Abstract: In this paper, the effect of polysaccharide PGEB-3-H on short chain fatty acids in the intestinal tract of rats was investigated. SD rats were used as experimental models and administered with PGEB-3-H at high, medium and low doses (400, 200 mg/(kg ·d) and 100 mg/(kg ·d) for 4 consecutive weeks. The stool samples of rats were collected at the designed time points. The short chain fatty acids in the intestinal tract of rats were analyzed by gas chromatography. Results indicated that polysaccharide PGEB-3-H had an obvious effect on the production of ethanoic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid and caproic acid; in contrast, it did not reveal an obvious effect on the production of isovaleric acid and heptanoic acid. Meanwhile, different administration doses of PGEB-3-H also revealed different effects on short chain fatty acids. An obvious effect on the production of short chain fatty acids was observed in the medium and low dose groups of PGEB-3-H. The highest level of short chain fatty acid production in the intestinal tract of rats was observed in the period of 7－14 d after the administration of PGEB-3-H.

Key words: Gastrodia elata Blume, polysaccharide, short chain fatty acid, rat