Natural products have been extensively applied in clinical practice, characterized by multi-component and multi-target, many pharmacodynamic substances, complex action mechanisms, and various physiological activities. For the oral administration of natural products, the gut microbiota and clinical efficacy are closely related, but this relationship remains unclear. Gut microbes play an important role in the transformation and utilization of natural products caused by the diversity of enzyme systems. Effective components such as flavonoids, alkaloids, lignans, and phenols cannot be metabolized directly through human digestive enzymes but can be transformed by enzymes produced by gut microorganisms and then utilized. Therefore, the focus is paid to the metabolism of natural products through the gut microbiota. In the present study, we systematically reviewed the studies about gut microbiota and their effect on the biotransformation of various components of natural products and highlighted the involved common bacteria, reaction types, pharmacological actions, and research methods. This study aims to provide theoretical support for the clinical application in the prevention and treatment of diseases and provide new ideas for studying natural products based on gut biotransformation.

Introduction: The gut microbial community, which can be disturbed or repaired by changes in the internal environment, contributes to the development of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Gut probiotics play a role in microbiome remodeling and nutritional intervention post-AMI. A newly isolated Lactobacillus johnsonii strain EU03 has shown potential as a probiotic. Here, we investigated the cardioprotective function and mechanism of L. johnsonii through gut microbiome remodeling in AMI rats.Methods: A rat model of left anterior descending coronary artery ligation (LAD)-mediated AMI was assessed with echocardiography, histology, and serum cardiac biomarkers to evaluate the beneficial effects of L. johnsonii. The immunofluorescence analysis was utilized to visualize the intestinal barrier changes. Antibiotic administration model was used for assessing the gut commensals’ function in the improvement of cardiac function post-AMI. The underlying beneficial mechanism through L. johnsonii enrichment was further investigated by metagenomics and metabolomics analysis.Results: A 28-day treatment with L. johnsonii protected cardiac function, delayed cardiac pathology, suppressed myocardial injury cytokines, and improved gut barrier integrity. The microbiome composition was reprogrammed by enhancing the abundance of L. johnsonii. Microbiome dysbiosis by antibiotics abrogated the improvement of cardiac function post-AMI by L. johnsonii. L. johnsonii enrichment caused remodeling of gut microbiome by increasing the abundance of Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillus, and decreasing Romboutsia, Clostridia UCG-014, which were correlated with cardiac traits and serum metabolic biomarkers 16,16-dimethyl-PGA2, and Lithocholate 3-O-glucuronide.Conclusion: These findings reveal that gut microbiome remodeling by L. johnsonii ameliorates the cardiac function post-AMI and might advance microbiome-targeted nutritional intervention.

Polygonatum odoratum is appreciated for its edible and medicinal benefits especially for lung protection. However, the contained active components have been understudied, and further research is required to fully exploit its potential application. We aimed to probe into the beneficial effects of Polygonatum odoratum polysaccharide (POP) in lipopolysaccharide‐induced lung inflammatory injury mice. POP treatment could ameliorate the survival rate, pulmonary function, lung pathological lesions, and immune inflammatory response. POP treatment could repair intestinal barrier, and modulate the composition of gut microbiota, especially reducing the abundance of Klebsiella, which were closely associated with the therapeutic effects of POP. Investigation of the underlying anti‐inflammatory mechanism showed that POP suppressed the generation of pro‐inflammatory molecules in lung by inhibiting iNOS⁺ M1 macrophages. Collectively, POP is a promising multi‐target microecological regulator to prevent and treat the immuno‐inflammation and lung injury by modulating gut microbiota.

CD4⁺T cells play a notable role in immune protection at different stages of life. During aging, the interaction between the body's internal and external environment and CD4⁺T cells results in a series of changes in the CD4⁺T cells pool making it involved in immunosenescence. Many studies have extensively examined the subsets and functionality of CD4⁺T cells within the immune system, highlighted their pivotal role in disease pathogenesis, progression, and therapeutic interventions. However, the underlying mechanism of CD4⁺T cells senescence and its intricate association with diseases remains to be elucidated and comprehensively understood. By summarizing the immunosenescent progress and network of CD4⁺T cell subsets, we reveal the crucial role of CD4⁺T cells in the occurrence and development of age‐related diseases. Furthermore, we provide new insights and theoretical foundations for diseases targeting CD4⁺T cell subsets aging as a treatment focus, offering novel approaches for therapy, especially in infections, cancers, autoimmune diseases, and other diseases in the elderly.