1.Dipsacus asper Treats Alzheimer's Disease in Caenorhabditis elegans by Regulating PPARα/TFEB Pathway
Mengmeng WANG ; Jianping ZHAO ; Limin WU ; Shuang CHU ; Yanli HUANG ; Zhenghao CUI ; Yiran SUN ; Pan WANG ; Hui WANG ; Zhenqiang ZHANG ; Zhishen XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):104-114
ObjectiveTo investigate the anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) effect of Dipsacus asper(DA) in the Caenorhabditis elegans model, and decipher the underlying mechanism via the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα)/transcription factor EB (TFEB) pathway. MethodsFirst, transgenic AD C. elegans individuals were assigned into the blank control, model, positive control (WY14643, 20 µmol·L-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (100, 200, and 400 mg·L-1, respectively) DA groups. The amyloid β-42 (Aβ42) formation in the muscle cells, the paralysis time, and the deposition of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) in the head were detected. The lysosomal autophagy in the BV2 cell model was examined by Rluc-LC3wt/G120A. The expression levels of lysosomal autophagy-related proteins LC3Ⅱ, LC3I, LAMP2, and TFEB were detected by Western blot. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was employed to determine the mRNA levels of autophagy-related genes beclin1 and Atg5 and lysosome-related genes LAMP2 and CLN2 downstream of PPARα/TFEB. A reporter gene assay was used to detect the transcriptional activities of PPARα and TFEB. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the fluorescence intensity of PPARα, and the active components of the ethanol extract of DA were identified by UPLC-MS. RCSB PDB, Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), and Autodock were used to analyze the binding between the active components and PPARα-ligand-binding domain (LBD). ResultsCompared with the model group, the positive control group and 200 and 400 mg·L-1 DA groups showed prolonged paralysis time (P<0.05), and all the treatment groups showed decreased Aβ deposition in the head (P<0.01). DA within the concentration range of 50-500 mg·L-1 did not affect the viability of BV2 cells. In addition, DA enhanced the autophagy flux (P<0.05), up-regulated the mRNA levels of beclin1, Atg5, LAMP2, and CLN2 (P<0.05, P<0.01), promoted the nuclear translocation of TFEB (P<0.05), increased LAMP2 expression and autophagy flux (P<0.05, P<0.01), and enhanced the transcriptional activities of PPARα and TFEB (P<0.01). The positive control group and 200 and 400 mg·L-1 DA groups showed enhanced fluorescence intensity of PPARα in the BV2 nucleus (P<0.01). UPLC-MS detected nine known compounds of DA, from which 8 active components of DA were screened out. The docking results suggested that a variety of components in DA could bind to PPARα-LBD and form stable hydrogen bonds. ConclusionDA may reduce the pathological changes in AD by regulating the PPARα-TFEB pathway.
2.Bioinformatics Reveals Mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu Precription in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis by Regulating Autophagy
Xin KANG ; Chaodi SUN ; Jianping LIU ; Jie REN ; Mingmin DU ; Yuan ZHAO ; Xiaomeng LANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):166-173
ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription in regulating autophagy in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) by bioinformatics and animal experiments. MethodsThe differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the colonic mucosal tissue of UC patients was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and those overlapped with autophagy genes were obtained as the differentially expressed autophagy-related genes (DEARGs). DEARGs were imported into Metascape and STRING, respectively, for gene ontology/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomics (GO/KEGG) enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. Finally, 15 key DEARGs were obtained. The core DEARGs were obtained by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. The CIBERSORT deconvolution algorithm was used to analyze the immunoinfiltration of UC patients and the correlations between core DEARGs and immune cells. C57BL/6J mice were assigned into a normal group and a modeling group. The mouse model of UC was established by free drinking of 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium. The modeled mice were assigned into low-, medium-, and high-dose Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription and mesalazine groups according to the random number table method and administrated with corresponding agents by gavage for 7 days. The colonic mucosal morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The protein and mRNA levels of cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase 1 (Caspase-1), cathepsin B (CTSB), C-C motif chemokine-2 (CCL2), CXC motif receptor 4 (CXCR4), and hypoxia-inducing factor-1α (HIF-1α) in the colon tissue were determined by Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. ResultsThe dataset GSE87466 was screened from GEO and interlaced with autophagy genes. After PPI analysis, LASSO regression, and ROC analysis, the core DEARGs (Caspase-1, CCL2, CTSB, and CXCR4) were obtained. The results of immunoinfiltration analysis showed that the counts of NK cells, M0 macrophages, M1 macrophages, and dendritic cells in the colonic mucosal tissue of UC patients had significant differences, and core DEARGs had significant correlations with these immune cells. This result, combined with the prediction results of network pharmacology, suggested that the HIF-1α signaling pathway may play a key role in the regulation of UC by Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription. The animal experiments showed that Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription significantly alleviated colonic mucosal inflammation in UC mice. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed up-regulated protein and mRNA levels of caspase-1, CCL2, CTSB, CXCR4, and HIF-1α, which were down-regulated after treatment with Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription or mesalazine. ConclusionCaspase-1, CCL2, CTSB, and CXCR4 are autophagy genes that are closely related to the onset of UC. Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription can down-regulate the expression of core autophagy genes to alleviate the inflammation in the colonic mucosa of mice.
