Underlying beneficial effects of Rhubarb on constipation-induced inflammation, disorder of gut microbiome and metabolism

Han Gao; Chengwei He; Rongxuan Hua; Chen Liang; Boya Wang; Yixuan Du; Shuzi Xin; Yuexin Guo; Lei Gao; Lucia Zhang; Hongwei Shang; Jingdong Xu

doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.1048134

Underlying beneficial effects of Rhubarb on constipation-induced inflammation, disorder of gut microbiome and metabolism

Front Pharmacol. 2022 Dec 5:13:1048134. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1048134. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Han Gao¹, Chengwei He¹, Rongxuan Hua², Chen Liang², Boya Wang³, Yixuan Du⁴, Shuzi Xin¹, Yuexin Guo⁴, Lei Gao⁵, Lucia Zhang⁶, Hongwei Shang⁷, Jingdong Xu¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
² Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
³ Undergraduate Student of 2018 Eight Program of Clinical Medicine, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
⁴ Department of Oral Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
⁵ Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
⁶ Class of 2025, Loomis Chaffee School, Windsor, CT, United States.
⁷ Experimental Center for Morphological Research Platform, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Abstract

Background: Constipation is a common syndrome and a worldwide healthy problem. Constipation patients are becoming younger, with a 29.6% overall prevalence in children, which has captured significant attention because of its epigenetic rejuvenation and recurrent episodes. Despite the usage of rhubarb extract to relieve constipation, novel targets and genes implicated in target-relevant pathways with remarkable functionalities should still be sought for. Materials and methods: We established a reliable constipation model in C57B/6N male mice using intragastric administration diphenoxylate, and the eligible subjects received 600 mg/25 g rhubarb extract to alleviate constipation. Resultant constipation was morphological and genetically compared with the specimen from different groups. Results: Constipation mice exhibited thicker muscle layers, higher levels of cytokines, including IL-17 and IL-23, and lower content of IL-22. Bacterial abundance and diversity varied tremendously. Notably, the alterations were reversed following rhubarb extract treatment. Additionally, Constipation also had a substantial impact on short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), medium- and long-chain fatty acids (MLCFAs), and the expression of SCFA receptors, GPR41 and GPR43. Conclusion: This thesis has provided insight that rhubarb extract promoted the flexibility of collagen fiber, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, enhanced anti-inflammatory cytokines, and maintained gut microflora balance with potential impacts on the fatty acid and polyamine metabolism.

Keywords: SCFA; constipation; gut microbiome; polyamine; rhubarb extract.