Berberine combined with stachyose induces better glycometabolism than berberine alone through modulating gut microbiota and fecal metabolomics in diabetic mice.

Berberine (BBR), a small alkaloid, is used as a hypoglycemic agent in China. Stachyose (Sta), a Rehmannia glutinosa oligosaccharide, acts as a prebiotic. This study aimed to evaluate whether BBR combined with Sta produced better glycometabolism than BBR alone, and explored the effects on gut microbiota and metabolomics. Type-2 diabetic db/db mice were administered BBR (100 mg/kg), Sta (200 mg/kg), or both by gavage once daily. Glucose metabolism, the balance of α- and ß-cells, and mucin-2 expression were ameliorated by combined treatment of BBR and Sta, with stronger effects than upon treatment with BBR alone. The microbial diversity and richness were altered after combined treatment and after treatment with BBR alone. The abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila was increased by combined treatment compared to treatment with BBR alone, while the levels of the metabolite all-trans-heptaprenyl diphosphate were decreased and the levels of fumaric acid were increased, which both showed a strong correlation with A. muciniphila. In summary, BBR combined with Sta produced better glycometabolism than BBR alone through modulating gut microbiota and fecal metabolomics, and may aid in the development of a novel pharmaceutical strategy for treating Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine Fuyou Formula Alleviates Precocious Puberty by Inhibiting GPR54/GnRH in the Hypothalamus.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of the traditional Chinese medicine Fuyou formula on precocious puberty (PP). The Fy formula may exert an effect in female rats with PP and GT-7 cells through the GPR54/GnRH signaling pathway. To confirm the effect of the Fy formula on PP through the GPR54/GnRH signaling pathway, we first treated GT1-7 cells with the Fy formula and observed changes in the expression of related genes and proteins and in GnRH secretion. Then, we randomly divided young female Sprague-Dawley rats into the control group, model group, leuprorelin group and the Fy formula group. A PP model was established by injection of danazol on postnatal day 5, and the Fy formula was administered on PND15. The time of vaginal opening, the wet weights of the ovary and uterus, serum hormone levels and the expression of hypothalamic-related genes were observed. We found that the Fy formula delayed vaginal opening, decreased the wet weights and coefficients of the ovary and uterus, decreased the levels of serum hormones (E2, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone) and the cellular GnRH level, and downregulated the gene expression of Kiss1, GPR54 and GnRH in the hypothalamus and the gene and protein expression of GPR54 and GnRH in GT1-7 cells. In conclusion, the Fy formula may alleviate PP via the GPR54/GnRH signaling pathway.