Abstract:

[Objective]This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hypericin on growth performance, organ index and cecal microbial diversity in mice. [Method]A total of 100 female Kunming mice aged 4 weeks were randomly divided into 5 groups with 20 mice in each group. The mice were given hypericin in drinking water at dosages of 0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 g/L. The formal experiment lasted for 28 days. The body weight and feed intake of the mice were recorded, and the average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed to gain ratio were calculated. The number of dead mice during the experiment was recorded to calculate the mortality. At the end of the experiment, the mice were killed by cervical dislocation, the heart, liver, kidney and spleen were collected and weighed, and the corresponding organ indexes were determined. The cecal contents were collected and 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing was used to assess the cecal microbial diversity. [Result]Addition of hypericin in drinking water at dosages of 1, 2, 4 g/L increased the average daily gain of mice （P>0.05）, and the highest average daily gain was observed in 4 g/L group, which was elevated by 21.21% compared with that in 0 g/L group. The mice given hypericin in drinking water had higher average daily feed intake （P>0.05）, and the highest average daily feed intake was observed in 2 g/L group, which was elevated by 18.30% compared with that in 0 g/L group. The 4 g/L group had the lowest feed to gain ratio （P>0.05）, which was decreased by 9.24% compared with 0 g/L group. The cardiac index of 1, 2, 4 and 8 g/L groups was significantly （P<0.05） higher than that of 0 g/L group, and the renal index of 4 g/L group was significantly （P<0.05） lower than that of 1 g/L group. At the Phylum level, Firmicutes had the highest relative abundance, followed by Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, and the three dominant phyla accounted for 97.58% of the total bacteria. At the Genus level, Prevotella, Bacteroides and Phascolarctobacterium exhibited higher relative abundance; 1, 2 and 4 g/L groups had significantly （P<0.05） lower relative abundance of Prevotella and Megamonas compared with 0 g/L group, and had significantly （P<0.05） higher relative abundance of[Ruminococcus]compared with 0 g/L group; 4 g/L group had significantly （P<0.05） higher relative abundance of Parabacteroides, Ruminococcus, and Lactobacillus compared with 0 g/L group. [Conclusion] Adding hypericin in drinking water increased the feed intake and weight gain of mice to a certain extent, significantly improved the cardiac index, enhanced the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria in the cecum, showing a beneficial effect on the health of mice.

Key words: hypericin, mice, growth performance, organ index, cecal microorganism