{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T04:19:19Z","timestamp":1787026759713,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":57,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,13]],"date-time":"2025-05-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1747094400000},"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. Microbiol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The aims of the present study were to determine the efficacy of edible traditional Chinese medicines (ETCMs) in treating constipation, verify their laxative effects, and conduct preliminary investigations into their mechanisms of action.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>ICR mice were treated with loperamide to induce constipation, and various fecal parameters, including fecal volume, water content, and intestinal transport function, were measured in these constipation model mice to screen for ETCMs with laxative properties. The mechanism of action was preliminarily explored by examining changes in the intestinal mucosal structure, protein expression levels, and alterations in intestinal flora composition.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      In ICR mice with loperamide-induced constipation,\n                      <jats:italic>Elsholtzia ciliata<\/jats:italic>\n                      aqueous extract (ECAE) and\n                      <jats:italic>Hovenia dulcis<\/jats:italic>\n                      aqueous extract (HDAE) significantly ameliorated constipation symptoms, mitigated colonic pathological tissue damage, significantly increased the expression levels of proteins associated with the promotion of intestinal peristalsis [Stem Cell Factor Receptor (c-Kit) and Stem Cell Factor (SCF)] and the maintenance of the intestinal barrier [Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-l), Occludin and Claudin-l], and promoted beneficial intestinal bacterial colonization.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      ECAE and HDAE ameliorated constipation in mice, and their mechanism of action may be related to the increased abundance of intestinal bacteria such as\n                      <jats:italic>Turicibacter, Olsenella<\/jats:italic>\n                      , and\n                      <jats:italic>Odoribacter<\/jats:italic>\n                      , which contribute to higher butyrate production. This increase in butyric acid reduces inflammation, improves intestinal barrier function, and increases the abundance of beneficial intestinal bacteria.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2025.1531232","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,13]],"date-time":"2025-05-13T01:29:38Z","timestamp":1747099778000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Aqueous extracts of Elsholtzia ciliata and Hovenia dulcis ameliorate loperamide-induced constipation in mice by promoting intestinal peristalsis and barrier function and the abundance of intestinal beneficial bacteria"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Junnan","family":"Wu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Qilei","family":"Xin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shuo","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xu","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chunping","family":"Jiang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1232","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2019.12.034","article-title":"Mechanisms, evaluation, and management of chronic constipation","volume":"158","author":"Bharucha","year":"2020","journal-title":"Gastroenterology"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2340","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mayocp.2019.01.031","article-title":"Chronic constipation","volume":"94","author":"Bharucha","year":"2019","journal-title":"Mayo. Clin. Proc."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.5694\/mja18.00241","article-title":"Chronic idiopathic constipation in adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and clinical management","volume":"209","author":"Black","year":"2018","journal-title":"Med. J. Aust."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1149","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2014.09.002","article-title":"American gastroenterological association institute technical review on the pharmacological management of irritable bowel syndrome","volume":"147","year":"2014","journal-title":"Gastroenterology"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1518","DOI":"10.3892\/etm.2014.1943","article-title":"Cellular and molecular mechanism study of declined intestinal transit function in the cholesterol gallstone formation process of the guinea pig","volume":"8","author":"Fan","year":"2014","journal-title":"Exp. Ther. Med."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"956528","DOI":"10.3389\/fcimb.2022.956528","article-title":"Abnormal bile acid metabolism is an important feature of gut microbiota and fecal metabolites in patients with slow transit constipation","volume":"12","author":"Fan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Cell Infect. Microbiol."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"111479","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopha.2021.111479","article-title":"Rhubarb extract relieves constipation by stimulating mucus production in the colon and altering the intestinal flora","volume":"138","author":"Gao","year":"2021","journal-title":"Biomed. Pharmacother."},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1017804","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2022.1017804","article-title":"Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf aqueous extract ameliorates loperamide-induced constipation in mice by promoting gastrointestinal motility and regulating the gut microbiota","volume":"13","author":"Gao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Microbiol."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2217","DOI":"10.1007\/s00394-020-02414-x","article-title":"Inulin supplementation ameliorates hyperuricemia and modulates gut microbiota in Uox-knockout mice","volume":"60","author":"Guo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur. J. Nutr."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2566","DOI":"10.3390\/nu16152566","article-title":"Discovery of curcuminoids as pancreatic lipase inhibitors from medicine-and-food homology plants","volume":"16","author":"He","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"974","DOI":"10.3390\/nu14050974","article-title":"Faecal microbiota in infants and young children with functional gastrointestinal disorders: a systematic review","volume":"14","author":"Hofman","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1513","DOI":"10.1039\/C9FO00132H","article-title":"Protective effect of mulberry (Morus atropurpurea) fruit against diphenoxylate-induced constipation in mice through the modulation of gut microbiota","volume":"10","author":"Hu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Food Funct."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e2320482121","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.2320482121","article-title":"Inflammation-oriented montmorillonite adjuvant enhanced oral delivery of anti-TNF-\u03b1 nanobody against inflammatory bowel disease","volume":"121","author":"Huang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U S A"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"931","DOI":"10.1136\/gut.25.9.931","article-title":"Loperamide has antisecretory activity in the human jejunum in vivo","volume":"25","author":"Hughes","year":"1984","journal-title":"Gut"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"624202","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2021.624202","article-title":"Ketogenic diet therapy for the treatment of post-encephalitic and autoimmune-associated epilepsies","volume":"12","author":"Husari","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Neurol."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"s20","DOI":"10.1111\/apt.17852","article-title":"Functional constipation: pathophysiology, evaluation, and management","volume":"60","author":"Kilgore","year":"2024","journal-title":"Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"126560","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijbiomac.2023.126560","article-title":"Modulation of gut microbiota ecosystem by a glucan-rich snail mucin heteropolysaccharide attenuates loperamide-induced constipation","volume":"253","author":"Kim","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Biol. Macromol."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"896","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules24050896","article-title":"Laxative effect of spicatoside A by cholinergic regulation of enteric nerve in loperamide-induced constipation: ICR mice model","volume":"24","author":"Kim","year":"2019","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"883","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2982.2010.01524.x","article-title":"Substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide are reduced in right transverse colon in pediatric slow-transit constipation","volume":"22","author":"King","year":"2010","journal-title":"Neurogastroenterol. Motil."},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e00743","DOI":"10.1128\/mBio.00743-16","article-title":"Deciphering clostridium tyrobutyricum metabolism based on the whole-genome sequence and proteome analyses","volume":"7","author":"Lee","year":"2016","journal-title":"mBio"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6697638","DOI":"10.1155\/2020\/6697638","article-title":"Effect of Sheng-Jiang powder on gut microbiota in high-fat diet-induced NAFLD","volume":"2020","author":"Li","year":"2020","journal-title":"Evid. Based Complement Alternat. Med."},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1033069","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2022.1033069","article-title":"Cannabis sativa L. alleviates loperamide-induced constipation by modulating the composition of gut microbiota in mice","volume":"13","author":"Li","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Pharmacol."},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"114761","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodres.2024.114761","article-title":"Prunus persica. (L.) batsch blossom soluble dietary fiber synergia polyphenol improving loperamide-induced constipation in mice via regulating stem cell factor\/C-kit, NF-\u03baB signaling pathway and gut microbiota","volume":"192","author":"Liang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Food Res. Int."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3649","DOI":"10.1007\/s00253-021-11301-2","article-title":"Ages of weaning influence the gut microbiota diversity and function in Chongming white goats","volume":"105","author":"Liao","year":"2021","journal-title":"Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol."},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"992","DOI":"10.3390\/nu15040992","article-title":"Avenanthramide improves colonic damage induced by food allergies in mice through altering gut microbiota and regulating Hsp70-NF-\u03baB signaling","volume":"15","author":"Liu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1829","DOI":"10.1039\/D0FO02533J","article-title":"Uridine attenuates obesity, ameliorates hepatic lipid accumulation and modifies the gut microbiota composition in mice fed with a high-fat diet","volume":"12","author":"Liu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Food Funct."},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3126","DOI":"10.3390\/foods12163126","article-title":"A comprehensive quality analysis of different colors of medicinal and edible honeysuckle","volume":"12","author":"Liu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Foods"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2019.00019","article-title":"Gut microbiota and chronic constipation: a review and update","volume":"6","author":"Ohkusa","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front Med"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"427","DOI":"10.3746\/pnf.2023.28.4.427","article-title":"Coadministration of lactulose with probiotics ameliorates loperamide-induced constipation in mice","volume":"28","author":"Park","year":"2023","journal-title":"Prev. Nutr. Food Sci."},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2461","DOI":"10.1080\/10408398.2022.2124231","article-title":"Short-chain fatty acid: an updated review on signaling, metabolism, and therapeutic effects","volume":"64","author":"Rekha","year":"2024","journal-title":"Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr."},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1007\/s00441-019-03120-9","article-title":"c-Kit-stem cell factor signal-independent development of interstitial cells of Cajal in murine small intestine","volume":"379","author":"Satoshi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Cell Tissue Res."},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e14050","DOI":"10.1111\/nmo.14050","article-title":"Chronic constipation in adults: contemporary perspectives and clinical challenges. 1: Epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical associations, pathophysiology and investigation","volume":"33","author":"Scott","year":"2021","journal-title":"Neurogastroenterol. Motil."},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6367","DOI":"10.1007\/s12010-021-03729-z","article-title":"Target and enhance ethanol and butyrate production from anaerobic fermentation via the pH and organic loading rate combined strategy","volume":"194","author":"Shi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol."},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3383","DOI":"10.1039\/C7FO00932A","article-title":"Dietary fucoidan of Acaudina molpadioides alters gut microbiota and mitigates intestinal mucosal injury induced by cyclophosphamide","volume":"8","author":"Shi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Food Funct"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1772","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2010.01.053","article-title":"Short-chain fatty acids regulate the enteric neurons and control gastrointestinal motility in rats","volume":"138","author":"Soret","year":"2010","journal-title":"Gastroenterology"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"114","DOI":"10.1016\/j.atherosclerosis.2018.12.021","article-title":"Constipation and risk of death and cardiovascular events","volume":"281","author":"Sumida","year":"2019","journal-title":"Atherosclerosis"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/S1875-5364(19)30003-2","article-title":"An insoluble polysaccharide from the sclerotium of Poria cocos improves hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis in ob\/ob mice via modulation of gut microbiota","volume":"17","author":"Sun","year":"2019","journal-title":"Chin. J. Nat. Med."},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.3390\/ph17020153","article-title":"Xiao Cheng Qi decoction, an ancient Chinese herbal mixture, relieves loperamide-induced slow-transit constipation in mice: an action mediated by gut microbiota","volume":"17","author":"Tuohongerbieke","year":"2024","journal-title":"Pharmaceuticals"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"424","DOI":"10.1097\/MPG.0000000000000869","article-title":"Pediatric functional constipation gastrointestinal symptom profile compared with healthy controls","volume":"61","author":"Varni","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr."},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1038\/s41575-019-0222-y","article-title":"Management of functional constipation in children and adults","volume":"17","author":"Vriesman","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol."},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1830","DOI":"10.1093\/ije\/dyy198","article-title":"Lipid metabolic networks, mediterranean diet and cardiovascular disease in the PREDIMED trial","volume":"47","author":"Wang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int J Epidemiol."},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1080\/13880209.2022.2157841","article-title":"Therapeutic effects of bombax ceiba flower aqueous extracts against loperamide-induced constipation in mice","volume":"61","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Pharm. Biol."},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"lxad153","DOI":"10.1093\/jambio\/lxad153","article-title":"Houpo paiqi mixture promotes intestinal motility in constipated rats by modulating gut microbiota and activating 5-HT-cAMP-PKA signal pathway","volume":"134","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Appl. Microbiol."