Altered intestinal mucosal microbiota mediated pathways in cancer signaling pathway provide new insight in Bai Canhua aqueous extract for radiation-induced enteritis

Rosa multiflora var. cathayensis (Bai Canhua, BCH), a medicinal plant native to the Taihu region traditionally used for heat-clearing, remains unclear in its protective mechanism against radiation enteritis (RE). This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of a BCH aqueous extract in a murine RE model and explored its anti-inflammatory mechanisms via the Muribaculum gordoncarteri-metabolite-gene axis. Chemical characterization by UHPLC-QE-MS identified flavonoids as the predominant components. In RE mice, BCH aqueous extract treatment (30–60 g/kg) dose-dependently reduced serum inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) and attenuated colon damage, demonstrating superior efficacy to vitamin C. Full-length 16 S rRNA sequencing revealed that BCH aqueous extract restored gut microbiota diversity and specifically reversed RE-induced increases in Muribaculum gordoncarteri and Eubacterium sp. 14-2, both of which were correlated with inflammation. Integrated multi-omics analysis indicated concurrent enrichment of BCH aqueous extract-derived constituents and Muribaculum gordoncarteri-related metabolites in “Pathways in cancer.” Consistent with this finding, BCH aqueous extract treatment downregulated key genes within this cancer-associated pathway (EGLN1, STAT3, GLI1, GLI2, BCL2L1) in intestinal tissues, as validated by FISH and RT-qPCR. The BCH aqueous extract alleviates RE by modulating gut microbiota and suppressing inflammation through the Muribaculum gordoncarteri-metabolite-“Pathways in cancer” axis, highlighting its potential utility as a medical plant or functional food.