Protective Effects of Ginseng Soluble Dietary Fiber and Its Fecal Microbiota Extract on Antibiotic-Induced Gut Dysbiosis Obese Mice

Abstract

Prolonged or improper antibiotic use may increase the risk of obesity. Ginseng soluble dietary fiber (G-SDF) has been shown to inhibit obesity and promote the growth of intestinal probiotics. However, its role in antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis obese mice (ADIO) remains unclear, and this study aimed to elucidate this role. The results indicated that G-SDF and its fecal microbiota extract (SDFfbs) significantly reduced body weight, insulin resistance, hepatic fat accumulation, abnormal blood and liver glucose-lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and immune-inflammatory responses in ADIO mice. G-SDF and SDFfbs also inhibited the LPS/TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, restored the expression of the gut barrier proteins Occludin and Claudin1, and protected against intestinal damage in ADIO mice. In particular, G-SDF and SDFfbs significantly increased the abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and decreased the abundance of harmful Escherichia and Streptococcus. Additionally, they promoted the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Parabacteroides, and Akkermansia, and these microbial shifts correlated with significant improvements in metabolic indicators in ADIO mice. Notably, SDFfbs can replicate the efficacy of SDF and has even shown stronger effects than the latter. In summary, this study demonstrated that G-SDF and SDFfbs effectively mitigate the double damage caused by obesity and antibiotic exposure by modulating the LPS/TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, protecting the intestinal barrier, and restoring the gut microbiota balance. These findings provide an important theoretical basis for the use of G-SDF and SDFfbs as fat-reducing and antibiotic-resistant ingredients in health foods.