},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"670335","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2021.670335","article-title":"Systematic survey of the alteration of the faecal microbiota in rats with gastrointestinal disorder and modulation by multicomponent drugs","volume":"12","author":"Wu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Pharmacol."},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"721","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gpb.2019.09.007","article-title":"Antidiabetic effects of gegen qinlian decoction via the gut microbiota are attributable to its key ingredient berberine genomics proteomics","volume":"18","author":"Xu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Bioinformatics"},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12896","DOI":"10.1039\/D2FO03366F","article-title":"Dietary methionine restriction improves gut microbiota composition and prevents cognitive impairment in D-galactose-induced aging mice","volume":"13","author":"Xu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Food Funct."},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1038\/s41586-024-07781-7","article-title":"Remodelling of the translatome controls diet and its impact on tumorigenesis","volume":"633","author":"Yang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"B48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"913420","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2022.913420","article-title":"Based on network pharmacology and gut microbiota analysis to investigate the mechanism of the laxative effect of pterostilbene on loperamide-induced slow transit constipation in mice","volume":"13","author":"Yao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Pharmacol."},{"key":"B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1967","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2018.01967","article-title":"Butyrate protects mice against methionine-choline-deficient diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by improving gut barrier function, attenuating inflammation and reducing endotoxin levels","volume":"9","author":"Ye","year":"2018","journal-title":"Front. Microbiol."},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5224","DOI":"10.1039\/D3FO05416K","article-title":"Extrusion and chlorogenic acid treatment increase the ordered structure and resistant starch levels in rice starch with amelioration of gut lipid metabolism in obese rats","volume":"15","author":"Zeng","year":"2024","journal-title":"Food Funct."},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"804723","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2022.804723","article-title":"Effects of maren pills on the intestinal microflora and short-chain fatty acid profile in drug-induced slow transit constipation model rats","volume":"13","author":"Zhan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Pharmacol."},{"key":"B52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"116431","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jep.2023.116431","article-title":"Time-dependent laxative effect of sennoside A, the core functional component of rhubarb, is attributed to gut microbiota and aquaporins","volume":"311","author":"Zhang","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Ethnopharmacol."},{"key":"B53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1929","DOI":"10.1007\/s00394-024-03401-2","article-title":"Improvement of functional dyspepsia with Suaeda salsa. (L.) Pall via regulating brain-gut peptide and gut microbiota structure","volume":"63","author":"Zhang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Eur. J. Nutr."},{"key":"B54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5392","DOI":"10.3748\/wjg.v27.i32.5392","article-title":"Therapeutic effect of Cistanche deserticola on defecation in senile constipation rat model through stem cell factor\/C-kit signaling pathway","volume":"27","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"World J. Gastroenterol."},{"key":"B55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1423","DOI":"10.1142\/S0192415X22500616","article-title":"Research advances in lotus leaf as chinese dietary herbal medicine","volume":"50","author":"Zheng","year":"2022","journal-title":"Am. J. Chin. Med."},{"key":"B56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2976","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.1700105","article-title":"Microbial-Derived butyrate promotes epithelial barrier function through IL-10 receptor-dependent repression of claudin-2","volume":"199","author":"Zheng","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Immunol."},{"key":"B57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"864598","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2022.864598","article-title":"Effects of Xiao Chengqi formula on slow transit constipation by assessing gut microbiota and metabolomics analysis in vitro and in vivo","volume":"13","author":"Zhou","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Pharmacol."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Microbiology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmicb.2025.1531232\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,13]],"date-time":"2025-05-13T01:29:39Z","timestamp":1747099779000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmicb.2025.1531232\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,13]]},"references-count":57,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fmicb.2025.1531232"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmicb.2025.1531232","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-302X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-302X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,13]]},"article-number":"1531232"}}