Impact of rice wine-steamed Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides on intestinal flora and immunological modulation in immunosuppressive mice induced by cyclophosphamide

Traditional rice-wine processing optimizes the molecular structure of Cistanche polysaccharides and significantly enhances their immunomodulatory efficacy in a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression model. The enhanced activity is associated with marked improvements in gut microbiota composition and systemic immune parameters, suggesting involvement of the gut-immune axis. These findings provide a scientific basis for the traditional processing method and support the further development of processed Cistanche as a potential functional food or therapeutic agent.