Antagonistic effect of <scp> <i>Schisandra chinensis</i> </scp> lignans on intestinal <scp>ROS</scp> accumulation and gut microbiota in sleep‐deprived mice

BACKGROUND: Sleep deprivation (SD) not only impairs the quality of sleep and leaves the body in a state of fatigue, but also exacerbates the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the gut, leading to intestinal barrier dysfunction. This exacerbation results in damage to the intestinal barrier and subsequently elevates the incidence of intestinal diseases. Therefore, the present study employed a treadmill-based SD model to investigate the effects of Schisandra chinensis lignans on intestinal ROS levels and gut microbiota in sleep-deprived mice, aiming to elucidate their potential mechanisms in ameliorating SD-related pathologies. RESULTS: Medium-dose and high-dose Schisandra lignans significantly reduced ROS accumulation in the jejunum and ileum and alleviated SD-induced intestinal damage. The high-dose group showed markedly increased mRNA expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) and Bcl-2 in both jejunal and ileal tissues. S. chisandra lignans decreased hexanoic acid and propionic acid levels at the same time as increasing isovaleric acid, isobutyric acid, malonic acid and butyric acid concentrations, and partially restored the disrupted structure and metabolic function of the gut microbiota in sleep-deprived mice. CONCLUSION: Schisandra chinensis lignans protect against SD-induced intestinal injury by modulating the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway, reducing intestinal ROS production, and modulating gut microbiota diversity and metabolic activity. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.