CCFM1163 Alleviated Cathartic Colon by Regulating the Intestinal Barrier and Restoring Enteric Nerves.

Cathartic colon (CC), a type of slow-transit constipation caused by the long-term use of stimulant laxatives, does not have a precise and effective treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of CCFM1163 to relieve CC and to investigate its underlying mechanism. Male C57BL/6J mice were treated with senna extract for 8 weeks, followed by a 2-week treatment with CCFM1163. The results revealed that CCFM1163 effectively alleviated CC symptoms. The possible mechanism of CCFM1163 in relieving CC was analyzed by measuring the intestinal barrier and enteric nervous system (ENS)-related indices and establishing a correlation between each index and gut microbiota. The results indicated that CCFM1163 changed the gut microbiota by significantly increasing the relative abundance of and as well as the content of short-chain fatty acids, especially propionic acid, in the feces. This increased the expression of tight junction proteins and aquaporin 8, decreased intestinal transit time, increased fecal water content, and relieved CC. In addition, CCFM1163 also increased the relative abundance of in feces and the expression of enteric nerve marker proteins to repair the ENS, promote intestinal motility, and relieve constipation.