Ginseng-Containing Sijunzi Decoction Ameliorates Ulcerative Colitis by Orchestrating Gut Homeostasis in Microbial Modulation and Intestinal Barrier Integrity

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) has become a global epidemic, and the lack of an effective cure highlights the necessity and urgency to explore novel therapies. Sijunzi Decoction (SJZD), a classical Chinese herbal formula, has been comprehensively applied and clinically proven effective in treating UC; however, the pharmacological mechanism behind its therapeutic benefits is largely obscure. Here, we find that SJZD can restore microbiota homeostasis and intestinal barrier integrity in DSS-induced colitis. SJZD significantly alleviated the colonic tissue damage and improved the goblet cell count, MUC2 secretion, and tight junction protein expressions, which indicated enhanced intestinal barrier integrity. SJZD remarkedly suppressed the abundance of phylum Proteobacteria and genus Escherichia-Shigella, which are typical features of microbial dysbiosis. Escherichia-Shigella was negatively correlated with body weight and colon length, and positively correlated with disease activity index and IL-1[Formula: see text]. Furthermore, through gut microbiota depletion, we confirmed that SJZD exerted anti-inflammatory activities in a gut microbiota-dependent manner, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) validated the mediating role of gut microbiota in the SJZD treatment of UC. Through gut microbiota, SJZD modulates the biosynthesis of bile acids (BAs), especially tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), which has been identified as the signature BA during SJZD treatment. Cumulatively, our findings disclose that SJZD attenuates UC via orchestrating gut homeostasis in microbial modulation and intestinal barrier integrity, thus offering a promising alternative approach to the clinical management of UC.

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

“…It was experimentally demonstrated that the number of beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacterium, lactobacillus, and pathogenic bacteria such as escherichia coli in the intestine decreased and the colonization resistance Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk bacteria) coli rose close to normal levels in the intestine of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC model after gavage with Sijunzi Decoction, indicating that the balance of gut microbiota tended to be normal. Sijunzi Decoction remarkedly suppressed the abundance of phylum Proteobacteria and genus Escherichia-Shigella in DSS-induced colitis, confirming that Sijunzi Decoction exerts anti-inflammatory activities in a gut microbiota-dependent manner and thus alleviates UC [ 19 ]. In addition, Sijunzi Decoction reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1 β, TNF-α, and IL-6, and increased the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-10, IL-37, and TGF-β, in the peripheral serum of UC model rats [ 20 ].…”

The Personal Health Applications of Machine Learning Techniques in the Internet of Behaviors

“…For example, ML, in conjunction with live-cell biomarkers, can reduce the risk stratification of breast and prostate cancer patients. We predict that, by 2030, there will be a shortage of over 5,700 pathologists of the same caliber, a problem that could be mitigated by automated systems that enable quick and objective analysis of histopathology slides, thereby enhancing the quality of cancer patient care [106].…”

Sijunzi decoction alleviates inflammation and intestinal epithelial barrier damage and modulates the gut microbiota in ulcerative colitis mice

“…Hence, Sijunzi decoction, as a basic prescription to invigorate the spleen and qi, is a preferred choice for the therapy of UC ( Lu et al, 2017 ; Tian et al, 2021 ). Sijunzi decoction has recently been extensively and widely utilized in the clinical practice of TCM and has been proven to be beneficial for UC ( Wu et al, 2023 ). Nevertheless, the potential mechanism of Sijunzi decoction in preventing UC has not been elucidated.…”