Mulberry Leaf Polyphenols and Fiber Induce Synergistic Antiobesity and Display a Modulation Effect on Gut Microbiota and Metabolites

The antiobesity molecular mechanisms of mulberry leave components were analyzed based on intestinal micro-ecology and metabolomics. An obesity model was established by feeding rats with a high-calorie diet. Rats were divided into seven groups: the obesity model control (MC), positive control (PC), mulberry leaf powder (MLP), mulberry leaf fiber (MLF), mulberry leaf polyphenols (MLPS), mulberry leaf fiber and polyphenols mixture (MLM), and normal control (NC), and fed daily for 6 consecutive weeks. The results demonstrated that the MLM group had the best efficiency on weight loss, indicating synergistic interactions between MLPS and MLF. The reduction of Firmicutes abundance, and the downstream Clostridiales, Lachnespiraceae, was a key pathway for the antiobesity effects. The increased abundances of Lactobacillus vaginalis and Lactobacillus gasseri might result in lipid metabolism disorder. The test groups regulated the amino acid and oligopeptides metabolic disorder tents to normal levels compared with the MC and NC groups.