Dihydromyricetin improves DSS-induced colitis and behavioral disorders by regulating the microbiota-gut-brain axis balance and inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) commonly exhibit psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety and depression. However, studies on drugs addressing the concurrent amelioration of these symptoms in this patient population are rare. Previous studies have suggested that dihydromyricetin (DHM) may show therapeutic potential for IBD. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of DHM on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and associated behavioral disorders in mice. The findings of the experiments indicated that DHM could ameliorate colitis symptoms, including changes in body weight, colon length, disease activity index (DAI) scores, and histopathological damage. Furthermore, DHM improved the behavioral impairments observed in colitis mouse model, as evidenced by results from the open field test, elevated plus maze test, and tail suspension test, along with hippocampal histopathological assessments. Molecular analysis revealed that DHM notably suppressed the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β in both the colon and the hippocampus. DHM enhanced the intestinal barrier, elevated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the hippocampus and serum, and concurrently reduced microglia activation. DHM lowered the levels of IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the serum. 16S rDNA sequencing results indicated that DHM could modulate DSS-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, enriching various beneficial metabolic and neuromodulatory pathways. Metabolomic analysis demonstrated that DHM notably elevated acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid levels in intestinal feces. Network pharmacology analysis identified the central intersecting genes of DHM, ulcerative colitis (UC), and neuroinflammation. Differential gene expression analysis underscored IL-1 β as a pivotal target for the co-occurrence of UC and psychiatric conditions. These findings imply that DHM may ameliorate DSS-induced colitis and concomitant behavioral disturbances in mice, underscoring its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for IBD accompanied by psychiatric comorbidities.