Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1): 34-38.DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.01.004
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Gegen Qinlian decoction (葛根芩连汤) ameliorates experimental colitis in mice via ferroptosis pathway
HUANG Jinke1, ZHANG Jiaqi2, LIU Zhihong2, MA Jing2, WANG Fengyun2, TANG Xudong2(
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- 1 Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Guangzhou 510120, China
2 Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China
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Received:2024-04-22Accepted:2024-10-10Online:2026-02-15Published:2026-01-28 -
Contact:TANG Xudong, Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China.txdly@sina.com ;Telephone: +86-10-62835103 -
Supported by:National Natural Science Foundation Project: Study on the Mechanism of Gegen Qinlian Decoction in Reshaping Macrophage Polarization via Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Oxidase 2-Mediated Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Formation for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis with Dampness-Heat Syndrome(82505455)
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HUANG Jinke, ZHANG Jiaqi, LIU Zhihong, MA Jing, WANG Fengyun, TANG Xudong. Gegen Qinlian decoction (葛根芩连汤) ameliorates experimental colitis in mice via ferroptosis pathway[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026, 46(1): 34-38.
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Figure 1 GQD alleviated DSS-induced colitis in mice A: body weight change; B: DAI scores; C: statistical graph of colon length; D: the histopathological score; E: Histological analysis of colon tissues by HE staining (× 200, scale bars = 50 μm); E1: colon tissues of the control group; E2: colon tissues of the DSS group; E3: colon tissues of the GL group; E4: colon tissues of the GM group; E5: colon tissues of the GH group. Control: normal control (fed on standard chow); DSS: model group (DSS + standard chow); GL: low-dose GQD group (DSS + 3.64 g/kg GQD); GM: medium-dose GQD group (DSS + 7.28 g/kg GQD; GH: high-dose GQD group (DSS + 14.56 g/kg GQD). GQD: Gegen Qinlian decoction; DAI: disease activity index; DSS: dextran sulfate sodium; GL: low-dose GQD; GM: medium-dose GQD; GH: high-dose GQD; ANOVA: analysis of variance. Statistical significance was assessed using one-way ANOVA. All data were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 6). aP < 0.01, compared with the control group; bP < 0.05 and cP < 0.01, compared with the DSS group.
Figure 1 GQD alleviated DSS-induced colitis in mice A: body weight change; B: DAI scores; C: statistical graph of colon length; D: the histopathological score; E: Histological analysis of colon tissues by HE staining (× 200, scale bars = 50 μm); E1: colon tissues of the control group; E2: colon tissues of the DSS group; E3: colon tissues of the GL group; E4: colon tissues of the GM group; E5: colon tissues of the GH group. Control: normal control (fed on standard chow); DSS: model group (DSS + standard chow); GL: low-dose GQD group (DSS + 3.64 g/kg GQD); GM: medium-dose GQD group (DSS + 7.28 g/kg GQD; GH: high-dose GQD group (DSS + 14.56 g/kg GQD). GQD: Gegen Qinlian decoction; DAI: disease activity index; DSS: dextran sulfate sodium; GL: low-dose GQD; GM: medium-dose GQD; GH: high-dose GQD; ANOVA: analysis of variance. Statistical significance was assessed using one-way ANOVA. All data were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 6). aP < 0.01, compared with the control group; bP < 0.05 and cP < 0.01, compared with the DSS group.
Figure 2 Effect of GQD on the production levels of infammatory cytokines in the colonic tissues of mice with colitis A: TNF-α; B: IL-1β; C: IL-6. Control: normal control (fed on standard chow); DSS: model group (DSS + standard chow); GL: low-dose GQD group (DSS + 3.64 g/kg GQD); GM: medium-dose GQD group (DSS + 7.28 g/kg GQD; GH: high-dose GQD group (DSS + 14.56 g/kg GQD). TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; IL-1β; interleukin-1β; IL-6: interleukin-6. GQD: Gegen Qinlian decoction; DSS: dextran sulfate sodium; GL: low-dose GQD; GM: medium-dose GQD; GH: high-dose GQD; ANOVA: analysis of variance. Statistical significance was assessed using one-way ANOVA. All data were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 6). aP < 0.01, compared with the control group; bP < 0.05 and cP < 0.01, compared with the DSS group.
Figure 2 Effect of GQD on the production levels of infammatory cytokines in the colonic tissues of mice with colitis A: TNF-α; B: IL-1β; C: IL-6. Control: normal control (fed on standard chow); DSS: model group (DSS + standard chow); GL: low-dose GQD group (DSS + 3.64 g/kg GQD); GM: medium-dose GQD group (DSS + 7.28 g/kg GQD; GH: high-dose GQD group (DSS + 14.56 g/kg GQD). TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; IL-1β; interleukin-1β; IL-6: interleukin-6. GQD: Gegen Qinlian decoction; DSS: dextran sulfate sodium; GL: low-dose GQD; GM: medium-dose GQD; GH: high-dose GQD; ANOVA: analysis of variance. Statistical significance was assessed using one-way ANOVA. All data were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 6). aP < 0.01, compared with the control group; bP < 0.05 and cP < 0.01, compared with the DSS group.
