Fig. 5

Schematic summary of this study. The Methamphetamine (Meth) withdrawal increases anxiety-like behaviors in wild-type (WT) mice, but is alleviated in germ-free (GF) mice, and does not influence that in antibiotics-treated (Abx) mice, indicating the essential role of gut bacteria in Meth withdrawal anxiety. Intragastric Gegen-Qinlian decoction (GQD) treatment during withdrawal period efficiently alleviates Meth withdrawal-induced anxiety in WT mice. The gut bacteria, especially Akkermansia and its metabolism, might be the original pharmacological targets of GQD, which then improved the gut metabolism, permeability and inflammatory microenvironments that were impaired in Meth-withdrawn mice