Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive decline and neuroinflammation. Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge oil (XSBO), a woody plant oil rich in bioactive fatty acids, has shown potential health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanisms of XSBO in AD. A scopolamine-induced AD rat model was established to evaluate the effects of XSBO on cognitive function, pathological changes, and neuroinflammation. Gut microbiota alterations were analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) supplementation experiments were performed to explore the role of gut microbiota-derived metabolites. The TLR4/MyD88/MAPK signaling pathway was further examined. XSBO treatment improved cognitive deficits, reduced neuronal damage and neuroinflammation, and enhanced intestinal barrier integrity in AD rats. XSBO restored gut microbiota dysbiosis and increased SCFA-producing bacteria. FMT and SCFA supplementation confirmed that microbiota-derived metabolites contributed to XSBO-mediated cognitive improvement and neuroprotection. Mechanistically, XSBO inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation by suppressing TLR4/MyD88/MAPK signaling activation. XSBO alleviates AD-related cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation by modulating the gut microbiota-SCFA axis and inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/MAPK-mediated inflammatory responses. These findings suggest that XSBO may serve as a promising dietary intervention for neurodegenerative disease management.
