Effects of Cortex meliae on the Intestinal Flora in Rats

Objective: Studies have revealed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) regulates gut microbiota, which have a important stone in human health and disease development. Cortex meliae is a medicinal herb that has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-tumor effects, but its influence on intestinal flora has not been reported yet. Here, the effects of different doses of Cortex meliae on the distribution of microflora in different intestinal segments were studied in order to provide information for disease prevention and control based on intestinal flora. Methods: Samples of the duodenum, ileum, colon and jejunum (including gut contents) were taken from rats administered different doses of Cortex meliae decoction by gavage at time points of 7, 14 and 21 days. Bacterial numbers in each intestinal segment were observed using qRT-PCR. Results: (1) For Enterococcus, of which the growth was promoted in the ileum (lle) and was inhibited in the duodenum (Duo) and colon (Col) by Cortex meliae, while the growth of Enterococcus was first inhibited and then promoted in the jejunum (Jej). (2) The growth of Colibacillus was inhibited by Cortex meliae in the Duo, Jej, Ile and Col. (3) Cortex meliae had an inhibitory effect on the growth of Bacteroides in the Due, and has a stimulating effect on the growth of Bacteroides in the Jej, Ile and Col. However, with the prolongation of the administration time, the above promoting or inhibiting effects were sometimes lost or the opposite effect appeared for some intestinal segments or bacteria, and there was a certain dose effect. Conclusion: The effects of Cortex meliae on three dominant intestinal bacteria (Enterococcus, Colibacillus, and Bacteroides) were different in different intestinal segments and had obvious quantitative and temporal regularity.