Effects of Banxiaxiexin decoction on the intestinal microorganisms and enzyme activities in mice with spleen-deficiency constipation

The present study was carried out to investigate the impact of Banxiaxiexin Decoction on the intestinal microorganisms and enzyme activities in mice with spleen-deficiency constipation. 24 experimental mice were randomly divided into 4 groups including the normal group, the model group with spleendeficiency constipation, Banxiaxiexin Decoction treated group and Zhizhu Decoction treated group. Both the normal group and the model group with spleen-deficiency constipation were treated with sterile water. The other two groups were treated with traditional Chinese medicine respectively. The drugs were orally administered. After 6 days of treatment with traditional Chinese medicine, the intestinal microbes and enzyme activities of intestinal contents were measured. The results showed that the total number of colibacillus significantly increased from the Zhizhu Decoction treated group (p<0.01) compared to the normal group and the model group. Compared to the Zhizhu Decoction treated group, the total number of colibacillus obviously reduced in Banxiaxiexin Decoction treated group (p<0.05). Compared to the normal group, the amounts of bifidobacteria in the two treated groups significantly increased (p<0.05). Compared to the normal group, the activities of protease and amylase from Banxiaxiexin Decoction treated group obviously reduced (p<0.01) and the activities of xylanase and cellulase significantly improved (p<0.05 or p<0.01). Compared to the model group, protease activities from Banxiaxiexin Decoction treated group remarkably reduced (p<0.01) and the activities of xylanase and cellulase significantly increased (p<0.01). Compared to the Zhizhu Decoction treated group, the activities of protease and cellulase from the Banxiaxiexin Decoction treated group obviously reduced (p<0.01) yet amylase activities apparently improved (p<0.01). It is clearly evident from the results that Banxiaxiexin Decoction can regulate the intestinal microorganisms and enzyme activities to treat spleen-deficiency constipation.