Polysaccharides from Elsholtzia rugulosa: structural characteristics and treating functional dyspepsia via gut microbiome in conjunction with targeting the PI3K/Akt/cGMP-PKG pathways.

BACKGROUND

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by symptoms such as epigastric pain, bloating, and nausea. Current treatments have limited efficacy and significant side effects. Elsholtzia rugulosa, a traditional medicinal plant, is used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, and its polysaccharides (ERP) may offer therapeutic potential for FD.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to characterize the structural properties of Elsholtzia rugulosa polysaccharides (ERP) and explore their mechanism in treating FD.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Neutral ERP-N and acidic ERP-A were isolated from Elsholtzia rugulosa. Their structural features were analyzed, and FD rats were treated with ERP. Gastric pathology, gut microbiota, and the PI3K/Akt/cGMP-PKG pathway were evaluated. RAW264.7 cells were used to assess ERP's immunomodulatory effects.

RESULTS

Structural Analysis: ERP-N (13,415 Da) and ERP-A (3,691 Da) exhibited distinct monosaccharide compositions and linkages. Therapeutic Effects: ERP improved FD symptoms, reduced inflammation, regulated gut microbiota, and activated the PI3K/Akt/cGMP-PKG pathway in rats. Immunomodulatory Activity: ERP-N promoted the secretion of nitric oxide (NO), TNF-α, and IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells, demonstrating immunomodulatory effects.

CONCLUSION

ERP may alleviate FD in association with gut microbiota modulation and changes in the PI3K/Akt/cGMP-PKG-related pathway. ERP-N also exhibits immunomodulatory activity, supporting the traditional use of Elsholtzia rugulosa in gastrointestinal health and offering potential for FD therapy development.