scholarly journals Butyrate Emerges as a Crucial Effector of Zhi-Zi-Chi Decoctions to Ameliorate Depression via Multiple Pathways of Brain-gut Axis

Author(s):  
Jialin Liu ◽  
Yichao Fang ◽  
Lixun Cui ◽  
Zhongzhao Wang ◽  
Yusha Luo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Gut microbiota has emerged as a crucial target of gut-brain axis to influence brain and behavior and also has been closely connected with depression. Zhi-Zi-Chi decoctions (ZZCD), as a classic oral formula in clinic prescribed to clear heat and relieve restlessness traditionally, is widely applied in depression treatment nowadays. However, the underlying mechanism in the antidepressant activity of ZZCD remains largely unknown. Our previous study revealed that isoflavones, the bioactive constituents of Semen Sojae Praeparatum, benefited health by regulating the gut microbiota, which introduced the gut microbiota into understanding the mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Hence, in the present study, we aimed to investigate the antidepressant mechanism of ZZCD by focusing on the gut microbiota. Results: A classic depression model of chronic mild unpredictable stress (CUMS) was established in rats based on the results of behavioral tests and hippocampal histomorphology. 16S rRNA sequencing analysis indicated that ZZCD could increase short-chain fatty acid-producing and anti-inflammatory bacteria and reduce inflammatory and tryptophan-metabolizing bacteria, which reflected the changes of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), inflammation and tryptophan metabolism from the perspective of the gut microbiota. Furthermore, ZZCD reversed the alterations of BDNF, TNF-α, pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurotransmitters in the gut, blood and brain along the brain-gut axis and restored the decrease of butyrate in cecal content caused by CUMS. Then, butyrate was utilized to validate its ameliorative effect on pathological characteristics of depressive rats. Conclusions: Taken together, these results show that ZZCD exhibits antidepressant effect through modulating gut microbiota to facilitate the production of butyrate, which further regulate anti-inflammation, neurotransmitters, endocrine and BDNF along the gut-brain axis. Hence, this study fills the gap of the antidepressive mechanism of ZZCD in the light of the brain-gut axis and established a multi-targets and multi-levels platform eventually for further research into the mechanism of other TCM efficacy.

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-56
Author(s):  
Sri Winarti ◽  
Agung Pasetyo

The consumption of prebiotics is known to affect the balance of gut microbiota. The purpose of this study was to explore how a galactomannan-rich effervescent drink can affect the population of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, E. coli, and the concentration of short-chain fatty acids in the cecum of rats. Twenty-eight male Wistar rats (aged 2 months) were divided equally into 7 groups and treated orally each day for 15 days with 2 mL effervescent drinks with increasing levels of prebiotic galactomannan. The dosage of 500 mg galactomannan increased the growth of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. with inhibition of the growth of E.coli with increased formation of short-chain fatty acids such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate in the cecum of rats.


2020 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 20-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Grün ◽  
Valerie C. Zimmer ◽  
Jil Kauffmann ◽  
Jörg Spiegel ◽  
Ulrich Dillmann ◽  
...  

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1427
Author(s):  
Junhui Zhang ◽  
Fengqin Feng ◽  
Minjie Zhao

