ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Microorganisms in Vertebrate Digestive Systems
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1672600
This article is part of the Research TopicThe Role of Gut Microbes and Their Metabolites in Metabolic Diseases: Mechanisms and Therapeutic TargetsView all 10 articles
Polysaccharide from Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim ameliorates diphenoxylate-induced functional constipation in mice
Provisionally accepted
- 1Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- 2Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- 3Shandong Analysis and Test Center, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, China
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Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim has been well-documented for its pharmacological effects in alleviating constipation. Notably, polysaccharides, a class of natural macromolecules, demonstrate significant therapeutic potential for constipation management. Nevertheless, the preventive effect of Trichosanthes kirilowii polysaccharide (TKP) against functional constipation and its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, a mouse model of diphenoxylate-induced functional constipation was established. Treatment with the TKP alleviated the constipation-associated pathological symptoms in mice through enhancing the gastrointestinal (GI) transit ratio and improving defecation function. Moreover, TKP supplementation modulated the secretion levels of neurotransmitters in the serum of mice, elevating excitatory neurotransmitters (SP, MTL and ACH), while suppressing inhibitory neurotransmitters (NO, VIP and ET-1). Additionally, TKP reduced the level of MDA, and enhanced the activities of SOD and GSH-Px, effectively attenuating oxidative stress. Under TKP administration, colonic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α) were significantly suppressed, while upregulating the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and occludin). Crucially, TKP increased the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and modulated the gut microbiota by restoring its abundance and diversity in constipated mice. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that TKP could ameliorate diphenoxylate-induced functional constipation in mice, providing a pharmacological foundation for its development as a novel therapeutic agent against constipation.
Keywords: Functional constipation, polysaccharide, Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim, Gut Microbiota, neurotransmitters
Received: 24 Jul 2025; Accepted: 19 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Jiang, Wang, Chen, Wu, Liu, Li and Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Tao Li, Shandong Analysis and Test Center, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, China
Xiao Wang, Shandong Analysis and Test Center, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, China
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