LIMITED EFFECTS OF PICEATANNOL SUPPLEMENTATION ON GUT MICROBIOTA COMPOSITION IN OBESE ZUCKER RATS

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Piceatannol, a natural polyphenolic stilbene present in grapes and red wine is an analog and metabolite of resveratrol. Piceatannol exhibits higher metabolic stability and bioavailability than resveratrol, suggesting a promising role in obesity and associated disorders. As gut microbiota is a potential contributor factor in obesity, it would be of interest to analyze the influence of piceatannol on gut microbiota composition in a model of obesity. METHODOLOGY: A total of 30 male Zucker (Crl:ZUC-Leprfa) rats were randomly distributed in three experimental groups. Piceatannol was given orally (15 mg/kg and 45 mg/kg). After 6 weeks of treatment, cecal contents were removed. DNA was extracted and metagenomics analysis of microbiota was carried out. RESULTS: Bacterial composition from piceatannol treated rats was not significantly affected at the phylum level; only slight changes were observed in less abundant phyla and in several species belonging to Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla. CONCLUSION: Minor changes in gut microbiota composition were observed, similarly to what was observed when analyzing its in vitro antimicrobial activity. The physiological relevance of the bacterial species modified needs to be further determined, although they were associated with only modest mitigation of obesity complications in this model of genetic hyperphagia.