Deep-Fried Atractylodis Rhizoma Protects against Spleen Deficiency-Induced Diarrhea through Regulating Intestinal Inflammatory Response and Gut Microbiota
by
Kun Shi 1,†, Linghang Qu 1,†, Xiong Lin 1, Ying Xie 1, Jiyuan Tu 1,2, Xianqiong Liu 1,2, Zhongshi Zhou 1,2, Guosheng Cao 1,2, Shuiqing Li 1,2 and Yanju Liu 1,2,*
Kun Shi 1,†, Linghang Qu 1,†, Xiong Lin 1, Ying Xie 1, Jiyuan Tu 1,2, Xianqiong Liu 1,2, Zhongshi Zhou 1,2, Guosheng Cao 1,2, Shuiqing Li 1,2 and Yanju Liu 1,2,*
1
College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China
2
Center for Hubei TCM Processing Technology Engineering, Wuhan 430065, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(1), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21010124
Received: 3 November 2019 / Revised: 12 December 2019 / Accepted: 19 December 2019 / Published: 23 December 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Traditional Medicine: Connecting West and East)
According to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine, spleen deficiency often leads to diarrhea, and deep-fried Atractylodis Rhizoma (DAR) is commonly used for the treatment. However, the association between spleen deficiency and diarrhea remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of DAR for the treatment of diarrhea caused by spleen deficiency and analyze the related mechanisms. It was found that a high dose group of an ethanolic extract of deep-fried Atractylodis Rhizoma (EEDAR-H) significantly inhibited weight loss, diarrhea, and pathological changes in colon tissue induced by rhubarb. EEDAR-H was found to significantly reduce the level of intestinal inflammatory cytokines and increase the expression of gastrointestinal motility hormones. In addition, EEDAR-H significantly increased the expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3) and aquaporin 8 (AQP8) and restored abnormal water metabolism; Shen-Ling-Bai-Zhu-San (SLBZS) induced the same effect as EEDAR-H. Additional tests on the mechanism found that EEDAR-H and SLBZS promoted the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Both significantly increased the expression of the tight junction protein ZO-1 and Occludin, inhibited the phosphorylation of p38MAPK and MLC, and significantly reduced the expression levels of PAR-2. Analysis of the gut microbiota indicated that overall changes in its structure were reversed after treatment with EEDAR-H or SLBZS, in addition to significant modulation of the abundance of different phyla. At the genus level, EEDAR-H or SLBZS significantly reduced the levels of potential pathogens and increased those of beneficial bacteria.
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Keywords:
diarrhea; gut microbiota; P38; MAPK signaling pathways
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MDPI and ACS Style
Shi, K.; Qu, L.; Lin, X.; Xie, Y.; Tu, J.; Liu, X.; Zhou, Z.; Cao, G.; Li, S.; Liu, Y. Deep-Fried Atractylodis Rhizoma Protects against Spleen Deficiency-Induced Diarrhea through Regulating Intestinal Inflammatory Response and Gut Microbiota. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 124.
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