Ursolic acid: A Promising Natural Compound for IBD Management via Microbiota Regulation

The global incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising annually, posing a significant threat to patient health. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop effective pharmacological interventions for IBD. Ursolic acid (UA), a natural compound recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties, offers advantages such as high safety, potent activity, and low toxicity. However, the precise mechanisms by which UA exerts its effects on IBD remain to be fully elucidated. Our research demonstrated that UA conferred protection against IBD in weaned piglet models, primarily by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors and preserving intestinal barrier integrity. Notably, 16S rDNA analysis revealed that UA exerted a modulatory effect on the gut microbiota. Meanwhile, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments in mice had shown that UA mitigated the onset of IBD by regulating gut microbiota. Subsequent analysis revealed that Bifidobacteria played a crucial role in this process, contributing to the alleviation of intestinal inflammation, the protection of the intestinal barrier, and the regulation of metabolites. In summary, UA demonstrated efficacy as an anti-IBD therapeutic agent by modulating the gut microbiota, with a specific emphasis on the regulation of Bifidobacteria and their metabolites, thereby contributing to gut protection.炎症性肠病（Inflammatory Bowel Disease, IBD）的全球发病率逐年攀升，对患者健康构成严重威胁。因此，亟需开发针对IBD的有效药物干预手段。熊果酸（Ursolic Acid, UA）是一种以抗炎特性著称的天然化合物，具备安全性高、活性强劲、毒性低等优势。然而，熊果酸发挥抗IBD作用的具体分子机制仍有待全面阐明。本研究证实，熊果酸可在断奶仔猪模型中对IBD起到保护作用，其主要机制为抑制炎症因子表达、维持肠道屏障完整性。值得注意的是，16S核糖体DNA（16S rDNA）分析结果显示，熊果酸对肠道菌群具有调控作用。同时，小鼠粪便菌群移植（Fecal Microbiota Transplantation, FMT）实验表明，熊果酸可通过调控肠道菌群缓解IBD的发生发展。后续分析显示，双歧杆菌（Bifidobacteria）在该过程中发挥关键作用，可减轻肠道炎症、保护肠道屏障并调控代谢产物。综上，熊果酸可通过调控肠道菌群发挥抗IBD的治疗功效，其中对双歧杆菌及其代谢产物的调控尤为关键，进而实现肠道保护作用。