Microbiome has been revealed as a key element involved in maintaining the circadian rhythms. Oolong tea polyphenols (OTP) has been shown to have potential prebiotic activity. Therefore, this study focused on the regulation mechanisms of OTP on host circadian rhythms. After 8 weeks of OTP administration, a large expansion in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes with a decrease in Firmicutes was observed, which reflected the positive modulatory effect of OTP on gut flora. In addition, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways of ATP-binding cassette transporters, two-component system, and the biosynthesis of amino acids enriched the most differentially expressed genes after OTP treatment. Of the differentially expressed proteins identified, most were related to metabolism, genetic information processing, and environmental information processing. It underscores the ability of OTP to regulate circadian rhythm by enhancing beneficial intestinal microbiota and affecting metabolic pathways, contributing to the improvement of host microecology.
Keywords: circadian clock; intestinal microbiota; modulatory effect; oolong tea polyphenols.