Xia Lu, Li Chuangen, Zhao Jia, Sun Quancai, Mao Xiaowen
State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Phytomedicine. 2025 Jan;136:156150. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.156150. Epub 2024 Oct 24.
Gut microbiota plays an important role in multiple human physiological processes and an imbalance in it, including the species, abundance, and metabolites can lead to diseases. These enteric microorganisms modulate immune homeostasis by presenting a myriad of antigenic determinants and microbial metabolites. Medicinal and food homologous (MFH) plants, edible herbal materials for both medicine and food, are important parts of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). MFH plants have drawn much attention due to their strong biological activity and low toxicity. However, the interplay of MFH and gut microbiota in rebalancing the immune homeostasis in combating diseases needs systematic illumination.
The review discusses the interaction between MFH and gut microbiota, including the effect of MFH on the major group of gut microbiota and the metabolic effect of gut microbiota on MFH. Moreover, how gut microbiota influences the immune system in terms of innate and adaptive immunity is addressed. Finally, the immunoregulatory mechanisms of MFH in regulation of host pathophysiology via gut microbiota are summarized.
Literature was searched, analyzed, and collected using databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords. The obtained articles were screened and summarized by the research content of MFH and gut microbiota in immune regulation.
The review demonstrates the interaction between MFH and gut microbiota in disease prevention and treatment. Not only do the intestinal microorganisms and intestinal mucosa constitute an important immune barrier of the human body, but also lymphoid tissue and diffused immune cells within the mucosa participate in the response of innate immunity and adaptive immunity. MFH modulates immune regulation by affecting intestinal flora, helps maintain the balance of the immune system and interfere with the occurrence and development of a broad category of diseases.
Being absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, MFH can have profound effects on gut microbiota. In turn, the gut microbiota also actively participate in the bioconversion of complex constituents from MFH, which could further influence their physiological and pharmacological properties. The review deepens the understanding of the relationship among MFH, gut microbiota, immune system, and human diseases and further promotes the progression of additional relevant research.
肠道微生物群在多种人类生理过程中发挥着重要作用，其失衡，包括种类、丰度和代谢产物的失衡，都可能导致疾病。这些肠道微生物通过呈现大量抗原决定簇和微生物代谢产物来调节免疫稳态。药食同源（MFH）植物，即兼具药用和食用价值的草本材料，是传统中医（TCM）的重要组成部分。MFH植物因其强大的生物活性和低毒性而备受关注。然而，MFH与肠道微生物群在抗击疾病过程中重新平衡免疫稳态方面的相互作用需要系统阐明。
本综述讨论MFH与肠道微生物群之间的相互作用，包括MFH对肠道微生物群主要类群的影响以及肠道微生物群对MFH的代谢作用。此外，还探讨了肠道微生物群在固有免疫和适应性免疫方面如何影响免疫系统。最后，总结了MFH通过肠道微生物群调节宿主病理生理的免疫调节机制。
使用包括PubMed、Web of Science和Google Scholar在内的数据库，通过相关关键词搜索、分析和收集文献。根据MFH和肠道微生物群在免疫调节方面的研究内容对获取的文章进行筛选和总结。
本综述展示了MFH与肠道微生物群在疾病预防和治疗中的相互作用。肠道微生物和肠黏膜不仅构成人体重要的免疫屏障，黏膜内的淋巴组织和弥散免疫细胞也参与固有免疫和适应性免疫反应。MFH通过影响肠道菌群调节免疫，有助于维持免疫系统平衡并干预多种疾病的发生和发展。
MFH从胃肠道吸收后可对肠道微生物群产生深远影响。反过来，肠道微生物群也积极参与MFH复杂成分的生物转化，这可能进一步影响其生理和药理特性。本综述加深了对MFH、肠道微生物群、免疫系统和人类疾病之间关系的理解，并进一步推动了相关研究的进展。
