Ameliorative effects of mulberry fruit anthocyanin extract on gut microbiota and liver metabolites in high-fat and high-cholesterol diet-fed ApoE−/− mice

Aim This study aims to investigate the effects of mulberry anthocyanin (MA) in high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet-fed ApoE−/− mice. Methods ApoE−/− mice were randomly divided into control (ACON), mulberry fruit anthocyanin extract (MFAE), cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) group 1 (C3GT), and C3G group 2 (C3GP). After 7 weeks of HFHC diet feeding and following 2–3 weeks of treatment, samples were collected and analyzed. Results The C3GT group significantly decreased low-density lipoprotein (7.3 ± 1.5 mmol/L) and interleukin-1β (355.4 ± 41.7 pg./mL) levels. Moreover, the MFAE (636.3 ± 90.7 pg./mL), C3GT (611.5 ± 65.4 pg./mL), and C3GP (757.5 ± 47.6 pg./mL) significantly increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) levels compared with those in the ACON group. The MA treatments significantly increased the number of Anaerotruncus , Tyzzerella , and Butyricicoccus, while decreasing the abundance of Sphingomonas , Odoribacter , and Rikenella. The MA intervention not only decreased the adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP) and indole-3-butyric acid but also upregulated the Pg36:3 and glutamine. Conclusion MA treatment may attenuate AS-associated risk factors by decreasing inflammatory factor-related gut microbial genera. The mechanism may be related to regulating liver glutamine, ATP, and related metabolic pathways.