Pure total flavonoids from citrus attenuate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice via the gut microbiota

Abstract Background An increasing number of studies suggest that gut microbiota composition and structure contribute to the pathophysiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),and the gut microbiota has been proposed as a new target in the treatment of diet-induced NAFLD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of pure total flavonoids from citrus (PTFC) on NAFLD and gut microbiota dysbiosis in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and to further investigate whether the attenuation of NAFLD is related to the modulation of the gut microbiota. Results PTFC intervention could significantly attenuate symptoms in mice with HFD-induced NAFLD.Based on the results of 16S rDNA sequencing, PTFC treatment could increase the phylogenetic diversity of the HFD-induced microbiota. PTFC intervention could significantly restore the HFD-induced increases in the relative abundances of Bacteroidaceae and Christensenellaceae. Conclusion Our results suggested that PTFC could serve as a novel candidate for the prevention of NAFLD by modulating the gut microbiota.