3.Clinical Application of Green Prescription of Traditional Chinese Medicine:Problems and Solution Strategies
Yike SONG ; Zhijun BU ; Wenxin MA ; Kai LIU ; Yuyi WANG ; Yuan SUN ; Yang SHEN ; Hongkui LIU ; Jianping LIU ; Zhaolan LIU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(11):1094-1098
Green prescription is a written prescription aimed at improving health by promoting physical activity and improving diet, with advantages such as high cost-effectiveness, strong feasibility, and minimal harm to patients. The theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) green prescription integrates the health philosophy of "following rule of yin and yang, and adjusting ways to cultivating health", the exercise philosophy of balancing yin-yang and the five elements, and the dietary philosophy of moderation and balance, which embody core TCM concepts such as treating disease before its onset and harmony between humans and nature. It has also developed traditional exercise practices like Tai Chi, Baduanjin, Wuqinxi, Yi-Gin-Ching, and Qigong, as well as dietary adjustments like medicated diet and herbal wines. However, it is believed that the TCM green prescription currently suffers from insufficient evidence-based research, low patient awareness and acceptance, and weak basic research. Based on this, it is proposed that large-sample clinical trials should be conducted in the future to improve the quality of evidence-based medicine, basic research can be carried out with the help of artificial intelligence and other methods in research design, the hospital information system (HIS) can be used for control at the implementation level, and publicity and patient education can be strengthened through the new media, so as to promote the development and application of the TCM green prescriptions in the field of global health treatment.
4.Food-derived bioactive peptides: health benefits, structure‒activity relationships, and translational prospects.
Hongda CHEN ; Jiabei SUN ; Haolie FANG ; Yuanyuan LIN ; Han WU ; Dongqiang LIN ; Zhijian YANG ; Quan ZHOU ; Bingxiang ZHAO ; Tianhua ZHOU ; Jianping WU ; Shanshan LI ; Xiangrui LIU
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2025;26(11):1037-1058
Food-derived bioactive peptides (FBPs), particularly those with ten or fewer amino acid residues and a molecular weight below 1300 Da, have gained increasing attention for their safe, diverse structures and specific biological activities. The development of FBP-based functional foods and potential medications depends on understanding their structure‒activity relationships (SARs), stability, and bioavailability properties. In this review, we provide an in-depth overview of the roles of FBPs in treating various diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, liver diseases, and inflammatory bowel diseases, based on the literature from July 2017 to Mar. 2023. Subsequently, attention is directed toward elucidating the associations between the bioactivities and structural characteristics (e.g., molecular weight and the presence of specific amino acids within sequences and compositions) of FBPs. We also discuss in silico approaches for FBP screening and their limitations. Finally, we summarize recent advancements in formulation techniques to improve the bioavailability of FBPs in the food industry, thereby contributing to healthcare applications.
Humans
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Peptides/therapeutic use*
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Structure-Activity Relationship
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Functional Food
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Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy*
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Biological Availability
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Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy*
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Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/drug therapy*
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Hypertension/drug therapy*
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Liver Diseases/drug therapy*
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Bioactive Peptides, Dietary
5.Structurally diverse sesquiterpenoids with anti-MDR cancer activity from Penicillium roqueforti.
