This study aims to explore the effects
of Astragaloside IV (AS-IV)
on abnormal behaviors, intestinal microbiota, intestinal T-immune
balance, and fecal metabolism of a model of depression in rats. Herein,
we integrally applied 16S rRNA sequencing, molecular biological techniques,
and 1H NMR-based fecal metabolomics to demonstrate the
antidepression activity of AS-IV. The results suggested that AS-IV
regulated the depression-like behaviors of rats, which are presented
by an increase of body weight, upregulation of sucrose preference
rates, and a decrease of immobility time. Additionally, AS-IV increased
the abundances of beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus and Oscillospira) in a model of depression
in rats. Moreover, AS-IV regulated significantly the imbalance of
Th17/Treg cells, and the abnormal contents of both anti-inflammatory
factors and pro-inflammatory factors. Besides, fecal metabolomics
showed that AS-IV improved the abnormal levels of short-chain fatty
acids and amino acids. Collectively, our research supplemented new
data, supporting the potential of AS-IV as an effective diet or diet
composition to improve depression-like behaviors, dysfunctions of
microbiota, imbalance of T immune, and the abnormality of fecal metabolome.
However, the causality of the other actions was not proven because
of the experimental design and the methodology used. The current findings
suggest that AS-IV could function as a promising diet or diet composition
to alleviate depressed symptoms.