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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 4: 883 - 893

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.04.009

Original Articles

Jianchang No. 1 (健肠1号) formula alleviates irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea via improving gut microbiota and regulating toll-like receptors/nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway in bowel syndrome with diarrhea rats

  • LIU Yutong ,
  • YANG Yan ,
  • XU Huiying ,
  • LI Lei ,
  • GE Fei ,
  • CHEN Meijuan
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  • 1 School of Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
    2 Department of Pharmacy, Haian Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nantong 226600, China
    3 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Affiliated Central Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Haian Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nantong 226600, China

Received date: 2025-06-06

  Accepted date: 2025-10-13

  Online published: 2026-08-08

Supported by

The Medical Research Project of Jiangsu Provincial Health Commission: Study on the Material Basis and Molecular Targets of Modified Tongxie Yaofang in Treating Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on the Protein Kinase A/5-Hydroxytryptamine Signaling Pathway(M2022024);Scientific Research Project of Jiangsu Chinese Medicine Society: Efficacy Evaluation and Mechanism Study of Jianchang No. 1 Prescription in Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea of Liver Depression and Spleen Deficiency Type by Intervening in the Protein Kinase A/5-Hydroxytryptamine Signaling Pathway(2024041);Wuxi Municipal Health Commission Scientific and Technological Achievements and Appropriate Technology Promotion Project: Clinical Application and Promotion of Jianchang No. 1 Prescription in the Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome(T202422);Nantong Municipal Health Commission Scientific Research Project: Efficacy Evaluation and Mechanism Study of Jianpi Xingjiu Formula in Treating Mild to Moderate Alcohol Intoxication(MSZ2024087);Key Project of Nantong Traditional Chinese Medicine Alliance: Efficacy Evaluation and Mechanism Study of Lianyin Zhihan Formula in Treating Menopausal Hyperhidrosis in Women(TZYK202315)

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Jianchang No. 1 (健肠1号) in treating irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) and to explore its underlying mechanisms of action.

METHODS: IBS-D rat models were established through a combination of chronic restraint stress, water avoidance stress, and the administration of senna decoction. Body weight, fecal water content (FWC), and intestinal capacity threshold in IBS-D rats were monitored before and after treatment. Pathological alterations in colon tissue were examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Serum levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), along with LPS content in colon tissue were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. 16S rRNA sequencing technology was employed to assess the abundance and compositional shifts within the gut microbiota. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunofluorescence were employed to determine gene and protein expression in colonic samples.

RESULTS: Jianchang No. 1 treatment restored body weight, lowered FWC, and raised the intestinal capacity threshold in IBS-D rats. Meanwhile, Jianchang No. 1 enhanced both the richness and composition of the gut microbiota. Moreover, Jianchang No. 1 markedly upregulated the tight-junction proteins zonula occludens-1 and occludin together with the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10, while simultaneously downregulating the LPS-toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/4- myeloid differentiation factor 88- nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) axis and the downstream pro-inflammatory mediators interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, together with interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma.

CONCLUSIONS: Jianchang No. 1 maintains intestinal barrier integrity by reshaping gut-microbial diversity and composition, dampening the TLR/NF-κB signaling cascade, and thereby alleviating low-grade colonic inflammation and its attendant clinical symptoms in IBS-D rats.

Key words： irritable bowel syndrome; diarrhea; gastrointestinal microbiome; toll-like receptors; NF-kappa B; signal transduction; inflammation; Jianchang No. 1

Cite this article

LIU Yutong , YANG Yan , XU Huiying , LI Lei , GE Fei , CHEN Meijuan . Jianchang No. 1 (健肠1号) formula alleviates irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea via improving gut microbiota and regulating toll-like receptors/nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway in bowel syndrome with diarrhea rats[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026 , 46(4) : 883 -893 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.04.009

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