Biocatalytical Acyl-Modification of Puerarin: Shape Gut Microbiota Profile and Improve Short Chain Fatty Acids...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Nutritional Science
• Metabolomics

Background:

• Gut microbiota balance is crucial for maintaining health.
• Puerarin and its derivatives are being investigated for their health-promoting properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare how puerarin and puerarin acid esters with varying chain lengths modulate gut microbial composition and metabolites.
• To investigate the impact of different puerarin acid ester chain lengths on gut bacteria and metabolic output.

Main Methods:

• Male mice were administered diets containing puerarin or puerarin acid esters (propanoate, hexanoate, myristate) for 24 hours.
• Gut microbial composition and metabolite profiles were analyzed to assess the effects of the treatments.

Main Results:

• Puerarin acid esters exhibited distinct activities in shaping the gut bacterial community based on their chain length.
• Puerarin propanoate and hexanoate esters significantly increased microbial diversity and the abundance of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus and Prevotella.
• Medium-to-long chain puerarin acid esters were more effective in altering gut microbiota to enhance short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, with puerarin propanoate ester delivering propionic acid to the colon.

Conclusions:

• Different chain lengths of puerarin acid esters result in unique gut microbial and SCFA metabolic profiles.
• These findings suggest that puerarin acid esters have the potential to improve human health by modulating the gut microbiome and its metabolic functions.