The Role of Ophiopogonin D in Atherosclerosis: Impact on Lipid Metabolism and Gut Microbiota

Gut microbiota has been proven to play an important role in many metabolic diseases and cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis. Ophiopogonin D (OPD), one of the effective compounds in Ophiopogon japonicus, is considered beneficial to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we have illuminated the effect of OPD in ApoE knockout (ApoE(-/-)) mice on the development of atherosclerosis and gut microbiota. To investigate the potential ability of OPD to alleviate atherosclerosis, 24 eight-week-old male ApoE(-/-) mice (C57BL/6 background) were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks, and 8 male C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal diet, serving as the control group. ApoE(-/-) mice were randomly divided into the model group, OPD group, and simvastatin group (n= 8). After treatment for 12 consecutive weeks, the results showed that OPD treatment significantly decreased the plaque formation and levels of serum lipid compared with those in the model group. In addition, OPD improved oral glucose tolerance and insulin resistance as well as reducing hepatocyte steatosis. Further analysis revealed that OPD might attenuate atherosclerosis through inhibiting mTOR phosphorylation and the consequent lipid metabolism signaling pathways mediated by SREBP1 and SCD1 in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, OPD treatment led to significant structural changes in gut microbiota and fecal metabolites in HFD-fed mice and reduced the relative abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae genera associated with cholesterol metabolism. Collectively, these findings illustrate that OPD could significantly protect against atherosclerosis, which might be associated with the moderation of lipid metabolism and alterations in gut microbiota composition and fecal metabolites.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates that OPD treatment significantly reduces the development of atherosclerosis, improves lipid levels and liver steatosis, and decreases the relative abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae genera associated with cholesterol metabolism in gut microbiota. OPD may attenuate atherosclerosis by inhibiting mTOR phosphorylation and lipid metabolism signaling pathways, in addition to altering gut microbiota composition and fecal metabolites.