Title : Tibetan fritillary bulb extract alleviates ulcerative colitis through restoration of intestinal barrier and gut microbiota homeostasis
Abstract:
Ulcerative Colitis (UC), a chronic colon inflammation, exerts a profound impact on human health. Conventional pharmacological treatments are associated with serious adverse reactions and toxic side effects. Consequently, the development of natural plant-derived biological agents for UC treatment is an urgent imperative. Tibetan fritillary is a dual-purpose plant with both medicinal and edible applications. The present study investigated the therapeutic potential of the Tibetan fritillary bulb extract (FCD) in UC management, focusing on restoring intestinal barrier and modulating gut microbiota homeostasis. FCD was fabricated through decoction, rotary evaporation, and vacuum drying. Subsequently, a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced murine UC model was successfully employed to explore the underlying mechanisms of action in vivo. In the present study, FCD which was found to be rich in alkaloids active ingredients, were effective in alleviating DSS induced body weight loss, disease activity index (DAI) score and colon length in mice, and improved histopathological scores. It also suppressed the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, while enhanced that of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Meanwhile, Immunofluorescence detection and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that FCD treatment significantly enhanced the expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin, and inhibited the expression of inflammation-associated P-p65 and NLRP proteins through the NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, FCD increased the diversity of the in testinal flora, enhancing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Faecalibaculums and Lactobacillus and decreasing the percentage of Bacteroides. In conclusion, FCD effectively improved the intestinal barrier disruption and intestinal inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway, and adjusted the disorder of gut microbiota. Collectively, these findings support its potential as a natural therapeutic candidate for managing UC.7.
