Insights into the mechanism of treatment of ulcerative colitis with pre- and post-processed dried ginger through perspective of metabolomics and intestinal microbiomics research.

Abstract

Numerous experiments and clinical practices have demonstrated the distinct therapeutic effect of dried ginger (DG) and processed ginger (PG) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC), while, the differences in efficacy and mechanisms are not yet fully understood. By integrating metabolomics and gut microbiome analyses, combined with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technology for serum metabolism detection, 16S rRNA gene microbiota sequencing and Spearman correlation analysis, the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of action of the two were explored. Pharmacodynamic results demonstrated that both DG and PG have significant therapeutic effects on UC mice, and PG has a better effect in shortening the coagulation time and promoting hemostasis. Metabolomics analysis revealed that DG has 94 differential metabolites, mainly affecting the metabolism of arachidonic acid, whereas PG has 88 differential metabolites, focusing on pathways such as steroid biosynthesis. Intestinal microbiomics analysis indicates that DG and PG can regulate the richness and diversity of the microbiota. DG significantly regulated 3 bacterial families and 8 bacterial genera, while PG regulated 4 families and 11 genera. Spearman correlation analysis further confirmed that PG reshapes the "gut microbiota-host metabolism" interaction network. This study combined multi-omics techniques to analyze the microbiota-metabolism regulatory characteristics of DG and PG in the treatment of UC, and clarified how the component changes caused by ginger processing led to the differentiation of the two in terms of therapeutic focus and the microbiota-metabolism regulatory network. These findings provide scientific evidence supporting the precise application of ginger-derived medicinal materials in the treatment of UC.