Dihydromyricetin ameliorated MCD mice by regulating the composition of serous lipids, bile acids and ileal microflora

Abstract

Abstract Dihydromyricetin (DMY) is a natural flavonoid with anti-nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) activity. However, the effects of DMY on the composition of lipids and bile acids (BAs) in serum, and gut microbiota (GM) in ileum of mice with NASH are not clear. Herein, after male C57BL/6 mice were fed with methionine and choline deficiency (MCD) diet and simultaneously administered with DMY (300 mg/kg/day) by gavage for 8 weeks, the pathological changes of liver tissue were observed by Oil Red O, hematoxylin eosin and Masson staining, the levels of serum AST, ALT and liver TG, MDA were detected by the detection kits, the composition and contents of serum lipids and BAs were detected by LC-MS, the mRNA levels of hepatic BAs homeostasis-related genes were detected by RT-qPCR, and microbiological diversity in ileum was analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing. The results showed the significant changes including 28 lipids, 4 BAs (23-norDCA, UCA, 7-KDCA and CA), 2 BAs transporters (Mrp2 and Oatp1b2) and 3 GMs (Actinobacteria, Akkermansiaand Faecalibaculum) between MCD and DMY groups. Among them, DMY treatment significantly down-regulated 21 lipids, 4 BAs mentioned above, Faecalibaculum abundance and the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota, significantly up-regulated 7 lipids and 2 GM (Actinobacteria andAkkermansia). The results suggested that DMY alleviated NASH by up-regulating intestinal probiotics (Actinobacteria and Akkermansia, etc) and inhibiting intestinal harmful bacteria (Erysipelotrichaceaeand Faecalibaculum), thereby regulating the composition and contents of serum BAs and lipids in MCD mice.