Abstract:Effects of Atractylodes Decoction prescription on regulating gut flora and protecting intestine were investigated in this study. After treatment with Atractylodes Decoction prescription for 30 days, compared with pre-treated animals, the intestinal Escherichia coli in high-dose group and enterococcus in middle- and high-dose groups were significantly decreased by 8.17%, 6.35% and 5.69%, respectively. Conversely intestinal bifidobacteria and lactobacillus in middle- and high-dose groups were increased significantly by 7.04%, 6.74%, 6.99% and 8.10%, respectively. Furthermore, when compared with galactooligosaccharide (GOS) group, the effect of Atractylodes Decoction prescription on intestinal bifidobacteria and lactobacillus were also significantly increased. But the pH value of cecal contents in middle-dose and high-dose groups were noticeably reduced by 6.58% and 5.26%, respectively. In the histopathological examination of intestinal tract, the ratio of the villus length to the corresponding crypt depth (A/V ratio) of duodenum and ileum in low-dose group, A/V ratio of duodenum, jejunum and ileum in middle- and high-dose groups, were markedly improved by 29.84%, 17.47%, 56.01%, 31.18%, 20.09%, 46.51%, 30.52% and 20.09%, respectively. In addition, the A/V ratio of the jejunum and ileum in middle- and high-dose groups were markedly increased when compared with the GOS group. In addition, the intestinal propulsion rates in treated animals were dose-dependently promoted by 43.92%, 69.93% and 98.31%, respectively. These data demonstrated that Atractylodes Decoction prescription improve intestinal microenvironment by regulating intestinal flora and showed improving effects when compared with GOS alone.
