{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]],"date-time":"2026-07-13T12:12:14Z","timestamp":1783944734493,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]],"date-time":"2026-07-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1783900800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study aimed to investigate the antiinfi ammatory effects and potential molecular mechanisms of star anise-cinnamon compound essential oil (SCEO) against multidrug-resistant Salmonella Thompson (MDR S. Thompson) infection in mice.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>An intestinal infection model was established in mice by oral gavage of MDR S. Thompson (1\u00d7109 CFU\/mL) for two consecutive days. Experimental animals were randomly assigned to a blank group, a model group, a levofioxacin group (positive control), and SCEO low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (100, 200, and 400mg\/kg, respectively).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results and Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>SCEO intervention significantly alleviated clinical symptoms in infected mice, restored pathological damage in the liver and ileum, and normalized the liver index. Gas chromatography-mass spectrom- etry (GC-MS) analysis identified trans-cinnamaldehyde and trans-anethole as the primary active components of SCEO. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses revealed strong binding affinities between these components and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), RELA, and mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14) (Vina score &amp;lt; -5.0 kcal\/mol). Further in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that SCEO significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of key cytokines, including Tlr4, interleukin-6 (Il6), tumor necrosis factor (Tnf), and interleukin-17A (Il17a), and suppressed the overactivation of the TLR4\/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF\u0138B)\/MAPK signaling pathway. SCEO effectively alleviated Salmonella-induced infiammatory damage, a protective process potentially me- diated through the modulation of the TLR4\/NF\u0138B\/MAPK signaling axis. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the development of SCEO as a natural, plant-derived anti-infective agent.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1814361","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]],"date-time":"2026-07-13T11:45:22Z","timestamp":1783943122000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Unveiling the anti-inflammatory power of star anise-cinnamon compound essential oil against MDR Salmonella"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Ziheng","family":"Xu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University","place":["Guangzhou, China"]},{"name":"Postdoctoral Innovation Base of Southern Medical University, Guangdong Luofushan Tranditional Medicine Co., LTD.","place":["Huizhou, China"]},{"name":"School of Public Health and Management, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Nanning, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jie","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Treating High-incidence Infectious with Integrative Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Nanning, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rongdian","family":"Lin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postdoctoral Innovation Base of Southern Medical University, Guangdong Luofushan Tranditional Medicine Co., LTD.","place":["Huizhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zuxiang","family":"Luan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Student Employment Center, Nanning Normal University","place":["Nanning, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kai","family":"Shao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Health and Management, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Nanning, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yanhua","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Health and Management, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Nanning, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jie","family":"Liang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Health and Management, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Nanning, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chuangrong","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Health and Management, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Nanning, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dapei","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Health and Management, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Nanning, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Junyu","family":"Tao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Treating High-incidence Infectious with Integrative Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Nanning, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Haibo","family":"Tang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine for Treating High-incidence Infectious with Integrative Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Nanning, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Weizhong","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postdoctoral Innovation Base of Southern Medical University, Guangdong Luofushan Tranditional Medicine Co., LTD.","place":["Huizhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Longjian","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Headmaster\u2019s Office, Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities","place":["Baise, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hai","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Public Health and Management, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Nanning, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dingqiang","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University","place":["Guangzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"403","DOI":"10.3923\/ijp.2024.403.425","article-title":"Assessment of sesame and sweet almond oils efficacy against food-borne and human illness microorganisms with molecular docking study","volume":"20","author":"Al Abboud","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. J. Pharmacol."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1465","DOI":"10.15376\/biores.18.1.1465-1481","article-title":"Nanoemulsions of some edible oils and their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-hemolytic activities","volume":"18","author":"Al-Rajhi","year":"2023","journal-title":"BioResources"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.1186\/s13765-025-01058-x","article-title":"Assessment of mustard oil and its ozonated form for their antimicrobial potency and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential with molecular docking study","volume":"68","author":"Al-Rajhi","year":"2025","journal-title":"Appl. Biol. Chem."