Identification of herbal drug extracts that promote growth of Akkermansia muciniphila in high-fat diet fed mice

In this study, we screened herbal drug extracts that promoted the growth ofA.muciniphila. Among the 123 herbal drugs, five herbal drug extracts significantly increasedA.muciniphila DNA levels compared with that in controls. In particular, Dioscoreae rhizoma extract increased the growth ofA.muciniphila in the intestines of mice fed a high-fat diet and improved obesity. It significantly reduced body weight gain, improved glucose tolerance even when the administration was initiated after the induction of dietary obesity. These results suggest that herbal drug extracts, such as Dioscoreae rhizome, that increaseA.muciniphila could be a new therapeutic strategy for metabolic syndrome.
Source: Diabetology International - Category: Endocrinology Source Type: research