Objective: To investigate the impact of Dahuang Lingxian Formula (Rheum Officinale and Radix Clematidis Formula, DHLX) on the intestinal microbiota's structure and function in guinea pigs suffering from gallbladder stones.Methods: Fifty guinea pigs were randomly assigned to a blank group, a model group, and a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) group. The model group consumed a high - fat diet to induce gallbladder stones, while the TCM group received DHLX for 8 weeks alongside the same high - fat diet. Colon fecal samples were collected at the 8th week and subjected to 16S rDNA sequencing for analyzing intestinal flora composition, diversity, and functional predictions.Results: ①The OTU count was 4623 in the normal group, 3970 in the model group, and 4335 in the TCM group; 474 OTUs were common to all three groups. ② Major dominant phyla encompassed Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Spirochaetes. In the model group, Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia increased, while Firmicutes and Spirochaetes decreased. Conversely, in the TCM group, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Verrucomicrobia decreased, while Proteobacteria and Spirochaetes increased. ③ The intestinal flora diversity index (Ace, Chao1, Shannon, Simpson) showed no significant difference between groups. ④ The intestinal flora distribution of the model group significantly diverged from the normal group, with partial overlap observed between the TCM and model groups.⑤In the blank group, Ruminococcus, Rikenellaceae, and other genera were highly expressed; Paludibacteraceae and Verrucomicrobia were prominent in the model group; Alphaproteobacteria and Desulfovibrio were highly expressed in the TCM group. ⑥The intestinal microbiota of the blank group exhibited anaerobic and biofilm synthesis traits. In the model group, Gram - negative bacteria increased, while mobile genetic elements and biofilm synthesis decreased. However, in the TCM group, the characteristics of Gram - negative bacteria and biofilm synthesis were restored.Conclusion: The intestinal microbiota structure undergoes significant changes during gallbladder stone formation, and DHLX effectively regulates the flora, restoring it to a normal steady state.

Dahuang Lingxian Formula  /  Gallstones  /  Intestinal microbiota  /  16SrDNA