ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of Modified Xijiao Dihuang Decoction (, MXDD) on rats with radiation enteritis, and explore its action mechanism.@*METHODS@#Thirty female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into the control, model, dexamethasone (DXM), golden bifid (GB) and MXDD groups using random number table, 6 rats in each group. Except the control group, the other rats were developed into radiation enteritis model by exposing to a single @*RESULTS@#On day 1 to 3 after radiation, compared with the control group, the body weight in model group was decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the model group, MXDD could alleviate weight loss and diarrhea caused by irradiation. At the phylum level, MXDD cause a significant increase in Firmicutes, and a decrease in Proteobacteria (P<0.05 or P<0.01). At the genus level, MXDD reduced the proportion of Escherichia Shigella (P<0.01). In addition, IL-17 and FoxP3 mRNA and protein expression levels were down-regulated and ROR-γt was up-regulated by MXDD treatment (P<0.05). Besides, Firmicutes and Lactobacillus were positively correlated with FoxP3 (r=0.73, 0.79, respectively; P<0.01), negatively correlated with IL-17 (r=0.66, 0.64, respectively; P<0.01 or P<0.05) and ROR-γt (r0.73, 0.81, respectively; P<0.01). Proteobacteria and Escherichia Shigella both had positive correlation with IL-17 (r 0.77, 0.57, respectively; P<0.01 or P<0.05 ) and ROR-γt (r=0.94, 0.79, respectively; P<0.01) and negative correlation with FoxP3 (r0.74, 0.65; P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#MXDD could improve the survival status of irradiated rats by regulating the richness, diversity and composition of intestinal flora, and restoring the balance of Th17/Treg.