The Potential Effects and Use of the Proprietary Chinese Medicine Jingfang Granules: Enhancing Immunity by Promoting Energy Metabolism

Objective: Energy metabolism and immune function have beneficial effects on health. In this study, we demonstrated that early intervention with Jingfang granules (JFGs) promoted energy metabolism and immune function by using an eight-channel energy metabolism detection system and metabolomics techniques combined with physiological and biochemical indicators. Materials and Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into Control, LPS-induced lung injury model, and Jingfang Granules (JFG) intervention groups. Energy metabolism was monitored in freely moving rats using an eight-channel metabolic system), measuring oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and respiratory exchange ratio. Metabolomic profiling was performed using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS chromatography. Physiological and biochemical parameters including inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) were assessed by ELISA. Lung histopathology was evaluated through H&E staining following LPS challenge. Results: JFG pretreatment significantly enhanced systemic energy metabolism. Metabolomic analysis revealed JFG-mediated normalization of disrupted metabolic pathways, particularly in amino acid metabolism (valine, leucine, isoleucine degradation) and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. These metabolic improvements correlated with attenuated inflammatory responses, showing significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) in JFG-treated animals. Histopathological examination confirmed the protective efficacy of JFG intervention, demonstrating substantially alleviated lung tissue damage, diminished inflammatory cell infiltration, and preserved alveolar architecture following LPS exposure. Conclusions: The experimental results indicated that intervention with JFGs for 1 week could alleviate lung injury in male rats when exposed to lipopolysaccharides.