Protective effects of Ficus hirta Vahl. intestinal epithelial cells injury through the microRNA-195/HNMT pathway in vitro and in vivo

This study elucidates the intestinal epithelial protective effects of EFhV, the ethanol extract of Ficus hirta Vahl, a popular edible plant. In vitro experiments demonstrated that EFhV enhances proliferation/migration of IEC-6 and HCoEpiC cells, reverses drug-induced growth inhibition (e.g., DFMO, clindamycin hydrochloride), and alleviates cell cycle arrest (G0/G1 phase). Mechanistically, EFhV downregulates microRNA-195, which targets histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT), thereby restoring HNMT expression at both mRNA and protein levels. In vivo experiments confirmed EFhV's efficacy in mitigating intestinal epithelial damage in fasting and antibiotic rat models, normalizing miR-195/HNMT dysregulation. These findings reveal the miR-195/HNMT axis as a key pathway through which EFhV promotes intestinal repair and homeostasis, supporting its potential as a dietary intervention for gut barrier protection and digestive disorder management.