Litchi flower essential oil (LFEO) restores intestinal health in lipid disorder Caenorhabditis elegans

Maintaining lipid homeostasis is important for intestinal and body health. Litchi flower essential oil (LFEO), mainly containing 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, α-Curcumene, Gamma.-Sitosterol, α-linolenic acid, β-Bisabolene and n-Hexadecanoic acid, has been demonstrated significant anti-obesity activity. However, it remains uncertain whether LFEO could ameliorate intestinal damage associated with lipid metabolism disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of LFEO against intestinal injury caused by lipid disturbance in Caenorhabditis elegans. Firstly, LFEO significantly ameliorated the lipid disturbance induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and maintained lipid homeostasis. Secondly, LFEO maintained intestinal health by attenuating mitochondrial damage. After LFEO treatment, the intestinal width of worms was reduced by 24.82 % (on day 5) and 23.81 % (on day 7), respectively, while the intestinal breakage rate was only 15.33 %. In terms of capacity metabolism, LFEO significantly protected the neuronal structure, improved pharyngeal function, and maintained energy intake in lipid-disordered worms. The results of this study indicated that LFEO effectively reduced the intestinal damage and maintained intestinal health in lipid disorder nematodes. It made a new understanding for LFEO to reduce intestinal damage caused by lipid disorders, and provided a reference for the large-scale production of LFEO to promote the development of litchi circular economy.