School of Life Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Yangguang South Street, Fangshan, 102488, Beijing, China.
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Yangguang South Street, Fangshan, 102488, Beijing, China.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 Mar 1;267:113594. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113594. Epub 2020 Nov 18.
Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is a well-known herb in traditional Chinese medicine and has been used to treat many diseases for thousands of years. Recent studies have shown that ginseng is a promising agent for improving the gut microbiota and treating ulcerative colitis. Fermentation is a common process in traditional Chinese medicine making that can be used to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity.
The purpose of the present study was to research the efficacy of ginseng fermented with probiotics (Lactobacillus fermentum) on the gut microbiota and immunity of rats with antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD).
SPF Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into eight groups: control group, antibiotic group, natural recovery group, and five groups treated with different doses of fermented ginseng (FG1 to FG5). A model of AAD was established by treating the rats with triple antibiotics, and obvious symptoms of AAD were observed. A histopathological analysis of the colon was performed. The total bacteria in the intestinal microbiota and five types of gut microbes in the feces were detected by quantitative PCR. The expression levels of related immune factors TLR4 and NF-κB in the colon were assayed.
An appropriate dose of fermented ginseng (0.5 g/kg/d) relieved some of the symptoms of AAD and colon inflammation and reduced the expression of the immune factors TLR4 and NF-κB in the colon. The alteration of the gut microbiota observed in the rats treated with antibiotics also returned to normal after treatment with fermented ginseng. Moreover, different doses of fermented ginseng exerted different influences on the gut microbiota, and excessively high or low doses of fermented ginseng were disadvantageous for resolving the symptoms of AAD and promoting recovery.
These results demonstrate that fermented ginseng can treat AAD symptoms and colon inflammation and restore the gut microbiota to its original state.
人参（Panax ginseng Meyer）是一种在中国传统医学中广为人知的草药，数千年来一直被用于治疗多种疾病。最近的研究表明，人参是一种有前途的改善肠道微生物群和治疗溃疡性结肠炎的药物。发酵是中药制作中的常见过程，可用于提高疗效和降低毒性。
本研究旨在研究益生菌发酵人参（Lactobacillus fermentum）对抗生素相关性腹泻（AAD）大鼠肠道微生物群和免疫的疗效。
SPF 斯普拉格-道利大鼠随机分为八组：对照组、抗生素组、自然恢复组和五组不同剂量发酵人参（FG1 至 FG5）治疗组。通过用三联抗生素处理大鼠建立 AAD 模型，并观察到明显的 AAD 症状。对结肠进行组织病理学分析。通过定量 PCR 检测肠道微生物群中的总细菌和粪便中五种肠道微生物。测定结肠中相关免疫因子 TLR4 和 NF-κB 的表达水平。
适当剂量的发酵人参（0.5 g/kg/d）缓解了 AAD 和结肠炎症的一些症状，并降低了结肠中免疫因子 TLR4 和 NF-κB 的表达。抗生素处理大鼠的肠道微生物群变化在服用发酵人参后也恢复正常。此外，不同剂量的发酵人参对肠道微生物群产生不同的影响，过高或过低剂量的发酵人参不利于缓解 AAD 症状和促进恢复。
这些结果表明，发酵人参可以治疗 AAD 症状和结肠炎症，并使肠道微生物群恢复到原来的状态。
