Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ginseng soluble dietary fiber (GSDF) has been shown to have good physicochemical properties; however, its in vivo benefits in obesity are yet to be fully elucidated. METHODS: To explore this, C57BL/6J obese mice were given metformin hydrochloride and different doses of GSDF for 60 days. The levels of blood lipids and inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA, and the pathological alterations were detected through the application of HE staining. The level of adipose tissue protein in epididymis was detected by Western blotting and through the effects of 16S rRNA sequencing on gut microbiota. RESULTS: The results showed that GSDF significantly improved basal physiological indices, lipid levels, and serum cytokine levels in the obese mice. GSDF increased the expression levels of PPAR-γ, AMPK, and P-AMPK proteins, and lowered the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, and other proteins in the adipose tissues of the epididymis, in turn inhibiting adipogenesis and ameliorating lipid metabolism disorders. By lowering the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in the gut and altering the abundance of thick-walled bacteria and mycobacterium, the abundance of species such as Lactobacillus, Alloprevotella, and Faecalibaculum was altered to improve cecum health. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that GSDF may have a positive effect on growth, obesity, and cecal health in obese mice.