Flavonoids of probiotic fermented plant beverage FH03F: potential antiobesity mechanisms: integrating metabolomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking

Abstract Flavonoids can ameliorate lipid metabolism and prevent obesity. FH03F is a probiotic fermented plant beverage that is rich in flavonoids, but its antiobesity mechanism is not clear. This study aimed to explore the differences in flavonoids in FH03F after fermentation and its potential antiobesity mechanism via metabolomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking. Metabolomics analysis revealed significant changes in FH03F flavonoids via fermentation, and 91 flavonoids were detected. Through network pharmacology, 28 flavonoids met the efficacious screening criteria, and 4 targets were core targets. Molecular docking revealed that quercetin, wogonin, and luteolin had lower binding energies with core targets than the other compounds did. In summary, FH03F flavonoids mainly exert antiobesity effects by regulating TP53, AKT1, IL6, and TNF expression, and regulating the AGE–RAGE signalling pathway in diabetic complications and other pathways, which means that FH03F flavonoids exert antiobesity effects through multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways.