Effect of Wendan decoction granules on preventing endolymphatic hydrops and protecting vestibular function in Guinea pigs

TL;DR

This study shows that Wendan decoction granules help reduce inner ear fluid buildup and protect hearing in guinea pigs, suggesting potential for treating Meniere’s disease.

Contribution

The study demonstrates that Wendan decoction modulates the MAPK pathway and reduces inflammation in a model of endolymphatic hydrops.

Findings

Wendan decoction granules reduced inner ear fluid and preserved cochlear structure in guinea pigs.

The treatment suppressed pro-inflammatory factors and AQP2 protein expression.

It inhibited the MAPK signaling pathway, offering a mechanistic insight into its therapeutic effects.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the therapeutic effects of Wendan decoction on endolymphatic hydrops (EH), a condition characterized by excessive inner ear fluid accumulation that is associated with Meniere’s disease, in guinea pigs, offering insights for clinical application.

The active components and action targets of compound Wendan decoction were identified using BATMAN-TCM in this study. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were conducted on Metascape and bioinformatics.com.cn platforms. Cytoscape was used to construct the TCM-compound-target-disease network and the disease-target pathway network for visual representation. The chemical profile of Wendan decoction was characterized through UHPLC-QTOF/MS. Guinea pigs were used to establish an EH model. The effects of Wendan decoction granules on neurological function, cochlear hydrops, the ultrastructure of the cochlear Corti organ area, inflammatory response, and the expression of AQP2 and P38MAPK in guinea pigs were examined using behavioral experiments, hematoxylin and eosin staining, scanning electron microscopy, ELISA, qRT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry staining.

A total of 103 components, primarily flavonoids and triterpenoid saponins, were identified in Wendan decoction. Wendan decoction significantly inhibited the MAPK signaling pathway. Wendan decoction granules alleviated neurological impairment induced by EH. Following treatment, guinea pigs exhibited reduced membranous labyrinth hydrops and decreased outer hair cell loss. Wendan decoction granules also suppressed the release of pro-inflammatory factors and reduced AQP2 protein expression in model guinea pigs.

Wendan decoction granules effectively alleviated neurological impairment and inflammatory responses, preserved cochlear structure, reduced inflammation, and modulated AQP2 expression, offering a strong basis for further investigation of its therapeutic potential.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41065-025-00516-2.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41065-025-00516-2.

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