Atractylodes Processing Products Protect against Gastric Ulcers in Rats by Influencing the NF-κB-MMP-9/TIMP-1 Regulatory Mechanism and Intestinal Flora.

Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. (AM) is a Chinese herbal medicine that is widely used for treating gastrointestinal diseases. However, little research has focused on it as a single medicine for treating gastric ulcers. Honey-bran stir-frying is a characteristic method of concocting AM, so we speculated that AM is more effective after this preparation process. Analysis by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry revealed changes in the chemical composition of raw Atractylodes (SG), bran-fried Atractylodes (FG), and honey-bran-fried Atractylodes (MFG). MFG was superior to SG and FG in improving the pathological structure of gastric tissue in rats with acute gastric ulcers, reducing inflammatory cell infiltration in gastric tissue, and significantly reducing malondialdehyde while increasing superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, and reducing the damage caused by free radical accumulation in the gastric mucosa. In addition, MFG reduced the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), an inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)proteins, inhibited inflammatory response, and regulated the degradation and rebalancing of the extracellular matrix. Fecal microbiota analysis also revealed that MFG normalized the intestinal flora to some extent. Our study shows that AM had a protective effect on rats with alcohol-induced acute gastric ulcers before and after processing, and AM-processed products were more effective than raw ones. Compared with MF, MFG had a higher rate of ulcer inhibition and a stronger anti-inflammatory effect, and its mechanism of action was related to the NF-κB-MMP-9/TIMP-1 signaling pathway.

Digestion-Promoting Effects and Mechanisms of Dashanzha Pill Based on Raw and Charred Crataegi Fructus.

Emerging evidence suggests that a high-fat diet (HFD) can influence endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and gut microbiota. Crataegi Fructus is a traditional Chinese herb widely used in formulas for dyspepsia, with Dashanzha Pill composed of raw Crataegi Fructus (DR) being a representative drug. Processing products of Crataegi Fructus, however, have a stronger pro-digestive effect, and we hypothesized that Dashanzha Pill composed of charred Crataegi Fructus (DC) is more effective. We found that the contents of glucose 1-phosphate and luteolin in DR and DC were substantially different via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. DC outperformed DR in improving histopathological changes, increasing gastrin and motilin, and decreasing vasoactive intestinal peptides in rats with HFD induced dyspepsia. Fecal microbiota analysis revealed that DC could restore the disturbed intestinal microbiota composition, including that of Bacteroides, Akkermansia, and Intestinimonas to normal levels. Furthermore, DC significantly reduced the mRNA and protein levels of glucose-regulated protein 78, protein kinase R-like ER kinase, and eukaryotic initiation factor 2α. Taken together, DC outperformed DR in relieving dyspepsia by regulating gut microbiota and alleviating ER stress.