The gut microbiota, identified as the target for vegetables, can affect the development of
obesity and associated
metabolic syndromes. As a medicinal and edible plant, Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem (LC) has abundant nutrients that can effectively reduce
obesity risk. However, the interaction between the prevention effects of LC against
obesity and the modulating gut microbiota of LC remain obscure. This study demonstrated LC supplementation improved high-fat diet (HFD)-induced gut microbiota
dysbiosis and significantly enhanced
short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria (e.g., Blautia) along with SCFA content accumulation in the gut. Meanwhile, LC supplementation substantially restored gut barrier damage in long-term HFD treatment. Moreover, LC supplementation improved HFD-induced
overweight,
hyperlipidemia,
insulin resistance, and chronic
inflammation. Gene expression profiles showed that LC displayed an important impact on hepatic
lipid transport and
lipid synthesis (
sterol regulatory
element binding transcriptional factor 1c-
peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ signaling pathway). More importantly, an
antibiotic treatment experiment demonstrated that the beneficial effects of LC in reducing
obesity risk largely depended on the gut microbiota, especially SCFA-producing bacteria (e.g., Blautia). Therefore, LC supplementation improved gut microbiota
dysbiosis via enhancing SCFA-producing bacteria (e.g., Blautia), maintained gut barrier integrity, and alleviated the development of
obesity. Overall, LC would provide a potential dietary intervention strategy against
obesity and enteral homeostasis
dysbiosis through modulating the gut microbiota.-Zhang, L., Shi, M., Ji, J., Hu, X., Chen, F. Gut microbiota determines the prevention effects of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem supplementation against
obesity and associated metabolic disorders induced by high-fat diet.