Polysaccharides from natural resources exhibit great potential in the treatment of ulcerative colitis: A review

Hyaluronic acid modified oral drug delivery system with mucoadhesiveness and macrophage-targeting for colitis treatment

Based on the biocompatibility and macrophage targeting of natural polysaccharides, combined with the physiological and pathological characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract and colonic mucosa of ulcerative colitis (UC), we prepare dexamethasone (Dex)-loaded oral colon-targeted nano-in-micro drug delivery systems coated with multilayers of chitosan (CS), hyaluronic acid (HA), and finally Eudragit S100 (ECHCD MPs) using a layer-by-layer coating technique for UC treatment through regulating the M1/M2 polarization of intestinal macrophages. HA/CS/Dex nanoparticles (HCD NPs) are ingested by macrophages via CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis to regulate M1-to-M2 macrophage polarization and exert anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, ECHCD MPs show better colon-targeting properties than Dex-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CD NPs) and HCD NPs which is demonstrated by stronger mucoadhesion to inflamed colon tissues. After oral administration, ECHCD MPs exert significant anti-UC effects. Therefore, ECHCD MPs are proven to be as promising oral colon-targeting drug delivery systems for Dex and have potential application in UC treatment.

Protective Effects of Different Molecular Weights of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) Aqueous Extract on DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice

Purslane, a common wild vegetable, contains active substances with various biological functions. However, its effects have been under-investigated in ulcerative colitis (UC). Therefore, this study investigated the therapeutic effects of purslane macromolecular (POEM) and small molecular extracts (POES) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice. Membrane separation was used to obtain extracts of different molecular weights, and their compositional differences were compared using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS). POEM contained more proteins and polysaccharides, whereas POES contained more organic acids and alkaloids. These differences in composition were directly responsible for the different degrees of remission of the alleviated UC in model mice. POEM may alleviate UC by regulating the antioxidant capacity and the gut microbiota, whereas the major alleviatory effect of POES was primarily related to the regulation of antioxidant capacity. The POEM and POES effects identified in this study provide a theoretical basis for the development of purslane as a functional food.

Potent Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Enhancement of Nostoc commune Vaucher Polysaccharide Supplementation Ameliorates Acute Ulcerative Colitis in Mice Mediated by Gut Microbiota

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is evolving into a global burden with a substantially increasing incidence in developing countries. It is characterized by inflammation confined to mucosa and is recognized as an intestinal barrier disease. The intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in UC pathogenesis. N. commune has long been appreciated as a healthy food and supplement worldwide and polysaccharides account for 60%. Here, we examined the amelioration of N. commune polysaccharides against acute colitis in mice induced by DSS and assessed the mediating role of gut microbiota. An integrated analysis of microbiome, metabolomics, and transcriptomics fully elaborated it markedly enhanced intestinal mucosal barrier function, including: increasing the relative abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, uncultured_bacterium_g__norank_f__Muribaculaceae, and unclassified_g__norank_f__norank_o__Clostridia_UCG-014; decreasing microbiota-derived phosphatidylcholines and thromboxane 2 levels mapped to arachidonic acid metabolism; improving mucin2 biosynthesis and secretion; enhancing ZO-1 and occludin expression; reducing neutrophil infiltration; regulating the level of colitis-related inflammatory cytokines; involving inflammation and immune function-associated signaling pathways. Further, the mediation effect of gut microbiota was evaluated by administering a cocktail of antibiotics. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that N. commune polysaccharides predominantly reinforced the gut microbiota-mediated intestinal mucosal barrier to confer protection against UC and exhibited dramatic prebiotic-like functions, providing an alternative or complementary treatment for UC.

Polysaccharides from Paecilomyces hepiali Prevent Acute Colitis in Association with Modulating Gut Microbiota and Treg/Th17 Immune Balance in Mice

Cordyceps exopolysaccharide (CEP) has shown emerging potential in adjustment of gut microbiota and immune cell function. In this study, a water-soluble CEP with a molecular weight of 58.14 kDa was extracted from the fermentation broth of Paecilomyces hepiali, an endophytic fungus of Cordyceps sinensis. Our results indicated that Paecilomyces hepiali polysaccharide (PHP) showed significantly preventive potential on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, which can prevent colon shortening, reduce intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) destruction, suppress inflammatory cell infiltration, and regulate the balance between regulatory T (Treg) cells and T helper type 17 (Th17) cells. Meanwhile, the disturbed gut microbiota was partially restored after PHP treatment. Further Pearson correlation coefficient analyses exhibited that the alteration of the gut microbiota was significantly related to adjustment of the IEC barrier and Treg/Th17 balance. In conclusion, all findings proposed that purified PHP has the potential to develop into a promising agent for colitis prevention and adjuvant therapy via maintaining intestinal homeostasis of gut microbiota and immune system.

Mushroom polysaccharides from Grifola frondosa (Dicks.) Gray and Inonotus obliquus (Fr.) Pilat ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice by global modulation of systemic metabolism and the gut microbiota

Introduction: Polysaccharides from Grifola frondosa (Dicks.) Gray (HSH) and Inonotus obliquus (Fr.) Pilat (BHR) showed noticeable effects on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, but their systemic modulation effects have not been fully revealed. This study aimed to investigate the regulation of the gut microbiota and systemic metabolism by HSH and BHR in DSS-induced colitis. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were given DSS (2.5%) in water and were treated with HSH and BHR (200 mg/kg/day) by gavage. Body weight and colon length were recorded, and H&E and AB-PAS staining of the colon were conducted to evaluate the model and the protective effect of the polysaccharides. Additionally, an LC-QTOF/MS-based untargeted metabolomic platform was used to identify the metabolites in the serum, colon tissue, gut contents, and faeces and investigate differential metabolites and metabolic pathways. 16S rDNA gene sequencing was used to measure the composition of bacterial communities. Results: The results showed that the mouse colitis model was established successfully, as evidenced by an increased disease activity index score [2.83 ± 0.62 vs. 0.06 ± 0.14 (p < 0.001)] and shortened colon length [5.43 ± 0.64 cm vs. 7.04 ± 0.29 cm (p < 0.001)], and HSH and BHR ameliorated DSS-induced colitis by improving the disease activity index (2.17 ± 0.28 and 1.83 ± 0.29, respectively) and restoring the colon length (6.12 ± 0.30 cm and 6.62 ± 0.35 cm, respectively). HSH and BHR significantly modulated metabolites involved in aromatic amino acid metabolism, the citrate cycle, purine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, etc. HSH and BHR increased the Chao1 index by 64.25% and 60.25%, respectively, and they increased the Shannon index by 13.02% and 10.23%, respectively. They both reversed the increase in the abundances of g_Odoribacter, g_Clostridium, g_AF12, g_Parabacteroides and g_Turicibacter and reversed the decrease in the abundance of g_unclassified_Bacteria induced by DSS. Specifically, HSH reversed the reductions in g_unclassified_Lactobacillales and g_Ruminococcus, and BHR reversed the decreases in g_unidentified_Coriobacteriaceae and g_unclassified_Firmicutes. Discussion: These results suggested that HSH and BHR may ameliorate DSS-induced colitis by global modulation of systemic metabolism and the gut microbiota. Targeting the gut microbiota may be a potentially effective strategy to modulate systemic metabolism and treat colitis.

The Effects of Synbiotics on Dextran-Sodium-Sulfate-Induced Acute Colitis: The Impact of Chitosan Oligosaccharides on Endogenous/Exogenous Lactiplantibacillus plantarum

In this work, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) isolated from mice feces (LP-M) and pickles (LP-P) were chosen as the endogenous and exogenous L. plantarum, respectively, which were separately combined with chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) to be synbiotics. The anti-inflammatory activity of LP-M, LP-P, COS, and the synbiotics was explored using dextran-sodium-sulfate (DSS)-induced acute colitis mice, as well as by comparing the synergistic effects of COS with LP-M or LP-P. The results revealed that L. plantarum, COS, and the synbiotics alleviated the symptoms of mice colitis and inhibited the changes in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) caused by DSS. In addition, the intervention of L. plantarum, COS, and the synbiotics increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria Muribaculaceae and Lactobacillus and suppressed the pathogenic bacteria Turicibacter and Escherichia-Shigella. There was no statistically difference between LP-M and the endogenous synbiotics on intestinal immunity and metabolism. However, the exogenous synbiotics improved SCFAs, inhibited the changes in cytokines and MPO activity, and restored the gut microbiota more effectively than exogenous L. plantarum LP-P. This indicated that the anti-inflammatory activity of exogenous LP-P can be increased by combining it with COS as a synbiotic.

Dendrobium as a new natural source of bioactive for the prevention and treatment of digestive tract diseases: A comprehensive review with future perspectives

BACKGROUND

The incidence of diseases related to the digestive tract is on the rise, with many types of complex etiologies. Dendrobium nobile Lindl. is a famous Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) rich in many bioactives proven to be beneficial in several health diseases related to inflammation and oxidative stress.

PURPOSE

At present, despite the availability of various therapeutic clinical drugs used for the treatment of digestive tract diseases, resistance emergence and existence of several side effects warrant for the developing of novel drugs for improved effects on digestive tract diseases.

METHODS

"Orchidaceae", "Dendrobium", "inflammation", "digestive tract", and "polysaccharide" were used as search terms to screen the literature. The therapeutic use of Dendrobium related to digestive tract diseases relative to known polysaccharides and other bioactive compounds were derived from online databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Elsevier, Science Direct, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, as well as relevant information on the known pharmacological actions of the listed phytochemicals.

RESULTS

To better capitalize upon Dendrobium for preventing and treating diseases related to digestive tract, this review summarizes bioactives in Dendrobium reported of potential in digestive tract diseases management and their underlying action mechanisms. Studies revealed that Dendrobium encompasses diverse classes including polysaccharides, phenolics, alkaloids, bibenzyls, coumarins, phenanthrene and steroids, with polysaccharide as the major class. Dendrobium exerts various health effects on a variety of disease related to the digestive tract. Action mechanisms involve antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, anticancer, alongside the regulation of some key signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

Overall, Dendrobium appears as a promising TCM source of bioactives that has the potential to be further developed into nutraceuticals for digestive tract diseases compared to current drug treatments. This review highlights for Dendrobium potential effects with future perspectives for needed future research to maximize the use of bioactive compounds from Dendrobium for digestive tract disease treatment. A compile of Dendrobium bioactives is also presented alongside methods for their extraction and enrichment for potential incorporation in nutraceuticals.

The Potential of Natural Oils to Improve Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic intestinal inflammatory disorder that includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), the exact cause of which is still unknown. Numerous studies have confirmed that diet is one of the major environmental factors associated with IBD, as it can regulate the gut microbiota and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Since the consumption of oil is essential in the diet, improving IBD through oil has potential. In this article, we first briefly reviewed the current treatment methods for IBD and introduce the role of natural oils in improving inflammatory diseases. We then focused on the recent discovery of the role of natural oils in the prevention and treatment of IBD and summarized their main mechanisms of action. The results showed that the anti-inflammatory activity of oils derived from different plants and animals has been validated in various experimental animal models. These oils are capable of improving the intestinal homeostasis in IBD animal models through multiple mechanisms, including modulation of the gut microbiota, protection of the intestinal barrier, reduction in colonic inflammation, improvement in oxidative stress levels in the intestine, and regulation of immune homeostasis. Therefore, dietary or topical use of natural oils may have potential therapeutic effects on IBD. However, currently, only a few clinical trials support the aforementioned conclusions. This review emphasized the positive effects of natural oils on IBD and encouraged more clinical trials to provide more reliable evidence on the improvement of human IBD by natural oils as functional substances.

Insights into Q-markers and molecular mechanism of Sanguisorba saponins in treating ulcerative colitis based on lipid metabolism regulation

BACKGROUND

Sanguisorba saponin extract (SSE) is the main active part of Sanguisorba officinalis with various pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant. However, its therapeutic role and underlying mechanisms for ulcerative colitis (UC) still need to be elucidated.

PURPOSE

This study aims to explore the therapeutic effect, effectiveness-material basis-quality markers (Q-markers) and prospective mechanism of function of SSE on UC.

METHODS

Fresh 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) solution was placed in drinking bottles for 7 days to induce a mouse model of UC. SSE and sulfasalazine (SASP) were supplemented to mice by gavage for consecutive 7 days to investigate the therapeutic role of SSE on UC. Mouse monocyte macrophages (RAW264.7) and human normal colonic epithelial (NCM460) cells were treated with LPS to induce inflammatory responses, followed by pharmacodynamic examination with different concentrations of SSE. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Alcian blue staining were conducted to evaluate the pathological damage of mice colon. Lipidomic technology was conducted to explore the differential lipids closely related to the disease process of UC. Quantitative PCR analysis, immunohistochemistry and ELISA kit were used to measure the expression levels of the corresponding proteins and pro-inflammatory factors.

RESULTS

SSE treatment could effectively reduce the elevated expressions of pro-inflammatory factors in RAW264.7 and NCM460 cells due to LPS stimulation. Intragastric administration of SSE was found to significantly alleviate the symptoms of DSS-induced colon injury and low-polar saponins in SSE. Low polarity saponins, especially ZYS-II, were proved to be the main active substances of SSE in treating UC. In addition, SSE could significantly ameliorate the aberrant lipid metabolism in UC mice. The role of phosphatidylcholine (PC)34:1 in the UC pathogenesis has been fully verified in our previous studies. Herein, SSE-dosing effectively reversed the metabolic disorder of PCs in UC mice, and increased the PC34:1 level to normal via up-regulating the expression of phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (PCYT1α).

CONCLUSION

Our data innovatively revealed that SSE could significantly alleviate the symptoms of UC by reversing the disorder of PC metabolism induced by DSS modeling. SSE was proved for the first time to be a promising and effective candidate for UC treatment.

Alleviative effects of natural plant polysaccharides against DSS-induced ulcerative colitis via inhibiting inflammation and modulating gut microbiota

Ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment usually involves either drug therapy or surgery. Natural food polysaccharides have showed great potential for preventing UC. In this study, the therapeutic effects of Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinskaja polysaccharide (CP) and Chinese yam polysaccharide (CYP) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mice UC model and their underlying mechanisms were explored. The results suggested that CP and CYP could improve colitis symptoms in DSS-induced mice, enhance the production of IL-10, inhibit cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α) and reduce MPO activity. Furthermore, they maintained the integrity of intestine by improving the expression of mucin MUC-2, ZO-1 and occludin, which in turn reduced the contents of lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) and endotoxin (ET) in serum and oxidative stress in liver. Finally, they modulated the composition and metabolism of gut microbiota. Notably, Alistipes and Bacteroides were the specific genera in CP and CYP groups, respectively. These findings indicated that polysaccharides might alleviate the development of colitis and inform other relevant studies.

Preventive effect of tilapia skin collagen hydrolysates on ulcerative colitis mice based on metabonomic and 16 S rRNA gene sequencing

BACKGROUND

Tilapia skin collagen hydrolysates (TSCHs) are the product of enzymatic hydrolysis of collagen, which is mainly extracted from tilapia skin. The components of TSCHs have recently been reported to play a preventive role in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC). However, it has not been illustrated whether TSCHs can prevent against DSS-induced UC via the gut microbiota and its derived metabolites.

RESULTS

TSCHs are mainly composed of amino acids, which have similar characteristics to collagen, with most having a molecular weight below 5 kDa. In a mouse model of UC, TSCHs had no toxic effect at a dose of 60 g kg^-1 and could reduce body weight changes, colon length, histopathological changes and score, and the level of the serum inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6. Concurrently, 16 S rRNA sequencing showed that TSCHs significantly reduced the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria at the phylum level and norank_f__Muribaculaceae and Escherichia-Shigella at the genus level, while they increased the abundance of Firmicutes at the phylum level and Lachnoclostridium, Allobaculum, Enterorhabdus, and unclassified__f__Ruminococcaceae at the genus level. Target metabolomic analysis showed that TSCHs elevated the concentration of total acid, acetic acid, propanoic acid, and butanoic acid, but reduced isovaleric acid concentrations. Moreover, Pearson correlation analysis revealed that Allobaculum, unclassified_Ruminococcaceae, and Enterorhabdus were positively correlated with acetic acid and butyric acid, but not Escherichia-Shigella.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that TSCHs can prevent UC by modulating gut microbial and microbiota-derived metabolites. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Role of Seaweed Polysaccharides in Gastrointestinal Health: Protective Effect against Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a prominent global public health issue. Anti-inflammatory medications, immunosuppressants, and biological therapies are currently used as treatments. However, they are often unsuccessful and have negative consequences on human health. Thus, there is a tremendous demand for using natural substances, such as seaweed polysaccharides, to treat IBD's main pathologic treatment targets. The cell walls of marine algae are rich in sulfated polysaccharides, including carrageenan in red algae, ulvan in green algae, and fucoidan in brown algae. These are effective candidates for drug development and functional nutrition products. Algal polysaccharides treat IBD through therapeutic targets, including inflammatory cytokines, adhesion molecules, intestinal epithelial cells, and intestinal microflora. This study aimed to systematically review the potential therapeutic effects of algal polysaccharides on IBD while providing the theoretical basis for a nutritional preventive mechanism for IBD and the restoration of intestinal health. The results suggest that algal polysaccharides have significant potential in complementary IBD therapy and further research is needed for fully understanding their mechanisms of action and potential clinical applications.

Platycodon grandiflorus polysaccharide regulates colonic immunity through mesenteric lymphatic circulation to attenuate ulcerative colitis

Platycodon grandiflorus polysaccharide (PGP) is one of the main components of P. grandiflorus, but the mechanism of its anti-inflammatory effect has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of PGP on mice with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) and explore the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that PGP treatment inhibited the weight loss of DSS-induced UC mice, increased colon length, and reduced DAI, spleen index, and pathological damage within the colon. PGP also reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibited the enhancement of oxidative stress and MPO activity. Meanwhile, PGP restored the levels of Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cell-related cytokines and transcription factors in the colon to regulate colonic immunity. Further studies revealed that PGP regulated the balance of colonic immune cells through mesenteric lymphatic circulation. Taken together, PGP exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effect and regulates colonic immunity to attenuate DSS-induced UC through mesenteric lymphatic circulation.

A special polysaccharide hydrogel coated on Brasenia schreberi: preventive effects against ulcerative colitis via modulation of gut microbiota

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a growing health concern in humans, but it can be prevented by using special dietary strategies. Young stems and leaves of Brasenia schreberi (BS) are coated with a special polysaccharide hydrogel (BS mucilage) which can be beneficial for colon health. The aim of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of BS mucilage against UC in a DSS-treated mouse model. Although containing only 0.3% solid content, our research showed that BS mucilage effectively attenuated the disease activity index (DAI) and the spleen index and downregulated IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6 and CAT mRNA levels in DSS-treated mice, which is a promising UC alleviation function. Additionally, BS mucilage also improved the propionate and butyrate levels in mouse feces and alleviated the imbalanced gut microbiota induced by DSS. The abundance of pro-inflammatory and colorectal cancer related bacteria, such as Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Acutalibacter and Christensenella, was decreased by BS mucilage feeding, whereas the abundance of anti-inflammatory and SCFA-producing bacteria including Alistipes and Odoribacter was increased. In conclusion, the current study shows that the daily consumption of BS mucilage could be an effective way to prevent UC in mice, via modulation of gut microbiota.

The role of the ferroptosis pathway in the regulation of polysaccharides for human health: A review

Polysaccharides are natural polymers with ketone or aldehyde groups that are widely found in plants, animals, and microorganisms. They exhibit various biological activities and have potential development value in the food and pharmaceutical fields. Ferroptosis is a recently discovered modality that modulates cell death and has attracted considerable attention because it is considered to be involved in many pathophysiological processes. The inhibition of ferroptosis by reducing intracellular iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation may provide potential protective strategies against related pathologies. Ferroptosis is also involved in the physiological activities of polysaccharides, and its regulatory mechanism varies according to different physiological activities. However, a systematic summary on the involvement of ferroptosis in the physiological activities of polysaccharides is currently lacking. Therefore, this review systematically summarized the relationship between the physiological activities of polysaccharides and ferroptosis and focused on the regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis, with respect to the anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities of all polysaccharides. The primary objective was to find new polysaccharide-related therapeutic breakthroughs for related diseases and to provide a reference for further research on polysaccharides-based therapeutics.

Polysaccharides from Phellinus linteus: A systematic review of their extractions, purifications, structures and functions

Phellinus linteus (P. linteus) is a famous Chinese medicine and has a long history in China. In recent years, P. linteus polysaccharides (PLPs) have attracted extensive attention because of their biological activities such as anti-bacteria, anti-aging, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-tumor, hepatoprotective effect and hypoglycemic effect. In this review, we systemically summarized the advances in extractions, purifications and structural characterizations of PLPs, and also analyzed their biological functions and molecular mechanisms. Meanwhile, the structure-activity relationships of PLPs are closely related to their anti-oxidation and anti-tumor activities. So far, the applications of PLPs are still very limited, further exploring structure-activity relationships, biological functions and their mechanisms of PLPs will promote to develop functional foods.

Study on the Comprehensive Phytochemicals and the Anti-Ulcerative Colitis Effect of Saussurea pulchella

BACKGROUND

Saussurea pulchella (SP) is a traditional medicinal plant that is widely used in folk medicine because of its diverse biological activities, particularly its anti-inflammatory effects. However, the alleviation effect of SP on ulcerative colitis (UC) has not yet been realized.

PURPOSE

To investigate the chemical composition and therapeutic effect of SP extract against UC.

METHODS

First, qualitative and quantitative analysis of SP 75% ethanol extract was performed by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. Second, a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) model of UC mice was developed to study the effects of SP on the symptoms, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress indexes and colon histopathology. Third, an integration of network pharmacology with metabolomics was performed to investigate the key metabolites, biological targets and metabolisms closely related to the effect of SP.

RESULTS

From the SP ethanol extract, 149 compounds were identified qualitatively and 20 were determined quantitatively. The SP could dose-dependently decrease the DAI score, spleen coefficient and the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS, MPO and MDA; increase the colon length, GSH level and SOD activity; and protect the intestinal barrier in the UC mice. Moreover, 10 metabolite biomarkers,18 targets and 5 metabolisms were found to play crucial roles in the treatment of UC with SP.

CONCLUSIONS

SP 75% ethanol extract could effectively alleviate the progression of UC and, therefore, could be classified as a novel natural treatment for UC.

Hericium erinaceus mycelium-Derived Polysaccharide Alleviates Ulcerative Colitis and Modulates Gut Microbiota in Cynomolgus Monkeys

SCOPE

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is rapidly increasing worldwide but prolong use of available corticosteroids treatment is associated with numerous adverse effects. There is the urgent need to develop novel therapeutic options. However, this requires the use of suitable disease models, but current models are generated with chemical agents mainly in rodents, which are unable to recapitulate the human occurrence. The aim of this study is to validate the occurrence of spontaneous UC in cynomolgus monkeys and explore the potential of Hericium erinaceus mycelium-derived polysaccharide in reversing UC pathologies.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Postmortem bowel evaluation and biochemical analysis including inflammatory markers and fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) as well as nutrition status parameters, confirm the non-artificial induced spontaneous occurrence of UC in cynomolgus monkeys. Subsequently, H. erinaceus mycelium-derived polysaccharide supplementation significantly attenuates UC pathologies, improves nutritional status, reduces the incidence of diarrhea, and reduces inflammation in UC monkeys. Importantly, the polysaccharides administration enhances intestinal function and reshapes the gut microbiota.

CONCLUSION

The study confirms the spontaneous UC monkeys can closely mimic the occurrence of UC in humans. Moreover, H. erinaceus mycelium-derived polysaccharide can effectively restore UC in monkeys, which show the prospects as precision nutritional supplement for the management of UC.

Harnessing polymer-derived drug delivery systems for combating inflammatory bowel disease

The inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is incurable, chronic, recrudescent disorders in the inflamed intestines. Current clinic treatments are challenged by systemic exposure-induced severe side effects, inefficiency after long-term treatment, and increased risks of infection and malignancy due to immunosuppression. Fortunately, naturally bioactive small molecules, reactive oxygen species scavengers (or antioxidants), and gut microbiota modulators have emerged as promising candidates for the IBD treatment. Polymeric systems have been engineered as a delivery vehicle to improve the bioavailability and efficacy of these therapeutic agents through targeting the mucosa and enhancing intestinal adhesion and retention, and reduce their systemic toxicity. Herein we survey polymer-derived drug delivery systems for combating the IBD. Advanced delivery technologies, therapeutic intervention strategies, and the principles for the construction of hierarchical, mucosa-targeting, and bioresponsive systems are elaborated, providing insights into design and development of from-bench-to-bedside drug delivery polymeric systems for the IBD treatment.

Dietary fiber from fruit waste as a potential source of metabolites in maintenance of gut milieu during ulcerative colitis: A comprehensive review

The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease, particularly ulcerative colitis (UC), has increased dramatically in the past few years owing to a changed lifestyle. Despite various therapeutic treatments, management of the disease is still an issue due to several limitations, including cost and adverse reactions. In this regard, researchers and consumers are inclined towards natural herbal medicines and prophylactic agents. Of these, dietary fiber (DF) (polysaccharides) has become an important topic of interest owing to various putative health attributes, particularly for diseases associated with the large intestine, such as UC. To fulfil industrial and scientific demands of dietary fibers, waste utilization can prove advantageous. Here, the present review highlights recent comprehensive advances in dietary fiber from waste resources in improving UC. Additionally, their role in the gut-associated microbiome, pathway for metabolites synthesis, inflammation, and its mediators. Moreover, here we also discussed short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) transport and epithelial barrier function along with the mechanism of inflammation regulation. Collectively, it depicts dietary fiber from waste resources that could regulate various cellular processes and molecular mechanisms involved in perpetuating UC and can be used as a promising therapeutic candidate.

Polysaccharides from natural Cordyceps sinensis attenuated dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in C57BL/6J mice

As potential candidates for treating ulcerative colitis (UC), polysaccharides have been attracting extensive interest in recent years. Cordyceps sinensis (C. sinensis) is a kind of traditional Chinese edible food, and its polysaccharide fractions have been found to be effective in regulating immunity and protecting the kidneys. To determine the potential function of polysaccharides from natural C. sinensis on UC, their effects in terms of histological, serological, biochemical, and immunological aspects on dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice model were investigated. Results showed that the polysaccharides significantly alleviated colitis by increasing the colon length, alleviating colon tissue damage, and inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB pathway. In addition, polysaccharides reduced the contents of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the serum, increased the number of goblet cells, and improved the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins (Occludin and Claudin-1). They also evidently enhanced the formation of IgA-secretory cells and sIgA contents. Furthermore, the polysaccharides modulated the gut microbiota by decreasing the relative abundance of Bilophila and increasing the relative abundance of Dehalobacterium, Coprococcus, Oscillospira, and Desulfovibrio, which is accompanied by an increase in the short chain fatty acids' (SCFAs) concentrations in cecal contents. These results suggested that C. sinensis polysaccharides possessed promising intervening effects on experimental acute UC in mice.

Potential of natural flavonols and flavanones in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease generally characterized by chronic, persistent, recurrent, and non-specific ulcers of the intestine. Its main clinical manifestations include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stools. This disease is difficult to cure and even carries the risk of canceration. It has been listed as a modern refractory disease by the World Health Organization. Though a large amount of drugs are available for the inhibition of UC, the conventional treatment such as aminosalicylic acids, glucocorticoids, immunosuppressors, and biological agents possess certain limitations and serious side effects. Therefore, it is urgently needed for safe and effective drugs of UC, and natural-derived flavonols and flavanones showed tremendous potential. The present study concentrated on the progress of natural-derived flavonols and flavanones from edible and pharmaceutical plants for the remedy of UC over the last two decades. The potential pharmaceutical of natural-derived flavonols and flavanones against UC were closely connected with the modulation of gut microflora, gut barrier function, inflammatory reactions, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. The excellent efficacy and safety of natural flavonols and flavanones make them prospective drug candidates for UC suppression.

Exopolysaccharide from Lactobacillus rhamnosus ZFM231 alleviates DSS-induced colitis in mice by regulating gut microbiota

BACKGROUND

The exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by Lactobacillus and other probiotics are associated with many benefits, such as immune regulation, antioxidant properties, antitumor effect, and regulation of intestinal microbe homeostasis. In the present study, the modulatory effect of EPS produced by Lactobacillus rhamnosus ZFM231 on the intestinal flora of mice with inflammatory bowel disease induced by dextran sulfate solution was investigated.

RESULTS

Results indicated that weight loss, colonic length, the disease activity index score and colonic tissue damage in mice were significantly improved by EPS treatment. Compared with the model group, in the EPS-treated group, the diversity of and the composition of gut microbiota at both phylum and genus levels were found to recover to the levels of normal group, indicating the effective modulation on gut microbiota by EPS; short-chain fatty acids, including acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid produced by intestinal microbial metabolism, increased significantly; the level of anti-inflammatory factor transforning growth factor-β significantly increased and the level of pro-inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor-α significantly decreased in the colonic cells of EPS-treated mice.

CONCLUSION

It is clear that EPS produced by L. rhamnosus ZFM231 could find application in functional foods with the property of anti-ulcerative colitis. The experimental results provide new insights into the probiotic effect of EPS. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Rhinacanthus nasutus and okara polysaccharides attenuate colitis via inhibiting inflammation and modulating the gut microbiota

Plant polysaccharides have prebiotic properties for gut microbiota and immune modulation. This study aimed to investigate the prevention abilities of edible Rhinacanthus nasutus polysaccharide (RNP) and okara polysaccharide (OP) in Sprague-Dawley rats with acetic acid-induced colitis. The characterizations of RNP and OP were analyzed, including Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and monosaccharide composition. The prebiotic properties of RNP and OP were determined in vitro. In addition, the pathological features of colon length and inflammatory cytokine levels in acetic acid-induced colitis were improved by intragastric preadministration of RNP and OP for 3 weeks. There was no nephrotoxicity or hepatotoxicity in rats via histopathological assessment after RNP and OP intake. Moreover, the abundance of short-chain fatty acids-producing bacteria (Lachnospiraceae, Lactobacilli, and Prevotellaceae) were increased after RNP supplementation. In conclusion, intragastric gavage of RNP and OP significantly modulated the gut microbiota and immune response, consequently alleviating the symptoms of colitis. This novel finding provides an alternative strategy and potential application of these two polysaccharides for colitis prevention and treatment.

Effect of Lactobacillus with Feruloyl Esterase-Producing Ability on Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is becoming an increasingly serious health problem. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a newly isolated Lactobacillus species that produces feruloyl esterase (FAEb) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC in mice. In this study, FAEb supplementation slowed body weight loss and mitigated colon length shortening, the severity of fecal occult blood, and increases in the disease activity index (DAI) in UC model mice. FAEb supplementation was also shown to reduce the expression of proinflammatory factors, increase the antioxidant capacity, improve the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), upregulate the expression of tight junction proteins, reduce the histopathological scores, and reduce mucous barrier damage in the gut. Furthermore, FAEb supplementation was shown to inhibit inflammatory NF-κB signaling pathway activity, increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria, and regulate the balance of microbiota in the gut. These results suggest that FAEb may serve as a potential probiotic to prevent and treat UC.

Dietary Supplement of Amomum villosum Lour. Polysaccharide Attenuates Ulcerative Colitis in BALB/c Mice

Amomum villosum Lour. (A. villosum), a comestible medicinal plant, has been traditionally used in China to treat diarrhea, stomach fullness, and abdominal distension. Polysaccharide, the main chemical component of A. villosum, has been shown to possess potential antioxidant and glycosidase inhibitory activities; however, whether it has anticolitis activity is unknown. The aim of this research was to evaluate the anticolitis effects of A. villosum polysaccharide (AVLP) in BALB/c mice. The results showed that AVLP administration significantly reversed body weight loss, colon shortening and colon weight gain and decreased the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in colitis mice (p < 0.05). AVLP administration also maintained intestinal barrier function by the upregulation of ZO-1 protein expression (p < 0.05). In addition, high-throughput sequencing analysis showed that AVLP possessed a great regulatory effect on the growth of Adlercreutzia, Clostridium, Streptococcus, Parabacteroides, Helicobacter, Odoribacter, and Alistipes (p < 0.05, LDA score > 2). The correlation analysis revealed that the protective effects against colitis of AVLP were highly correlated with intestinal bacterium regulation. These results suggest that AVLP intake could serve as a prospective nutritional strategy for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Moringa oleifera leaf polysaccharide alleviates experimental colitis by inhibiting inflammation and maintaining intestinal barrier

The characteristic of ulcerative colitis (UC) is extensive colonic mucosal inflammation. Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) is a medicine food homology plant, and the polysaccharide from M. oleifera leaves (MOLP) exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study to investigate the potential effect of MOLP on UC in a mouse model as well as the underlying mechanism. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) 4% in drinking water was given for 7 days to mice with UC, at the same time, MOLP (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day) was intragastric administered once daily during the experiment. Structural analysis revealed that MOLP had an average molecular weight (Mw) of 182,989 kDa and consisted of fucose, arabinose, rhamnose, galactose, glucose, xylose, mannose, galactose uronic acid, glucuronic acid, glucose uronic acid and mannose uronic acid, with a percentage ratio of 1.64, 18.81, 12.04, 25.90, 17.57, 12.01, 3.51, 5.28, 0.55, 1.27, and 1.43%, respectively. In addition, the features of MOLP were identified by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that MOLP exhibited protective efficacy against UC by alleviating colonic pathological alterations, decreasing goblet cells, crypt destruction, and infiltration of inflammatory cells caused by DSS. Furthermore, MOLP notably repressed the loss of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin proteins in mucosal layer, as well as up-regulating the mRNA expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), whereas down-regulating the activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, these results will help understand the protective action procedure of MOLP against UC, thereby providing significance for the development of MOLP.

