Metabonomics and the gut microbiome analysis of the effect of 6-shogaol on improving obesity

This study investigated the ability of 6-shogaol to reduce obesity in C57BL/6J mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD). After 12 weeks of 6-shogaol (20, 40, 60 mg/kg/2 days) intervention, obesity related indicators, gut microbiota and metabonomics of mice were analyzed. The obesity degree and blood lipid level of mice treated with 6-shogaol were reduced, and glucose homeostasis was improved, especially in mice treated with low-dose. The intervention of 6-shogaol increased the diversity of gut microbiota and decreased the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroides. 6-shogaol also led to changes in metabonomics. There were 5, 4 and 6 different metabolites of 6-shogaol at low, medium and high doses. Among them, Solacauline, PE (22:5 (4Z, 7z, 10z, 13z, 13z, 16z)/14:1 (9z)) and presqualene diphosphate have strong correlation with Akkermansia, Brucella, Odoribacter and Mucispirillum. This study aims to provide a theoretical foundation for clarifying the molecular mechanism of 6-shogaol in improving obesity.