Integration of Metabolomics, Transcriptomics, and 16s rRNA Sequencing Reveals the Mechanism of <i>L.</i> (Sangzhi) Alkaloids (SZ-A) in Improving Cholesterol Metabolism in Diabetic Rats.

ABSTRACT: Mulberry ( L.) is a plant widely used in the agricultural, food and pharmaceutical fields. Sangzhi alkaloids (SZ-A) are a series of alkaloids extracted from mulberry branches that are approved in China for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). T2DM is always accompanied by hypercholesterolemia, which increases the risk of macrovascular complications. However, the mechanism by which SZ-A influences cholesterol metabolism remains to be elucidated. In this study, SZ-A was orally administered to Zucker diabetic fatty rats at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg once daily for 9 weeks. Cholesterol and bile acid levels in the blood and feces were determined using biochemical assays and targeted metabolomics, and the gut microbial profile was analyzed using 16s rRNA sequencing. Transcriptomic an

SUBMITTER: Li C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12355231 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature