• Tanshinones from Salvia miltiorrhiza alleviate DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by reducing inflammation and restoring intestinal barrier integrity.
• Integrated multi-omics reveals that tanshinones reprogram the gut microbiota-metabolite axis, reversing dysbiosis and correcting metabolic disturbances.
• Key microbial modules link beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia to anti-inflammatory lipid mediators, while pathobionts like Desulfovibrio are associated with disrupted bile acid metabolism.
• Supplementation with Akkermansia muciniphila synergizes with tanshinone IIA to enhance barrier restoration and metabolic normalization, highlighting microbiome-targeting therapeutic potential.