cure of metabolic diseases and may elucidate new
mechanism for the efficacies of this traditional herbal medicine on the regulation
of lipid and glucose metabolism.
Author and article information
Journal
Title:
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines
Abbreviated Title:
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines