Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Neurosci.
Sec. Gut-Brain Axis
Volume 18 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1459141

Integrated Gut Microbiome and Metabolomic Analyses Elucidate the Therapeutic Mechanisms of Suanzaoren Decoction in Insomnia and Depression Models

Provisionally accepted
Hongxiong Zhang Hongxiong Zhang 1Taixiang Gao Taixiang Gao 2Feng Zhao Feng Zhao 1Nan Wang Nan Wang 1Zhixuan Li Zhixuan Li 1Xuemei Qin Xuemei Qin 3Ying Liu Ying Liu 4Rui Wang Rui Wang 1*
  • 1 Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China
  • 2 Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China
  • 3 Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
  • 4 Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Insomnia and depression are psychiatric disorders linked to substantial health burdens. The gut microbiome and metabolomic pathways are increasingly recognized as key contributors to these conditions' pathophysiology. Suanzaoren Decoction (SZRD), a traditional Chinese herbal formulation, has demonstrated significant therapeutic benefits for both insomnia and depression. This study aims to elucidate the mechanistic effects of SZRD on insomnia and depression by integrating gut microbiome and metabolomic analyses and to assess the differential impacts of SZRD dosages. Using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), we identified 66 chemical constituents within SZRD. Behavioral assays indicated that low-dose SZRD (LSZRD) significantly ameliorated insomnia symptoms in rat models, whereas high-dose SZRD (HSZRD) markedly improved depressive behaviors. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that SZRD modulated gut microbiome dysbiosis induced by insomnia and depression, characterized by an increased abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing genera. Metabolomic profiling demonstrated reduced plasma amino acid metabolites and disrupted γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and L-glutamic acid metabolism in the hippocampus of affected rats. SZRD administration restored fecal SCFA levels and ameliorated metabolic imbalances in both plasma and hippocampal tissues. These findings underscore the pivotal role of gut microbiome modulation and metabolic regulation in the therapeutic effects of SZRD, providing a scientific basis for its use in treating insomnia and depression.

    Keywords: Suanzaoren Decoction, insomnia, Depression, gut microbiome, Metabolomics

    Received: 03 Jul 2024; Accepted: 01 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Zhang, Gao, Zhao, Wang, Li, Qin, Liu and Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Rui Wang, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.