Lotus leaf extract (LLE) alleviates obesity through gut flora and its metabolites

In this study, we investigated the effects of lotus leaf extract (LLE) on HFD (high-fat diet)-induced obese mice and the metabolic functions of the gut microbiome on LLE. We found that LLE alleviates obesity partly through interactions with the gut microbiota. Oral LLE modulates gut microbiota structure and counteracts HFD-induced dysbiosis. Furthermore, we observed a significant increase in serum levels of O-Nornuciferine in LLE-treated mice, suggesting that the gut microbiota may play a potential role in metabolising LLE components to enhance the production of this metabolite. O-Nornuciferine was associated with improvements in dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis. Molecular docking analysis indicated that O-Nornuciferine may bind to PGC-1α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α) in the liver and influence the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism. These results highlight the potential interplay between LLE and gut microbiota, and suggest that microbiota-derived O-Nornuciferine may contribute to the modulation of hepatic lipid metabolism.