Targeted preparation of Pueraria lobata improves clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis by regulating the intestinal microbiota balance
Cervical spondylosis refers to degenerative changes in the cervical intervertebral disc and its accessory structures, along with corresponding symptoms caused by the secondary degeneration of intervertebral joints stimulating or compressing the spinal cord, nerves, and blood vessels. The etiology and pathogenesis of the disease are complex and not fully understood. Additionally, the causes of different types of cervical spondylosis vary.
Presently, identified predisposing factors for cervical spondylosis include degeneration, trauma, tension, cervical spinal canal developmental stenosis, inflammation, and congenital deformities. The main symptoms include pain in the upper limbs, numbness in the lower limbs, dizziness, insomnia, etc.
Research has highlighted that many cervical spondylosis patients who haven’t taken any medication complain of gastrointestinal symptoms. This phenomenon, indicating a direct or indirect relationship between the neck and stomach, is termed “cervical gastric syndrome.” Therefore, exploring a new and effective treatment strategy based on the characteristics, clinical symptoms, and pathological mechanisms of cervical spondylosis patients is crucial for improving patient conditions and reducing the socio-health burden.
With the development of microbiota detection technology, the characteristics of intestinal microbiota and its role in the human body have gradually become clearer. Disorders of intestinal microbiota are closely related to the onset of many diseases such as coronary disease, allergic sensitization, eczema, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and Parkinson’s disease, which are unrelated to the digestive system but can be induced or exacerbated by intestinal microbiota disorders.
Therefore, finding a way to treat related diseases by regulating the homeostasis of intestinal microbiota is a new hot spot in clinical treatment research. In addition to disrupting the balance between bone formation and resorption by indirectly stimulating or inhibiting osteoblasts and osteoclasts, intestinal microbiota can also influence bone metabolism by regulating growth factors or altering the immune status of the bone.
Furthermore, intestinal microbiota affects the structure and function of blood vessels, nerves, and muscles through immunomodulatory pathways. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis patients can be improved by regulating the intestinal microbiota.
Pueraria lobata can be used to treat neck and back pain. However, puerarin is insoluble in water, making it difficult to absorb after oral administration, with low absolute bioavailability.
In recent years, many studies have focused on preparations to improve the bioavailability of puerarin, such as the phospholipid-puerarin complex and solid self-microemulsifying puerarin. With continuous progress in nanosciences, bio-pharmaceutics, and material science, new drug carrier materials continue to emerge. Microparticles (spheres), nanoparticles, and liposomes have become important new technologies in drug delivery systems in the medical research and development field.
The nanodrug delivery system has good application prospects in achieving targeted and prolonged drug delivery, improving the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, protecting drug stability, and reducing drug toxicity and side effects. Pharmaceutical nanoparticles prepared with specific technology have the advantages of slow and controlled drug release, which can enhance the safety and efficacy of drugs by modifying the drug’s pharmacokinetic behavior once inside the human body.
Therefore, this study prepared the targeted nano-Pueraria lobata formulation to observe if it can improve the clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis patients by regulating the intestinal microbiota balance, providing new ideas for improving the clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis.
The Study:
This study included 200 cervical spondylosis patients, dividing them into two groups: the control group treated with Tuina therapy and the observation group treated with targeted nano-Pueraria preparation + Tuina therapy. Before the intervention, the clinical symptoms and distribution of intestinal flora in both patient groups were evaluated.
No significant differences were found in clinical symptoms and distribution of intestinal flora between the two groups. However, compared to normal patients, the abundance of Firmicutes in both groups decreased, and the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria increased.
After 15 days of intervention, it was observed that the markedly effective treatment efficacy in the observed group treated with targeted nano-Pueraria preparation was superior to that of the control group treated with Tuina therapy, and clinical symptoms were noticeably reduced. Significant differences were also present in the composition of intestinal flora between the two groups.
Compared to the control group, the abundance of the Firmicutes phylum in the observation group increased, and the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria decreased.
The therapeutic effect of targeted nano-Pueraria preparation + Tuina therapy for cervical spondylosis patients is significantly better than that of Tuina therapy alone. Pueraria lobata can improve the clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis patients by regulating the balance of intestinal flora, providing a new choice for the treatment of cervical spondylosis.
Significant differences are also present in the composition of intestinal flora between the two groups. Compared to the control group, the abundance of the Firmicutes phylum in the observation group increased, and the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria decreased.
The therapeutic effect of targeted nano-Pueraria preparation + Tuina therapy for cervical spondylosis patients is significantly better than that of Tuina therapy alone. Pueraria lobata can improve the clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis patients by regulating the balance of intestinal flora, providing a new choice for the treatment of cervical spondylosis.
Significant differences are also present in the composition of intestinal flora between the two groups. Compared to the control group, the abundance of the Firmicutes phylum in the observation group increased, and the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria decreased.
The therapeutic effect of targeted nano-Pueraria preparation + Tuina therapy for cervical spondylosis patients is significantly better than that of Tuina therapy alone. Pueraria lobata can improve the clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis patients by regulating the balance of intestinal flora, providing a new choice for the treatment of cervical spondylosis.
If your company wants to develop and/or make a product for the treatment of cervical spondylosis.
Source: Qin Y. Pueraria lobata Targeted Preparation Improves the Clinical Symptoms of Cervical Spondylosis by Regulating the Balance of Gut Microbiota. Comput Math Methods Med. 2022 Jan 27;2022:2136807.
