Abstract
Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel is a commonly used Chinese medicine for clearing away heat and detoxification, cooling blood, stopping dysentery, and anti-inflammatory effects. Pulsatilla chinensis saponins (PRS) have been identified to be responsible for producing these pharmacological activities. Studies have shown that Pulsatilla decoction has a good therapeutic effect on ulcerative colitis (UC), however, the therapeutic effect of PRS on UC has not been reported. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible anti-UC activity of PRS using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced rat model, and further study the mechanism of PRS in the treatment of UC. The fecal and colon samples were collected from rats to monitor the changes in the composition and diversity of the intestinal flora, and pathological colon sections were also made to examine the mesenteric hemorheological characteristics. The results showed that PRS significantly reduced the mesenteric blood flow in UC rats and significantly alleviated the inflammatory response, which indicates that saponins are involved in the anti-UC effects of PRS. At the same time, it is also suggested that the regulation of intestinal flora by Pulsatilla chinensis saponins is an important pathway for its anti-UC activity, which may be ascribed to the increase in beneficial bacteria like norank_F_Muribaculaceae and norank_F_norank_O_Clostridia_UCG-014, and decrease in the harmful Bacteroides.
Highlights
Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel, an antipyretic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has a rich history dating back centuries for medicinal practices in China and some oriental countries (State Pharmacopoeia Commission, 2020)
The rats in the model group, SASP group, and Pulsatilla chinensis saponins (PRS) groups appeared hematochezia successively; no rats had died during the administration
Our results suggest that PRS regulate intestinal flora, such as a significantly increasing beneficial bacteria norank_F_Muribaculaceae and norank_F_norank_O_Clostridia_UCG-014 and decreasing the harmful bacteria Bacteroides, which may be the possible pathway for the excellent anti-ulcerative colitis (UC) effects of PRS
Summary
Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel, an antipyretic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has a rich history dating back centuries for medicinal practices in China and some oriental countries (State Pharmacopoeia Commission, 2020). It has been officially listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia for a long time and has the effect of clearing away heat and toxin, cooling blood, and stopping dysentery (Xu et al, 2011). Pulsatilla chinensis (P.chinensis) is widely used to treat schistosomiasis, inflammatory bacterial infections (Liu et al, 2014; Tong et al, 2017) It has gained extensive popularity in the Chinese medicine system due to its excellent antiinflammatory properties. The therapeutic effect of PRS on UC has not been reported (Wang et al, 2016)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
