lithospermum erythrorhizon polysaccharide

Lithospermum erythrorhizon polysaccharide is a **water-soluble polysaccharide fraction** purified from the roots of the plant Lithospermum erythrorhizon, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. This polysaccharide fraction is distinct from the fat-soluble naphthoquinone components (such as shikonin), and comprises a mixture of higher molecular weight carbohydrates and glycoproteins. Preclinical studies have identified its **anti-obesity** and **metabolic regulatory activities** in animal models: LEP supplementation suppressed weight gain and hepatic lipid accumulation, improved liver function, and increased systemic energy expenditure in diet-induced obese mice. Mechanistic studies indicate that LEP exerts its effects primarily by **modulating the gut microbiota**, inhibiting colonization of bile salt hydrolase–producing bacteria, leading to increased taurine-conjugated bile acids and cecal short-chain fatty acid levels, and promoting adipose tissue thermogenesis. These anti-obesity benefits are abolished by antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion and are recapitulated by fecal transfer, demonstrating the dependency on gut microbial changes. LEP is thus being studied as a dietary supplement or microbiota-targeted intervention for obesity management and potentially other metabolic disorders[4].

Other names

LEPLithospermum erythrorhizon soluble polysaccharideLithospermum erythrorhizon root polysaccharide