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LLKL, a new traditional Chinese medicine formula containing Edgeworthia gardneri (Wall.) Meisn., Sibiraea angustata and Crocus sativus L. (saffron), was designed to ameliorate type 2 diabetes mellitus. Despite the therapeutic benefits of LLKL, its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study evaluated the LLKL anti‐diabetic efficacy and its effect on gut microbiota to elucidate its mechanism of action in Zucker diabetic fatty rats. We found that administration of different LLKL concentrations (4.68, 2.34 and 1.17 g/kg/d) improved several diabetic parameters after a 6‐week treatment. Moreover, LLKL modulated gut microbiota dysbiosis, increased the expression of occluding and maintained intestinal epithelial homeostasis, leading to a reduction in LPS, TNF‐α and IL‐6 levels. Hepatic transcriptomic analysis showed that the Toll‐like receptor signalling pathway was markedly enriched by LLKL treatment. RT‐qPCR results validated that LLKL treatment decreased the expressions of TLR4, MyD88 and CTSK. Furthermore, a gene set enrichment analysis indicated that LLKL enhanced the insulin signalling pathway and inhibited glycerolipid metabolism and fatty acid metabolism, which were verified by the liver biochemical analysis. These findings demonstrate that LLKL ameliorates hyperglycaemia, modulates the gut microbiota and regulates the gut‐liver axis, which might contribute to its anti‐diabetic effect.

Bupleuri Radix is a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM ) and an important raw material in TCM patent prescriptions. It is widely used in several countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, and America. However, the impact of heavy metal transfer rules on TCM s remains unknown. In this study, a total of 45 paired original medicines (OM s), decoction pieces (DP s), and vinegar‐processed (VP s) samples were simultaneously determined via inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry after a microwave digestion. The concentrations of the elements were shown at three levels: (a) Al and Fe at the mg/g level; (b) Pb, Cu, Ba, Mn, Cr, and Ni at the mg/kg level; (c) Co, As, Cd, and Hg at μg/kg level. It is worth noting that the Cu levels were found to exceed the maximum concentration set by Chinese legislation (20.0 mg/kg). In addition, Mn, Ni, and Cu levels were higher in samples from the Gansu province than those from other provinces. The accumulation of the heavy metals decreased in the order of OM s > DP s > VP s; this was especially true for the Al and Fe levels. Furthermore, the results indicate that decocting the samples may reduce the intake of heavy metals. The element transfer ratios for decoctions were under 50% compared to herbal medicines and decreased in the order of Co > As > Mn > Hg > other metals. Our study strongly suggests that long‐term and regular monitoring for heavy metals in the plant is necessary.