Wang, ChenSun, DongfangDeng, QiSun, LijunHu, LianhuaFang, ZhijiaZhao, JianGooneratne, Ravi2024-09-212024-01-162024-09-212024-012024-01-122072-6643https://hdl.handle.net/10182/17613Elephantopus scaber L. (ESL) is a Chinese herb that is used both as a food and medicine, often being added to soups in summer in south China to relieve heat stress (HS), but its exact mechanism of action is unknown. In this study, heat-stressed mice were gavaged with ESL polysaccharides (ESLP) at 0, 150, 300, and 450 mg/kg/d‾¹ (n = 5) for seven days. The gut microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), seven neurotransmitters in faeces, expression of intestinal epithelial tight junction (TJ) proteins (Claudin-1, Occludin), and serum inflammatory cytokines were measured. The low dose of ESLP (ESLL) improved the adverse physiological conditions; significantly reduced the cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels (p < 0.05); upregulated the expression of Claudin-1; restored the gut microbiota composition including Achromobacter and Oscillospira, which were at similar levels to those in the normal control group; significantly increased beneficial SCFAs like butyric acid and 5-HT levels in the faeces of heat-stressed mice; and significantly decreased the valeric acid and glutamic acid level. The level of inflammatory markers significantly correlated with the above-mentioned indicators (p < 0.05). Thus, ESLL reduced the HS-induced systemic inflammation by optimizing gut microbiota (Achromobacter, Oscillospira) abundance, increasing gut beneficial SCFAs like butyric acid and 5-HT levels, and reducing gut valeric and glutamic acid levels.22 pagesen© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Elephantopus scaber L. polysaccharidesgut microbiotaheat stressneurotransmittersshort chain fatty acidssystemic inflammationJournal Article10.3390/nu160202622072-6643ANZSRC::300302 Animal managementANZSRC::300301 Animal growth and developmentANZSRC::300305 Animal reproduction and breedingANZSRC::310904 Animal diet and nutritionANZSRC::300307 Environmental studies in animal productionANZSRC::420803 Traditional Chinese medicine and treatmentsANZSRC::3202 Clinical sciencesANZSRC::3210 Nutrition and dieteticsANZSRC::4206 Public healthhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Attribution