Multi-omics reveal the neuroprotective mechanisms of Xinshubao tablet against scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice

IntroductionAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with limited treatments. Xinshubao tablet (XSB), a traditional Chinese medicine, contains several bioactive compounds with notable neuroprotective effects. Our previous studies have demonstrated that XSB can alleviate c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhe Yang, Feng-Rong Zhang, Lu Ren, Jia-Ming Bai, Shi-Cong Wang, Xian-Yu Li, Hong-Jun Yang, Hong-He Xiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1596728/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849426593156431872
author Zhe Yang
Zhe Yang
Feng-Rong Zhang
Lu Ren
Jia-Ming Bai
Shi-Cong Wang
Xian-Yu Li
Hong-Jun Yang
Hong-He Xiao
author_facet Zhe Yang
Zhe Yang
Feng-Rong Zhang
Lu Ren
Jia-Ming Bai
Shi-Cong Wang
Xian-Yu Li
Hong-Jun Yang
Hong-He Xiao
author_sort Zhe Yang
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with limited treatments. Xinshubao tablet (XSB), a traditional Chinese medicine, contains several bioactive compounds with notable neuroprotective effects. Our previous studies have demonstrated that XSB can alleviate cognitive deficits in vascular dementia (VaD) models, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic candidate for AD.MethodsIn this study, scopolamine-induced AD-like mice were orally administered with varying doses of XSB (0.13 g/kg, 0.26 g/kg and 0.52 g/kg) for 28 days. Behavior tests, H&E, Nissl, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot assays were performed to evaluate the neuroprotection of XSB on AD-like mice. Then, fecal 16S rDNA sequencing, serum metabolomics, and hippocampal mRNA sequencing (mRNA-seq) analysis were performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms.Results and discussionThe results revealed that oral administration of XSB improved cognitive function, mitigated neuropathological damage, and alleviated dysfunction in the cholinergic system in AD-like mice. XSB treatment also enhanced gut microbiota diversity, increased the abundance of Enterococcus, Actinobacteriota, Coriobacteriales, and Eggerthellaceae, but reduced the abundance of Helicobacter rodentium and Lachnospiraceae. Integrating mRNA-seq and metabolomics data highlighted key regulatory pathways including the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, tyrosine metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Furthermore, XSB treatment reduced the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, MPO, enhanced SOD, GSH activities, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, upregulated the expression of BDNF, SYN, PSD95, and improved synaptic density. Transformation of XSB derived fecal microbiota (XSB-FM) effectively alleviated cognitive dysfunction and intestinal barrier injures. In conclusion, XSB may exert its neuroprotective effects via the microbiota-metabolite-brain axis, thereby improving neuroinflammation, neurotransmission, and synaptic integrity. These findings support the potential of XSB as a multifactorial therapeutic strategy for cognitive deficits in AD.
format Article
id doaj-art-48981f42553a45d7a89da726c0ea82c8
institution Kabale University
issn 1663-9812
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Pharmacology
spelling doaj-art-48981f42553a45d7a89da726c0ea82c82025-08-20T03:29:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-07-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15967281596728Multi-omics reveal the neuroprotective mechanisms of Xinshubao tablet against scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction in miceZhe Yang0Zhe Yang1Feng-Rong Zhang2Lu Ren3Jia-Ming Bai4Shi-Cong Wang5Xian-Yu Li6Hong-Jun Yang7Hong-He Xiao8School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Basic Research on Prevention and Treatment for Major DisCMCeases, Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaMental Disorders Research Laboratory, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, ChinaFujian Pien Tze Huang Enterprise Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Research and Development, Zhangzhou Pien Tze Huang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Zhangzhou, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Basic Research on Prevention and Treatment for Major DisCMCeases, Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Basic Research on Prevention and Treatment for Major DisCMCeases, Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, ChinaIntroductionAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with limited treatments. Xinshubao tablet (XSB), a traditional Chinese medicine, contains several bioactive compounds with notable neuroprotective effects. Our previous