ArticleMedical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research2025
Xiehuang San Extract Attenuates Insulin Resistance in Obese Rats via Gut Microbiota Modulation: Experimental Evidence.
Article in Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It has been retracted, and should not be counted. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Retracted: Xiehuang San Extract Attenuates Insulin Resistance in Obese Rats via Gut Microbiota Modulation: Experimental Evidence.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
- Retracted
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity-induced insulin resistance significantly contributes to the global increase in type 2 diabetes, with gut microbiota alterations playing a critical role. Traditional herbal formulations, such as Xiehuang San (XHS), have been used for centuries in Chinese medicine. However, their mechanisms - particularly via the gut-liver-metabolism axis - remain to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of XHS in improving insulin resistance through metabolic and microbial modulation. MATERIAL AND METHODS A high-fat diet-induced obese insulin-resistant rat model (n=30) was established using male rats. Rats were randomized into 6 groups and treated with low, medium, or high doses of XHS, metformin, or vehicle control via daily gavage for 8 weeks. Metabolic parameters, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), oral glucose tolerance (OGTT), and insulin tolerance tests (ITT) were assessed. Liver histology and lipid profiles were analyzed, and 16S rRNA sequencing was used to examine gut microbiota composition. RESULTS XHS treatment significantly reduced FBG (~25%), FINS (~30%), and HOMA-IR scores compared with the model group (P<0.05), with effects comparable to metformin. OGTT and ITT improvements were dose-dependent. XHS also ameliorated hepatic steatosis and improved lipid profiles (eg, lowered triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). Gut microbiota analysis revealed that XHS decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and selectively increased Bacteroides while reducing Escherichia-Shigella, suggesting a reshaping of microbial diversity and abundance. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that XHS may enhance insulin sensitivity and improve metabolic outcomes in obese rats, partly via gut microbiota modulation. Further studies are needed to isolate its active components, clarify molecular pathways, and evaluate translational relevance in human subjects.
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