中药调控肠道菌群代谢产物干预疾病研究进展

Advances in the regulation of gut microbiota metabolites by traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diseases

摘要:

中药在预防和治疗疾病、改善机体健康方面发挥重要作用。中药化学组成复杂，调控途径和网络多样，极大阻碍了中药作用机理的阐明。人是由人体细胞与微生物组成的超级“共生体”。肠道菌群作为人体核心共生微生态系统，被称为人体的“第二基因组”和新的“器官”。肠道菌群稳态的变化在整体、系统层面上影响宿主健康和疾病进展。富含多糖、多酚等化学成分的中药可以调节肠道菌群代谢物，通过调控代谢产物及免疫信号介导的“肠-肝轴” “肠-脑轴”等通路防治疾病。本文综述了中药调控肠道菌群代谢产物与改善疾病的因果相关性和作用机制进展，为全面阐明中药治病防病作用机理和基于中药开发创新药物提供了指导和见解。

Abstract:

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an important role in preventing and treating diseases and improving human health. However, the complex bioactive components and regulation of signaling pathway and network restrict the elucidation of the mechanisms of action of TCM. A human being is regarded as a super “symbiont” composed of body cells and commensal microorganisms. Gut microbiota is the core commensal microorganism system of a human body, being considered as “the second genome” and the new “organ”. Alterations in gut microbiota reflect the state of body health and progression of diseases. Recent investigations have revealed that the TCM rich in polysaccharides and polyphenols can modulate gut microbiota metabolites to rehabilitate gut homeostasis, thus ameliorating diseases via regulating gut-liver axis or gut-brain axis. This review summarizes the causal relationship and mechanisms of action of TCM in the treatment of diseases from the perspective of gut microbiota metabolites. Our findings are expected to provide new insights into the mechanisms of TCM in preventing and treating diseases and guidance for TCM-based drug discovery in the future.