Effect of Huangqin decoction on regulating intestinal flora in colitis mice characterized as inhibition of the NOD2-dependent pathway

Abstract

Context Chinese herb Huangqin decoction (HQD) can regulate intestinal flora in ulcerative colitis (UC) mice. Objective Our study clarifies the mechanism of HQD in regulating the intestinal flora of UC mice. Materials and methods Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into six groups: Control, Model (3% DSS), Sulfasalazine (500 mg/kg), HQD-L (250 mg/kg), HQD-M (500 mg/kg), and HQD-H (1000 mg/kg) groups. Measurement of body weight, colon length, DAI, and haematoxylin–eosin staining were conducted. FISH and 16S rDNA detected colonic bacterial infiltration and intestinal flora changes. The expression of RegIIIγ and PRRs (NOD2, TLR5, TLR4) were detected by FCM and WB, respectively. In addition, WB, qPCR, or IHC were used to detect the expression of NOD2, MyD88, RIP2, and NF-κB p65 in the colon. ELISA was used to determine cytokines. Results Compared with the model group (DAI score, 2.38 ± 0.05; histological score, 4.08 ± 0.54), HQD treatment significantly reduced the DAI score (L, 2.16 ± 0.09; M, 1.45 ± 0.05; H, 1.18 ± 0.05) and histological score (L, 3.16 ± 0.82; M, 2.50 ± 0.81; H, 1.51 ± 0.76); restored the weight, the colonic length ( p < 0.05). 16S rDNA identification showed HQD regulated the balance of intestinal flora. Moreover, HQD suppressed the expression of RegIIIγ ( p < 0.05) and prevented colonic bacterial infiltration. Furthermore, WB results showed NOD2, and TLR4 were inhibited by HQD, especially NOD2 ( p < 0.01). The data of WB, qPCR, and IHC demonstrated that the NOD2-dependent pathway was inhibited by HQD ( p < 0.01). Discussion and conclusions HQD (1000 mg/kg) regulates the intestinal flora of colitis mice, mainly characterized as inhibition of the NOD2-dependent pathway. These results indicate that HQD has potential.

Anti-tumour effect of Huangqin Decoction on colorectal cancer mice through microbial butyrate mediated PI3K/Akt pathway suppression

“…Furthermore, Clostridium was enriched after HQD treatment along with higher levels of the three major SCFAs. Previous study has also proved the effect of HQD in reversing intestinal flora dysbiosis in colitis model [27]. Our finding revalidated this ability of HQD in the CRC model, reflecting the TCM characteristics of the same treatment for different diseases.…”

“…These granules were boiled in distilled water for 3 min and stored at 4 °C for 1 week. Extraction and quality-control assessment of the ingredients in HQD has been previously reported [27], in which paeoniflorin, glycyrrhizic acid, baicalin, wogonoside and liquiritin are the top active constituents with high concentrations.…”

Huang Qin decoction increases SLC6A4 expression and blocks the NFκB-mediated NLRP3/Caspase1/GSDMD pathway to disrupt colitis-associated carcinogenesis

“…Here, we further observed that similar to mesalazine, HQD exhibited an antitumor effect on mice induced with CAC. Although HQD has been shown to effectively inhibit DSS-induced colitis alone or by synergizing with Radix Actinidiae chinensis , this main function was associated with altering the composition of the intestinal flora and modifying the proportion of T-cell subsets in colorectal lymphoid tissues (Huang et al 2022a , b ). Therefore, the immunoregulatory function of HQD needs to be further explored and verified.…”

Traditional Chinese medicine treats ulcerative colitis by regulating gut microbiota, signaling pathway and cytokine: Future novel method option for pharmacotherapy

“…Huangqin Decoction could reduce the abundance of deferribacteraceae, deferribacteres, alcaligenaceae, and the pathogenic bacteria, and restore gut microbiota diversity in DSS-induced colitis [ 43 ]. Huangqin Decoction has also been shown to increase the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes at the phylum level, while decreasing the abundance of bacteroides, escherichia-shigella, parabacteroides, and ruminococcus torques, and increasing the abundance of blautia, lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group, rikenella, and C. leptum at the genus level [ 44 ].…”