Exploring metabolic pathway alterations in obese fermented feces mediated by individual fruit extracts of Triphala components using untargeted metabolomics

Objective: This work aimed to explore the modified pathways impacted by changes in fecal metabolites among female obese adults during the human gut model period, both in the presence and absence of individual Triphala constituent fruit extract. Methods and results: The human gut model employed individual fruit extracts from Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia bellerica, and T. chebula, comparing them to a control group. Fermentation used fecal samples from female obese adults over 24 h. Metabolite extraction, untargeted metabolomics, and pathway analysis identified metabolic changes. Treatments with P. emblica extract, T. bellerica extract, and T. chebula extract revealed the statistical detection of 128, 734, and 757 up-regulated metabolites, respectively, while 31, 90, and 92 down-regulated metabolites were identified. Pathway analysis revealed that P. emblica extract primarily influenced vitamin B6 metabolism, whereas the treatments with T. bellerica extract and T. chebula extract predominantly engaged glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism for metabolic regulation within the human gut model. Conclusion: By examining obese fecal metabolite changes and their association with metabolic pathway modulation through individual fruit extracts of Triphala constituents in a human gut model, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of Triphala components’ potential for managing obesity and its applications in the food industry.