Lonicerae flos polysaccharides improve nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by activating the adenosine 5′‐monophosphate‐activated protein kinase pathway and reshaping gut microbiota

Abstract BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer. Lonicerae flos polysaccharides (LPs) have been shown to be effective in treating metabolic diseases; however, the therapeutic effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of LPs in NAFLD remain unclear. PURPOSE The objective of this study was to investigate the morphological characterization of Lonicerae flos polysaccharides (LPs) and the mechanism of LPs in relieving NAFLD. METHODS The morphology of LPs was observed using atomic force microscopy (AFM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermal weight (TG), and thermal weight derivative (DTG); NAFLD mice were treated with LPs at the same time as they were induced with a Western diet, and then the indexes related to glycolipid metabolism, fibrosis, inflammation, and autophagy in the serum and liver of the mice were detected. RESULTS The atomic force microscope analysis results indicated that the LPs displayed sugar‐chain aggregates, exhibited an amorphous structure, and were relatively stable in thermal cracking at 150 °C. It was also found that LPs exerted therapeutic effects in NAFLD. The LPs prevented high‐fat and ‐cholesterol diet‐induced NAFLD progression by regulating glucose metabolism dysregulation, insulin resistance, lipid accumulation, inflammation, fibrosis, and autophagy. Adenosine 5′‐monophosphate (AMP)‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor compound C abrogated LP‐induced hepatoprotection in mice with NAFLD. The LPs further treated NAFLD by reshaping the structure of the gut microbiota, in which Desulfovibrio bacteria plays a key roles. CONCLUSION Lonicerae flos polysaccharides exert protective effects against NAFLD in mice by improving the structure of the intestinal flora and activating the AMPK signaling pathway. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.