Pulsatilla Powder Ameliorates Damp-Heat Diarrhea in Piglets Through the Regulation of Intestinal Mucosal Barrier and the Pentose Phosphate Pathway Involving G6PD and NOX

Damp-heat diarrhea (DHD) in piglets presents as diarrhea and intestinal bleeding, significantly affecting both piglet health and the pig industry. Pulsatilla powder (PP), a herbal formulation composed of Pulsatilla, Rhizoma Coptidis, Phellodendron Bark, and Fraxini Cortex, has proven to be an effective treatment for DHD. Although the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) has been associated with its therapeutic effects, the exact mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, the DHD model in piglets was established to evaluate clinical symptoms, organ index, serum index, histological changes, colonic metabolites, and molecular mechanisms using techniques such as QPCR, ELISA, WB and metabolomics. PP improved intestinal health by restoring spleen and lung index, increasing LDL-C and HDL-C levels (HDL-C: <i>p</i> < 0.05), decreasing mRNA expression levels of <i>IFN-γ</i> and <i>TNF-α</i> mRNA (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and increasing <i>MUC1</i> and <i>MUC2</i> expression. Metabolomics analysis has identified 44 pathways, including pentose phosphate and glutathione pathways, and 132 differential metabolites have involved in DHD treatment. PP significantly reduced <i>G6PD</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.01), inhibited the pentose phosphate pathway, reduced NOX production (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and suppressed ROS production (<i>p</i> < 0.01). These effects alleviated oxidative stress and intestinal damage, demonstrating PP's effectiveness in treating DHD by targeting critical enzymes and ROS levels.