Shuyuan MO ; Nanjin DING ; Zhihong HUANG ; Jun YAO ; Weiguang SUN ; Jianping WANG ; Yonghui ZHANG ; Zhengxi HU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(4):504-512
Five novel nor-eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids, peniroqueforins E-H and J (1-4 and 7), two new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids, peniroqueforins I and K (5 and 8), and a new eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid, peniroqueforin L (9), along with four known compounds (6 and 10-12), were isolated and characterized from fungus Penicillium roqueforti (P. roqueforti). The structures and absolute configurations of these compounds were determined through comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data analyses, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The anti-multi-drug resistance (MDR) cancer activity of these compounds was evaluated using SW620/Ad300 cells. Notably, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of paclitaxel (PTX) combined with 1 in SW620/Ad300 cells was 50.36 nmol·L-1, which was 65-fold more potent than PTX alone (IC50 3.26 μmol·L-1). Subsequent molecular docking studies revealed an affinity between compound 1 and P-glycoprotein (P-gp), suggesting that this nor-eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoid (1) could serve as a potential lead for MDR reversal in cancer cells through P-gp inhibition.
Penicillium/chemistry*
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Humans
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Sesquiterpenes/isolation & purification*
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Molecular Structure
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Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects*
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Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*
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Drug Resistance, Multiple/drug effects*
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Molecular Docking Simulation
6.Quality control protocol for adult overweight and obesity screening in health management (examination) institutions (2025 edition)
Jianling FAN ; Tiejun WANG ; Pengfei YANG ; Keke DING ; Xiaoning HAO ; Sunfang JIANG ; Ankang LÜ ; Jianping LU ; Sheng RONG ; Weibin SHI ; Shengwei SUN ; Yan TAN ; Qilei TU ; Zhiping WANG ; Bing WANG ; Jianyun WANG ; Weijian WANG ; Yan WANG ; Qun XU ; Chenli ZHANG ; Fan ZHANG ; Ping ZHANG ; Yansong ZHENG ; Jieru ZHOU ; Dan CHEN ; Jiaoyang ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(6):1097-1111
Obesity, as a chronic recurrent disease, has become a major public health challenge in China. To implement the requirements of the Healthy China Initiative (2019—2030), under domestic guidelines or consensus statements on overweight and obesity, and in alignment with the latest scientific advances globally, the Quality control protocol for adult overweight and obesity screening in health management (examination) institutions (2025 edition) was developed. This protocol was drafted by the Health Management Center of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital and formulated through multiple rounds of deliberation by experts in China’s health examination quality control field. The protocol establishes unified standards for screening facilities, personnel qualifications, and measurement or testing procedures. It defines specific screening items, outlines a standardized screening pathway, and sets requirements for the final medical review, ensuring the scientific validity, effectiveness, and safety of the screening process. The implementation of this protocol will enhance the consistency of weight management practices for adults across health examination institutions and strengthen the quality control of overweight and obesity screening programs.
7.Survey and recommendations for gastrointestinal endoscope cleaning and disinfection quality in 74 medical institutions in Yangzhou of Jiangsu Province
Xiaofang YE ; Jianping SUN ; Ying QIN ; Qi LIU ; Shuping DONG ; Ting MENG
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(7):122-126
Objective To investigate the current situation of personnel training,material alloca-tion,process implementation and quality monitoring of gastrointestinal endoscopy cleaning and disin-fection in medical institutions at all levels in Yangzhou City,so as to provide reliable data for further improving the quality management of digestive endoscopy cleaning and disinfection in the city.Meth-ods According to the latest industry standards,a questionnaire was designed to carry out an online questionnaire survey on the status quo of digestive endoscopy cleaning and disinfection in 74 medical institutions of different levels in Yangzhou City,and the results were analyzed.Results 50%of the city's hospitals adopt the way of self-training within the department,and only 22 people have obtained the provincial or above professional cleaning and disinfection certificate.In 21.62%of hospitals,cleaning and disinfection personnel were not assessed before starting work.13.51%of the hospitals did not use purified water for terminal rinsing,and 44.59%of the hospitals did not have a cleaning and disinfection machine.79.73%of hospitals recorded by hand.71.62%of the hospitals failed to carry out standard cleaning quality monitoring,83.78%of the hospitals did not implement biofiltra-tion monitoring method.In addition,in the biological monitoring in 2023,14.86%of hospitals had the problem of excessive microorganisms.Conclusion The implementation of endoscope cleaning and disinfection standards varied significantly among medical institutions in Yangzhou,with level one and level two hospitals posing potential hospital infection risks.It is recommended to establish a pro-fessional entry system for endoscope cleaning and disinfection personnel citywide,increase investment in hardware facilities,and strictly enforce monitoring standards.
