Immunomodulation of <i>Glycyrrhiza</i> Polysaccharides In Vivo Based on Microbiome and Metabolomics Approaches

<i>Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.</i> is a medicinal herb that can be added to food to provide therapeutic effects and reduce the burden of medications. Herein, the immunomodulatory effects of <i>Glycyrrhiza</i> polysaccharides (GPs) were verified and illustrated by intervening...

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Main Authors: Yixuan Wu, Jie Sun, Wenjie Xie, Simin Xue, Xinli Li, Jianming Guo, Jinjun Shan, Guoping Peng, Yunfeng Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/5/874
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author Yixuan Wu
Jie Sun
Wenjie Xie
Simin Xue
Xinli Li
Jianming Guo
Jinjun Shan
Guoping Peng
Yunfeng Zheng
author_facet Yixuan Wu
Jie Sun
Wenjie Xie
Simin Xue
Xinli Li
Jianming Guo
Jinjun Shan
Guoping Peng
Yunfeng Zheng
author_sort Yixuan Wu
collection DOAJ
description <i>Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.</i> is a medicinal herb that can be added to food to provide therapeutic effects and reduce the burden of medications. Herein, the immunomodulatory effects of <i>Glycyrrhiza</i> polysaccharides (GPs) were verified and illustrated by intervening immunocompromised rats treated with different doses of GPs, which were reflected for adjusting the composition and structure of the intestinal microbiota and altering the metabolic profile. The immunomodulatory effects of GPs were exerted by regulating the intestinal microenvironment. In particular, GPs could promote the growth of probiotic bacteria <i>Allobaculum</i>, <i>norank__o_Clostridia_UCG-014</i>, <i>Dubosiella</i>, and <i>g__norank_o___RF39</i> and curb the growth of harmful bacteria <i>Enterococcus</i>. The results showed that GPs had a prebiotic effect, which contributed to improving the intestinal environment and maintaining intestinal health. In addition, the content of beneficial differential metabolites was up-regulated, especially short-chain fatty acids, with alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; arginine biosynthesis; glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism being the most enriched pathways. These metabolic pathways imply the metabolic process of GPs, and the metabolic pathways and differential effector metabolites of it are focused. Overall, the purpose of this article lies in providing support for the application of GPs for regulating immune function.
format Article
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issn 2304-8158
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publishDate 2025-03-01
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spelling doaj-art-a3854c06dee74f46bbea25f801205d252025-08-20T02:59:00ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-03-0114587410.3390/foods14050874Immunomodulation of <i>Glycyrrhiza</i> Polysaccharides In Vivo Based on Microbiome and Metabolomics ApproachesYixuan Wu0Jie Sun1Wenjie Xie2Simin Xue3Xinli Li4Jianming Guo5Jinjun Shan6Guoping Peng7Yunfeng Zheng8Department of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, ChinaJiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory of Pediatric Respiratory Disease, Institute of Pediatrics, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, China<i>Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.</i> is a medicinal herb that can be added to food to provide therapeutic effects and reduce the burden of medications. Herein, the immunomodulatory effects of <i>Glycyrrhiza</i> polysaccharides (GPs) were verified and illustrated by intervening immunocompromised rats treated with different doses of GPs, which were reflected for adjusting the composition and structure of the intestinal microbiota and altering the metabolic profile. The immunomodulatory effects of GPs were exerted by regulating the intestinal microenvironment. In particular, GPs could promote the growth of probiotic bacteria <i>Allobaculum</i>, <i>norank__o_Clostridia_UCG-014</i>, <i>Dubosiella</i>, and <i>g__norank_o___RF39</i> and curb the growth of harmful bacteria <i>Enterococcus</i>. The results showed that GPs had a prebiotic effect, which contributed to improving the intestinal environment and maintaining intestinal health. In addition, the content of beneficial differential metabolites was up-regulated, especially short-chain fatty acids, with alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; arginine biosynthesis; glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism being the most enriched pathways. These metabolic pathways imply the metabolic process of GPs, and the metabolic pathways and differential effector metabolites of it are focused. Overall, the purpose of this article lies in providing support for the application of GPs for regulating immune function.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/5/874<i>Glycyrrhiza</i> polysaccharidesimmunocompromised ratsuntargeted metabolomicsSCFAsgut microbiota
spellingShingle Yixuan Wu
Jie Sun
Wenjie Xie
Simin Xue
Xinli Li
Jianming Guo
Jinjun Shan
Guoping Peng
Yunfeng Zheng
Immunomodulation of <i>Glycyrrhiza</i> Polysaccharides In Vivo Based on Microbiome and Metabolomics Approaches
Foods
<i>Glycyrrhiza</i> polysaccharides
immunocompromised rats
untargeted metabolomics
SCFAs
gut microbiota
title Immunomodulation of <i>Glycyrrhiza</i> Polysaccharides In Vivo Based on Microbiome and Metabolomics Approaches
title_full Immunomodulation of <i>Glycyrrhiza</i> Polysaccharides In Vivo Based on Microbiome and Metabolomics Approaches
title_fullStr Immunomodulation of <i>Glycyrrhiza</i> Polysaccharides In Vivo Based on Microbiome and Metabolomics Approaches
title_full_unstemmed Immunomodulation of <i>Glycyrrhiza</i> Polysaccharides In Vivo Based on Microbiome and Metabolomics Approaches
title_short Immunomodulation of <i>Glycyrrhiza</i> Polysaccharides In Vivo Based on Microbiome and Metabolomics Approaches
title_sort immunomodulation of i glycyrrhiza i polysaccharides in vivo based on microbiome and metabolomics approaches
topic <i>Glycyrrhiza</i> polysaccharides
immunocompromised rats
untargeted metabolomics
SCFAs
gut microbiota
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/5/874
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