Mechanism of Liujunzi decoction in regulating spleen deficiency-related diarrhea through untargeted metabolomics via UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS

AimTo investigate the potential mechanism of the traditional Liujunzi decoction in ameliorating spleen deficiency-induced diarrhea in mice, focusing on metabolic alterations.MethodsA total of fiftysix KM mice were divided into control and model groups. A spleen deficiency and diarrhea model was induced in the model mice through oral administration of senna decoction combined with dietary disturbances. Following the modeling the mice were divided into the model group, the low-dose group of Liujunzi decoction, the medium-dose group of Liujunzi decoction, and the high-dose group of Liujunzi decoction. The treatment groups were administered Liujunzi decoction at dosages of 10, 20, 30 g·kg-1·d-1 via gavage, while the control and model group received an equal volume of saline. Key assessments included monitoring changes in body weight, determining D-xylose content and α-amylase activity using colorimetric method, measuring total superoxide dismutase by the WST-1 method, and examining histomorphology of colonic mucosa through HE staining. Additionally, untargeted metabolomics and network pharmacological study were employed to identify differential serum metabolites in mice, facilitating the analysis of potential target and mechanism in regulating in spleen deficiency-related diarrhea of Liujunzi decoction.ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group exhibited significant decrease in body weight(P P P P P P P etc. might be the key targets of Liujunzi decoction, mainly involving PI3K/Akt pathway and MAPK pathway.ConclusionsLiujunzi decoction can regulate the abnormal metabolic profile to exert antidiarrheal effects in mice with spleen deficiency and diarrhea, and the effect mechanism may be related to the regulation of inflammation and barrier repair and other related pathways.