Regulatory effects of couplet medicinals of Atractylodes macrocephala-Aucklandia lappa on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid metabolism in the irritable bowel syndrome rat with spleen deficiency and diarrhea
OBJECTIVE To investigate the regulatory effects of couplet medicinals of Atractylodes macrocephala-Aucklandia lappa on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)in the diarrhea-type irritable bowel syndrome(IBS-D)rats with spleen deficiency.METHODS The IBS-D rat model with spleen deficiency was induced by intragastric administration of Senna alexandrina combined with restraint stimulation.The model rats were divided into model group,positive control group(pinaverium bromide 1.5 mg/kg),A.macrocephala-A.lappa low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose groups(0.7,1.4,2.8 g/kg),with 6 rats in each group.Another 6 healthy rats were taken as the blank control group.The blank control group and the model group were given normal saline intragastrically,and other groups were given relevant drug liquid intragastrically,once a day,for consecutive 14 days.The general characteristics of rats and fecal water content were observed,and intestinal sensitivity[evaluating by abdominal wall withdrawal reflex(AWR)threshold]and the intestinal propulsion rate were determined.The serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)and SP were detected,and the pathological changes of colon tissue were observed;the protein expressions of 5-HT-3 receptor(5-HT3R),5-HT4R and 5-HT transporter(SERT)in colon tissue of rats were detected.16S rRNA sequencing was performed for the feces of rats in blank control group,model group and A.macrocephala-A.lappa high-dose group;the contents of acetic acid,propionic acid and butyric acid in the feces of the rats were determined.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the body weight after 7 and 14 days of medication,fecal water content,AWR threshold,and the protein expressions of 5-HT4R and SERT in colon tissue were increased significantly in the A.macrocephala-A.lappa medium-dose and high-dose groups(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01);serum contents of 5-HT and SP,intestinal propulsion rate(except for A.macrocephala-A.lappa medium-dose group),the protein expression of 5-HT3R in colon tissue were decreased significantly(P＜0.01);diarrhea relief,mental state recovery,and partially recovery of the structure of colon tissue were all found;moreover,the diversity and species number of gut microbiota were reduced in A.macrocephala-A.lappa high-dose group and the content of butyric acid in fecal samples was significantly reduced(P＜0.05).CONCLUSIONS The compatibility of A.macrocephala and A.lappa can improve intestinal motility and sensitivity of IBS-D model rats with spleen deficiency,and alleviate diarrhea.This may be related to improving changes in intestinal microbiota structure,reducing 5-HT expression and butyric acid content,and increasing 5-HT4R and SERT expression.
万方数据
维普
