Epigallocatechin Gallate Influences in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome by Regulating Gut Microbiota: Current Research Status and Therapeutic Prospects

Shiming Fan,1– 3,* Yan Ren,4,* Ning Ma,3 Xiaoqing Fan,1,3 Guofang Yin,1,3 Yuling Liang,1,3 Ying Luo,5 Yi Deng,2 Jingli Tang,6 Dan Luo,1,3,7 Xianming Fan1,3 1Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The People’s Hospital of Jiang’an County, Yibin, Sichuan, 644200, People’s Republic of China; 3Inflammation & Allergic Diseases Research Unit, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646099, People’s Republic of China; 4Outpatient Department, Changning Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yibin, Sichuan, 644200, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Jiang’an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yibin, Sichuan, 644200, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Pediatrics, The People’s Hospital of Jiang’an County, Yibin, Sichuan, 644200, People’s Republic of China; 7Laboratory Animal Centre, Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xianming Fan; Dan Luo, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition characterized by high mortality, with its pathogenesis involving multiple factors, including inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and immune dysregulation. However, current clinical interventions remain limited. Recently, the “gut-lung axis”—the interplay between gut microbiota and lung diseases—has gained significant attention, offering new perspectives for ARDS prevention and treatment. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the primary bioactive compound in green tea, exhibits distinct anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and microbiota-modulating properties. EGCG shows promise in ARDS therapy by restoring gut homeostasis, enhancing barrier function, modulating immune responses, and influencing microbial metabolites. However, the precise mechanisms underlying its effects and its clinical applicability warrant further exploration. This review examines the molecular mechanisms through which EGCG modulates ARDS by regulating gut microbiota and considers its potential as a novel therapeutic approach, offering valuable theoretical and practical insights for future clinical applications.Keywords: acute respiratory distress syndrome, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, gut microbiota, gut-lung axis, inflammatory response