Targeted modulation of gut microbiota by traditional Chinese medicine and natural products for liver disease therapy

Abstract

The gut microbiota not only constitutes intestinal microenvironment homeostasis and human health but also exerts indispensable roles in the occurrence and progression of multiple liver diseases, including alcohol-related liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune liver disease and liver cancer. Given the therapeutic status of these diseases, their prevention and early therapy are crucial, and the detailed mechanism of gut microbiota in liver disease urgently needs to be explored. Meanwhile, multiple studies have shown that various traditional Chinese medicines, such as Si Miao Formula, Jiangzhi Granules, Liushen Capsules, Chaihu-Shugan Power, Cassiae Semen and Gynostemma, as well as some natural products, including Costunolide, Coprinus comatus polysaccharide, Antarctic krill oil, Oridonin and Berberine, can repair liver injury, improve fatty liver, regulate liver immunity, and even inhibit liver cancer through multiple targets, links, and pathways. Intriguingly, the aforementioned effects demonstrated by these traditional Chinese medicines and natural products have been shown to be closely related to the gut microbiota, directly driving the strategy of traditional Chinese medicines and natural products to regulate the gut microbiota as one of the breakthroughs in the treatment of liver diseases. Based on this, this review comprehensively summarizes and discusses the characteristics, functions and potential mechanisms of these medicines targeting gut microbiota during liver disease treatment. Research on the potential effects on gut microbiota and the regulatory mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine and natural products provides novel insights and significant references for developing liver disease treatment strategies. In parallel, such explorations will enhance the comprehension of traditional Chinese medicine and natural products modulating gut microbiota during disease treatment, thus facilitating their clinical investigation and application.

The significance of gut microbiota in the etiology of autoimmune hepatitis: a narrative review

“…Compared to the typical structures observed in healthy individuals, study has revealed modified intestinal tight junctions and inflammatory infiltrates within the lamina propria of AIH patients. These modifications result in damage to the intestinal mucosa and elevated levels of endotoxins in the bloodstream, thereby triggering the immune tolerance impairment mechanism and causing liver injury (Kharrazian et al, 2023;Zhang et al, 2023b;Zhu et al, 2023). Under normal physiological conditions, anaerobic/aerobic bacteria in the intestinal microbiota maintain a dynamic balance and participate in physiological processes, and the disruption of this balance also can lead to intestinal barrier damage and bacterial translocation across the intestinal barrier to other organs, resulting in inflammation, immune disorders, and various other adverse effects (Lin et al, 2015).…”

Revitalizing myocarditis treatment through gut microbiota modulation: unveiling a promising therapeutic avenue

“…These interactions have two primary effects: (1) Enhancing effects: TCM modulates gut microbiota composition and metabolism, improving host health while the microbiota enhances TCM bioavailability. (2) Inhibitory effects: Some TCM constituents can weaken gut microbiota metabolic functions, and certain microbes may inhibit TCM absorption and metabolism ( Zhu et al., 2023 ). A recent review revealed that numerous natural molecules (e.g., apigenin, berberine, and quercetin) and plant extracts can effectively alleviate experimental autoimmune myocarditis.…”

Effects of Different Feed Additives on Intestinal Metabolite Composition of Weaned Piglets

“…These pills are commonly used to treat chronic gastroenteritis, indigestion, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea [ 13 ]. The metabolites produced by different feed additives significantly impact the structure of the intestinal flora and play a crucial role in stress-induced diarrhea in weaned piglets [ 14 ]. The interaction between the metabolism of the intestinal flora and the nutrient metabolism of the host contributes to the maintenance of the intestinal tract and the overall health of the host [ 14 ].…”

“…The metabolites produced by different feed additives significantly impact the structure of the intestinal flora and play a crucial role in stress-induced diarrhea in weaned piglets [ 14 ]. The interaction between the metabolism of the intestinal flora and the nutrient metabolism of the host contributes to the maintenance of the intestinal tract and the overall health of the host [ 14 ]. Metabolites provide detailed information about the biological endpoints as downstream components of gene regulatory networks and protein interaction networks [ 15 ].…”