Lycium barbarum (Wolfberry) Boosted the Relative Abundance of Akkermansia in Hepatocyte-Specific Yap1 Knockout Mice

Hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout mice more susceptible to liver inflammation. This study investigated the effect of Lycium barbarum (wolfberry) on the bacterial community structure of knockout mice and its role as a potential prebiotic candidate. Mice with hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout exhibited a reduction in A. muciniphila colonization. Wolfberry augmented the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia as determined by 16S rRNA analysis. Moreover, wolfberry enhanced the composition of the intestinal microbiota in mice and boosted the relative abundance of Akkermansia, Alistipes_A, and Odoribacter. Interestingly, Yap1 knockout mice during wolfberry intervention did not affect the tight connection of the intestine in mice. Nevertheless, wolfberry did not decrease the levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and total bile acid (TBA) in mice. Therefore, short-term intervention with wolfberry did not improve liver damage in knockout mice.