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0332224","article-title":"Biochemical description of ozonized propolis and its activity against pathogenic microorganisms, cancer cells, and inflammation with molecular docking interaction","volume":"20","author":"Al-Rajhi","year":"2025","journal-title":"PloS One"},{"key":"B5","volume-title":"Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques","author":"Bancroft","year":"2012"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"280","DOI":"10.1038\/s41579-022-00820-y","article-title":"Molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance revisited","volume":"21","author":"Darby","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Microbiol."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.13590\/j.cjfh.2019.01.014","article-title":"Analysis of foodborne disease outbreaks in China mainland in 2015","volume":"31","author":"Fu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Chin. J. Food. Hygiene"},{"key":"B8","first-page":"504","article-title":"Analysis of surveillance results of foodborne diseases in Zhejiang Province in 2021","volume":"33","author":"He","year":"2023","journal-title":"Chin. J. Health Lab. Technol."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.13557\/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2024.17.009","article-title":"Effects of plant essential oil compounds on growth performanceimmunity, and meat quality of Huangma chickens","volume":"47","author":"Huang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Feed Res."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4204","DOI":"10.7501\/j.issn.0253-2670.2024.12.027","article-title":"Research, application and challenge of Chinese herbal medicine network pharmacology","volume":"55","author":"Liao","year":"2024","journal-title":"Chin. Traditional Herbal Drugs"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1227","DOI":"10.13624\/j.cnki.issn.1001-7445.2023.1227","article-title":"Components and antioxidant activity of cinnamon oil extracted by ultrasound-assisted steam distillation","volume":"48","author":"Ling","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Guangxi Univ. (Natural Sci. Edition)"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phymed.2024.155651","article-title":"Essential oil from Cinnamomum cassia Presl bark regulates macrophage polarization and ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury through TLR4\/MyD88\/NF-\u03baB pathway","volume":"129","author":"Liu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Phytomedicine"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.3969\/j.issn.1000-9973.2017.01.038","article-title":"Research progress on the composition of star anise oil and analysis of biological activity","volume":"42","author":"Quan","year":"2017","journal-title":"China Condiment"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"83","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tox.2013.08.002","article-title":"Role of drug-independent stress factors in liver injury associated with diclofenac intake","volume":"312","author":"Ramm","year":"2013","journal-title":"Toxicology"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"208","DOI":"10.4103\/0973-1296.66938","article-title":"Essential oil constituents of Illicium griffithii and its antimicrobial activity","volume":"6","author":"Saraswathy","year":"2010","journal-title":"Pharmacogn. Mag."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2063","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chom.2024.10.012","article-title":"A prophage competition element protects Salmonella from lysis","volume":"32","author":"Sargen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cell Host Microbe"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5950","DOI":"10.1039\/c8fo01286e","article-title":"Anti-inflammatory effects of cinnamon extract and identification of active compounds influencing the TLR2 and TLR4 signaling pathways","volume":"9","author":"Schink","year":"2018","journal-title":"Food. Funct."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/spectrum.02080-23","article-title":"Genomic analysis of almost 8,000 Salmonella genomes reveals drivers and landscape of antimicrobial resistance in China","volume":"11","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Microbiol. Spectr."},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jiph.2023.10.022","article-title":"Benzalkonium chloride forces selective evolution of resistance towards antibiotics in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium","volume":"16","author":"Wu-Chen","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Infection Public Health"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodcont.2021.108187","article-title":"The emergence of extended-spectrum \u03b2-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Salmonella London isolates from human patients, retail meats and chickens in southern China and the evaluation of the potential risk factors of Salmonella London","volume":"128","author":"Xu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Food Control"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules27227753","article-title":"Cinnamaldehyde resist Salmonella Typhimurium adhesion by inhibiting type I fimbriae","volume":"27","author":"Yin","year":"2022","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1155\/2022\/2459212","article-title":"Protective effects of cinnamaldehyde on the oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and apoptosis in the hepatocytes of Salmonella Gallinarum-challenged young chicks","volume":"2022","author":"Yin","year":"2022","journal-title":"Oxid. Med. Cell. Longevity"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fcimb.2024.1463551","article-title":"Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of star anise-cinnamon essential oil against multidrug-resistant Salmonella Thompson","volume":"14","author":"Zhang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules28176304","article-title":"Analysis of the antibacterial properties of compound essential oil and the main antibacterial components of unilateral essential oils","volume":"28","author":"Zhao","year":"2023","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"72","DOI":"10.13729\/j.issn.1671-7813.Z20210603","article-title":"Analysis of Effective Chemical Constituents and Clinical Application ofMorinda Officinalis based on TCMSP Database","volume":"35","author":"Zheng","year":"2021","journal-title":"Journal of Practical Traditional Chinese Internal Medicine"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1814361\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]],"date-time":"2026-07-13T11:45:27Z","timestamp":1783943127000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1814361\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]]},"references-count":25,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1814361"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1814361","relation":{},"ISSN":["2235-2988"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2235-2988","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]]},"article-number":"1814361"}}