Effects of Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight ethanol extract on hyperglycaemic symptoms and gut microbiota in type 2 diabetes mellitus mice.

Chronic hyperglycaemia accompanied by impaired pancreatic β-cell function defines Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM), a disorder linked to progressive complications. This study identified flavonoids, phenols and prenol lipids as the major bioactive constituents of Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight ethanol extract (CRE) and investigated its therapeutic potential on the gut microbiota(GM) in T2DM mice. After a four-week intervention, CRE markedly ameliorated glycemic control, liver function and insulin resistance. It effectively improved key indicators, encompassing body weight, fasting blood glucose, insulin resistance and hepatic function, with CRE-H showing superior efficacy. Critically, CRE restored gut microbial balance. CRE-H increased beneficial Faecalibaculum while suppressing pathogenic Angelakisella, thereby mitigating hepatic inflammation. Predictive analysis further identified genera like Eubacterium, Faecalibaculum and Mailhella as being strongly linked to hypoglycaemic effects, indicating their potential function as intestinal biomarkers. In conclusion, the amelioration of hyperglycaemia in T2DM by CRE is crucially mediated through its positive modulation of the GM.