Herbal formula BaWeiBaiDuSan alleviates polymicrobial sepsis-induced liver injury increasing the gut microbiota and regulating macrophage anti-inflammatory activity in mice.

Sepsis-induced liver injury (SILI) is an important cause of septicemia deaths. BaWeiBaiDuSan (BWBDS) was extracted from a formula of C. A. , F. E. ex var. , ex , Thunb., Linn., Vas, (Jacq.) A. DC., and . Herein, we investigated whether the BWBDS treatment could reverse SILI by the mechanism of modulating gut microbiota. BWBDS protected mice against SILI, which was associated with promoting macrophage anti-inflammatory activity and enhancing intestinal integrity. BWBDS selectively promoted the growth of in cecal ligation and puncture treated mice. Fecal microbiota transplantation treatment indicated that gut bacteria correlated with sepsis and was required for BWBDS anti-sepsis effects. Notably, significantly reduced SILI by promoting macrophage anti-inflammatory activity, increasing interleukin-10 M2 macrophage production and enhancing intestinal integrity. Furthermore, heat inactivation (HI-) treatment promoted macrophage anti-inflammatory activity and alleviated SILI. Our findings revealed BWBDS and gut microbiota as novel prebiotic and probiotic that may be used to treat SILI. The potential underlying mechanism was at least in part, -dependent immune regulation and interleukin-10 M2 macrophage production.