AUTHOR=Ma Ting , Ji Peng , Wu Fan-Lin , Li Chen-Chen , Dong Jia-Qi , Yang Hao-Chi , Wei Yan-Ming , Hua Yong-Li 

TITLE=Research on the mechanism of Guanyu Zhixie Granule in intervening gastric ulcers in rats based on network pharmacology and multi-omics

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1390473

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2024.1390473

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Objective</title><p>Guanyu Zhixie Granule (GYZXG) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound with definite efficacy in intervening in gastric ulcers (GUs). However, the effect mechanisms on GU are still unclear. This study aimed to explore its mechanism against GU based on amalgamated strategies.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Methods</title><p>The comprehensive chemical characterization of the active compounds of GYZXG was conducted using UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS. Based on these results, key targets and action mechanisms were predicted through network pharmacology. GU was then induced in rats using anhydrous ethanol (1 mL/200 g). The intervention effects of GYZXG on GU were evaluated by measuring the inhibition rate of GU, conducting HE staining, and assessing the levels of <italic>IL-6</italic>, <italic>TNF-α</italic>, <italic>IL-10</italic>, <italic>IL-4</italic>, Pepsin (<italic>PP</italic>), and epidermal growth factor (<italic>EGF</italic>). Real-time quantitative PCR (RT–qPCR) was used to verify the mRNA levels of key targets and pathways. Metabolomics, combined with 16S rRNA sequencing, was used to investigate and confirm the action mechanism of GYZXG on GU. The correlation analysis between differential gut microbiota and differential metabolites was conducted using the spearman method.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>For the first time, the results showed that nine active ingredients and sixteen targets were confirmed to intervene in GU when using GYZXG. Compared with the model group, GYZXG was found to increase the ulcer inhibition rate in the GYZXG-M group (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05), reduce the levels of <italic>IL-6</italic>, <italic>TNF-α</italic>, <italic>PP</italic> in gastric tissue, and increase the levels of <italic>IL-10</italic>, <italic>IL-4</italic>, and <italic>EGF</italic>. GYZXG could intervene in GU by regulating serum metabolites such as Glycocholic acid, Epinephrine, Ascorbic acid, and Linoleic acid, and by influencing bile secretion, the <italic>HIF-1</italic> signaling pathway, and adipocyte catabolism. Additionally, GYZXG could intervene in GU by altering the gut microbiota diversity and modulating the relative abundance of <italic>Bacteroidetes</italic>, <italic>Bacteroides</italic>, <italic>Verrucomicrobia</italic>, <italic>Akkermansia</italic>, and <italic>Ruminococcus</italic>. The differential gut microbiota was strongly associated with serum differential metabolites. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated a significant role of the <italic>HIF-1</italic> signaling pathway in GYZXG’s intervention on GU. The changes in metabolites within metabolic pathways and the alterations in <italic>RELA</italic>, <italic>HIF1A</italic>, and <italic>EGF</italic> mRNA levels in RT-qPCR experiments provide further confirmation of this result.</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>GYZXG can intervene in GU induced by anhydrous ethanol in rats by regulating gut microbiota and metabolic disorders, providing a theoretical basis for its use in GU intervention.</p></sec>