Data from: Puerarin alleviates atherosclerosis via the inhibition of Prevotella copri and its trimethylamine production

Objective Puerarin (PU) is a natural compound that exhibits limited oral
bioavailability but has shown promise in the treatment of atherosclerosis
(AS). However, the precise mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects
remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate the
effects of PU and its mechanisms in mitigating AS in both mice and humans.
Design The impact of PU on AS was examined in ApoE-/- mice fed a high-fat
diet (HFD) and in human patients with carotid artery plaque. To explore
the causal link between PU-associated gut microbiota and AS, faecal
microbiota transplantation (FMT) and mono-colonization of mice with
Prevotella copri (P. copri) were employed. Results PU alleviated AS by
modulating the gut microbiota, as evidenced by alterations in gut
microbiota composition and the amelioration of AS following FMT from
PU-treated mice into ApoE-/- mice fed HFD. Specifically, PU reduced the
abundance of P. copri, which exacerbated AS by producing trimethylamine
(TMA). Prolonged mono-colonization of P. copri undermines the beneficial
effects of PU on AS. In clinical, the plaque scores of AS patients were
positively correlated with the abundance of P. copri and plasma
trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) levels. A 1-week oral intervention with PU
effectively decreased P. copri levels and reduced TMAO concentrations in
patients with carotid artery plaque. Conclusion PU may provide therapeutic
benefits in combating AS by targeting P. copri and its production of TMA.