The Influence of Jiawei Wendan Decoction on the Gastric Microbiota in Depression-Anxiety Comorbidity Rat Models

Abstract

This study leverages the high-throughput sequencing technology of 16S rRNA to investigate the effects of Jiawei Wendan Decoction on the gastric microbiota of Chronic Restraint Stress (CRS) induced depression-anxiety rat models, examining its potential as a therapy for depression-anxiety comorbidity. [Methods] SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, model, western medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine groups. After model establishment, treatments were administered for a continuous period of 35 days. The intestinal contents of the rats were collected, from which total DNA was extracted. Amplification of the V3-V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA was carried out with designed primers, followed by high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform. [Results] Following treatment with Jiawei Wendan Decoction, a significant increase in the Lactobacillaceae family and Lactobacillus genus was noted, becoming dominant strains. Compared to the control and model groups, the traditional Chinese medicine treatment resulted in a raised relative abundance of Lactobacillus johnsonii, promoting the proliferation of microbes involved in environmental and genetic information processing. [Conclusion] Jiawei Wendan Decoction exhibits anti-comorbidity effects in CRS rat models. The mechanism of action is potentially linked with the modulation of gastric microbiota, enhancing the presence of microbes involved in environmental and genetic information processing within the stomach.