Jian Gan powder exerts anti-inflammatory and pro-proliferative effects and restores the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and metabolism of the immunological liver injury mice

Background: Jian Gan powder (JGP), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has shown a considerable protective and therapeutic effect on hepatitis virus-induced immunological liver injury (ILI) in the clinic. However, the underlying mechanisms of the protective effects of JGP on ILI remain unknown. Evidence suggests that TCM or TCM formula can affect the intestinal microbial community and metabolic function to control liver disease progression. Results JGP treatment reduced inflammatory cytokine expression and promoted liver cell proliferation. The fecal 16S rRNA gene sequencing and LC-MS-based metabolomics analysis revealed that JGP could notably shape the gut microbiota structure and modify metabolic profiles. JGP treatment could restore the dysbiosis of Alloprevotella , Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia , Muribaculum , Streptococcus , and Stenotrophomonas . Moreover, fecal metabolite profiles reflecting microbial activities showed that JGP modulated the disorder of biotin metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis in ILI mice. What’s more, the metabolites, Allylestrenol, Eplerenone, PE (P-20:0/0:0), SM d27:1, Soyasapogenol C, Chrysin, and Soyasaponin I were notably changed and remarkably reversed after JGP treatment. Conclusion JGP exerts anti-inflammatory and pro-proliferative effects and restores the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and metabolism of the immunological liver injury mice. These results provided a new perspective that intestinal microbiota and their metabolites might be potential targets for elucidating the mechanism of JGP on the improvement of ILI.