AUTHOR=Qian Yujiao , Gao Zhipeng , Wang Chen , Ma Jie , Li Gaoyang , Fu Fuhua , Guo Jiajing , Shan Yang 

TITLE=Effects of Different Treatment Methods of Dried Citrus Peel (Chenpi) on Intestinal Microflora and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Healthy Mice

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.702559

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2021.702559

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Chenpi</italic> is a kind of dried citrus peel from <italic>Citrus reticulata</italic>, and it is often used as traditional Chinese medicine to treat dyspepsia and respiratory tract inflammation. In this study, to determine which way of <italic>chenpi</italic> treatment plays a better effect on the prevention of obesity in healthy mice, we conducted 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing for intestinal microbiota and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detector (GC/MSD) analysis for short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) of female rats fed with either <italic>chenpi</italic> decoction or <italic>chenpi</italic> powder-based diet (<italic>n</italic> = 10 per group) for 3 weeks. C<italic>henpi</italic> powder (CP) group significantly reduced abdominal adipose tissues, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and the serum level of total triacylglycerol (TG). At a deeper level, <italic>chenpi</italic> powder has a better tendency to increase the ratio of <italic>Bacteroidetes</italic> to <italic>Firmicutes</italic>. It alters the <italic>Muribaculaceae</italic> and <italic>Muribaculum</italic> in intestinal microbiota, though it is not significant. The concentrations of acetic acid, valeric acid, and butyric acid increased slightly but not significantly in the <italic>CP</italic> group. <italic>Chenpi</italic> decoction just reduced perirenal adipose tissues, but it shows better antioxidant activity. It has little effect on intestinal microbiota. No differences were found for SCFAs in the <italic>chenpi</italic> decoction (CD) group. The results indicated that <italic>chenpi</italic> powder has a better effect in preventing obesity in mice. It can provide a basis for the development of functional products related to <italic>chenpi</italic> powder.</p>