Background/Objectives: Danggui Beimu Kushen pill (DBK) is a traditional Chinese medicine renowned for its efficacy in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. It has been used in the modern clinical treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Further research is required to clarify its underlying mechanisms. Methods: DBK compounds were analyzed using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. A mouse model of Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC was used to assess the efficacy of DBK. Network pharmacology identified DBK targets in UC, which were validated by molecular docking simulations. Cytokine levels were quantified using ELISA. Western blotting, immunofluorescence (IF), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were employed to explore its underlying molecular mechanisms. Results: DBK treatment enhanced body weight and colon length in mice with DSS-induced colitis. Inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-23, and IL-17A) were notably decreased in both serum and colon tissues. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses identified the IL-6/IL-6R and IL-17A/IL-17RA signaling pathways as crucial for the DBK treatment of UC. Additional validation using WB, IHC, and IF analyses demonstrated that DBK alleviated UC by suppressing the IL-6/STAT3 and IL-17/TRAF6/NF-κB pathways. Conclusions: DBK mitigates intestinal injury in mice with DSS-induced colitis and exerts therapeutic effects on UC by inhibiting the IL-6/IL-6R and IL-17A/IL-17RA signaling pathways to reduce inflammation. These findings provide significant insights into the mechanism of DBK treatment for UC.

Arsenic is a common toxic heavy metal contaminant that is widely present in the ocean, and seaweeds have a strong ability to concentrate arsenic, posing a potential risk to human health. This study first analyzed the arsenic content in two different seaweeds and then used an innovative method to categorize the seaweeds into low-arsenic and high-arsenic groups based on their arsenic exposure levels. Finally, a non-targeted metabolomic analysis based on mass spectrometry was conducted on seaweed from different arsenic exposure groups. The results indicated that as the arsenic concentration increased in the seaweeds, linolenic acid, tyrosine, pheophorbide a, riboflavin, and phenylalanine were upregulated, while arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), betaine, and oleamide were downregulated. The following four key metabolic pathways involving unsaturated fatty acids and amino acids were identified: isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, and riboflavin metabolism. The identification of biomarkers and the characterization of key metabolic pathways will aid in the selection and breeding of low-arsenic-accumulating seaweed varieties, providing insights into the metabolic and detoxification mechanisms of arsenic in seaweeds.

Seaweeds are one of the major marine foods with high values. The diversity of seaweed species significantly impacts their quality and is closely linked to their purity and safety. For the first time, this study established a model to discriminate seaweed species using a multi-element fingerprinting approach for species identification. Twenty-nine elements derived from seaweeds were analyzed. Chemometrics showed that seaweed samples could be well separated by the established multi-element fingerprints, of which Ag, Mn, Sr, and K were the most important variables for discrimination. Furthermore, the present study proposed an innovative risk–benefit assessment strategy for seaweeds that considers both risks and benefits, developing a novel risk–benefit assessment model from both dietary and medicinal perspectives for the first time. Our innovative strategy was well-conceived to accurately and effectively differentiate seaweeds based on species and scientifically evaluate both benefits and risks associated with seaweeds. This strategy is poised to offer invaluable insights into the sustainable growth of the seaweed sector and to bolster public health initiatives, ensuring a robust and forward-looking approach to both industry and healthcare advancements.