Objective Effects of ferulic acid on serum antioxidant capacity and intestinal microflora diversity in antibiotic stressed mice were studied for providing a theoretical basis for the development of ferulic acid microecological preparations.

Method The mice were divided into control group, antibiotic group and antibiotic + ferulic acid group. Biochemical and oxidation related enzymes in serums of mice were detected by various kits, and their effects on intestinal microbial community were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing.

Result Ferulic acid increased the activities of T-SOD and GSH-Px of mice by 20.50% and 26.27% respectively, and increased the total antioxidant capacity by 56.36% compared with that of antibiotic group. At the same time, ferulic acid promoted the intestinal digestion through NOS down-regulated signal molecules. Antibiotic led to significant decrease of the abundance and diversity of intestinal microflora in mice, while ferulic acid had no significant interference on this phenomenon. However, there were 215 and 259 unique OTU in the ferulic acid group and the antibiotic group, respectively. Therefore, ferulic acid had a significant effect on the composition of intestinal microflora. Ferulic acid optimized the intestinal microflora composition through up-regulating the ratio of Firmicutes to Proteobacteria, promoting the proliferation of Clostridium, Sporosarcina and Proteus and preventing the over reproduction of Enterococcus.

Conclusion Ferulic acid can improve the antioxidant capacity of mice serum, change the intestinal microflora composition and improve the metabolism and inflammatory reaction of intestinal tract in mice through many ways which affected by antibiotics.