Huangjing (Polygonatum kingianum Coll. et Hems) and Tiandong (Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr.) Combination relieves glycolipid metabolism disorder via both Glycolipid key Proteins and gut microbiota

Abstract

Abstract Background Ancient traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) books and modern studies have suggested that the Huangjing and Tiandong combination (HTC), which consists of Polygonatum kingianum (PK) and Asparagus cochinchinensis (AC) with the mass ratio 10:3, has the effect of regulating glycolipid metabolism disorder. However, its efficacy and mechanism are yet to be elucidated. This research evaluates the effect of HTC on glycolipid metabolism and explores the underlying mechanism. Methods GLMD was induced by HFSD diet in rats, and Huangjing and Tiandong combination (HTC) was given orally every day for 12 weeks. Then the body weight, tissue weight, blood sugar, blood lipid and liver lipid levels were measured, and lipogenesis was evaluated by Oil-Red O staining. In addition, the role of potential key signaling pathway was investigated through a network pharmacology-guided ELISA, while the gut microbiota was studied via Metagenome and 16S rDNA sequencing. Results Oil red O staining showed that HFSD diet led to a significant accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver. After HTC extract treatment, lipid droplets decreased, and normal morphology of the liver was gradually restored. Besides, the results showed that HTC could improve blood glucose, blood lipids, adipokines and liver lipids. Then, we found that HTC could increase the expression of INSR, IRS1, IRS2, PI3K, Akt, JAK2, and STAT3 in liver, and abdominal white adipose tissue. Subsequently, we reported that HTC exhibited beneficial effects against GLMD via the alternation of the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota. Conclusion In a word, the above results demonstrate that HTC is a useful drug/nutrient to relieve GLMD via both Glycolipid key Proteins and gut microbiota.