Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides alleviate cognitive decline in aging model mice by restoring the gut microbiota-brain axis

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests alterations in the gut microbiota-brain axis may drive cognitive impairment with aging. In the present study, we observed that prolonged administration of D-galactose to mice induced cognitive decline, gut microbial dysbiosis, peripheral inflammation, and oxidative stress. In this model of agerelated cognitive decline, Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides (CDPS) improved cognitive function in Dgalactose-treated mice by restoring gut microbial homeostasis, thereby reducing oxidative stress and peripheral inflammation. The beneficial effects of CDPS in these aging model mice were abolished through ablation of gut microbiota with antibiotics or immunosuppression with cyclophosphamide. Serum metabolomic profiling showed that levels of creatinine, valine, L-methionine, o-Toluidine, N-ethylaniline, uric acid and proline were all altered in the aging model mice, but were restored by CDPS. These findings demonstrated that CDPS improves cognitive function in a D-galactose-induced aging model in mice by restoring homeostasis of the gut microbiotabrain axis, which alleviated an amino acid imbalance, peripheral inflammation, and oxidative stress. CDPS thus shows therapeutic potential for patients with memory and learning disorders, especially those related to gut microbial dysbiosis.

Zi Shen Wan Fang Attenuates Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Function Via Remodeling the Gut Microbiota in Diabetes-Induced Cognitive Impairment Mice

“…The potential active components of ZSWF regulating intestinal flora of DCI mice may be polysaccharides in Cistanches Herba and alkaloids in Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex. Previous studies confirmed that Cistanche polysaccharides demonstrate a clear regulatory effect on intestinal flora (Fu et al, 2020;Fan et al, 2021;Gao et al, 2021). Although accumulative studies confirmed that berberine, the main alkaloid component of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex, can protect cognitive function (Aski et al, 2018;Shinjyo et al, 2020;Yi et al, 2021), subsequent studies gradually recognized that regulating intestinal flora may be the initial link of berberine improving cognitive function (Zhang et al, 2020b;Habtemariam, 2020).…”

Protective Effects of Polysaccharides in Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…Moreover, natural polysaccharides also suppress excessive inflammatory responses by improving the intestinal microbiota composition, promoting SCFAs production, strengthening intestinal barrier function and reducing pro-inflammatory mediators ( Tang et al, 2019 ). A plant polysaccharide from Cistanche deserticola improves cognitive function in mice in a D -galactose induced aging model by restoring homeostasis of the gut-microbiota-brain axis ( Gao et al, 2021 ). Therefore, polysaccharides may mediate intestinal flora and related metabolites against NDs.…”

Microbiome-metabolomics deciphers the effects of Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides on aged constipated rats

“…Intestinal microbiota participates in the processes of both health regulation and disease progression. 8,9 An imbalance of intestinal microbiota is one of the major causes of constipation. 47 In this study, we found that gut microbiota had changed greatly in the aged constipated rats, including reduction of intestinal bacterial diversity at the class, order, and genus levels, as well as the abnormalities of 9 gut microbiota.…”

“…6 Among them, polysaccharides are a principal component which not only exhibit effects on constipation 7 but also improve the symptoms of aging. 8 However, the research of mechanisms of Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides (CDPS) on constipation merely scratches the surface, requiring new technologies and strategies deeply.…”