Metabolomics and gut microbiota analysis reveal the differential efficacy of areca nut and charred areca nut in treating constipation

In summary, this study revealed that AN may protect GI mucosa, enhance GI motility, and alleviate constipation symptoms by regulating the relative abundance of specific gut microbiota (<i>Bacillus</i>, <i>UCG-005</i>, <i>norank_f_Muribaculaceae</i>, <i>Candidatus_Saccharimonas</i>, <i>Ruminococcus</i>) as well as citrate cycle or tyrosine, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolic pathways. Furthermore, CAN was observed to promote gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion, thereby alleviating constipation, by modulating the relative abundance of specific gut microbiota (<i>Lactobacillus</i>, <i>Bacillus</i>, <i>norank_f_Muribaculaceae</i>, <i>Ruminococcus</i>, <i>unclassified_f_Oscillospiraceae</i>, <i>unclassified_f_Prevotellaceae</i>) as well as steroid and primary bile acid biosynthesis, as well as pyrimidine and purine metabolic pathways.