Glycerol monocaprylate (GMC) is a glycerol derivative of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) and is widely used as a preservative in food processing. However, GMC and its hydrolytic acid (octylic acid) have antibacterial properties that may affect the physiology and intestinal microecology of the human body. Therefore, in this study, the effects of two different dosages of GMC (150 and 1600 mg kg−1) on glucose, lipid metabolism, inflammation, and intestinal microecology of normal diet-fed C57BL/6 mice were comprehensively investigated. The obtained results showed that the level of triglycerides (TGs) in the low-dose group down-regulated significantly, and the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10) significantly increased, while the pro-inflammatory cytokines monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and interleukin 1beta (IL-1β) in the high-dose group were significantly decreased. Importantly, GMC promoted the α-diversity of gut microbiota in normal-diet-fed mice, regardless of dosages. Additionally, it was found that the low-dose treatment of GMC significantly increased the abundance of Lactobacillus, while the high-dose treatment of GMC significantly increased the abundance of SCFA-producers such as Clostridiales, Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcus. Moreover, the content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was significantly increased by GMC supplementation. Thus, our research provides a novel insight into the effects of GMC on gut microbiota and physiological characteristics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Velma T. E. Aho ◽  
Madelyn C. Houser ◽  
Pedro A. B. Pereira ◽  
Jianjun Chang ◽  
Knut Rudi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Previous studies have reported that gut microbiota, permeability, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and inflammation are altered in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but how these factors are linked and how they contribute to disease processes and symptoms remains uncertain. This study sought to compare and identify associations among these factors in PD patients and controls to elucidate their interrelations and links to clinical manifestations of PD. Methods Stool and plasma samples and clinical data were collected from 55 PD patients and 56 controls. Levels of stool SCFAs and stool and plasma inflammatory and permeability markers were compared between patients and controls and related to one another and to the gut microbiota. Results Calprotectin was increased and SCFAs decreased in stool in PD in a sex-dependent manner. Inflammatory markers in plasma and stool were neither intercorrelated nor strongly associated with SCFA levels. Age at PD onset was positively correlated with SCFAs and negatively correlated with CXCL8 and IL-1β in stool. Fecal zonulin correlated positively with fecal NGAL and negatively with PD motor and non-motor symptoms. Microbiota diversity and composition were linked to levels of SCFAs, inflammatory factors, and zonulin in stool. Certain relationships differed between patients and controls and by sex. Conclusions Intestinal inflammatory responses and reductions in fecal SCFAs occur in PD, are related to the microbiota and to disease onset, and are not reflected in plasma inflammatory profiles. Some of these relationships are distinct in PD and are sex-dependent. This study revealed potential alterations in microbiota-host interactions and links between earlier PD onset and intestinal inflammatory responses and reduced SCFA levels, highlighting candidate molecules and pathways which may contribute to PD pathogenesis and clinical presentation and which warrant further investigation.


Author(s):  
Dominic Salamone ◽  
Angela Albarosa Rivellese ◽  
Claudia Vetrani

AbstractGut microbiota and its metabolites have been shown to influence multiple physiological mechanisms related to human health. Among microbial metabolites, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) are modulators of different metabolic pathways. On the other hand, several studies suggested that diet might influence gut microbiota composition and activity thus modulating the risk of metabolic disease, i.e. obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Among dietary component, dietary fibre may play a pivotal role by virtue of its prebiotic effect on fibre-fermenting bacteria, that may increase SCFA production. The aim of this review was to summarize and discuss current knowledge on the impact of dietary fibre as modulator of the relationship between glucose metabolism and microbiota composition in humans. More specifically, we analysed evidence from observational studies and randomized nutritional intervention investigating the relationship between gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids and glucose metabolism. The possible mechanisms behind this association were also discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Shi ◽  
Di Zhao ◽  
Fan Zhao ◽  
Chong Wang ◽  
Galia Zamaratskaia ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study was aimed to evaluate the differences in the composition of gut microbiota, tryptophan metabolites and short-chain fatty acids in feces between volunteers who frequently ate chicken and who frequently ate pork. Twenty male chicken-eaters and 20 male pork-eaters of 18 and 30 years old were recruited to collect feces samples for analyses of gut microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan metabolites. Chicken-eaters had more diverse gut microbiota and higher abundance of Prevotella 9, Dialister, Faecalibacterium, Megamonas, and Prevotella 2. However, pork-eaters had higher relative abundance of Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, Dialister, and Ruminococcus 2. In addition, chicken-eaters had high contents of skatole and indole in feces than pork-eaters, as well as higher contents of total short chain fatty acids, in particular for acetic acid, propionic acid, and branched chain fatty acids. The Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed that the abundance of Prevotella 2 and Prevotella 9 was positively correlated with levels of fecal skatole, indole and short-chain fatty acids. Thus, intake of chicken diet may increase the risk of skatole- and indole-induced diseases by altering gut microbiota.


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