Effects of elemene emulsion injection on rat fecal microbiota and metabolites: evidence based on metagenomic exploration and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer

We randomly assigned 18 male SD rats to three groups, each with six rats: sham group (group S), low concertration of elemene emulsion injection group (group L) and high concertration of elemene emulsion injection group (group H). Group L was intraperitoneally injected with elemene emulsion (20 mg/kg/d) for 14 consecutive days, Group H was intraperitoneally injected with elemene emulsion (40 mg/kg/d) for 14 consecutive days and group S was intraperitoneally injected with the same volume of normal saline. Feces of each animal were then collected on day 14 post-dose for metagenomics sequencing, as well as fecal metabolomic analysis.