Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) has a high short-term mortality rate. Schisandra chinensis has the potential to ameliorate liver damage and be a source of prebiotics. We aimed to investigate whether Schisandra chinensis extract (SCE) can improve AH and the role of the small intestinal and cecal microbiota and their metabolites. UHPLC-QE-MS was used to analyze the chemical components of SCE. The chronic-plus-binge ethanol feeding model was used to induce AH in mice. 1H NMR was used to analyze intestinal metabolites. 16S rRNA-based high throughput sequencing was used to evaluate the effects of SCE on intestinal microbiota (IM). Intestinal microbiota transplantation was used to explore the role of IM in SCE treatment of AH. SCE ameliorated AH non-dose-dependently. SCE effectively improved liver inflammation and oxidative/nitrosative stress, strengthened intestinal barrier function, and regulated the composition of IM and the content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in AH mice. Samples from in vivo and in vitro SCE-altered IM improved liver status and regulated the IM. The administration of Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium breve ameliorated AH to some extent. The administration of Enterococcus faecalis and Klebsiella oxytoca had partial beneficial effects on AH. Collectively, IM and metabolites were closely associated with the improvement of SCE on AH. The possible microbe targets were the growth inhibition of Escherichia-Shigella and the expansion of SCFA producers, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Schisandra chinensis can be considered as a safe and effective dietary supplement for the prevention and improvement of AH.

Obesity continues to be a global public health challenge. Litchi chinensis seed is rich in bioactive ingredients with pharmacological effects, such as hypoglycemic activity and anti-oxidation. This study aimed to...

Over a millennia, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat various diseases in China. In recent years, more and more Chinese materia medica (CMM) have been studied in scientific research projects, applied in clinical practice, and their extracts have even appeared in some health products. However, the toxicity of some CMM is often overlooked, including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, etc. In this review, the toxic components and their toxicological mechanisms of some toxic CMM were listed according to the chemical structure classification of toxic components. Afterwards, the traditional methods (processing and compatibility) and modern methods (structural modification, biotransformation, etc.) of attenuation of CMM were discussed. Since ancient times, it has been said that “fight fire with fire, fight poison with poison,” and toxic CMM are of great significance in the treatment of difficult and severe diseases. The rational application of toxic CMM and their components in clinical practice was also exemplified in this review. While the pharmacological effects of TCMs have been emphasized, the scientific attenuation and rational application of toxic components should be concerned. We hope this review can provide a reference for future related research.