Baicalin promotes appetite by regulating gut microbiome and immunity?

Abstract

Thirty-two mice were assigned into two groups and fed basal diets with or without baicalin in the first week of the 14-day trial period. Results showed that baicalin treatment increased feed intake, feed intake/water intake, and catalase level in serum (p < 0.05). For colon microbiome, baicalin improved Sobs, Chao, and Ace index, and Bacteroidota and Desulfobacterota phyla, but reduced Firmicutes phyla (p < 0.05). In genus level, baicalin improved norank_f__Muribaculaceae, norank_f__Lachnospiraceae, Desulfovibrio, Blautia, Rikenella, Akkermansia, Oscillospiraceae, and Colidextribacter abundance, while reduced Lactobacillus and Staphylococcus abundance (p < 0.05). Moreover, baicalin reduced isobutyric acid contents, but increased isovaleric acid contents in colon chyme (p < 0.05). Transcriptome analysis for colon indicated that DEGs for Baicalin vs. CON mainly enrich in immune signaling pathways (B cell, natural killer cell, and IgA production regulation, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, etc.) and cytochrome P450 pathway (Cyp2a5, Cyp2c68, Cyp2c67, Cyp2f2, Capsl, Cyp2c40, Cyp2c69, and Cyp2c23). Collectively, these results suggested that baicalin regulated gut microbe and immunity, and promoted feed intake. We recommend to continue investigating the mechanism of baicalin promotes appetite by microbe and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Keywords

• Baicalin
• Gut microbe
• Immunity
• Feed intake
• PI3K-Akt signaling pathway