8.Effect of ultrasound-guided scalp nerve block combined with dexmedetomidine on cerebral blood flow after craniotomy in patients with acute traumatic brain injury
Ying ZHAO ; Shuquan FENG ; Dailing ZHANG ; Ling YU ; Peng PAN ; Hebin SUN ; Jianping FEI ; Shigang QIAO
Chinese Journal of Emergency Medicine 2025;34(9):1206-1211
Objective:To investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided scalp nerve block (SNB) combined with dexmedetomidine on cerebral blood flow after craniotomy in patients with acute traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods:A randomized controlled design was conducted. Patients aged 25-65 years, with ASA physical status I–III and Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 9-12, who underwent craniotomy for acute TBI at Kunshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital between January 2024 and February 2025 were selected. Patients with unstable vital signs, cranial tumors, cardiovascular diseases, local anesthetic allergies, or infections at the puncture site were excluded. Using a random number table, patients were divided into two groups: the ultrasound-guided SNB combined with dexmedetomidine group (SD group) and the dexmedetomidine-alone group (D group). General clinical data, peak systolic velocity (PSV), mean blood flow velocity (MBFV), intracranial pressure (ICP), S100 calcium-binding protein beta (S-100β protein), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels, and postoperative complications were compared. Dynamic changes in PSV and MBFV were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance, while inter-group comparisons used independent sample t-tests. Results:A total of 79 patients were included, with 40 in the SD group and 39 in the D group. There were no significant differences in general clinical data between the two groups (all P>0.05). In the D group, PSV and MBFV at T 1 and T 2 were significantly higher than at T0 [(125.04±20.43) cm/s vs. (126.83±21.76) cm/s vs. (110.63±18.49) cm/s, P=0.001; (61.75±8.34) cm/s vs. (62.81±8.54) cm/s vs. (57.82±6.93) cm/s, P=0.017], whereas no significant differences were observed in the SD group (all P>0.05). PSV, MBFV, ICP, S-100β protein, and NSE levels at T1 and T2 in the SD group were lower than those in the D group (all P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative hypertension, agitation, and the use rate of vasoactive drugs were also lower in the SD group compared to the D group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The application of ultrasound-guided SNB combined with dexmedetomidine in TBI patients after craniotomy can help stabilize cerebral blood flow and ICP, mitigate neuronal injury, and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.
9.Mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu Recipe in Preventing Colorectal Adenoma in Mice Through miRNA-34a-5p/PI3K/Akt Signalling Pathway
Sujie JIA ; Chaodi SUN ; Yifan ZHANG ; Xiaomeng LANG ; Jianping LIU ; Xin KANG ; Shijie REN ; Jingyuan LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(11):156-165
ObjectiveKey microRNAs (miRNAs) of colorectal adenoma (CRA) were identified and analyzed by bioinformatics methods, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened to construct regulatory relationships. The mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu recipe in preventing CRA was speculated and verified by animal experiments. MethodThe miRNAs dataset GSE50194 was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database of intestinal mucosal tissue of CRA patients, and the differentially expressed miRNAs were screened by GEO2R and Excel. TargetScan, miRTarbase, and miRDB databases were used to predict the target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs, and an intersection was obtained. Key DEGs were screened through the STRING database and Cytoscape software, and the TRRUST database was used to predict downstream binding transcription factors (TFs). The mRNA intersection was enriched by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) in the Metascape database. DIANA TOOLS were applied to perform KEGG enrichment analysis of key miRNAs, and the key signaling pathways were selected for animal experiments. In animal experiments, the CRA mice model was established by using sodium glycan sulfate (DSS) drinking combined with intraperitoneal injection of azomethane oxide (AOM), and Xiezhuo Jiedu recipe and aspirin were given by intragastric administration at the same time. The experiment lasted for nine weeks. The pathological changes in intestinal tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of miR-34a-5p in adenoma tissue. Protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), phosphoryl-PI3K (p-PI3K), phosphoryl-Akt (p-Akt), and B cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2 were detected by Western blot. The expression of Cyclin D1 (CCND1) was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). In situ terminal transferase labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect apoptosis of adenoma tissue cells. ResultThe GEO database screened the GSE50194 dataset, and miR-34a-5p was selected as the research object from CRA and normal tissue. A total of 93 DEGs were selected. Among them, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were closely related to biological processes such as transcriptional regulatory complex, RNA polymerase Ⅱ transcriptional regulatory complex, enzyme-linked receptor protein signaling pathway, and DNA-binding transcriptional activator activity, cancer pathway, PI3K/Akt pathway, etc. miR-34a-5p is mainly enriched in PI3K/Akt, cell cycle, and colorectal cancer pathways. Five key DEGs were screened out through the Matescape database, among which Bcl-2 and CCND1 were the key DEGs of miR-34a-5p. Further screening of the TFs of key DEGs revealed that E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) and tumor protein P53 (TP53) were the main TFs of Bcl-2 and CCND1. Animal experiments showed that Xiezhuo Jiedu recipe could effectively up-regulate mRNA level of miR-34a-5p, down-regulate the expression of PI3K, Akt, Bcl-2, p-PI3K, and p-Akt proteins in the intestinal tissue of CRA mice, down-regulate the positive expression rate of CCND1, and increase the apoptosis rate of intestinal epithelial cells. ConclusionIt is speculated that Xiezhuo Jiedu recipe may inhibit the abnormal proliferation and promote the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells in CRA mice by regulating the miR-34a-5p/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, thus playing a role in the prevention of CRA.
10.Mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu Recipe Regulating Ferroptosis in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis Based on Bioinformatics and Animal Experiments
Chaodi SUN ; Jianping LIU ; Mingmin DU ; Xin KANG ; Jiancong CUI ; Yuan ZHAO ; Sujie JIA ; Xiaomeng LANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(11):166-173
ObjectiveThe bioinformatics method was used to screen ferroptosis differential genes (FRGs) closely related to ulcerative colitis (UC), and animal experiments were conducted to verify whether the mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu recipe in treating UC is related to the regulation of ferroptosis. MethodThe differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of colonic mucosa tissue of UC patients were obtained from the GEO database, and the intersection of the genes with ferroptosis genes was used to obtain FRGs. The core FRGs were obtained by cluster analysis, minimum absolute contraction and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve analysis. In animal experiments, the UC mouse model was prepared by making the mouse freely drink 2.5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Xiezhuo Jiedu recipe and mesalazine were given by gavage for seven days, and the inflammatory infiltration of colonic mucosa was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of E3 ubiquitin ligase (FBXW7), zinc finger protein (ZFP36), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in colon tissue. The protein expression levels of FBXW7, ZFP36, SLC7A11, and TLR4 in colon tissue were detected by Western blot. ResultDataset GSE87466 was screened from the GEO database, and its intersections with the ferroptosis gene were analyzed to obtain 21 FRGs. After cluster analysis, LASSO regression, and ROC analysis, core FRGs (FBXW7, ZFP36, SLC7A11, and TLR4) were obtained. Immunoinfiltration analysis showed significant differences in the expression of initial B cells, M1 macrophages, plasma cells, and M2 macrophages in the colonic mucosa tissue of UC mice, and there was a significant correlation between core FRGs and these immune cells. Further animal experiments showed that the colonic mucosa tissue of mice in the model group was disorganized and infiltrated by a large number of inflammatory cells. The inflammation of the colonic mucosa tissue of mice in each group was relieved to varying degrees after treatment with Xiezhuo Jiedu recipe and mesalazine, while the colonic mucosa tissue of mice in the high-dose group of Xiezhuo Jiedu recipe showed almost no inflammatory changes. Compared with the normal group, the protein and mRNA expressions of FBXW7, ZFP36, SLC7A11, and TLR4 in the model group were significantly increased, and the expression of core FRGs in colonic mucosa tissue of mice in all groups was significantly down-regulated after treatment with Xiezhuo Jiedu recipe and mesalazine. ConclusionFBXW7, ZFP36, SLC7A11, and TLR4 are ferroptosis genes closely related to the pathogenesis of UC, and Xiezhuo Jiedu recipe can significantly alleviate colonic mucosa inflammation in mice by down-regulating core ferroptosis genes.

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