Effects of Danggui Wuji granules on 16S rDNA, metagenome, and metabolome in BDS mice

Abstract Blood deficiency syndrome (BDS) refers to a pathological state with blood dysfunction and organ dystrophy in traditional Chinese medicine. Danggui Wuji granules (DWG) was developed from a formula containing Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Musculus et Os Galli Domestici. Herein, we investigated the mechanism of DWG in treating BDS by modulating gut microbiota. We found that DWG protected mice from BDS by elevating the levels of red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit in peripheral blood and increasing the erythrocyte membrane Na + -K + -ATPase activity. Danggui Wuji granules changed the composition and metabolites of colonic flora. Notably, Lactobacillus , Muribaculaceae , and Alistipes were the main genera showing changes after DWG treatment. Our findings revealed that DWG presented a positive therapeutic effect on BDS in mice by regulating the gut microbiota and metabolites. The protective mechanism of DWG was associated with pathways such as metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, ABC transporters, ribosome, thyroid hormone synthesis, lysine degradation, galactose metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, etc.