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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 3: 544 - 551

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.03.002

Original Articles

Therapeutic efficacy of Jichuan decoction (济川煎) in slow-transit constipation: focus on gut microbiota modulation

  • WANG Xiumin ,
  • Lü Lixia ,
  • LI Jianghua ,
  • CHEN Jilan ,
  • TAN Cailin ,
  • DING Weijun
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  • 1 Department of General Surgery, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu 610021, China
    2 Department of Anorectal Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Integrative Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610042, China
    3 Department of Fundamental Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, China
    4 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Chengdu First People’s Hospital, Chengdu 610041, China
    5 Antibiotics Research and Re-evaluation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
    6 Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Deyang Hospital, Deyang 618000, China
Pro. DING Weijun, Department of Fundamental Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China. Dingweijun@cdutcm.edu.cn, Telephone: +86-28-61800219

Received date: 2025-08-10

  Accepted date: 2026-04-05

  Online published: 2026-06-08

Supported by

National Natural Science Foundation of China: Exploring the Mechanism of Qi-tonifying and Phlegm-eliminating Acupuncture Promoting Intestinal Nerve Precursor Cell Regeneration in Obese Mice Based on the Single-cell RNA-sep Platform(82374176);Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province: Discovery of "Active Center" Oligosaccharide Fragments in Polysaccharides of Pinellia Ternata and Its Processed Products and Research on Quality Evaluation Techniques and Methods(2022NSFSC0591);Youth Nursery Project of Sichuan Provincial Health Commission: Mechanism Research on miR-491-5p Targeting Akt to Inhibit Intestinal Nerve Apoptosis in the Pathogenesis of Slow Transit Constipation(24QNMP030);General Project of Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Exploring the Mechanism of Jichuan Decoction in Regulating Intestinal nerve Apoptosis in Slow Transit Constipation Rats Based on the Tumor Necrosis Factor Signaling Pathway(2024MS589);Project of Sichuan Medical Association: Exploring the Mechanism of Jichuan Decoction in Regulating Intestinal Nerve Apoptosis in Slow Transit Constipation Rats Based on the Glial Cell line-derived Neurotrophic Factor/Phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Protein Kinase B Signaling Pathway(S23034)

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the therapeutic mechanisms of Jichuan decoction (济川煎, JCD) in slow-transit constipation (STC), we focused on its neuromuscular and microbiota-modifying effects.

METHODS: An STC mouse model was induced by administering diphenoxylate for 14 consecutive days. The experimental groups included healthy controls (HC), a saline-treated STC model group, a mosapride-treated positive control group (MSP), and JCD-treated groups at different dosages. Gastrointestinal motility was evaluated first by black stool latency and then by colonic 5-hydroxytryptamine and substance P levels. Neural markers were assessed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and central nervous system specific protein β (S100β) levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Histopathological analysis was performed via hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff staining. Microbial profiling was conducted via 16S rRNA sequencing.

RESULTS: JCD treatment improved intestinal motility in STC mice, increased colonic neurotransmitter levels, increased mucosal thickness and goblet cell density, upregulated protein gene product 9.5 and GDNF, downregulated neuronal nitric oxide synthase and S100β, and reversed dysbiosis through the enrichment of Akkermansia muciniphila.

CONCLUSION: JCD alleviates STC by restoring enteric nervous system function and gut microbiota homeostasis, indicating its potential for STC management.

Key words： slow-transit constipation; enteric nervous system; intestinal microbiota; Akkermansia muciniphila; Jichuan decoction

Cite this article

WANG Xiumin , Lü Lixia , LI Jianghua , CHEN Jilan , TAN Cailin , DING Weijun . Therapeutic efficacy of Jichuan decoction (济川煎) in slow-transit constipation: focus on gut microbiota modulation[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026 , 46(3) : 544 -551 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.03.002

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