Journal of Inflammation Research (Aug 2025)
Effect of Sodium Butyrate and Sishen Pill Combination on Diarrhea with Kidney-Yang Deficiency Syndrome Was Associated with Intestinal Mucosal Microbiota and Immune Barrier
Abstract
Jiaxin Di,1,2 Meifang Guo,1,2 Maijiao Peng,2,3 Leyao Fang,1,3 Junxi Shen,1,3 Nenqun Xiao,2,3 Zhoujin Tan1,3 1School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 3Hunan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription and Syndromes Translational Medicine, Changsha, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Nenqun Xiao, Email [email protected] Zhoujin Tan, Email [email protected]: To investigate the therapeutic mechanisms of sodium butyrate combined with SSP in treating diarrhea with kidney-yang deficiency syndrome, providing experimental evidence for the modern application of classical Chinese medicine formulas.Methods: A mouse model of diarrhea with kidney-yang deficiency syndrome was established via adenine combined with Folium sennae gavage. After successful model establishment, the drug intervention groups were administered by gavage with 100% SSP decoction, 300 mg/mL sodium butyrate, and 100 mg/kg sodium butyrate + 50% SSP decoction, respectively. General physical conditions and organ indices were assessed. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, as well as colonic immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and mucin 2 (MUC2) levels, were determined via ELISA. Kidney and intestinal histology were evaluated via hematoxylin‒eosin (HE) staining. The characteristics of the small intestinal mucosal microbiota under different interventions were analysed via 16S rRNA sequencing.Results: Compared with natural recovery, the combination of 100 mg/kg sodium butyrate + 50% SSP significantly restored colonic sIgA levels (p< 0.05) and MUC2 levels, indicating an improvement in intestinal mucosal barrier function. Histological analysis revealed that the combination of 100 mg/kg sodium butyrate + 50% SSP improved renal inflammation and restored intestinal villus length and crypt depth. The combination therapy controlled the relative abundance of Corynebacterium while restoring Dwaynesavagella and Megasphaera_A. Correlation analysis indicated that Mammaliicoccus and Corynebacterium were significantly negatively correlated with sIgA and MUC2 levels and that their relative abundances were inhibited by the combination therapy.Conclusion: Sodium butyrate enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of SSP. The combination therapy effectively repaired damaged kidneys and intestines and alleviated diarrhea with kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome by modulating the relative abundance of intestinal microbiota and enhancing intestinal immunity as well as mucosal barrier function. The interaction between the intestinal microbiota and intestinal mucosal protective factors may be a key mechanism in the combined treatment of diarrhea with kidney-yang deficiency syndrome.Keywords: diarrhea with kidney-yang deficiency syndrome, mucosal barrier, intestinal microbiota, Sishen pill, sodium butyrate, short-chain fatty acids
