Qiweibaizhu Decoction Treats Diarrheal Juvenile Rats by Modulating the Gut Microbiota, Short-Chain Fatty Acids, and the Mucus Barrier

Abstract

Background. Qiweibaizhu decoction (QBD), a classic Chinese herbal formula, has been widely used for treating diarrhea in infants and children with spleen deficiency syndrome for centuries, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. The gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and intestinal mucus are closely associated with diarrhea. Methods. In this study, the composition of the gut microbiota in diarrheal rats was analyzed by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. The concentrations of colon SCFAs were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The expression of mucin 2 (MUC2) in the colon was detected by immunofluorescence. Results. Diarrhea significantly changed the diversity and structure of the gut microbiota and disrupted the mucus barrier in juvenile rats. QBD did not significantly change the diversity and structure of the intestinal flora, but it enhanced the increasing tendencies of Verrucomicrobia and Akkermansia and decreased the abundance of Turicibacter ( P = 0.037 ) and Flavonifractor ( P = 0.043 ). QBD tends to repair the mucus layer and promote MUC2 expression in juvenile rats with diarrhea. Moreover, S. boulardii significantly increased the abundance of Parasutterella ( P = 0.043 ). In addition, QBD treatment tends to increase the propionic acid concentration during diarrhea, but its levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and total SCFAs were lower than those in the S. boulardii group. Conclusion. S. boulardii significantly increased the abundance of Parasutterella, leading to increased production of acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid, consequently leading to alleviation of diarrhea. In comparison, QBD affected diarrhea via regulation of the intestinal flora, especially by increasing the abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Akkermansia, resulting in mucus barrier repair, protection of the intestines, and treatment of diarrhea.

Gut-Kidney Impairment Process of Adenine Combined with Folium sennae-Induced Diarrhea: Association with Interactions between Lactobacillus intestinalis, Bacteroides acidifaciens and Acetic Acid, Inflammation, and Kidney Function

“…In the presequencing data quality assessment, we confirmed the reliability of the experimental data. The richness, diversity and community structure of the mice in the CM group were altered, which supported the theory that the gut microbiota diversity was altered in the disease states [ 36 , 37 ]. Next, we examined the differences between the top 10 dominant phyla, genera and species in the two groups that were ranked in relative abundance and met an abundance greater than 1%, it showed that proteobacteria and Burkholderia were significantly upregulated in the CM group, whereas Muribaculum and Lactobacillus reuteri were markedly downregulated.…”

Gut Microbiota Mediates the Susceptibility of Mice to Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy by Butyric Acid

“…It has been reported that Parasutterella is related to butyric acid production. 15 The db-RDA at the Genus level suggested that SCFAs were positively related to LSAE mice ( Figure 2H ). More interestingly, in the FMT experiment, butyric acid levels in plasma and hippocampus of SSAE feces recipients were both lower than those in LSAE feces recipients, indicating lesser production of butyric acid in the gut of SSAE feces recipients and its subsequent release in the circulatory system to the brain ( Figure 2J–K ).…”

Study on the mechanism of Ginseng-Gegen for mesenteric lymphadenitis based on network pharmacology

“…The main functional herbs of QWBZP are Ginseng, Gegen, and so on (27). The combination of these two herbs comprises a drug pair that can be described as "mutually reinforcing, mutually assisting, mutually restraining, mutually inhibiting, antagonistic, mutually suppressive", so that the cubic curative effect is more prominent.…”