基于肠道菌群探究中药多糖改善抑郁症的研究进展

Research progress on antidepressant effects of polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicine via modulation of gut microbiota

摘要:

抑郁症已成为全球公共卫生的重要挑战，其高发病率和严重危害影响着人类健康。尽管现有治疗方法多样，但抑郁症的发病机制复杂，且治疗效果有限。近期研究结果表明，肠道菌群失调可能是抑郁症的重要危险因素之一，肠脑轴研究逐渐成为新兴治疗方向。中药多糖作为一种天然生物活性物质，因其调节肠道菌群的作用而受到关注。中药多糖能够通过改善肠道菌群失衡，恢复菌群多样性，进而影响神经系统，缓解抑郁症状。虽然已有研究表明中药多糖能通过调节肠道菌群发挥积极干预作用，但其具体机制尚不完全明确。该文总结了近年来中药多糖干预抑郁症的研究进展，重点探讨了其通过调节肠道菌群在抑郁症治疗中的潜在机制，以期为中药多糖在抗抑郁药物开发中的应用提供理论依据与实践指导。

Abstract:

Depression has become a major global public health challenge, with its high prevalence and severe impact posing substantial threats to human health. Although a variety of therapeutic approaches are currently available, the underlying mechanisms of depression are highly complex, and treatment outcomes remain suboptimal. Recent studies suggest that gut microbiota dysbiosis may be an important risk factor for depression, and research on the gut-brain axis has gradually emerged as a promising therapeutic direction. Polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as natural bioactive substances, have attracted increasing attention due to their regulatory effects on gut microbiota. These polysaccharides can alleviate depressive symptoms by restoring microbial balance and diversity, thereby influencing the nervous system. Although existing studies indicate that TCM polysaccharides exert beneficial effects on depression through modulation of gut microbiota, their precise mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. This review summarizes recent research progress on the use of TCM-derived polysaccharides in the intervention of depression, with a particular focus on their potential mechanisms mediated through gut microbiota regulation, aiming to provide theoretical support and practical guidance for their application in the development of antidepressant therapies.