{
  "abstract": "Background: Chronic low-grade inflammation and gut microbiota dysbiosis contribute to metabolic syndrome (MS). Huanglian Wendan Decoction (HLWDD) is a defined multi-herbal formulation used in Chinese medicine, but its effects on gut microbiota-associated metabolism and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling remain unclear. Objective: This study evaluated the pharmacological effects and candidate absorbed bioactive constituents of HLWDD in experimental MS. Methods: A high-fat, high-sugar diet-induced rat model of MS was assessed using metabolic, biochemical, histological, molecular, and multi-omics endpoints. Gut metagenomics, untargeted metabolomics of liver and colonic contents, liver transcriptomics, and UPLC-HRMS/MS analysis of serum-absorbed constituents were integrated with network pharmacology and molecular docking. Baicalin was further evaluated in PA-BSA-treated HepG2 cells. Results: HLWDD ameliorated obesity, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and systemic inflammation and attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome-related signaling. Multi-omics analysis identified nine shared differential metabolites and a strong positive association between Faecalibacterium and butyrate. Thirty-two serum-absorbed constituents were tentatively identified. Baicalin showed favorable predicted interactions with NLRP3 (-5.82 kcal/mol) and CASP1 (-5.41 kcal/mol) and concentration-dependently suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome-related signaling in HepG2 cells; the highest concentration increased intracellular butyrate. Conclusion: HLWDD ameliorated metabolic and inflammatory abnormalities in experimental MS in association with restoration of gut-liver metabolic homeostasis and attenuation of NLRP3 inflammasome signaling. Baicalin emerged as a candidate absorbed bioactive constituent.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine"
  ],
  "article_type": "Confirmatory results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "H. WANG"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. WANG"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Shi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "J. P. Zhu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c2e7j5hf35jjd.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.10.05.756920",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.05.756920v1.full",
  "id": "c2e7j5hf35jjd",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.05.756920v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "systems biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Gut microbiota and health"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220903923",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.05.756920v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-05",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c2e7j5hf35jjd.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:26:35Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.10.05.756920",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.05.756920v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:systems biology",
      "subfield": "systems-synthetic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Pharmacological Effects and Candidate Bioactive Constituents of Huanglian Wendan Decoction in Experimental Metabolic Syndrome: Multi-Omics Analysis of Gut-Liver Metabolism and NLRP3 Signaling",
  "title_text": "Pharmacological Effects and Candidate Bioactive Constituents of Huanglian Wendan Decoction in Experimental Metabolic Syndrome: Multi-Omics Analysis of Gut-Liver Metabolism and NLRP3 Signaling",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:26:35Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c2e7j5hf35jjd",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}