Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (20): 4190-4204.doi: 10.12307/2025.682

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Anti-osteoporotic mechanisms of kaempferol based on gut microbiota and comprehensive targeted metabolomics

Liang Zhou1, 2, Zhang Chi1, Pan Chengzhen2, Yang Bo2, Pu Zhanglin1, Liu Hua1, Peng Jinhui2, Wen Lichun2, Ling Guanhan2, Chen Feng1     

  1. 1Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; 2Yulin Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Orthopedic Hospital, Yulin 537599, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2024-07-12 Accepted:2024-08-13 Online:2025-07-18 Published:2024-12-19
  • Contact: Chen Feng, MD, Chief physician, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • About author:Liang Zhou, MD candidate, Associate chief physician, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; Yulin Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Orthopedic Hospital, Yulin 537599, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Supported by:
    Guangxi Young Qihuang Scholars Training Program, No. GXQH202421 (to LZ); Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Traditional Chinese Medicine Self-funded Scientific Research Project, No. GXZYK20230695 (to LZ); Guangxi Universities and Colleges Young and Middle-aged Teachers Scientific Research Basic Ability Enhancement Project, No. 2024KY0295 (to ZC); Guangxi Postgraduate Education Innovation Program Project, No. YCBXJ2023034 (to LZ); Doctoral Research Initiation Fund Project of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 2023BS043 (to ZC); Guangxi Key Research Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for the Prevention and Treatment of Orthopedic and Traumatic Diseases (Cultivation), No. [2023]9 (to LZ) 

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Kaempferol has anti-osteoporotic effects, but the mechanisms by which kaempferol regulates gut microbiota and metabolites to prevent and treat osteoporosis remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To exploring the potential mechanisms by which kaempferol inhibit osteoporosis based on gut microbiota and comprehensive targeted metabolomics.
METHODS: Eighteen female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham operation group, model group, and kaempferol group, with 6 rats in each group. Animal models of osteoporosis were made in the latter two groups through removal of bilateral ovaries. Eight weeks after modeling, the sham operation and model groups were gavaged with distilled water, and the kaempferol group was gavaged with 40 mg/kg kaempferol. Continuous administration in each group was carried out for 12 weeks. Rat fecal samples were collected for 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing to observe changes in the gut microbiota structure. Serum samples were subjected to comprehensive targeted metabolomics analysis using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technology, along with a proprietary database and multivariate statistical analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After 12 weeks of continuous intervention, the results of 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing showed that compared with the sham operation group, the abundance of gut microbiota increased in the model group. Compared with the model group, kaempferol group exhibited a statistically significant increase in the abundance of the genus Latilactobacillus (P=0.021), while the abundances of Pantoea (P=0.034), Enterorhabdus (P=0.000), Monoglobus (P=0.024), Butyricimonas (P=0.034), Rothia (P=0.043), and Clostridia (P=0.004) were significantly downregulated. After 12 weeks of continuous intervention, the results of the serum samples analyzed by broad-targeted metabolomics revealed that 120 and 79 metabolites were identified between the sham operation and model groups and between the model and kaempferol groups, respectively. Among the three groups, there were 17 overlapping differentially expressed metabolites, including Cis-aconitic acid, barbituric acid, L-homocitrulline, 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid, L-3-phenyllactic acid, cyclo(pro-pro), L-phenylalanine-L-serine, proline-isoleucine, L-donoraminoacetic acid-L-phenylalanineacetic acid, and phenylalanine-aspartic acid. Most of them belong to amino acids and their metabolites, glycerophospholipids and fatty acyls. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways involved in the differential metabolites were mainly enriched in D-amino acid metabolism, histidine metabolism, propionate metabolism, lysine degradation, fatty acid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism. After 12 weeks of continuous intervention, combined analysis revealed that genera such as Enterorhabdus, Latilactobacillus, Rothia, and Ruminococcus were closely associated with differential serum metabolites. To conclude, kaempferol may exert its anti-osteoporotic effects by modulating the abundance, diversity, and structure of gut microbiota, thereby regulating the metabolism of amino acids, their metabolites, and fatty acids.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松;组织工程

Key words: kaempferol, osteoporosis, gut microbiota, 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing, comprehensive targeted metabolomics, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, mechanisms of action, rats

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