Ginger polysaccharides relieve ulcerative colitis via maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and gut microbiota modulation

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an autoimmune disease afflicting an increasing number of patients and increasing demands towards the development of efficacious and safe drugs. Recently, with increasing interest in alternative medicines, natural resources have become a hotspot for drug discovery against UC. In addition to being consumed as a food and spice, ginger is also widely used as a well-recognized gastrointestinal herbal medicine. With a long history in the treatment of digestive disorders, the potential of ginger in alleviating UC has been documented in several experimental models and clinical trials. However, as a major active constituent of ginger, ginger polysaccharides (GP) and its effect on UC has yet to be reported. In this study, GP was firstly separated and characterized. In a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model, GP alleviated UC symptoms by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines levels to regulate intestinal inflammation, repairing the intestinal barrier as indicated by occludin-1 and ZO-1, as well as regulating gut microbiota. Taking these results together, we believe GP could be an innovative option in developing functional foods or therapeutic agents for UC management.

Comparative Analysis of the Metabolites and Biological Activity of Cultivated and Wild Lignosus rhinocerotis

In this paper, Lignosus rhinocerotis (Cooke) Ryvarden (L. rhinocerotis) cultivated in rice medium (LRR) and in sawdust medium (LRS) was harvested. Then, in terms of the LRR, LRS, and wild L. rhinocerotis (LRW), the total flavonoid contents, total polyphenol contents, total polysaccharide contents, and metabolites were detected; antioxidants of their aqueous extracts and anti-inflammatory of their polysaccharides were performed. In addition, the possible mechanism of the polysaccharides of L. rhinocerotis inhibiting lung damage was elucidated. The results showed that 32 compounds were characterized in L. rhinocerotis, including flavonoids, terpenoids, lignans, and steroids and there were 20 compounds in cultivated and wild L. rhinocerotis; LRR has the highest total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, as well as ABTS and DPPH scavenging capacity. The total polysaccharide contents and the FRAP scavenging capacity of wild L. rhinocerotis were higher than those of cultivated L. rhinocerotis. The inhibition of polysaccharides of LRW (PLRW) on LPS-induced MRC-5 damage was stronger than that of the polysaccharides from cultivated L. rhinocerotis. The PLRW may alleviate lung damage by inhibiting the NLRP3 pathway and thereby suppressing the inflammatory response. In summary, both cultivated and wild L. rhinocerotis are abundant in bioactive components and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Comprehensive analysis of microbiome, metabolome and transcriptome revealed the mechanisms of Moringa oleifera polysaccharide on preventing ulcerative colitis

This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Moringa oleifera polysaccharide (MOP) on ulcerative colitis (UC) and explore its mechanism through the combined analysis of microbiome, metabolome and transcriptome. A UC model in mice was established using dextran sulphate sodium. After a 21-day experiment, results showed that MOP could inhibit the weight loss and disease activity index in UC mice. The intervention of MOP decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines and promoted the secretion of tight junctions. MOP could promote the growth of probiotics such as Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136, Intestinimonas and Bifidobacterium in UC mice. The results of metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis indicated that MOP could regulated the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acid and PPAR, TLR and TNF signalling pathways might play important roles in the process. Altogether, MOP could be used as a functional food to prevent UC.

The science behind TCM and Gut microbiota interaction-their combinatorial approach holds promising therapeutic applications

The trend toward herbal medicine as an alternative treatment for disease medication is increasing worldwide. However, insufficient pharmacologic information is available about the orally taken medicines. Not only herbal medicine, but also Western drugs, when passing through the gastrointestinal tract, interact with trillions of microbes (known as the gut microbiome [GM]) and their enzymes. Gut microbiome enzymes induce massive structural and functional changes to the herbal products and impact the bioavailability and efficacy of the herbal therapeutics. Therefore, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) researchers extend the horizon of TCM research to the GM to better understand TCM pharmacology and enhance its efficacy and bioavailability. The study investigating the interaction between herbal medicine and gut microbes utilizes the holistic approach, making landmark achievements in the field of disease prognosis and treatment. The effectiveness of TCM is a multipathway modulation, and so is the GM. This review provides an insight into the understanding of a holistic view of TCM and GM interaction. Furthermore, this review briefly describes the mechanism of how the TCM-GM interaction deals with various illnesses.

Structural characteristics of locust bean gum hydrolysate and its alleviating effect on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis

Background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory lesion of the colon from various causes. As current therapeutic drugs have adverse effects on patients with UC, there is a growing demand for alternative medicines from natural and functional foods. Locust bean gum, as a dietary fiber, has a variety of physiological effects.

Methods

In the present study, locust bean gum hydrolysate (LBGH) was obtained from the acid hydrolysis of locust bean gum. The structure of LBGH was characterized by thin-layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometry (MS)/MS analysis. And we investigated the therapeutic effect of LBGH on a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis.

Results

It was observed that the LBGH consisted of a mixture of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides with a degree of polymerization (DP) 2–7. LBGH treatment dramatically alleviated colonic pathological damage, suppressed the overproduction of pro-inflammatory factors and the activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), increased the mRNA expression of tight junction proteins, and increased the abundance of probiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in the gut.

Conclusion

There is a correlation between these mitigating effects on inflammation and the treatment of LBGH. Therefore, LBGH has tremendous potential in the treatment of colitis.

