Research Background
Study Overview
Oxidative stress occurs when the production of reactive oxygen species exceeds the capacity of the body’s antioxidant defense systems. This imbalance can disrupt cellular functions and contribute to tissue injury through mechanisms involving mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and apoptosis.
Sonchus brachyotus DC. is a plant used both as a vegetable and in traditional folk medicine. Previous research has indicated that extracts derived from this plant may exhibit antioxidant activity and influence the intestinal microbiota. However, the relationships connecting microbial changes, circulating metabolites, and host gene expression have remained insufficiently understood.
A study published in Microbiome investigated how Sonchus brachyotus extract (SBE) affected ethanol-induced acute oxidative stress in mice, with particular emphasis on the interactions among gut bacteria and fungi, metabolites, and host genes.
Study Design
An Integrated Multi-Omics Strategy
The researchers established an ethanol-induced acute oxidative stress mouse model and evaluated the effects of SBE supplementation using biochemical measurements and histological analyses.
PacBio-based full-length 16S rRNA gene and ITS amplicon sequencing was used to characterize bacterial and fungal communities in the intestinal contents. Serum metabolomics and transcriptomic profiling of colon tissue were then integrated to identify associations among microbial taxa, differential metabolites, and differentially expressed genes.
The researchers also characterized active components of SBE and performed molecular docking to explore their potential interactions with apoptosis-related targets. This combined strategy enabled the team to investigate SBE-associated responses across microbial, metabolic, and host molecular levels.
Research Highlights
Key Findings
SBE Modulated Oxidative Stress Markers and Tissue Responses
In ethanol-treated mice, SBE supplementation altered several biomarkers associated with oxidative stress in the serum, intestine, liver, and brain.
Across the different treatment groups, SBE helped reduce selected indicators of lipid and protein oxidation while increasing the levels or activity of components of the antioxidant defense system, including glutathione and antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px. Histological analyses also indicated improvements in ethanol-associated damage in intestinal, liver, and brain tissues.
These findings suggest that SBE supported antioxidant defenses and reduced tissue injury under the experimental conditions used in the study.
Gut Bacterial and Fungal Communities Responded to SBE
Full-length 16S rRNA gene and ITS sequencing revealed significant changes in the composition of both intestinal bacterial and fungal communities following SBE treatment.
The analysis highlighted the potential importance of the gut mycobiome, which has received less attention than bacterial communities in oxidative stress research. In particular, the fungal genera Alternaria and Pichia displayed distinct associations with oxidative stress biomarkers, metabolites, and host gene expression.
Within the integrated network, Alternaria was negatively associated with selected pro-oxidative metabolites and apoptosis-related genes, whereas Pichia showed positive associations with several stress-related indicators. SBE treatment also reduced the abundance of Pichia. These results identify intestinal fungi as potentially important components of the response to SBE, although further functional studies will be needed to determine their causal roles.
Multi-Omics Integration Revealed a Microbiota–Metabolite–Gene Network
The integrated analysis connected changes in the gut microbiota with three metabolites associated with the serotonergic synapse pathway—14,15-DiHETrE, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, and prostaglandin C2—and two apoptosis-related genes, Fas and Tnfsf10.
These associations suggested that SBE may influence oxidative stress through coordinated changes involving fungal communities, metabolic pathways, and host apoptotic signaling.
Molecular docking further indicated that three active SBE components—trigonelline, mesaconic acid, and salicylic acid—may have binding affinity for Fas and Tnfsf10. These computational findings provide candidate compound–target relationships for future experimental validation but do not independently establish direct biological interactions.
Research Significance
Significance for Oxidative Stress Research
This study provides a multi-omics perspective on the potential mechanisms through which SBE regulates ethanol-induced acute oxidative stress. By integrating bacterial and fungal community profiles with metabolomic and transcriptomic data, the research expands the focus from individual biomarkers to a broader microbiota–metabolite–host gene network.
The findings also draw attention to the frequently overlooked role of intestinal fungi in oxidative stress responses and identify candidate microbial taxa, metabolites, genes, and plant-derived compounds for further investigation.
Because the study was conducted in an acute mouse model, additional functional experiments and clinical research will be required to establish causal mechanisms and determine whether these findings are relevant to human health.
BMKGENE Contribution
Supporting Integrated Microbiome and Multi-Omics Analysis
BMKGENE provided PacBio-based full-length 16S rRNA gene and ITS amplicon sequencing and analysis, transcriptome sequencing and analysis, metabolomics analysis, and multi-omics integration services for this study.
These services supported the characterization of intestinal bacterial and fungal communities, the identification of differential metabolites and genes, and the construction of the microbiota–metabolite–gene association network.
Full-Length Amplicon Sequencing · Transcriptome Sequencing · Metabolomics · Multi-Omics Analysis
Original Publication
Juan, Y., Wei, T., Weiwei, Z., et al. Regulation on microbial composition, serotonergic synapse, and apoptotic signaling pathway by extracts from Sonchus brachyotus DC. (SBE) to improve ethanol-induced acute oxidative stress in mice. Microbiome 13, 221 (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s40168-025-02221-8.
Post time: Aug-28-2026
