Burdock Tea affects Pulmonary Microbiota and Physiology through Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Wistar Rats

The impacts of Burdock tea (BT) made from Burdock (Arctium lappa) roots on normal individuals and animal models is largely unknown, particularly on lung protection. This study examined responses of oxidative stress, inflammation, and the microbiota within the cecum and lung to BT treatment in healthy Wistar rats. A middle-dose BT reduced the Chao1 and Shannon indices, and both low and middle doses induced structural alterations in the cecal microbiota. Low dose increased Phascolarctobacterium, Alloprevotella, Desulfovibrio, and the NK4A214 group. In the lung, middle and high doses raised Corynebacterium, with high dose also boosting Megasphaera and Lactobacillus. Functionally, low dose downregulated antibiotics biosynthesis in the cecal microbiota, while middle dose reduced Epstein-Barr virus and Escherichia coli pathogenic infection pathways; additionally, middle and high doses modulated chromosomal proteins and bile acid biosynthesis in the pulmonary microbiota. BT increased short-chain fatty acids content, upregulated GPR43, and reduced NLRP3 expression in both colon and lung while enhancing ZO-1 and occludin. Serum IL-1β and IL-6 and tissue MDA levels also decreased, with propionate inversely correlated with MDA, IL-6, NLRP3 and positively with ZO-1. Overall, BT exhibits a nontoxic profile and may protect lung tissue through its antioxidant nature and gut-lung axis mediated by SCFAs.