Figure 3 Effect of GQD on the production levels of ZO-1, occludin and claudin-1 in mice with colitis A: levels of ZO-1; B: levels of Occludin; C: levels of Claudin-1. A1, B1, C1: colon tissues of the control group; A2, B2, C2: colon tissues of the DSS group; A3, B3, C3: colon tissues of the GL group; A4, B4, C4: colon tissues of the GM group; A5, B5, C5: colon tissues of the GH group; A6: quantitative analysis of ZO-1; B6: quantitative analysis of occludin; C6: quantitative analysis of claudin-1. Control: normal control (fed on standard chow); DSS: model group (DSS + standard chow); GL: low-dose GQD group (DSS + 3.64 g/kg GQD); GM: medium-dose GQD group (DSS + 7.28 g/kg GQD; GH: high-dose GQD group (DSS + 14.56 g/kg GQD). GQD: Gegen Qinlian decoction; DSS: dextran sulfate sodium; GL: low-dose GQD; GM: medium-dose GQD; GH: high-dose GQD; ANOVA: analysis of variance; ZO-1: zonula occludens-1. Statistical significance was assessed using one-way ANOVA. All data were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 3). aP < 0.01, compared with the control group; bP < 0.05 and cP < 0.01, compared with the DSS group.
Figure 3 Effect of GQD on the production levels of ZO-1, occludin and claudin-1 in mice with colitis A: levels of ZO-1; B: levels of Occludin; C: levels of Claudin-1. A1, B1, C1: colon tissues of the control group; A2, B2, C2: colon tissues of the DSS group; A3, B3, C3: colon tissues of the GL group; A4, B4, C4: colon tissues of the GM group; A5, B5, C5: colon tissues of the GH group; A6: quantitative analysis of ZO-1; B6: quantitative analysis of occludin; C6: quantitative analysis of claudin-1. Control: normal control (fed on standard chow); DSS: model group (DSS + standard chow); GL: low-dose GQD group (DSS + 3.64 g/kg GQD); GM: medium-dose GQD group (DSS + 7.28 g/kg GQD; GH: high-dose GQD group (DSS + 14.56 g/kg GQD). GQD: Gegen Qinlian decoction; DSS: dextran sulfate sodium; GL: low-dose GQD; GM: medium-dose GQD; GH: high-dose GQD; ANOVA: analysis of variance; ZO-1: zonula occludens-1. Statistical significance was assessed using one-way ANOVA. All data were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 3). aP < 0.01, compared with the control group; bP < 0.05 and cP < 0.01, compared with the DSS group.
Figure 4 Effect of GQD on ferroptosis pathway in mice with colitis A: expression of SLC7A11 and ACSL4 was examined by Western blotting; B: relative protein expression levels of SLC7A11; C: relative protein expression levels of ACSL4. Control: normal control (fed on standard chow); DSS: model group (DSS + standard chow); GL: low-dose GQD group (DSS + 3.64 g/kg GQD); GM: medium-dose GQD group (DSS + 7.28 g/kg GQD; GH: high-dose GQD group (DSS + 14.56 g/kg GQD). GQD: Gegen Qinlian decoction; DSS: dextran sulfate sodium; GL: low-dose GQD; GM: medium-dose GQD; GH: high-dose GQD; ANOVA: analysis of variance; SLC7A11: solute carrier family 7 member 11; ACSL4: acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4. Statistical significance was assessed using one-way ANOVA. All data were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 3). aP < 0.01, compared with the control group; bP < 0.01, compared with the DSS group.
Figure 4 Effect of GQD on ferroptosis pathway in mice with colitis A: expression of SLC7A11 and ACSL4 was examined by Western blotting; B: relative protein expression levels of SLC7A11; C: relative protein expression levels of ACSL4. Control: normal control (fed on standard chow); DSS: model group (DSS + standard chow); GL: low-dose GQD group (DSS + 3.64 g/kg GQD); GM: medium-dose GQD group (DSS + 7.28 g/kg GQD; GH: high-dose GQD group (DSS + 14.56 g/kg GQD). GQD: Gegen Qinlian decoction; DSS: dextran sulfate sodium; GL: low-dose GQD; GM: medium-dose GQD; GH: high-dose GQD; ANOVA: analysis of variance; SLC7A11: solute carrier family 7 member 11; ACSL4: acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4. Statistical significance was assessed using one-way ANOVA. All data were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 3). aP < 0.01, compared with the control group; bP < 0.01, compared with the DSS group.
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