The ethanol extract derived from mung bean reduced immune suppression, intestinal injury, and disruptions in gut microbiota caused by cyclophosphamide in mice.

BACKGROUND: Cyclophosphamide (CTX), a widely utilized alkylating agent in cancer chemotherapy, is known to exert potent antitumor effects. However, it often induces severe adverse effects, including immunosuppression and intestinal mucosal injury. Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.), a legume rich in flavonoid compounds, has potential immunomodulatory properties. This study sought to explore the protective roles of mung bean ethanolic extract (MBE) against CTX-induced immunosuppression and intestinal damage, emphasizing the alteration of gut microbiota and underlying molecular mechanisms. In this research, a murine model with immunosuppression induced by CTX was utilized. Immune function was evaluated through the examination of spleen and thymus indices, lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine levels. Additionally, flow cytometry was employed to analyze CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets, while splenic histopathology was examined using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The integrity of the intestinal barrier was investigated through periodic acid-Schiff and H&E staining, complemented by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting to quantify the expression levels of colonic tight junction proteins. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis was performed to explore potential interactions between MBE bioactive components and LuxS, a key quorum-sensing enzyme implicated in probiotic viability.

RESULTS: Administration of MBE notably reduced weight loss induced by CTX, reinstated indices of the spleen and thymus, enhanced the proliferation of both T and B lymphocytes, stimulated cytokine expression, upregulated the CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio, and improved splenic histopathological architecture. MBE successfully reduced damage to the intestinal mucosa by enhancing the expression of essential tight junction proteins, thereby reinforcing intestinal barrier integrity. MBE also elevated the intestinal levels of cytokines, probably through activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, gut microbiota analysis demonstrated that MBE restored the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes, reduced the abundance of pathogenic bacterial taxa and significantly enriched Lactobacillus reuteri, a beneficial probiotic species. Molecular docking analysis identified trigonelline and procyanidin B2, two bioactive components of MBE, as potent inhibitors of LuxS. This inhibition likely contributed to the enhanced viability of L. reuteri.

CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the multifaceted protective benefits of MBE in counteracting CTX-induced immune suppression and intestinal damage. We found that MBE exerts prebiotic effects by restoring gut microbiota balance and enhancing probiotic activity likely via quorum sensing modulation. These findings highlight its potential as a dietary supplement to synergize with probiotics for gut-immune health during chemotherapy. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.