Common key ingredient concluded in Baitouweng decoction, GegenQinliandecoction and Shaoyao decoction prevents radiation enteritis by regulatinggutmicrobial network.

Background: The gut microbiota is crucial in the process of radiation enteritis (RE). Asrecommended by Chinese expert consensus, three formulas such as Baitouweng decoction, Gegen Qinlian decoction, and Shaoyao decoction, are used to prevent the same type of RE. Methods: Herein, we aimed to investigate the common pharmaceutical ingredients andmolecular mechanisms of the three formulas on RE from the perspective of gut microbiotathrough multi-bioinformatics analysis and mouse experiment. Results: Interestingly, theimportant active ingredient screened was quercetin in all three herbal formulas, andthedominant targets that participated in RE treatment by targeting gut microbiota regulationwere IL10, STAT1, IL1B, and IL1A. The concentration of quercetin was measured inGegenQinlian decoction > Shaoyao decoction > Baitouweng decoction (P <0.001) usinghighperformance liquid chromatography. Moreover, a total of 40 SPF C57/BL6J (male, 12–14weeks old) mice were assigned to perform the validation experiment with various quercetinintervention doses. Quercetin significantly protected against inflammatory responseinradiation induced-mice. The microbial alterations in the gut caused by quercetinintervention in radiation-induced mice were also explained. We further confirmedthealterations in the relative mRNA expression of the three formulas for the treatment of RE, which have four similar gut microbiota-regulated targets (IL10, STAT1, IL1B, andIL1A). Conclusion: These findings show that quercetin regulated the gut microbiota for REtherapy, a connotation that works on the principle of “different treatments for the samedisease” for RE. The present investigation provides methodological guidelines and protocolsfor the modern use and examination of traditional therapeutic concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]