Title:Bear Bile Powder Improves Ulcerative Colitis by Protecting the Intestinal
Mechanical Barrier and Regulating Intestinal Flora
Volume: 30
Issue: 19
Author(s): Zi-Bo Liu, Xun Ye, Chun-Jie Wu*Da-Neng Wei*
Affiliation:
- Innovative Institute of Chinese
Medicine and Pharmacy/Academy for Interdiscipline, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137,
China
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
- Geriatric Diseases Institute of Chengdu, Center for Medicine Research and Translation, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital,
Chengdu, Sichuan Province 611137, China
Keywords:
Traditional Chinese medicine, bear bile powder, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, intestinal barrier, intestinal microbiota.
Abstract:
Background: Bear Bile Powder (BBP) is a traditional Chinese medicine. It has been widely used in
clinical practices and has shown a good anti-inflammatory effect. However, its effectiveness in treating Ulcerative
Colitis (UC) has not yet been studied.
Objective: To explore the therapeutic effect of BBP on ulcerative colitis and its potential mechanism by combining
acute ulcerative colitis mouse models and comprehensively observing various physiological and biochemical
indexes of mice.
Methods: The acute ulcerative colitis model was induced by drinking water containing dextran sulfate sodium
salt (DSS) for 7 days. Studies were divided into Control, DSS, DSS+ Sulfasalazine (SASP, 450 mg/kg), and
DSS + bear bile powder group (BBP, 320 mg/kg). The Disease Activity Index (DAI) and colonic tissue damage
of mice were evaluated. Tissue immunofluorescence and western blot were used to determine related tight
Junction Proteins (TJs), and 16S V34 amplicon was used to analyze intestinal microorganisms. The therapeutic
effect of BBP on ulcerative colitis model mice was studied comprehensively.
Results: After treatment, BBP can significantly improve the physiological condition of acute UC mice and reduce
DAI fraction. Compared with the DSS group, the BBP group significantly increased the colon length and
significantly decreased the injury fraction of acute UC mice. Regarding the intestinal mechanical barrier, BBP
significantly increased the expression of ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin 1 protein in colon tissue. In terms of microbial
community, the intestinal microbial diversity of mice decreased after the administration of BBP, but
there was no significant difference in structural composition between the BBP group and the Control group.
By comparing the four groups of species with significant differences, it was found that the BBP group significantly
reduced the abundance of specific harmful microorganisms at the order, family, genus, and species levels.
Conclusion: Oral administration of a certain dose of BBP can significantly improve the symptoms of ulcerative
colitis in mice. Part of the reason may be that it increases the expression of tight junction proteins, regulates
specific flora in the intestine of mice, and maintains intestinal barrier homeostasis. In the future, the clinical
application value of BBP will be explored, and BBP will be developed as a drug with the potential to treat
UC and alleviate the pain of UC patients.
