Forsythia suspensa, belonging to the deciduous shrubs of the Luteaceae family, a traditional Chinese medicine, has effects of alleviating swelling, clearing heat, detoxification and promoting blood circulation. The leaves of F. suspensa contain multiple chemical components and have a long history of use in folk medicines and health foods. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of forsythin extract from F. suspensa leaves on intestinal microbiota and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content in rats with obesity induced by a high-fat diet. Forsythin extract in F. suspensa leaves increased the abundance of the intestinal microbiota, ameliorated intestinal microbiota disorders and inhibited the increase in total SCFA content in the intestinal tract in rats with obesity induced by a high-fat diet. These results suggested that forsythin extract in F. suspensa leaves may slow the development of obesity induced by a high-fat diet; thus, its active components and efficacy are worthy of further study.

连翘，属于黄连科落叶灌木，中药，具有消肿、清热、解毒、活血的功效。悬铃木的叶子含有多种化学成分，在民间药物和保健食品中的使用有着悠久的历史。本研究的目的是探讨连翘叶连翘提取物对高脂饮食诱导的肥胖大鼠肠道菌群和短链脂肪酸（SCFA）含量的影响。连翘叶中的连翘苷提取物增加了高脂饮食引起的肥胖大鼠肠道菌群丰度，改善肠道菌群紊乱，并抑制肠道总SCFA含量的增加。这些结果表明，连翘叶中的连翘苷提取物可能会减缓高脂肪饮食引起的肥胖的发展。因此，其活性成分和功效值得进一步研究。