Foods (Aug 2024)

<i>Pueraria lobata</i>–<i>Prunus mume</i> Complex Alleviates Alcoholic Liver Disease by Regulating Lipid Metabolism and Inhibiting Inflammation: A Transcriptome and Gut Microbiota Analysis

  • Ruixi Gao,
  • Qi Huang,
  • Yanfeng Zeng,
  • Dandan Chen,
  • Ziming Jia,
  • Bingchen Han,
  • Xianju Huang,
  • Qiang Wang,
  • Xin Hu,
  • Maochuan Liao,
  • Jun Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13152431
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 15
p. 2431

Abstract

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Background: Lipid metabolism disorder appears to be one of the early features of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which can be speculated via omics analysis including liver transcriptomics and gut microbiota. A complex consisting of the roots of Pueraria lobata and dried fruits of Prunus mume (PPC), which possesses hepatoprotective effects, could serve as a drug or functional food. The lack of non-polysaccharide compounds in PPC with their moderation effects on gut microbiota suggests the necessity for a relevant study. Methods: Six groups of Kunming mice (control, Baijiu injury, silybin, low, medium, and high) were modelled by gavage with Baijiu (for 14 days) and PPC (equivalent to a maximum dose of 9 g/kg in humans). The liver transcriptome data were analyzed to predict gene annotation, followed by the verification of gut microbiota, serum, tissue staining, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to detect the components. Results: PPC normalized serum ALT (40 U/L), down-regulated TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway to inhibit the release of TNF-α (90 pg/mL), improved the expression of occludin, claudin-4, and ZO-1, and restored the abundance of Muribaculaceae, Bacteroides and Streptococcus. Conclusion: PPC can alleviate ALD by regulating the gut microbiota with an anti-inflammatory and intestinal barrier, and has an application value in developing functional foods.

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