Digestion-Promoting Effects and Mechanisms of Dashanzha Pill Based on Raw and Charred Crataegi Fructus

From ancient wisdom to modern science: Gut microbiota sheds light on property theory of traditional Chinese medicine

The property theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been practiced for thousands of years, playing a pivotal role in the clinical application of TCM. While advancements in energy metabolism, chemical composition analysis, machine learning, ion current modeling, and supercritical fluid technology have provided valuable insight into how aspects of TCM property theory may be measured, these studies only capture specific aspects of TCM property theory in isolation, overlooking the holistic perspective inherent in TCM. To systematically investigate the modern interpretation of the TCM property theory from multidimensional perspectives, we consulted the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition) to compile a list of Chinese materia medica (CMM). Then, using the Latin names of each CMM and gut microbiota as keywords, we searched the PubMed database for relevant research on gut microbiota and CMM. The regulatory patterns of different herbs on gut microbiota were then summarized from the perspectives of the four natures, the five flavors and the meridian tropism. In terms of the four natures, we found that warm-natured medicines promoted the colonization of specific beneficial bacteria, while cold-natured medicines boosted populations of some beneficial bacteria while suppressing pathogenic bacteria. Analysis of the five flavors revealed that sweet-flavored and bitter-flavored CMMs positively influenced beneficial bacteria while inhibiting harmful bacteria. CMMs with different meridian tropism exhibited complex modulative patterns on gut microbiota, with Jueyin (Liver) and Taiyin (Lung) meridian CMMs generally exerting a stronger effect. The gut microbiota may be a biological indicator for characterizing the TCM property theory, which not only enhances our understanding of classic TCM theory but also contributes to its scientific advancement and application in healthcare. Please cite this article as: Yang YN, Zhan JG, Cao Y, Wu CM. From ancient wisdom to modern science: Gut microbiota sheds light on property theory of traditional Chinese medicine. J Integr Med. 2024; Epub ahead of print.

Comparing massa medicata fermentata before and after charred in terms of digestive promoting effect via metabolomics and microbiome analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Massa Medicata Fermentata, a fermented Chinese medicine, is produced by the fermentation of six traditional Chinese medicines. Liu Shenqu (LSQ) and charred Liu Shenqu (CLSQ) have been used for strengthening the spleen and enhancing digestion for over a thousand years, and CLSQ is commonly used in clinical practice. However, it is unclear whether there is a difference in the spleen strengthening and digestion effects between LSQ and CLSQ, as well as their mechanisms of action.

AIM OF STUDY

This study aims to compare the effects of LSQ and CLSQ on the digestive function of functional dyspepsia (FD) rats and reveal their mechanisms of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SPF grade SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group, model group, Liu Shenqu decoction low-dosage (LSQ LD) group, Liu Shenqu decoction high-dosage (LSQ HD) group, charred Liu Shenqu decoction low-dosage (CLSQ LD) group, and charred Liu Shenqu decoction high-dosage (CLSQ HD) group. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with reserpine to create an FD model and then treated by intragastric administration. During this period, record the weight and food intake of the animals. After 18 days of treatment, specimens of the gastric antrum, spleen, and duodenum of rats were taken for pathological staining and immunohistochemical detection of Ghrelin protein expression. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the concentration of relevant gastrointestinal hormones in serum. The 16 S rDNA sequencing method was used to evaluate the effect of cecal contents on the structure of the gut microbiota in experimental rats. Plasma metabolomics analysis was performed using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) to further reveal their mechanism of action.

RESULTS

LSQ and CLSQ improved the pathological tissue histological structure of FD rats and increased the levels of MTL and GAS hormones in serum and the levels of ghrelin in the gastric antrum, spleen, and duodenum, while reducing VIP, CCK, and SP hormone levels. The above results showed that the therapeutic efficacy of CLSQ is better than that of LSQ. Futhermore, the mechanism of action of LSQ and CLSQ were revealed. The 16 S rDNA sequencing results showed that both LSQ and CLSQ can improve the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota. And metabolomic analysis demonstrated that 20 metabolites changed after LSQ treatment, and 16 metabolites underwent continuous changes after CLSQ treatment. Further analysis revealed that LSQ mainly intervened in the metabolic pathways of glycerol phospholipid metabolism and arginine and proline metabolism, but CLSQ mainly intervened in the metabolic pathways of ether lipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

Both LSQ and CLSQ can improve functional dyspepsia in FD rats, but CLSQ has a stronger improvement effect on FD. Although their mechanisms of action are all related to regulating gastrointestinal hormone secretion, significantly improving intestinal microbiota disorders, and improving multiple metabolic pathways, but the specific gut microbiota and metabolic pathways they regulate are different.

