Nerol (NE), a monoterpenoid compound primarily obtained from orange leaves, roses, and lemons, exhibits diverse biological activities. This study investigated the protective effects of dietary NE supplementation against obesity in mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD). Five-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups and subjected to chow diet, HFD, or HFD supplemented with 0.2% (w/w) NE for 13 weeks. The results demonstrated that NE significantly mitigated the body weight, adipocyte enlargement, and hepatic steatosis induced by the HFD. NE notably modulated the expression of genes associated with adipogenesis and thermogenesis in epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT). NE also improved gut dysbiosis based on 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. Transcriptomic analysis of WAT revealed that NE induced distinct alterations in gene expression patterns, which exhibit a strong interaction with the gut microbiome. Our findings underscore the potential of NE as a functional dietary supplement for obesity management.

The effective intervention strategy for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are currently limited. Herein, we attempted to evaluate the potential of L-proline (Pro), a multifunctional amino acid, in ameliorating autism-like behaviors and clarify the molecular mechanisms involved by using the typical valproic acid (VPA)-induced mouse model of ASD. Pro significantly attenuates repetitive behaviors and social dysfunction in ASD mice. The correlation analysis revealed that the beneficial effects of Pro on autism-like behaviors are related to the modulation of gut microbiota structure and composition. The histological analysis revealed that Pro could reverse the decrease of Nissl-positive cells in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) induced by VPA exposure. RNA sequencing demonstrated that Pro can also alter the PFC transcriptomic profile distinguished by the regulation of genes involved in Parkinson disease, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, oxidative phosphorylation, and mitogen activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Overall, dietary Pro supplementation may be a promising intervention strategy for ASD.