Abstract: In this paper, the modulatory effect of set yogurt with tartary buckwheat on the intestinal flora in mice was studied. The quantity and composition of the intestinal flora were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Illumina high throughput sequencing and the contents of short chain fatty acids (acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and lactic acid) in mouse feces by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results showed that the yogurt increased the number of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Clostridium leptum as beneficial bacteria in the gut by 523.81, 911.01 and 12.18 times, and decreased the number of harmful Enterobacter, Enterococcus and Bacteroides by 99.89%, 97.31% and 99.02%, respectively when compared with the control group. In addition, the fecal contents of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and lactic acid were increased by 36.87%, 75.59%, 56.26% and 92.36% when compared to the control group. This effect was better than that of pure yogurt. The results of high-throughput sequencing showed that the yogurt with tartary buckwheat could significantly increase the diversity of the intestinal flora in mice when compared with the pure yogurt and the control groups. At the level of phylum, the abundance of Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia were significantly reduced, and the abundance of Bacteroidetes was significantly increased by the yogurt with tartary buckwheat (P < 0.05). At the level of genus, it could significantly increase the abundance of norank_f__Bacteroidales_S24-7_group and Faecalibaculum, and significantly reduce the abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, unclassified_f__Lachnospiraceae, and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006 (P < 0.05). The abundance of the dominant species in the gut was increased by the yogurt with tartary buckwheat. In conclusion, set yogurt with tartary buckwheat could promote the proliferation of beneficial bacteria and inhibit the proliferation of harmful bacteria. Besides, it could promote the production of short chain fatty acids in the gut, increase the diversity of the intestinal flora, and optimize the structure of the intestinal flora.

Key words: set yogurt with tartary buckwheat, intestinal flora, short chain fatty acids, high-throughput sequencing