PMID:
Hepatol Res. 2020 Jan ;50(1):5-14. Epub 2020 Jan 5. PMID: 31661720
Abstract Title:
Changes of gut microbiota during silybin-mediated treatment of high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.
Abstract:
AIM: Gut microbiota are involved in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Silybin (Sil), a naturally occurring hepatoprotective agent, is widely used for treating NAFLD. Whether Sil affects gut microbiota during its actions in treating NAFLD is unknown. We aimed to examine the effect of Sil on intestinal flora dysbiosis induced by a high-fat diet (HFD).METHODS: After 10 weeks of feeding normal chow diet or HFD, mice were given a daily gavage for 8 weeks. Cecal contents were harvested for study of short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, and gut microbiota alteration.RESULTS: Sil showed protective effects against dietary-induced obesity and liver steatosis; accordingly, gut microbiota composition changed. At the phylum level, compared with the HFD group, mice in the Sil-treated group had significantly lower levels of Firmicutes, and the ratio of Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes was lower (P