Salvia miltiorrhiza extract may exert an anti-obesity effect in rats with high-fat diet-induced obesity by modulating gut microbiome and lipid metabolism

Figure 4 Effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on serum lipid profiles, glucose, free fatty acid levels, and histopathological changes of the liver and adipose tissue in HFD-fed rats. A-D: Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein levels; E: Serum glucose level; F: Serum free fatty acid level; G and H: Representative images of hematoxylin-and eosin-stained (H&E) sections of liver tissue (400 ×) in the six groups (a: Lipid droplet accumulation; b: Punctate necrosis of hepatocytes with inflammatory cell infiltration; c: Balloon-like changes) (Scale bars: 20 µm); I and J: Representative images of H&E sections of adipose tissue (400 ×) in the six groups (Scale bars: 20 µm). Significance between groups was calculated using one-way ANOVA followed by Duncan’s multiple comparison test. Data are shown as the mean ± SE. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs control group; ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01 vs HFD group. Error bars represent standard error.