Potentilla anserina L. flavonoids ameliorate ulcerative colitis by modulating oxidative stress, intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, and inflammatory responses.

This study investigates Potentilla anserina L., a traditional medicinal plant in southwestern China, for its potential therapeutic effects on ulcerative colitis (UC). We developed a high-speed shear extraction method to isolate total flavonoids from its rhizomes, achieving a yield of 2.90 ± 0.07%, and identified 18 components with potential therapeutic relevance to ulcerative colitis. In vivo, Potentilla anserina L. flavonoids (PAF) mitigated weight loss, blood in stool, and diarrhea in mice with dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS)-induced colitis. PAF enhanced antioxidant activity, reduced inflammatory cytokines, and restored intestinal microbiota balance, which correlated with pharmacodynamic indicators. In vitro, PAF protected Caco2 cells from H₂O₂-induced injury, promoted cell migration, and increased tight junction protein expression, while reducing oxidative stress. PAF regulates oxidative stress in intestinal epithelial cells by modulating the kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1- nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Keap1-Nrf2) signalling pathway. Additionally, PAF inhibited excessive inflammatory responses and glycolysis in RAW264.7 macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), evidenced by decreased glucose consumption and lactate production. Our findings suggest that the flavonoids from Potentilla anserina L. can effectively support UC treatment by promoting intestinal barrier repair, alleviating oxidative stress, and modulating inflammatory responses and microbiota. This research underscores the potential of Potentilla anserina L. as a traditional herbal therapeutic agent for UC management.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-025-04410-6.