Effects of orange essential oil on intestinal microflora in mice

Abstract BACKGROUND The intestinal microbiota has a wide variety of functions in the host. A positive effect of plant extract on intestinal microbiota in animals has been reported. However, the effect of orange essential oil and its components limonene, linalool and citral on intestinal microflora in mice has seldom been reported. The effects of intragastric administration of orange essential oil and limonene, linalool and citral on intestinal microflora and biochemical indexes in mice were studied. RESULTS The effect of essential oil, linalool and citral on immune organ index (spleen and thymus index), IgM and IL‐2 was not significant ( P > 0.05). A significant increase ( P < 0.05) of H + K + ‐ATPase activity, IgA, IgG, and IL‐2 in the limonene group was observed when compared with the control group. Orange essential oil, limonene, linalool and citral could significantly reduce the content of short‐chain fatty acids in the cecum and colon of mice. Principal coordinates analysis showed that intestinal bacterial structure of limonene group cecum and colon was apparently separated from other groups. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus in cecum and colon in essential oil, limonene, linalool and citral groups was higher than that in the control group. CONCLUSIONS Orange essential oil and limonene, linalool and citral could affect the intestinal microflora of mice, and enhance the relative abundance of Lactobacillus . The intestinal bacterial structure of cecum and colon in the limonene group was quite different from other groups. This indicated a more obvious effect of limonene on intestinal bacteria, also resulting in significant changes in blood immune index and short‐chain fatty acids in mice. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry