Microbiome and metabolome integrally reveal the anti-depression effects of Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides from the perspective of gut homeostasis

Xiaojie Liu; Xiaoling Wu; Senyan Wang; Ziyu Zhao; Chen Jian; Mengyu Li; Xuemei Qin

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125542

Microbiome and metabolome integrally reveal the anti-depression effects of Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides from the perspective of gut homeostasis

Int J Biol Macromol. 2023 Aug 1:245:125542. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125542. Epub 2023 Jun 22.

Authors

Xiaojie Liu¹, Xiaoling Wu², Senyan Wang², Ziyu Zhao², Chen Jian², Mengyu Li², Xuemei Qin³

Affiliations

¹ Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Rd. Xiaodian Dist., Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Rd. Xiaodian Dist., Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China; Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Rd. Xiaodian Dist., Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China. Electronic address: liuxiaojie@sxu.edu.cn.
² Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Rd. Xiaodian Dist., Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Rd. Xiaodian Dist., Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China; Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Rd. Xiaodian Dist., Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China.
³ Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Rd. Xiaodian Dist., Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Rd. Xiaodian Dist., Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China; Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Rd. Xiaodian Dist., Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China. Electronic address: qinxm@sxu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37355069
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125542

Abstract

Polysaccharides are one of the active components of Cistanche deserticola (CD). Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides (CDPs) significantly regulate gut microbiota, immune activity, and neuroprotective functions. However, it merely scratches the surface that the anti-depression effects of CDPs. We aimed to demonstrate the anti-depression effects of CDPs and the underlying mechanisms from the perspectives of gut homeostasis by behavioral evaluations and applying integrally microbiome, metabolome, and molecular biology. CDPs showed significant effects on improving abnormal behaviors of depressed rats. Additionally, CDPs maintained Th17/Treg balance and modulated gut immunity of depressed rats. Comprehensive microbiome and metabolome analysis showed that CDPs significantly ameliorated abundances of beneficial bacteria, and increased the contents of SCFAs, consequently maintaining gut homeostasis. Besides, the anti-depression effects of CDPs involved in amino acid metabolism including BCAAs, glutamine, etc., maintaining metabolic balance. The current findings provide not only deep understanding of depression focusing on gut, but also evidence about the anti-depression effects of CDPs, broadening clinic applications of CDPs. Of note, the present study is of significance in a long run, in terms of providing novel strategies and protocols for revealing mechanisms of anti-depression drugs, and for the discovery of new antidepressants and functional foods from natural products.

Keywords: Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides; Depression; Gut immunity; Gut microbiota; Metabolome; Microbiome.

MeSH terms

Animals
Cistanche* / chemistry
Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
Homeostasis
Metabolome
Polysaccharides / chemistry
Polysaccharides / pharmacology
Polysaccharides / therapeutic use
Rats

Substances

Polysaccharides