Intestinal Microbiota and Liver Diseases: Insights into Therapeutic Use of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Figure 2

TCM affects liver disease progression by regulating intestinal microbiotas. The composition of intestinal microbiotas and their metabolites can be regulated by TCM. For example, Chinese herbs can increase SCFA levels by promoting abundance of Clostridium and Firmicutes, elevate bile acid levels by increasing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium abundance, and reduce levels of LPS and inflammatory factors by decreasing populations of Klebsiella and Haemophilus. The specific mechanisms include reducing inflammatory injury and oxidative stress, regulating body immunity, improving lipid metabolism, protecting intestinal barrier, and reversing hepatic fibrosis. TCM, traditional Chinese medicine; LPS, lipopolysaccharides; BT, bacterial translocation; EnEth, endogenous ethanol; SCFAs, short-chain fatty acids; FFA, free fatty acids.