Persimmon-Derived Tannins Ameliorated Cholesterol Levels in Liver Tissues Induced by a High-Fat Diet and Concurrently Increased the Diversity of the Gut Microbiota of Rats.

A number of studies have suggested that tannins improve lipid metabolism disorders. Based on the close relationship between liver and the gut microbiota through the gut-liver axis, we hypothesized that tannins may reduce lipid accumulation in the liver by modulating the gut microbiota. To test this hypothesis, we administered persimmon-derived tannins to rats fed a high-fat diet for 11 wk. Blood parameters and cholesterol, TG, and lipid droplet areas in the liver tissues were measured, and the gut microbiota of the cecal contents was analyzed using 16S rDNA sequencing. The results showed that persimmon-derived tannins significantly suppressed high-fat diet-induced increases in hepatic cholesterol levels. We also observed significant changes in the gut microbiota, including increased α- and β-diversity, a decreased Bacillota/Bacteroidota ratio, and an increased relative abundance of 15 genera, including Akkermansia, Bacteroides, Alloprevotella, and Alistipes. Collectively, these results suggest that persimmon-derived tannins may reduce lipid accumulation in the liver tissues, at least in part, through modulating the gut microbiota, indicating their potential as a functional food component for the prevention of liver diseases. Moreover, these findings provide new insights into the role of plant-derived polyphenols in the regulation of lipid metabolism through gut microbiota modulation. This study is significant because it revealed a relationship between the functionality of persimmon-derived tannins and the gut microbiota.