Hypoglycemic Effect of Ginsenoside Rg5 Mediated Partly by Modulating Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Diabetic db/db Mice
Yange Wei, Haixia Yang, Chenhui Zhu, Jianjun Deng, Daidi Fan
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of ginsenoside Rg5 (Rg5) on gut microbiota in diabetic db/db mice. Our data indicated that Rg5 not only improved the symptoms of hyperglycemia, repaired intestinal barrier function, and relieved metabolic endotoxemia-related inflammation but also reversed gut microbiota dysbiosis in the colon with significantly decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios. More importantly, the effects of Rg5 were further confirmed by partial changes in the gut microbiota induced by broad-spectrum antibiotics. These findings indicated that Rg5 dramatically decreased the abundance of Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia at the phylum level and increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria in diabetic db/db mice. Altogether, our findings, for the first time, demonstrate that Rg5 may be used as a beneficial probiotic agent that reverses gut microbiota dysbiosis and diabetes-associated metabolic disorders in the context of type 2 diabetes mellitus.