Combination of Simo Decoction and Golden Bifid alleviates functional dyspepsia through a mechanism involving intestinal microbiota and short-chain fatty acids

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

The integration of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine holds promise for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, which are influenced by intestinal microbiota and metabolites. This study reports a possible mechanism for the combination of Simo Decoction and Golden Bifid in functional dyspepsia (FD) by regulating intestinal microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A mouse model of food stagnation was constructed and treated with Simo Decoction combined with different concentrations of Golden Bifid. Meta-genomics sequencing was conducted to analyze the cecum contents of the mice. Following analyses of the composition and abundance of intestinal microbiota, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was performed to measure SCFAs in the colonic content of mice. Finally, ELISA was utilized to determine the levels of pro-inflammatory factors in the duodenal mucosa of mice and the infiltration of eosinophils in the duodenum was observed by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

Combination of Simo Decoction and Golden Bifid more significantly alleviated dyspepsia in mice with food stagnation compared with Simo Decoction alone. The optimal ratio of combined treatment was 0.0075 mL/g (body weight) Simo Decoction and 0.0032 mg/g (body weight) Golden Bifid. The combined treatment increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides in the intestine. The levels of SCFAs in the colonic contents of mice were increased after the combined treatment, contributing to diminished pro-inflammatory factors in the duodenal mucosa and reduced eosinophil infiltration.

CONCLUSION

Combination of Simo Decoction and Golden Bifid increases the abundance of Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium and promotes the production of SCFAs, which is instrumental for alleviation of FD.

Anti-aging mechanism and effect of treatment with raw and wine-steamed Polygonatum sibiricum on D-galactose-induced aging in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress and modulating gut microbiota

Background

Polygonatum sibiricum (PS) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) first recorded in Mingyi Bielu. The book documents that PS can nourish five internal organs, be taken for a long time, relax the body and prolong lifespan. Presently, PS is widely used in TCM to prevent premature graying of hair. Based on TCM theory and clinical trials, the wine steaming processed product from PS provides a better effect. However, no published study has elucidated the anti-aging mechanism.

Purpose

The study aim was to investigate the anti-aging mechanism of PS and its wine steaming processed product in mice, specifically focusing on the effect of D-galactose (D-gal) surrounding the intestinal flora and the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-antioxidant response elements (Keap1/Nrf2/ARE) pathway.

Methods

The chemical components in Raw PS (RPS) and Wine-steamed PS (WPS) were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS). An aging model using Kunming mice was established through intraperitoneally injected D-gal. Concentrations of RPS and WPS at 5, 10, or 15 g/kg/day levels were administered intragastrically, respectively. The body weight, liver and spleen indexes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and malondialdehyde (MDA) activities in serum and brain tissue were recorded. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stained brain tissue was histopathologically examined. The expressions of Keap1, Nrf2 and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in the brain tissue at the mRNA and protein levels were respectively detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot (WB). Moreover, an Illumina Hiseq platform was used for 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) high-throughput sequencing to evaluate the proportions of intestinal flora in aging mice.

Results

The proportions of saccharides, flavonoids, and triterpene acids were different between RPS and WPS. In the aging model mice, WPS outperformed RPS in improving body weight and mental state by increasing the spleen index, SOD and GSH-PX activities, decreasing the liver index and MDA activities, and restoring the histopathological morphology in D-gal-induced aging mice. At the mRNA levels, RPS and WPS significantly reduced the expression of Keap1 and increased the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1. The trend in protein expressions was similar to that of the mRNA results, and WPS had a stronger effect than RPS. Fecal microbiota analysis showed that RPS and WPS restored intestinal microbiota proportions to normal levels.

Conclusion

The results demonstrated that PS and its WPS had a positive effect in relieving oxidative stress in aging mice. WPS outperformed RPS, which might be related to the activation of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway and regulation of intestinal flora.

Identification and determination of different processed products and their extracts of Crataegi Fructus by infrared spectroscopy combined with two-dimensional correlation analysis

The fruit of Crataegus sp. is known as "Shanzha (SZ)" in China and is widely used in the food, beverage, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industries. SZ usually requires thermal processing to reduce the irritation of its acidity to the gastric mucosa. Different processed products of SZ resulting from thermal processing have different or even opposite functions in clinical applications. In addition, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) intermediates produced during thermal processing are carcinogenic to humans. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore a rapid and accurate method by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) for the identification of different processed products and the determination of 5-HMF in extracts. In qualitative identification, a three-stage infrared spectroscopy identification method (raw spectra, the second derivative spectra, and two-dimensional correlation (2DCOS) spectra) was developed to distinguish different processed products of SZ step by step. In quantitative determination, partial least squares regression combined with different variable selection methods, especially the 2DCOS method, was applied to determine the 5-HMF content. The results show that temperature-induced 2DCOS synchronous spectra can effectively identify different processed products of SZ by shape, intensity, and position of auto-peaks or cross-peaks, and the variables selected by power spectra from concentration-induced 2DCOS synchronous spectra have better prediction ability for 5-HMF compared to full variables. The above results demonstrate that 2D-COS analysis is a potential tool in qualitative and quantitative analysis, which can improve sample identification accuracy and determination capabilities. This study not only establishes a rapid and accurate method for the identification of different processed products but also provides a practical reference for food safety and the efficient use of TCM.

