Shenling Baizhu powder associated with alleviating inflammation and intestinal mucosal microbiota injury in mice with diarrhea induced by a lard diet and fatigued state.

Abstract

The intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in the onset of diarrhea and can be modulated through dietary changes. Shenling Baizhu powder (SLBZ) has been shown to regulate diarrhea. Thirty Kunming mice were randomly divided into a normal group (MCN), model group (MMD), and SLBZ group (MSLBZ). Diarrhea was induced by fatigue combined with a high-fat diet. After modeling, the MSLBZ group received 145.6 g/(kg·d) SLBZ for 7 days. Pathological examination of small intestine tissues, along with measurements of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 17 (IL-17), immunoglobulin A (sIgA), and mucin 2 (Muc2) levels, were conducted. The intestinal mucosa was extracted for high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA. In the MMD group, intestinal damage, lymphocyte infiltration, decreased sIgA, diarrhea, and a significant increase in Helicobacter were observed compared with the MCN group. After SLBZ treatment, the MSLBZ group exhibited improved body weight, reduced intestinal damage, decreased levels of IL-6, increased sIgA, and alleviated diarrhea. Compared with the MMD group, the abundance of Duncaniella freteri was significantly higher, while Helicobacter was markedly reduced. Correlation analysis showed that Duncaniella freteri was positively correlated with sIgA and Muc2 and negatively correlated with IL-6 and IL-17. SLBZ alleviates intestinal mucosal damage, reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines, enhances sIgA production, and restores the microbiota balance in mice with diarrhea.