studies have demonstrated that XSB can alleviate cognitive deficits in vascular dementia (VaD) models, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic candidate for AD.MethodsIn this study, scopolamine-induced AD-like mice were orally administered with varying doses of XSB (0.13 g/kg, 0.26 g/kg and 0.52 g/kg) for 28 days. Behavior tests, H&E, Nissl, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot assays were performed to evaluate the neuroprotection of XSB on AD-like mice. Then, fecal 16S rDNA sequencing, serum metabolomics, and hippocampal mRNA sequencing (mRNA-seq) analysis were performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms.Results and discussionThe results revealed that oral administration of XSB improved cognitive function, mitigated neuropathological damage, and alleviated dysfunction in the cholinergic system in AD-like mice. XSB treatment also enhanced gut microbiota diversity, increased the abundance of Enterococcus, Actinobacteriota, Coriobacteriales, and Eggerthellaceae, but reduced the abundance of Helicobacter rodentium and Lachnospiraceae. Integrating mRNA-seq and metabolomics data highlighted key regulatory pathways including the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, tyrosine metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Furthermore, XSB treatment reduced the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, MPO, enhanced SOD, GSH activities, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, upregulated the expression of BDNF, SYN, PSD95, and improved synaptic density. Transformation of XSB derived fecal microbiota (XSB-FM) effectively alleviated cognitive dysfunction and intestinal barrier injures. In conclusion, XSB may exert its neuroprotective effects via the microbiota-metabolite-brain axis, thereby improving neuroinflammation, neurotransmission, and synaptic integrity. These findings support the potential of XSB as a multifactorial therapeutic strategy for cognitive deficits in AD.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1596728/fullAlzheimer’s diseaseXinshubao tabletneuroinflammation16s rDNA sequencingmetabolomics analysismRNA sequencing
spellingShingle Zhe Yang
Zhe Yang
Feng-Rong Zhang
Lu Ren
Jia-Ming Bai
Shi-Cong Wang
Xian-Yu Li
Hong-Jun Yang
Hong-He Xiao
Multi-omics reveal the neuroprotective mechanisms of Xinshubao tablet against scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice
Frontiers in Pharmacology
Alzheimer’s disease
Xinshubao tablet
neuroinflammation
16s rDNA sequencing
metabolomics analysis
mRNA sequencing
title Multi-omics reveal the neuroprotective mechanisms of Xinshubao tablet against scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice
title_full Multi-omics reveal the neuroprotective mechanisms of Xinshubao tablet against scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice
title_fullStr Multi-omics reveal the neuroprotective mechanisms of Xinshubao tablet against scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice
title_full_unstemmed Multi-omics reveal the neuroprotective mechanisms of Xinshubao tablet against scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice
title_short Multi-omics reveal the neuroprotective mechanisms of Xinshubao tablet against scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice
title_sort multi omics reveal the neuroprotective mechanisms of xinshubao tablet against scopolamine induced cognitive dysfunction in mice
topic Alzheimer’s disease
Xinshubao tablet
neuroinflammation
16s rDNA sequencing
metabolomics analysis
mRNA sequencing
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1596728/full
work_keys_str_mv AT zheyang multiomicsrevealtheneuroprotectivemechanismsofxinshubaotabletagainstscopolamineinducedcognitivedysfunctioninmice
AT zheyang multiomicsrevealtheneuroprotectivemechanismsofxinshubaotabletagainstscopolamineinducedcognitivedysfunctioninmice
AT fengrongzhang multiomicsrevealtheneuroprotectivemechanismsofxinshubaotabletagainstscopolamineinducedcognitivedysfunctioninmice
AT luren multiomicsrevealtheneuroprotectivemechanismsofxinshubaotabletagainstscopolamineinducedcognitivedysfunctioninmice
AT jiamingbai multiomicsrevealtheneuroprotectivemechanismsofxinshubaotabletagainstscopolamineinducedcognitivedysfunctioninmice
AT shicongwang multiomicsrevealtheneuroprotectivemechanismsofxinshubaotabletagainstscopolamineinducedcognitivedysfunctioninmice
AT xianyuli multiomicsrevealtheneuroprotectivemechanismsofxinshubaotabletagainstscopolamineinducedcognitivedysfunctioninmice
AT hongjunyang multiomicsrevealtheneuroprotectivemechanismsofxinshubaotabletagainstscopolamineinducedcognitivedysfunctioninmice
AT honghexiao multiomicsrevealtheneuroprotectivemechanismsofxinshubaotabletagainstscopolamineinducedcognitivedysfunctioninmice