Abstract Poria cocos is an edible medicinal mushroom with the effects of inducing diuresis, excreting dampness, invigorating the spleen and tranquilizing the mind. The triterpenoids of Poria cocos as the main active ingredients have shown health benefits of the central nervous system of the human body. Accordingly, this study aimed at further understanding the antidepressant-like effect and a potential mechanism of the triterpenoids extracts from Poria cocos (TPC). As a result, the TPC significantly ameliorated depression-like behaviors on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats, and restored the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor in the hippocampus of rats. Gut microiota analysis revealed that TPC could increase the biodiversity and markedly regulate the relative abundance of [Prevotella], Allobaculum and Ochrobactrum of CUMS rats. The cecal contents metabolomics pointed to thirteen biomarkers associated with TPC antidepressant effect, which involved in primary bile acid biosynthesis, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism. Correlation analysis further showed that there was a strong correlation relationship between the gut microbiota and the cecal contents metabolites, especially compounds involved in energy metabolism, inflammation and immunity. In conclusion, TPC showed a potential antidepressant effect, which was possibly mediated the gut microbiota and cecal contents metabolism. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

中文翻译：

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通过 16S rRNA 基因测序和 LC-MS 代谢组学研究茯苓三萜提取物对 CUMS 大鼠的类抗抑郁作用

摘要 茯苓是一种药用食用菌，具有利尿、利湿、健脾、安神的功效。茯苓中的三萜类化合物为主要活性成分，已显示出对人体中枢神经系统的健康益处。因此，本研究旨在进一步了解茯苓三萜提取物（TPC）的抗抑郁样作用和潜在机制。结果，TPC显着改善了慢性不可预测轻度应激（CUMS）大鼠的抑郁样行为，并恢复了大鼠海马中脑源性神经营养因子和神经生长因子的水平。肠道微生物群分析表明，TPC 可以增加生物多样性并显着调节 [Prevotella] 的相对丰度，CUMS 大鼠的 Allobaculum 和 Ochrobactrum。盲肠内容物代谢组学指出了与 TPC 抗抑郁作用相关的 13 个生物标志物，它们涉及初级胆汁酸生物合成、牛磺酸和亚牛磺酸代谢、精氨酸和脯氨酸代谢。相关性分析进一步表明，肠道微生物群与盲肠内容物代谢物，尤其是参与能量代谢、炎症和免疫的化合物之间存在很强的相关性。总之，TPC 显示出潜在的抗抑郁作用，这可能介导了肠道微生物群和盲肠内容物代谢。图形概要 牛磺酸和亚牛磺酸代谢，精氨酸和脯氨酸代谢。相关性分析进一步表明，肠道微生物群与盲肠内容物代谢物之间存在很强的相关性，尤其是与能量代谢、炎症和免疫有关的化合物。总之，TPC 显示出潜在的抗抑郁作用，这可能介导了肠道微生物群和盲肠内容物代谢。图形概要 牛磺酸和亚牛磺酸代谢，精氨酸和脯氨酸代谢。相关性分析进一步表明，肠道微生物群与盲肠内容物代谢物之间存在很强的相关性，尤其是与能量代谢、炎症和免疫有关的化合物。总之，TPC 显示出潜在的抗抑郁作用，这可能介导了肠道微生物群和盲肠内容物代谢。图形概要 这可能介导了肠道微生物群和盲肠内容物代谢。图形概要 这可能介导了肠道微生物群和盲肠内容物代谢。图形概要