ABSTRACT Depression is a mental disorder strongly associated with gut dysfunction. This study investigated the protective effects of Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt . polyphenolic (CTNP) extract against intestinal barrier damage in a mouse model of depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). CTNP alleviated depressive‐like behaviors and enhanced intestinal integrity, as evidenced by decreased serum levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and diamine oxidase (DAO), as well as increased expression of tight junction proteins (Occludin, ZO‐1, and MUC2). Furthermore, CTNP reduced the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, TNF‐α, and IL‐6) in colon tissue, potentially through inhibition of the TLR4/MYD88/NF‐κB signaling pathway. These findings elucidate the underlying mechanism of CTNP's protective effects in depression‐related intestinal injury and provide both theoretical insights and practical implications for future research.
Wang et al. (Sun,) studied this question.