Yan Jianpeng, Zhou Ke, Ma Ting, Ji Peng, Wei Yanming
Tranditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China.
Lanzhou Center for Animal Disease Prevention & Control, Lanzhou, China.
Front Vet Sci. 2025 Aug 18;12:1611467. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1611467. eCollection 2025.
This study addresses the global challenge of subclinical bovine mastitis (SCBM) in dairy cows, a prevalent disease causing substantial economic losses, by investigating the mechanistic basis of , a traditional herbal remedy with empirically validated efficacy but incompletely understood modes of action.
Initially, the active components of were identified using LC-MS/MS. Dose-response trials were conducted in Holstein cows ( = 24 SCBM cases; = 6 healthy controls), along with multi-omics integration, including 16S rRNA sequencing for rumen/feces microbiota and UHPLC-MS metabolomics for serum analysis. The therapeutic effects of Astragali Radix water decoction (ARWD) on milk production, inflammatory markers, immune parameters, and oxidative stress were systematically evaluated.
ARWD administration dose-dependently improved milk yield and protein content while reducing somatic cell counts. Serum pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) decreased, contrasting with increases in immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgG) and enhanced superoxide dismutase activity. Microbiota restructuring featured ruminal enrichment of Bifidobacterium and fecal dominance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, coupled with suppression of pro-inflammatory taxa (e.g., Christensenellaceae_R-7_group). Metabolomic analysis identified four ARWD-responsive biomarkers, notably Spirotaccagenin and Pelanin, operating through linoleic acid metabolism and phospholipase D signaling pathways. Strong correlations linked microbial shifts to improved lactation parameters and reduced inflammation.
The findings establish that ARWD alleviates SCBM through coordinated microbiota remodeling and metabolic reprogramming, specifically enhancing antioxidant defenses, restoring mammary barrier integrity, and modulating immune-inflammation crosstalk, with optimal efficacy at 0.4 g·kg·d dosage. This mechanistic validation positions ARWD as a scientifically grounded, eco-friendly alternative for sustainable mastitis management, reconciling therapeutic effectiveness with agricultural economic priorities.
本研究通过调查黄芪这一传统草药疗法的作用机制，应对奶牛亚临床型乳腺炎（SCBM）这一全球性挑战。SCBM是一种普遍存在的疾病，会造成巨大的经济损失，黄芪的疗效已得到经验验证，但其作用方式尚不完全清楚。
首先，使用液相色谱-串联质谱法（LC-MS/MS）鉴定黄芪的活性成分。在荷斯坦奶牛中进行了剂量反应试验（24例SCBM病例；6例健康对照），同时进行了多组学整合，包括用于瘤胃/粪便微生物群分析的16S rRNA测序和用于血清分析的超高效液相色谱-质谱代谢组学。系统评估了黄芪水煎剂（ARWD）对产奶量、炎症标志物、免疫参数和氧化应激的治疗效果。
服用ARWD后，产奶量和蛋白质含量呈剂量依赖性增加，同时体细胞计数减少。血清促炎细胞因子（TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β）减少，而免疫球蛋白（IgA、IgM、IgG）增加，超氧化物歧化酶活性增强。微生物群重组的特点是瘤胃中双歧杆菌富集，粪便中理研菌科_RC9_肠道菌群占优势，同时抑制了促炎类群（如克里斯滕森菌科_R-7_菌群）。代谢组学分析确定了四种对ARWD有反应的生物标志物，特别是螺旋他卡苷元和佩拉宁，它们通过亚油酸代谢和磷脂酶D信号通路发挥作用。微生物变化与改善泌乳参数和减轻炎症密切相关。
研究结果表明，ARWD通过协调微生物群重塑和代谢重编程来缓解SCBM，具体表现为增强抗氧化防御、恢复乳腺屏障完整性以及调节免疫-炎症相互作用，0.4 g·kg·d的剂量疗效最佳。这种作用机制的验证使ARWD成为一种基于科学、生态友好的可持续乳腺炎管理替代方案，兼顾了治疗效果和农业经济优先事项。
