Protective effect of the functional food containing Dendrobium officinale on menopausal syndromes based on gut microbiota and metabolomics analysis

The occurrence of menopausal syndrome (MPS) is closely associated with dysregulated metabolism in the gut microbiota. Guocaoyin superior-national-functional drink (GSNF) is a functional food product product mainly composed of Dendrobium officinale, which could improve metabolic disorders by regulating gut microbiota. This study aims to investigate the mechanism of GSNF intervention in MPS through analysis of the gut microbiota and serum metabolomics. The MPS rats were induced by ovarian function decline induced by 4-vinylcyclohexane diepoxide injection, and then subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress combined with high-sugar-fat diet for 10 weeks, while concurrently administered GSNF for 10 weeks. The results indicated that GSNF elevated the serum E2 level in MPS rats, decreased the serum TC, GLU, ALT, and AST levels, attenuated hepatic steatosis, and improved glycolipid metabolism disorder. Meanwhile, GSNF increased the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins, promoted mucin secretion, and improved intestinal pathological damage. The sequencing results of 16S rRNA indicated that GSNF can increase the diversity and richness of gut microbiota, ameliorating the imbalance of gut microbiota in MPS. Serum metabolomics analyses have shown that GSNF can significantly affect the serum metabolic profile of MPS rats, regulating metabolic markers through affecting tryptophan metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and sphingolipid metabolism pathways, promoting amino acid and lipid metabolism, and improving the serum metabolic network of MPS. These findings provide new insights into the GSNF could regulate gut microbiota and serum metabolic pathways to ameliorate MPS.