[Effect of Gegen Qinlian Decoction and it's different compatibility groups on gut microbiota in rats with acute...

This study was designed to investigate the effect of Gegen Qinlian(GGQL) Decoction and its different compatibility groups on gut microbiota in rats with acute enteritis, and to explore the efficacy of GGQL Decoction in improving acute enteritis and gut microbiota. Male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, positive control group(SASP), GGQL decoction group, Glycyrrhizae-free group(QGC), Puerariae-free group(QGG), Qinlian-free group(QQL), and Qinlian group(QL). The pathological sections and detection indexes of the rats were observed before and after modeling and administration. After 7 days of administration, fecal samples from 24 rats were collected and Illumina Miseq platform was used for high-throughput sequencing. From the anti-inflammatory and pharmacodynamic indicators, the effect was the most obvious in GGQL Decoction group, QGC group, QGG group and QL group(P<0.05). The alpha diversity and beta diversity showed that there were significant differences in the composition of intestinal flora in each group. As compared with the model group, the increased abundance and diversity of the flora caused by acute inflammation could be down-regulated in all groups except QQL group(P<0.05). The differential bacteria were explored by using LEfSe analysis, and the results showed that Bifidobacterium and other beneficial bacteria only appeared in the normal group. As compared with the normal group, Lactobacillus was significantly reduced(P<0.01), and Bacteroides, Flavonifractor and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 were up-regulated in model group(P<0.05, P<0.01). As compared with the model group, the number of Akkermansia was significantly increased(P<0.05), and the number of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 associated with intestinal inflammatory diseases was decreased in the GGQL Decoction group, QGC group and QL group. QGC group and QQL group caused the up-regulation of Ruminococcaceae and induced enrichment of Desulfovibrio which could lead to colon cell toxicity; QGG group caused the up-regulation of Proteobacteria and Burkhonderiales. The study suggests that the GGQL Decoction may play a role in the treatment of acute enteritis partially through improving the intestinal barrier, regulating the immune response and the structure of gut microbiota.