Synergistic modulation of metabolic disorders by konjac glucomannan and Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharides: integrated insights from in vitro digestion, gut microbiota, and hepatic metabolomics
摘要
Plant-derived polysaccharides offer metabolic benefits, but the synergistic effects of multi-component interventions remain unclear. This study investigated the combined treatment of konjac glucomannan (KGM) and Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharide (PCP) in diabetic mice using in vitro digestion, 16S rRNA sequencing, and hepatic metabolomics. Compared to individual polysaccharides, the combination more effectively delayed glucose release, increased fecal short-chain fatty acids (especially acetic acid), enriched beneficial microbes (Oscillospira, Desulfovibrio), and altered gut microbiota composition. Hepatic metabolomics and KEGG analysis revealed broader regulation of tryptophan metabolism, the TCA cycle, and amino acid and fatty acid pathways, along with greater reductions in pro-inflammatory metabolites such as oxaloacetic and linoleic acids. These improvements were closely associated with specific changes in gut microbiota, suggesting that KGM–PCP synergistically modulates multiple metabolic pathways via the gut–liver axis. This work provides insight into KGM–PCP as a functional dietary strategy against metabolic disorders.