Comparative metabolism of the eight main bioactive ingredients of gegen qinlian decoction by the intestinal flora of diarrhoeal and healthy piglets

Abstract

Diarrhoeal diseases alter the composition of intestinal flora, thereby affecting the efficacy of herbal medicinal formulations. Gegen Qinlian decoction (GQD), a Chinese traditional herbal formulation, is widely used to treat infectious diarrhoea. However, little is known about the microbial disposition of GQD in the diarrhoeal state. In this study, the comparative metabolism of components of GQD by diarrhoeal and normal intestinal flora was investigated in vitro. UPLC-MS/MS was performed for simultaneous analysis of eight ingredients of GQD in bacterial solution. The type, activities, and sources of microbial enzymes were also investigated. Microbial metabolism of daidzin, genistin and liquiritin (metabolized by β-glucosidase); baicalin, wogonoside and glycyrrhizin (metabolized by β-glucuronidase); and berberine and coptisine (metabolized via nitroreductase) was faster in the diarrhoeal group than in the normal group.Moreover, the activities of these enzymes in the diarrhoeal group were higher than those in the normal group. This difference might be associated with the increase in Escherichia spp. Thus, a change in the metabolism of components by diarrhoeal intestinal flora is associated with a preponderance of Escherichia spp., which might improve the efficacy of GQD. These findings have implications for understanding the action mechanism of GQD for diarrhoea treatment in terms of the microbial milieu.

Gegen Qinlian Decoction Treats Diarrhea in Piglets by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids

“…The ingredients analysis demonstrated that GQD is primarily composed of antibacterial agents (Liu et al, 2018), which indicates that GQD attenuates diarrheal symptoms by promoting the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms. Recently, a clinical study that treated patients with type 2 diabetes with GQD for 12 weeks found that GQD features hypoglycemic efficacy (Xu J. et al, 2015).…”

Constituents, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacology of Gegen-Qinlian Decoction

“…In particular, gut microbiota is known for its direct and indirect effects on drug and xenobiotic metabolism (Wilson and Nicholson, 2017). The intestinal flora mediates the metabolism of GQD constituents, including daidzin, genistin, and liquiritin via beta-glucosidase; baicalin, wogonoside, and glycyrrhizin via beta-glucuronidase; and berberine and coptisine via nitroreductase (Liu et al, 2019a).…”

The effect of Chinese herbal formulas combined with metformin on modulating the gut microbiota in the amelioration of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Drugs with oral administration can promote the host metabolism and modulate the structure of gut microbiota ( 58 ). In term, the gut microbiota could mediate the metabolism of bioactive constituents in oral drugs via various targets ( 59 ). Previous studies further provided the reliable and direct evidence for the additive and synergistic effects of CHFs and metformin on modulating gut microbiota and ameliorating metabolic disorders in type 2 diabetic patients ( 60 – 62 ).…”