Cistanche deserticola improves postmenopausal osteoporosis through gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids

[Display omitted] •CDC can effectively inhibit OVX-induced bone loss.•CDC alleviates OVX-induced disorders of the gut microbiota and enhances intestinal barrier function.•CDC can promote the production of SCFAs.•CDC may be a potentially safe and effective drug for the treatment of PMO. The decrease of bone mineral density, osteopenia, and changes in bone tissue structure in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) are related to the disturbance of the body's microbiota, but the specific mechanism is still unclear. Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma. (Orobanchaceae, CD) is a medicinal and dietary herb widely used in China, and studies have been conducted to prove its effectiveness in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. This study aims to investigate the potential mechanism of cell-broken decoction pieces of Cistanche deserticola (CDC) in regulating gut microbiota and gut microbial metabolites to improve postmenopausal osteoporosis. The results show that CDC improved gut microbiota disorders, and promoted the production of beneficial bacteria of Firmicutes, Roseburia, and Oscillibacter that mainly produce SCFAs, and increased intestinal barrier function, thus protecting OVX mice from bone loss, which provides a reference for the clinical application of CDC in the prevention and treatment of PMO.