Jia Wei Xiao Yao San, a potential antidepressant, influences gut microbiome composition, notably increasing Ileibacterium valens with potential in cerebral purine metabolism.
In the methodology of this study, a chronic restraint stress mouse model of depression was set up to test the effects of potential antidepressant Jia Wei Xiao Yao San (JWXYS). The antidepressant was administered to the mice, and their behavior was then monitored through a series of tests. The activity of astrocytes and microglia in the animals was ascertained through the use of specific fluorescent labels and inflammatory cytokines were quantified in the intestinal and cerebral tissues of the mice. An integrated approach comprising full-length 16S rRNA sequencing and different types of untargeted metabolomics was used to investigate the gut microbiome at the species-level, metabolic brain functions, and their relationship with JWXYS.
Upon discussion of results, it was found that the behaviour of the mice was linked to the relative abundance of a certain bacteria, Lactobacillus animalis. Moreover, following the administration of JWXYS, an increase was observed in the relative abundance of another bacteria, Ileibacterium valens, which was found to be potentially involved in purine metabolism. Concomitantly, the activation of astrocytes and microglia was found to be negatively correlated with the abundance of L. animalis. From network pharmacological analysis, it was determined that several targets based on JWXYS treatment were focused on purine metabolism. This metabolism was also enriched from cerebral metabolites regulated by JWXYS.
