AUTHOR=Xie Xiaoxian , Zhang Mengya , Sun Lei , Wang Ting , Zhu Zhengyan , Shu Ruonan , Wu Fengchun , Li Zezhi 

TITLE=Crocin-I Protects Against High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity via Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Inflammation in Mice

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.894089

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2022.894089

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=Crocin-I can regulate physiological changes in the human body by altering inflammation and microbial composition. Gut microbiota is also involved in modulating the pathophysiology of obesity. However, crocin-I’s effect on obesity, and the mechanism underlying its effects on gut microbiota and inflammation,  remain poorly understood. Here, high fat diet (HFD) -induced obese mice were administrated crocin-I (20 mg/kg/day) for ten weeks using an oral gavage (HFD-C20 group). HFD-C20, HFD, and Normal chow (NC) groups were compared. The fat content, colon tissue inflammatory cytokine levels, gut microbiota, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels were measured. Crocin-I reduced body weight and liver weight, and improved glucose resistance in HFD-induced mice. We also found that crocin-I significantly decreased lipid accumulation in the liver. Strikingly, crocin-I alleviated intestinal microbial disorders, decreased the F/B ratio, and decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria in HFD-induced mice. Crocin-I also rescued reduced fecal SCFA levels and repaired altered intestinal barrier functioning and intestinal inflammation in HFD-induced obese mice. These findings indicate that crocin-I may inhibit obesity by modulating the composition of gut microbiota and intestinal inflammation.