Analysis of the mechanism of action of quercetin in the treatment of hyperlipidemia based on metabolomics and intestinal flora
- 27 January 2023
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in Food & Function
- Vol. 14 (4), 2112-2127
- https://doi.org/10.1039/d2fo03509j
Abstract
Hyperlipidemia (HLP) is one of the main factors leading to cardiovascular diseases. Quercetin (QUE) is a naturally occurring polyhydroxy flavonoid compound that has a wide range of pharmacological effects. However, the potential mechanism for treating HLP remains unclear. Thus, the study aimed to investigate the role of QUE in HLP development and its underlying mechanisms in HLP rats based on the analysis of gut microbiota and plasma metabolomics. Following the establishment of an HLP model in rats, QUE was orally administered. Plasma samples and fecal samples were collected from HLP rats for microbiome 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolic UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS analysis. The results suggested that QUE could regulate dyslipidemia and inhibit the levels of TC, TG, and LDL-c. Additionally, histopathological findings revealed that QUE could reduce lipid deposition, ameliorate hepatic injury and steatosis in HFD-induced rats, and have a protective effect on the liver. The analysis and identification of plasma metabolomics showed that the intervention effect of QUE on HLP rats was related to 60 differential metabolites and signal pathways such as lactosamine, 11b-hydroxyprogesterone, arachidonic acid, glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid, glycerolipid, and linoleic acid metabolism. Combined with fecal microbiological analysis, it was found that QUE could significantly change the composition of intestinal flora in HLP rats, increase beneficial bacteria, and reduce the composition of harmful bacteria, attenuating the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. The results of correlation analysis showed that the relative abundance level of Firmicutes, Deironobacterium, Fusobacterium, Bacteroides, and Escherichia coli was closely related to the change of differential metabolites. In summary, combined with metabolomics and gut microbiota studies, it is found that QUE can reduce lipid levels and improve liver function. The potential mechanism may be the regulation of metabolism and intestinal flora that play a role in reducing lipid levels, to achieve the purpose of treatment of HLP.Keywords
This publication has 55 references indexed in Scilit:
- Exercise mitigates the adverse effects of hyperhomocysteinemia on macrophages, MMP-9, skeletal muscle, and white adipocytesCanadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 2014
- Tackling the effects of diet and exercise on the gut microbiotaNature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2014
- Role of the intestinal microbiome in health and disease: from correlation to causationNutrition Reviews, 2012
- Linking Long-Term Dietary Patterns with Gut Microbial EnterotypesScience, 2011
- Future Cardiovascular Disease in ChinaCirculation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 2010
- Diet-Induced Metabolic Improvements in a Hamster Model of Hypercholesterolemia Are Strongly Linked to Alterations of the Gut MicrobiotaApplied and Environmental Microbiology, 2009
- Hyperhomocysteinemia, paraoxonase activity and risk of coronary artery diseaseClinical Biochemistry, 2006
- Diversity of the Human Intestinal Microbial FloraScience, 2005
- Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology , 2004Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 2004
- Inhibition of Interleukin-1β-Induced COX-2 and EP3 Gene Expression by Sodium Salicylate Enhances Pancreatic Islet β-Cell FunctionDiabetes, 2002