Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41278468›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology2025

Liqi Yangyin formula ameliorates CUMS-induced depression and comorbid constipation via ACE/FFAR2 modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Lianjie Xu, Shun Seng Ong, Xiaoyue Deng, Yunzhi Qian, Hai Lu, Yang Song, Yang Wang, Tianshu Xu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Lianjie Xu *Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Drum Tower Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Shun Seng Ong *Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Drum Tower Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Xiaoyue DengDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Drum Tower Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Yunzhi QianDepartment of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
Hai LuDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Yang SongDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Yang WangDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Tianshu XuDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Drum Tower Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The gut-brain axis, involving bidirectional signaling between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. Clinical observations have shown that Liqi Yangyin (LQYY) can effectively relieve symptoms of depression accompanied by constipation. However, whether LQYY exerts its effects through gut-brain crosstalk remains to be elucidated. Methods: A chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) protocol was employed to establish a mouse model. H&E and Nissl staining were used to examine pathological changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and colon. The ultrastructure of the intestinal barrier was observed via transmission electron microscopy, while the expression of the blood-brain barrier tight junction proteins was quantified by Western blotting (WB). ELISA quantified inflammatory factors and serotonin (5-HT) levels. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and WB analyzed IBA-1 and Free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFAR2) expression levels. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed via 16S rDNA sequencing, and SCFAs levels were quantified using UHPLC-TSQ Altis Plus. Additionally, Results: Our results demonstrated that LQYY significantly ameliorated CUMS-induced behavioral changes and improved intestinal motility. These effects were associated with the restoration of gut microbiota balance and an increase in ACE levels. LQYY increased FFAR2 expression, leading to reduced neuroinflammation and enhanced colonic 5-HT secretion. Furthermore, LQYY protected intestinal and blood-brain barrier integrity and improved neuronal morphology in the PFC. Conclusions: These findings suggest that LQYY modulates the gut-brain axis through ACE/FFAR2, offering a promising therapeutic approach for depression and constipation.

Indexed as

Brain-Gut AxisConstipationDepressionDrugs, Chinese HerbalGastrointestinal MicrobiomeStress, PsychologicalAnimalsBlood-Brain BarrierBrainColonDisease Models, AnimalMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLPrefrontal CortexSerotoninDrugs, Chinese HerbalSerotonin5-HTACE/FFAR2constipationdepressionneuroinflammationthe gut-brain axis

Identifiers

PMID41278468
PMCPMC12634565

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.