The influence of herbal medicine on serum motilin and its effect on human and animal model: a systematic review

Introduction: Motilin (MLN) is a gastrointestinal (GI) hormone produced in the upper small intestine. Its most well understood function is to participate in Phase III of the migrating myoelectric complex component of GI motility. Changes in MLN availability are associated with GI diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and functional dyspepsia. Furthermore, herbal medicines have been used for several years to treat various GI disorders. We systematically reviewed clinical and animal studies on how herbal medicine affects the modulation of MLN and subsequently brings the therapeutic effects mainly focused on GI function. Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases to collect all articles published until 30 July 2023, that reported the measurement of plasma MLN levels in human randomized controlled trials and in vivo herbal medicine studies. The collected characteristics of the articles included the name and ingredients of the herbal medicine, physiological and symptomatic changes after administering the herbal medicine, changes in plasma MLN levels, key findings, and mechanisms of action. The frequency patterns (FPs) of botanical drug use and their correlations were investigated using an FP growth algorithm. Results: Nine clinical studies with 1,308 participants and 20 animal studies were included in the final analyses. Herbal medicines in clinical studies have shown therapeutic effects in association with increased levels of MLN, including GI motility regulation and symptom improvement. Herbal medicines have also shown anti-stress, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. Various biochemical markers may correlate with MLN levels. Markers may have a positive correlation with plasma MLN levels included ghrelin, acetylcholine, and secretin, whereas a negative correlation included triglycerides and prostaglandin E2. Markers, such as gastrin and somatostatin, did not show any correlation with plasma MLN levels. Based on the FP growth algorithm, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Paeonia japonica were the most frequently used species. Conclusion: Herbal medicine may have therapeutic effects mainly on GI symptoms with involvement of MLN regulation and may be considered as an alternative option for the treatment of GI diseases. Further studies with more solid evidence are needed to confirm the efficacy and mechanisms of action of herbal medicines. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=443244, identifier CRD42023443244.

Rapid identification of polypeptide from carbapenem-resistant and susceptible Escherichia coli via Orbitrap-MS and pattern recognition analyses

A rapid and accurate analytical method was established to identify CREC and CSEC. Orbitrap-MS was used to detect the polypeptide of CREC and CSEC strains, and MS data were analyzed by pattern recognition analyses such as hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). HCA based on the farthest distance method could well distinguish the two types of E. coli, and the cophenetic correlation coefficient of the farthest distance method was 0.901. Comparing the results of PCA, PLS-DA, and OPLS-DA, OPLS-DA exhibited the highest accuracy in predicting the CREC and CSEC strains. A total of 26 compounds were identified, and six of the compounds were the highly significant difference between the two types of strains. MS combined with pattern recognition can achieve a more comprehensive and efficient statistical analysis of complex biological samples.

Intestinal Gastrin/CCKBR (Cholecystokinin B Receptor) Ameliorates Salt-Sensitive Hypertension by Inhibiting Intestinal Na+/H+ Exchanger 3 Activity Through a PKC (Protein Kinase C)-Mediated NHERF1 and NHERF2 Pathway

Background:

The present study directly tested the crucial role of intestinal gastrin/CCKBR (cholecystokinin B receptor) in the treatment of salt-sensitive hypertension.

Methods:

Adult intestine-specific Cckbr-knockout mice (Cckbr^fl/flvillin-Cre) and Dahl salt-sensitive rats were studied on the effect of high salt intake (8% NaCl, 6–7 weeks) on intestinal Na^+/H⁺ exchanger 3 expression, urine sodium concentration, and blood pressure. High-salt diet increased urine sodium concentration and systolic blood pressure to a greater extent in Cckbr^fl/flvillin-Cre mice and Dahl salt-sensitive rats than their respective controls, Cckbr^fl/flvillin mice and SS13^BN rats. We constructed gastrin-SiO₂ microspheres to enable gastrin to stimulate specifically and selectively intestinal CCKBR without its absorption into the circulation.

Results:

Gastrin-SiO₂ microspheres treatment prevented the high salt-induced hypertension and increase in urine Na concentration by inhibiting intestinal Na^+/H⁺ exchanger 3 trafficking and activity, increasing stool sodium without inducing diarrhea. Gastrin-mediated inhibition of intestinal Na^+/H⁺ exchanger 3 activity, related to a PKC (protein kinase C)-mediated activation of NHERF1 and NHERF2.

Conclusions:

These results support a crucial role of intestinal gastrin/CCKBR in decreasing intestinal sodium absorption and keeping the blood pressure in the normal range. The gastrointestinal administration of gastrin-SiO₂ microspheres is a promising and safe strategy to treat salt-sensitive hypertension without side effects.