# Unraveling the Cold Property of Gardeniae Fructus: Material Basis and Biological Mechanisms

**Authors:** Chao Yang, Shuyao Wu, Xiao Huang, Zhigui Wu, Yuying Fan, Xilan Liu, Rui Zhong, Yifei Rao, Jing Liu, Xiaomei Fu

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/ijms27041679 · 2026-02-09

## TL;DR

This study identifies key chemical fractions in Gardeniae Fructus that may explain its 'cold' property in traditional Chinese medicine by affecting metabolism, the nervous system, and gut microbes.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific chemical fractions in Gardeniae Fructus responsible for its 'cold' property through biological and microbiome mechanisms.

## Key findings

- Iridoid, crocin, and polysaccharide fractions showed significant cold properties in a rat model.
- The iridoid fraction had the strongest effect on modulating metabolism and gut microbiota.
- Total extract and certain fractions reduced Firmicutes and Lactobacillus in gut microbiota.

## Abstract

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Gardeniae Fructus is classified as a “cold” herb, a property that is increasingly explained by modern research showing that it can alleviate related disorders through modulation of the central nervous and endocrine systems, energy metabolism, and gut microbiota. This study aimed to elucidate the material foundation and biological mechanisms underlying its cold property. Chemical components of Gardeniae Fructus were separated via multi-stage extraction and characterized by GC-MS and LC-MS, yielding four distinct fractions: aliphatic, iridoid, crocin, and polysaccharide. In a rat model of heat syndrome induced by levothyroxine sodium, administration of the total extract or individual fractions over 15 days modulated central nervous, endocrine, and energy metabolism indicators, with the iridoid, crocin, and polysaccharide fractions demonstrating significant cold properties. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that the total extract, polysaccharide, and iridoid fractions notably reshaped microbial structure, reducing Firmicutes and Lactobacillus abundance. These findings indicate that the iridoid, crocin, and polysaccharide fractions may be key material bases for the cold property of Gardeniae Fructus, with the iridoid fraction exhibiting the strongest effect.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** levothyroxine sodium (PubChem CID 23666112)
- **Species:** Rattus norvegicus (taxon 10116)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** Prkaa2 (protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha 2) [NCBI Gene 78975] {aka Ampk, Ampka2}, Actb (actin, beta) [NCBI Gene 81822] {aka Actx}, Sds (serine dehydratase) [NCBI Gene 25044] {aka RATSDHE1, SDH2, Sdh, Sdhe1, TDH}, Pygl (glycogen phosphorylase L) [NCBI Gene 64035], Mtor (mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase) [NCBI Gene 56718] {aka Frap1, RAFT1}, Avp (arginine vasopressin) [NCBI Gene 24221] {aka ADH, DI, VP, Vas}, Ppargc1a (PPARG coactivator 1 alpha) [NCBI Gene 83516] {aka LRPGC1, PGC-1v, PGCvf, PGCvf-1, PGCvf1, Ppargc1}, Ache (acetylcholinesterase) [NCBI Gene 83817]
- **Diseases:** constipation (MESH:D003248), TCM (MESH:C562377), heat (MESH:D018883), overdose (MESH:D062787), endocrine axis hyperactivity (MESH:D004700), restlessness (MESH:D011595), weight loss (MESH:D015431), febrile (MESH:D000071072), Hyperthyroidism (MESH:D006980), diarrhea (MESH:D003967), fever (MESH:D005334), metabolic hyperactivity (MESH:D008659), Heat Syndrome (MESH:D018882), inflammatory (MESH:D007249), injury to (MESH:D014947), syndrome (MESH:D013577), irritability (MESH:D001523)
- **Chemicals:** ATP (MESH:D000255), agarose (MESH:D012685), sterols (MESH:D013261), lipid (MESH:D008055), T3 (MESH:D014284), GC (MESH:C057580), polyvinylidene difluoride (MESH:C024865), alcohol (MESH:D000438), 5-HT (MESH:D012701), helium (MESH:D006371), iridoid glycosides (MESH:D057889), Iridoid (MESH:D039823), Sodiumlevothyroxine (MESH:D013974), 17-OHCS (-), Crocin (MESH:C029036), geniposide (MESH:C007835), fatty acids (MESH:D005227), carbohydrate (MESH:D002241), propionate (MESH:D011422), TCA (MESH:D014238), gardenoside (MESH:C056587), carotenoids (MESH:D002338), water (MESH:D014867), petroleum ether (MESH:C004544), glycogen (MESH:D006003), NE (MESH:D009356), ethanol (MESH:D000431), saline (MESH:D012965), cGMP (MESH:D006152), polyamide (MESH:D009757), pyruvate (MESH:D019289), sulfate (MESH:D013431), salt (MESH:D012492), formic acid (MESH:C030544), nitrogen (MESH:D009584), DA (MESH:C025953), lactate (MESH:D019344), polysaccharide (MESH:D011134), polyacrylamide (MESH:C016679), acetonitrile (MESH:C032159)
- **Species:** Bacillota (clostridial firmicutes, phylum) [taxon 1239], Lactobacillaceae (family) [taxon 33958], Lactobacillales (order) [taxon 186826], Rattus norvegicus (brown rat, species) [taxon 10116], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Spirochaetia (class) [taxon 203692], Clostridia (class) [taxon 186801], Gardenia jasminoides (species) [taxon 114476], Lactobacillus (genus) [taxon 1578]

## Figures

9 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12940299/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12940299