Abstract:

Objective: To explore the effect of different intragastric doses of Zanthoxylum essential oil on intestinal health in
ovariectomized rats. Methods: Totally 40 female SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, including a group of rats
with pseudo-resection of ovarian, and the rest 4 groups of rats subjected to ovariectomy. After a week of wound healing from
surgery, both of the pseudo ovarian resection group and ovariectomy group were fed on basic feed, and three ovariectomy groups
were orally administered with the essential oil at doses of 5, 10 mg/(kg·d) and 15 mg/(kg·d) body weight per day for four
consecutive weeks. All rats were sacrificed after feeding for 28 days to analyze the gain of body weight and cecal tissue weight,
the amount of free ammonia, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and microbes in the cecum. Results: After intragastric administration
of Zanthoxylum essential oil, the wet weight of cecal wall of these rats was increased, pH was decreased, harmful bacteria and
free ammonia were reduced, and total SCFAs in medium-dose and high-dose groups were increased. Conclusion: Intragastric
administration of Zanthoxylum essential oil can promote rat intestinal fermentation, and thus improve the intestinal health.

Key words: zanthoxylum essential oil, ovarietomy, microbe, short-chain fatty acids, free ammonia