Modulation of the gut microbiota alleviates insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic mice by daucosterol from Eleocharis dulcis peel

• Published in: Journal of functional foods 2024-03, Vol.114, p.106092, Article 106092
• Main Authors: Yang, Xiaomei, Gu, Yipeng, Liu, Huazhong, Shang, Feifei, Koyama, Tomoyuki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerococcus; Anti-hyperglycemic; Bacteroidia; biomarkers; biosynthesis; Daucosterol; Desulfovibrio; Eleocharis dulcis; Eleocharis dulcis peel; Enterococcus; glucose; glycemic control; glycemic effect; Gut microbiota; insulin resistance; intestinal microorganisms; islets of Langerhans; lipid metabolism; noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; saponins; Type 2 diabetes
• ISSN: 1756-4646; 2214-9414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2024.106092

[Display omitted] •Daucosterol from Eleocharis dulcis peel has potential anti-hyperglycemic effects in type 2 diabetic mice.•Daucosterol treatment improves glucose metabolism and pancreatic islet health.•Daucosterol supplementation enhances gut microbiota richness and diversity.•Key biomarkers, including uncultured_bacterium_g_Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and Bifidobacterium_pseudolongum, were identified. Daucosterol, a natural saponin from Eleocharis dulcis peel, exhibited anti-hyperglycemic properties. This study investigated daucosterol's effects on glycemic control, insulin resistance, and gut microbiota in type 2 diabetic mice. The results demonstrated that daucosterol treatment reduced fasting glucose, improved glucose intolerance and pancreatic islet damage. It decreased HOMA-IR and increased ISI, indicating enhanced insulin sensitivity. Daucosterol supplementation enriched gut microbiota diversity, including reducing Firmicutes and Desulfobacterota while increasing Bacteroidia. This involved an increase in Enterococcus, Akkermansia, Alistipes, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, and Odoribacter, coupled with decreased Aerococcus, Desulfovibrio, and Blautia, improved gut health. Uncultured_bacterium_g_Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and Bifidobacterium_pseudolongum were identified as major biomarkers. PICRUSt analysis revealed daucosterol improved the pathways of glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and some organismal systems. Therefore, daucosterol act as a potential anti-hyperglycemic agent, improving insulin resistance and optimizing gut microbiota to alleviate type 2 diabetes.