Zhuanggu Shubi ointment mediated the characteristic bacteria-intestinal mucosal barrier-bone metabolism axis to intervene in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND

Zhuanggu Shubi ointment (ZGSBG) has good efficacy in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO), but the mechanism of efficacy involving gut microecology has not been elucidated.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the mechanism of ZGSBG in regulating gut microecology in PMO.

METHODS

The bilateral ovarian denervation method was used to construct a rat model of PMO and was administered ZGSBG. Behavior, bone transformation, gut microbiota, intestinal mucosal barrier, and intestinal inflammatory-related indexes were detected.

RESULTS

After ZGSBG intervention, bone R-hydroxy glutamic acid protein and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptides were significantly upregulated, while C-terminal telopeptide of type-I collagen and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b were significantly downregulated. Pathological analysis demonstrated an improvement in femoral and colonic structures. The expressions of zonula occludens-1, occludin, claudin-1, and secretory immunoglobulin A in the colonic tissues were significantly elevated, while the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and lipopolysaccharides were reduced. Moreover, characteristic bacteria and were significantly enriched. Furthermore, and have a positive correlation with intestinal mucosal barrier function and a negative correlation with intestinal inflammatory responses.

CONCLUSION

ZGSBG promoted bone formation, inhibited bone resorption, regulated gut microbiota, repaired intestinal mucosal barrier damage, and inhibited intestinal inflammatory responses in PMO rats. and might play positive roles in ZGSBG treatment of intestinal mucosal barrier injury and inflammatory reactions in PMO.