Ginsenoside Rh4 inhibits colorectal cancer via the modulation of gut microbiota-mediated bile acid metabolism

Introduction: Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is emerging as a pivotal factor in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Ginsenoside Rh4 (Rh4) is an active compound isolated from ginseng with beneficial effects in modulating intestinal inflammation and gut microbiota dysbiosis, but how Rh4 regu...

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Main Authors: Xue Bai, Zhiguang Duan, Jianjun Deng, Zhuo Zhang, Rongzhan Fu, Chenhui Zhu, Daidi Fan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Advanced Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123224002650
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author Xue Bai
Zhiguang Duan
Jianjun Deng
Zhuo Zhang
Rongzhan Fu
Chenhui Zhu
Daidi Fan
author_facet Xue Bai
Zhiguang Duan
Jianjun Deng
Zhuo Zhang
Rongzhan Fu
Chenhui Zhu
Daidi Fan
author_sort Xue Bai
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is emerging as a pivotal factor in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Ginsenoside Rh4 (Rh4) is an active compound isolated from ginseng with beneficial effects in modulating intestinal inflammation and gut microbiota dysbiosis, but how Rh4 regulates the gut microbiota to alleviate CRC remains underexplored. Objectives: We investigated the impact of Rh4 on CRC and the mechanism of its action in inhibiting CRC via modulation of gut microbiota. Methods: We used the AOM/DSS model and employed transcriptomics, genomics and metabolomics techniques to explore the inhibitory impact of Rh4 on CRC. Furthermore, we employed experiments involving antibiotic treatment and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to investigate the role of the gut microbiota. Finally, we elucidated the pivotal role of key functional bacteria and metabolites regulated by Rh4 in CRC. Results: Our research findings indicated that Rh4 repaired intestinal barrier damage caused by CRC, alleviated intestinal inflammation, and inhibited the development of CRC. Additionally, Rh4 inhibited CRC in a gut microbiota-dependent manner. Rh4 increased the diversity of gut microbiota, enriched the probiotic Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila), and alleviated gut microbiota dysbiosis caused by CRC. Subsequently, Rh4 regulated A. muciniphila-mediated bile acid metabolism. A. muciniphila promoted the production of UDCA by enhancing the activity of 7α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (7α-HSDH). UDCA further activated FXR, modulated the TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway, thus inhibiting the development of CRC. Conclusion: Our results confirm that Rh4 inhibits CRC in a gut microbiota-dependent manner by modulating gut microbiota-mediated bile acid metabolism and promoting the production of UDCA, which further activates the FXR receptor and regulates the TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway. Our results confirm that Rh4 has the potential to be used as a modulator of gut microbiota for preventing and treatment of CRC.
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spelling doaj-art-b228a3f5c0664236af0786cf2cbc00862025-08-20T03:47:41ZengElsevierJournal of Advanced Research2090-12322025-06-0172375210.1016/j.jare.2024.06.028Ginsenoside Rh4 inhibits colorectal cancer via the modulation of gut microbiota-mediated bile acid metabolismXue Bai0Zhiguang Duan1Jianjun Deng2Zhuo Zhang3Rongzhan Fu4Chenhui Zhu5Daidi Fan6Engineering Research Center of Western Resource Innovation Medicine Green Manufacturing, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China; Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Western Resource Innovation Medicine Green Manufacturing, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China; Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Western Resource Innovation Medicine Green Manufacturing, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China; Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, ChinaPlastic and Cosmetic Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, 710061, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Western Resource Innovation Medicine Green Manufacturing, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China; Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China; Corresponding authors.Engineering Research Center of Western Resource Innovation Medicine Green Manufacturing, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China; Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China; Corresponding authors.Engineering Research Center of Western Resource Innovation Medicine Green Manufacturing, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China; Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China; Corresponding authors.Introduction: Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is emerging as a pivotal factor in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Ginsenoside Rh4 (Rh4) is an active compound isolated from ginseng with beneficial effects in modulating intestinal inflammation and gut microbiota dysbiosis, but how Rh4 regulates the gut microbiota to alleviate CRC remains underexplored. Objectives: We investigated the impact of Rh4 on CRC and the mechanism of its action in inhibiting CRC via modulation of gut microbiota. Methods: We used the AOM/DSS model and employed transcriptomics, genomics and metabolomics techniques to explore the inhibitory impact of Rh4 on CRC. Furthermore, we employed experiments involving antibiotic treatment and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to investigate the role of the gut microbiota. Finally, we elucidated the pivotal role of key functional bacteria and metabolites regulated by Rh4 in CRC. Results: Our research findings indicated that Rh4 repaired intestinal barrier damage caused by CRC, alleviated intestinal inflammation, and inhibited the development of CRC. Additionally, Rh4 inhibited CRC in a gut microbiota-dependent manner. Rh4 increased the diversity of gut microbiota, enriched the probiotic Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila), and alleviated gut microbiota dysbiosis caused by CRC. Subsequently, Rh4 regulated A. muciniphila-mediated bile acid metabolism. A. muciniphila promoted the production of UDCA by enhancing the activity of 7α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (7α-HSDH). UDCA further activated FXR, modulated the TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway, thus inhibiting the development of CRC. Conclusion: Our results confirm that Rh4 inhibits CRC in a gut microbiota-dependent manner by modulating gut microbiota-mediated bile acid metabolism and promoting the production of UDCA, which further activates the FXR receptor and regulates the TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway. Our results confirm that Rh4 has the potential to be used as a modulator of gut microbiota for preventing and treatment of CRC.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123224002650Gut microbiotaBile acidUrsodeoxycholic acidAkkermansia muciniphilaColorectal cancerGinsenoside
spellingShingle Xue Bai
Zhiguang Duan
Jianjun Deng
Zhuo Zhang
Rongzhan Fu
Chenhui Zhu
Daidi Fan
Ginsenoside Rh4 inhibits colorectal cancer via the modulation of gut microbiota-mediated bile acid metabolism
Journal of Advanced Research
Gut microbiota
Bile acid
Ursodeoxycholic acid
Akkermansia muciniphila
Colorectal cancer
Ginsenoside
title Ginsenoside Rh4 inhibits colorectal cancer via the modulation of gut microbiota-mediated bile acid metabolism
title_full Ginsenoside Rh4 inhibits colorectal cancer via the modulation of gut microbiota-mediated bile acid metabolism
title_fullStr Ginsenoside Rh4 inhibits colorectal cancer via the modulation of gut microbiota-mediated bile acid metabolism
title_full_unstemmed Ginsenoside Rh4 inhibits colorectal cancer via the modulation of gut microbiota-mediated bile acid metabolism
title_short Ginsenoside Rh4 inhibits colorectal cancer via the modulation of gut microbiota-mediated bile acid metabolism
title_sort ginsenoside rh4 inhibits colorectal cancer via the modulation of gut microbiota mediated bile acid metabolism
topic Gut microbiota
Bile acid
Ursodeoxycholic acid
Akkermansia muciniphila
Colorectal cancer
Ginsenoside
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123224002650
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