Ameliorative effect of Aconite aqueous extract on diarrhea is associated with modulation of the gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism

Abstract

Introduction: Aconite is a form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been widely used to treat diarrhea for thousands of years. However, it is not clear whether the anti-diarrhea role of aconite aqueous extract (AA) is associated with regulation of the gut microbiota or with bile acid (BA) metabolism. This study aimed to confirm whether AA exerts its anti-diarrhea effects by regulating the gut microbiota and BA metabolism.Methods: The therapeutic effect of AA in a mouse model of diarrhea was measured based on analysis of body weight, fecal water content, diarrhea scores, intestinal propulsion rate, colonic pathology, and colonic immunohistochemistry. In addition, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was conducted to analyze the effect of AA on the gut microbiota, and targeted metabolomics was employed to analyze the effect of AA on metabolism of BAs.Results: The results showed that treatment with AA reduced fecal water content and diarrhea scores, inhibited intestinal propulsion rate and pathological changes in the colon, and increased AQP3 and AQP4 content in the colon. In addition, AA was found to be capable of regulating the gut microbiota. Effects included increasing its richness (according to the ACE and Chao1 indices); altering the gut microbiota community structure (PCA, PCoA, and NMDS); increasing the relative abundance of norank_f_Muribaculaceae, Ruminococcus, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, and norank_f_norank_o_Clostridia_UCG-014; and decreasing the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, unclassified_f_Ruminococcaceae, Ruminococcus_torques_group, and Parasutterella. More importantly, AA significantly increased fecal TCA (a primary BA) and DCA, LCA, GDCA, dehydro-LCA, and 12-keto-LCA (secondary BAs), thus restoring BA homeostasis. Moreover, AA increased the ratios of DCA/CA, DCA/TCA, and LCA/CDCA and decreased the ratios of TLCA/LCA, GLCA/LCA, and TUDCA/UDCA.Conclusion: The anti-diarrhea effect of AA was associated with restoration of the gut microbiota and BA metabolism-related homeostasis. The results of this study provide insights into the application of AA and the treatment of diarrhea.

Dietary tryptophan alleviates intestinal inflammation caused by long photoperiod via gut microbiota derived tryptophan metabolites-NLRP3 pathway in broiler chickens

“…Additionally, tryptophan significantly decreased the relative abundance of Ruminococcus_torques_group. Ruminococcus_torques_group is a type of “bad bactria” that has been shown to disrupt the intestinal barrier and induce intestinal inflammation when its abundance rises ( Zhang et al, 2023 ). Therefore, our research indicated that tryptophan supplementation significantly increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria ( Faecalibacterium and Enterococcus ) and decreased the relative abundance of harmful bacteria ( Ruminococcus_torques_group ) to promote intestinal health.…”

How traditional Chinese medicine can prevent recurrence of common bile duct stones after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography?

“…Traditional Chinese medicine compounds such as Pueraria lobata, Aconite, Berberine, Atractylodes lancea and the traditional Chinese medicine compounds compound Chaihu-Shugan-San, Xiayuxue decoction have been shown to be effective in treating diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, depression and myocardial infarction by regulating the gut microbiota and improving the bile acids pool of the body in animal experiments ( Ma et al, 2022 ; Sun et al, 2023a ; Zhang et al, 2023b ; Zhang et al, 2023c ; Zhang et al, 2023d ; Deng et al, 2024 ). In the recurrence of CBDS, the disorder of bile acids pool of the organism and the decrease of effective bile acids molecules are the risk factors, and traditional Chinese medicines have been proved to be effective in regulating the synthesis and metabolism of bile acids and improving the gut microbiota to regulate the gut-liver axis for the treatment of liver-related diseases, such as Rhubarb decoction, which can regulate the gut microbiota by enema, and can improve the bile acids profiles for the improvement of the liver function in rats ( Du Y et al, 2023 ).…”