In terms of potential pathogenic bacteria, the abundance of Streptococcus, Veillonella, and Prevotella showed a decreasing trend in the MPH group. These genera are often associated with oral origins and pro-inflammatory states, and their reduced abundance may help to alleviate both intestinal and systemic inflammation. Notably, the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, a gram-negative bacterium, showed a downward trend that is logically associated with the significant downregulation of the "O-antigen repeat unit biosynthesis (related to lipopolysaccharide synthesis)" pathway (see section 4.2.4). This further supports the hypothesis that Bu Xu Ping Chuan膏 (a traditional Chinese medicine) may exert anti-inflammatory effects by reducing endotoxin production.
Although these trends did not reach statistical significance, their directionality is consistent with the significantly different bacterial genera and functional pathways. This provides additional information for understanding the multi-target effects of Bu Xu Ping Chuan膏 in modulating the gut microbiota. Future studies can further validate the reliability of these trends by increasing the sample size or extending the intervention period.
