Mechanisms by Which Traditional Chinese Medicines Influence the Intestinal Flora and Intestinal Barrier

Abstract

The effect of a drug on the intestinal flora and the intestinal barrier is an important evaluation index for drug safety and efficacy. Chemical synthetic drugs are widely used due to their advantages of fast efficacy and low doses, but they are prone to cause drug resistance and inhibit proton pumps, which may harm intestinal health. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been applied clinically for thousands of years, and how TCMs regulate intestinal health to achieve their effects of disease treatment has become a hot research topic that needs to be resolved. This paper reviews the recent research on the effects of TCMs on intestinal microorganisms and the intestinal mucosal barrier after entering the intestine, discusses the interaction mechanisms between TCMs and intestinal flora, and details the repair effect of TCMs on the intestinal mucosal barrier to provide a reference for the development, utilization, and modernization of TCM.

A Mouse Model of Damp-Heat Syndrome with Pancreatic Cancer in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Its Characteristics of Gut Microbiome

“…Collectively, these ndings suggest that damp-heat syndrome contributes to the disruption of intestinal mechanical barrier integrity, thereby promoting intestinal in ammation and increased permeability. Additionally, the intestinal biological barrier comprises a layer of the bacterial membrane formed by the attachment of intestinal microorganisms [14]. Our ndings also suggest that damp-heat syndrome promotes the overgrowth and altered diversity of intestinal bacteria.…”

“…TCM holds that the human body is an organic whole [12], wherein internal microecology correlates with external symptomatology. The intestinal ora constitutes a complex and dynamic community comprising bacteria, fungi, protozoa, vibrios, and viruses [13], playing pivotal roles in providing nutrition, regulating metabolism, maintaining intestinal epithelial integrity [14], and modulating immunity [15].…”

The changes of gut microbiota and metabolites in different drug-induced liver injuries

“…For an example, the antiviral drug brivudine can be metabolized to bromovinyluracil by both the host and the gut microbiota, with the latter exerting hepatic toxicity [53]. In herbal medicine, gut microbes hydrolyse amygdalin to produce mandelonitrile, which spontaneously dissociates into benzaldehyde and toxic cyanide [54,55]. These biotransformations all affect drug bioavailability in advance.…”

Advancements and challenges in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic research on the traditional Chinese medicine saponins: a comprehensive review

“…With its focus on specific disease markers, Western medicine occasionally leads to a high rate of adverse reactions and a lack of customized treatment options ( Che et al, 2022 ). TCM, in contrast, offers a holistic approach by providing a diverse array of chemical constituents, including saponins, alkaloids, polysaccharides, enzymes, and therapeutically beneficial compounds.…”