Table 3 Herbs and gut microbiota

Mulberry leaves

Mulberry leaf water extracts

(1) Promote SCFAs-produced gut microbial fermentation and the excretion of fecal sterol and bile acid

(2) Reduce the serum total cholesterol level and the atherosclerotic index

(3) Modify the disturbed gut microbiota to be restored

(4) Improve lipid metabolism and prevent body fat accumulation

Increased: Leptotrichia, Bacteroidetes

Decreased:

Cyanobacteria Proteobacteria

He et al. [92]

Ma et al. [93]

Mulberry leaf flavonoids, polysaccharides and alkaloids

(1) Generate SCFAs

(2) Regulate blood glucose level

Increased:

Bacteroides

Decreased:

Desulfovibrio, Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae

Wang et al. [94]

Zhang et al. [95]

[96]

Mulberry dietary fiber and polyphenols

Reduce weight

Increased:

N/A

Decreased: Lachnespiraceae,

Clostridiales

Li et al. [97]

Astragalus membranaceus

Astragalus Polysaccharides

(1) Restore the balance of gut microbiota

(2) Reduce the energy intake from HFD and the weight growth rate

Increased:

the ratio of Bacteroides to Firmicutes,

Decreased: Proteobacteria

He et al. [96]

Astragali Radix vesicle-like nanoparticles

(1) Improve the gut microbiota dysbiosis

(2) Reduce the fasting blood glucose and improve insulin resistance

Increased:

the ratio of Bacteroides to Firmicutes,

Muribaculaceae

Decreased: Proteobacteria

Lactobacillaceae

Lachnospiraceae

Gao et al. [98]

Calycosin

Balance harmful and beneficial gut microbiota

Increased:

Bifidobacterium lactis,

Lactobacillus mesenteroides Decreased:

Pathogenic bacteria, Enterococcus hirsutum, Enterobacter mesenteroides

Zhang. [99]

Astragaloside IV

(1) Up-regulate the expression of AMPK/SIRTI and PI3K/AKT proteins to alleviate injuries from insulin resistance and oxidative stress

(2) Up-regulate abundance of SCFAs-producing bacteria

(3) Lower blood glucose and maintain body weight

Increased:

Alistipes, Odoribactercan, Riken,

Parabacteroides,

Akkermansia

Decreased: Lachnespiraceae,

Clostridiales,

Proteobacteria

Xiao et al. [100]

Meng et al. [101]

Ganoderma lucidum

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides

(1) Regulate gut microbiota of type 2 diabetic

(2) Promote the production of SCFAs

(3) Affect some pathways through gut microbiota, to alleviate the symptoms

Increased:

Bifidobacterium, Blautia, Clostricibacter, Coprococcus

Decreased:

Leuconostoc, Enterococcu, Dorea

Ding [102]

Ganoderma lucidum spore oligosaccharides

(1) Regulate structure of the gut microbiota

(2) Promote the production of SCFAs

Increased:

Prevotella,

Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium

Decreased:

Escherichia coli

Yang et al. [103]

Ganoderma lucidum mycelium

(1) Alleviate gut microbiota of obesity

(2) Maintain intestinal barrier integrity and reduce metabolic endotoxemia

(3) Reduce and improve insulin resistance inflammation

Increased:

the ratio of Bacteroides to Firmicutes,

Decreased:

Escherichia spp.

Chang et al. [104]

Ginseng

Ginsenoside Rg5

(1) Improve gut microbiota of Diabetic

(2) Repair the intestinal barrier and alleviates metabolic endotoxemia related inflammation

(3) Improve insulin resistance and blood glucose in diabetic

Increased:

the ratio of Bacteroides to Firmicutes, Clostridium clusters XIVa, XVIII, and IV, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Faecalibacterium, Dialist

Decreased:

Dorea,

Escherichia Shigella

Wei et al. [105]

Yue 2021 [106]

Seaweed

Seaweed polysaccharides

(1) Regulate structure of the gut microbiota

(2) Promote the production of SCFAs

(3) improve the symptoms of diabetic

(4) change the secretion and metabolism of mucin in intestinal mucus and against some infection

(5) Increase Carbohydrate-Active enzymes and anti-obesity

Increased:

the ratio of Bacteroides to Firmicutes, Clostridium cluster XIVa, Parabacteroides and Bacteroides

Decreased:

Clostridium cluster XIVb and XI

Chen et al. [107]

Cheng et al. [108]

Deville et al. [109]

Nguyen et al. [110]

Insoluble dietary fiber

(1) Regulate structure of the gut microbiota

(2) Promote the production of SCFAs and improve the blood glucose level and fat metabolism

Increased:

the ratio of Bacteroides to Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, Akkermansia

Decreased:

N/A

Zhang et al. [111]

Rhubarb

Rhubarb anthraquinone

(1) Regulate structure of the gut microbiota

(2) Enhance intestinal barrier and reduce LPS induced inflammation

(3) Promote the production of SCFAs and induce GLP-1 secretion to ameliorate insulin resistance

(4) Anti- obesity

Increased:

the ratio of Bacteroides to Firmicutes, Clostridium, Lactobacillus,

Akkermansia, Roseburia

Decreased:

Desulfovibrio

Yu et al. [112]

Regnier et al. [113]

Cui et al. [114]

Wang et al. [115]

Salvia miltiorrhiza

Salvianolic acid B

(1) Regulate structure of the gut microbiota

(2) Improve insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism disorder

(3) Alleviate gut permeability

Increased:

Bifidobacterium, Adlercreutzia, Lactobacillales

Decreased:

Bacteria genera Helicobacter, Desulfovibrio, Mucispirillum, Gram-negative Proteobacteria, Deferribacteres

Lin et al. [116]

Zhou et al. [117]