Gut microbiota-based discovery of Houttuyniae Herba as a novel prebiotic of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron with anti-colitis activity

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#humans #animals #mice #bacteroides-thetaiotaomicron #gastrointestinal-microbiome

Gut microbiota-based discovery of Houttuyniae Herba as a novel prebiotic of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron with anti-colitis activity

Zou et al., 2024 | Biomed Pharmacother | Meta Analysis

Citation

Zou Lin-En, Yang Ya-Nan, ... Wu Chongming. Gut microbiota-based discovery of Houttuyniae Herba as a novel prebiotic of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron with anti-colitis activity. Biomed Pharmacother. 2024-Mar;172:116302. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116302

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) represents an inflammatory disease characterized by fluctuations in severity, posing substantial challenges in treatment. The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of UC. This study sought to identify drugs specifically targeting the gut microbiota to mitigate UC. We initiated a meta-analysis on gut microbiota in UC patients to identify UC-associated bacterial strains. Subsequently, we screened 164 dietary herbal medicines in vitro to identify potential prebiotics for the UC-associated bacterium, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. The DSS-induced colitis mouse model was utilized to evaluate the anti-colitis efficacy of the identified dietary herbal medicine. Full-length 16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing was employed to observe changes in gut microbiota following dietary herbal medicine intervention. The relative abundance of Bacteroides was notably diminished in UC patients compared to their healthy counterparts. B. thetaiotaomicron exhibited an inverse relationship with UC symptoms, indicating its potential as an anti-colitis agent. In vitro assessments revealed that H. Herba significantly bolstered the proliferation of B. thetaiotaomicron. Further experiments showed that treating DSS-induced mice with an aqueous extract of H. Herba considerably alleviated colitis indicators such as weight loss, colon shortening, disease activity score (DAI), and systemic inflammation. Microbial analysis revealed B. thetaiotaomicron as the sole bacterium substantially augmented by H. Herba in vivo. Overall H. Herba emerges as a promising prebiotic for B. thetaiotaomicron, offering significant anti-colitis benefits. Employing a gut microbiota-centric approach proves valuable in the quest for drug discovery.This study provides a new paradigm for drug discovery that targets the gut microbiota to treat UC.

Key Findings

Employing a gut microbiota-centric approach proves valuable in the quest for drug discovery.This study provides a new paradigm for drug discovery that targets the gut microbiota to treat UC.

Outcomes Measured

  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition inflammation

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Animals
  • Mice
  • Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Colitis
  • Colitis, Ulcerative
  • Bacteroides
  • Prebiotics

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Meta-Analysis, Journal Article
  • Vertical: prebiotic-digestive

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09