Shengmai San formula alleviates high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice through gut microbiota-derived bile acid promotion of M2 macrophage polarization and thermogenesis

SMS affects intestinal flora and bile acid composition in vivo and increased TCA promotes M2 macrophage polarization and Slit3 release in adipose tissue. This induces NE release and increases WAT browning in obese mice, which may be a mechanism by which SMS could be used to treat obesity.