Current advances and potential trends of the polysaccharides derived from medicinal mushrooms sanghuang

For thousands of years, sanghuang is distinctive as a general designation for a group of precious and rare Chinese medicinal mushrooms. Numerous investigations have revealed that polysaccharide is one of the important biological active ingredients of sanghuang with various excellent biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, and anti-microbial functionalities. For the past two decades, preparation, structural characterization, and reliable bioactivities of the polysaccharides from fruiting bodies, cultured mycelia, and fermentation broth of sanghuang have been arousing extensive interest, and particularly, different strains, sources, and isolation protocols might result in obvious discrepancies in structural features and bioactivities. Therefore, this review summarizes the recent reports on preparation strategies, structural features, bioactivities, and structure-activity relationships of sanghuang polysaccharides, which will enrich the knowledge on the values of natural sanghuang polysaccharides and support their further development and utilization as therapeutic agents, vaccines, and functional foods in tonic and clinical treatment.

Ulva pertusa, a Marine Green Alga, Attenuates DNBS-Induced Colitis Damage via NF-κB/Nrf2/SIRT1 Signaling Pathways

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) represent gastrointestinal (GI) disorders associated with varied responses to microbial and environmental agents. Natural compounds have been suggested as a valid approach to the management of various GI diseases, particularly the green alga Ulva pertusa, belonging to the Ulvaceae family, which showed powerful biological properties. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effect and the mechanism of Ulva pertusa treatments in a murine model of DNBS-induced colitis. Colitis was induced by DNBS intrarectal installation (4 mg in 100 μL of 50% ethanol), while Ulva pertusa treatments (doses of 10, 50 and 100 mg/kg) were administered orally daily. Ulva pertusa, at the higher doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, significantly reduced tissue damage DNBS-induced and the consequent inflammatory cascade via NF-κB inhibition. Furthermore, we demonstrated, for the first time, Ulva pertusa action on the SIRT1/Nrf2 axis, enhancing antioxidant response and the modulation of the apoptosis pathway colitis-induced, regulating the expression of p53, Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspases. Taken together, Ulva pertusa could be considered a valid approach for counteracting and blocking the progression of IBDs through modulation of the NF-κB/SIRT1/Nrf2 axis.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of the main active components in normal and ulcerative colitis rats after oral administration of Zingiberis Rhizoma-Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma herb pair and its single herb extracts by LC-MS/MS

Zingiberis Rhizoma and Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma are usually used together for the treatment of ulcerative colitis in clinical practices. However, their compatibility mechanism remains unclear. In this study, a rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for simultaneous quantification of ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Rb1, and 6-gingerol in rat plasma after oral administration of Zingiberis Rhizoma-Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma herb pair and its single herb extracts. The calibration curves exhibited good linearity, with correlation coefficients of more than 0.993. The precision deviations of intra- and interday analysis were within 10.66%, and accuracy error ranged from -12.74 to 11.56%. The average recoveries of analytes were higher than 76.60% and the matrix effects were minimal. Thus, the validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of four ingredients in normal and ulcerative colitis rat plasma. The results indicated that the pharmacokinetic parameters of four analytes in normal and model groups showed significant differences. The larger exposure (the mean AUC0-t of ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Rb1, and 6-gingerol were increased by 50.93, 141.90, 3.68, and 37.25%, respectively) and slower elimination (the CLz/F of ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rg1, and 6-gingerol were decreased by 52.94, 83.64, and 32.18%, respectively) were observed in ulcerative colitis rats. Furthermore, compared with single herbs, the analytes in rat plasma after oral administration of combined extracts presented relatively high systemic exposure levels with AUC0-t > 2000 h·ng/mL and Cmax > 200 ng/mL. Collectively, the differences of pharmacokinetic characteristics revealed the synergistic effect of Zingiberis Rhizoma-Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma herb pair, which provided a valuable and reliable basis for its clinical application in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Nanocarriers for anticancer drugs: Challenges and perspectives

Cancer is the second most common cause of death globally, surpassed only by cardiovascular disease. One of the hallmarks of cancer is uncontrolled cell division and resistance to cell death. Multiple approaches have been developed to tackle this disease, including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Although chemotherapy is used primarily to control cell division and induce cell death, some cancer cells are able to resist apoptosis and develop tolerance to these drugs. The side effects of chemotherapy are often overwhelming, and patients can experience more adverse effects than benefits. Furthermore, the bioavailability and stability of drugs used for chemotherapy are crucial issues that must be addressed, and there is therefore a high demand for a reliable delivery system that ensures fast and accurate targeting of treatment. In this review, we discuss the different types of nanocarriers, their properties and recent advances in formulations, with respect to relevant advantages and disadvantages of each.

Konjac oligosaccharides attenuate DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice: mechanistic insights

This study aims to explore the protective effect of konjac oligosaccharides (KOS) on inflammatory bowel disease in colitis mice. During the experimental period, mice were administered 200 mg kg^-1 or 600 mg kg^-1 KOS, 200 mg kg^-1 sulfasalazine and a combination of KOS and sulfasalazine for 14 days. The mice were then treated with drinking water containing 2.5% DSS for 9 days, while the intervention of KOS and sulfasalazine continued. At the end of the experiment, the phenotype, pathological lesion of the colon, parameters of cytokines and gut microbiota were evaluated. The results showed that mice treated with KOS exhibited alleviated pathological lesion of the colon tissue and significantly increased expression of tight junction proteins (p < 0.05). The level of inflammatory cytokines in the colon tissue of the colitis mice tended to be normal. Moreover, the analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that the structures and composition of the intestinal microorganisms were also regulated by KOS treatment. The possible internal mechanism is that KOS down-regulates the abundance of pro-inflammatory bacteria (Proteobacteria, Campilobacterota and Clostridiaceae) and up-regulates the abundance of anti-inflammatory bacteria (Bifidobacteriaceae and Akkermansiaceae). These findings provide new insights into dietary management for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of a Novel Pectin Polysaccharide From Rubus chingii Hu on Colitis Mice

Rubus chingii Hu has been used as a functional food for a long time. A novel pectin polysaccharide named RCHP-S from R. chingii Hu was structurally identified and explored its anti-inflammatory effect on colitis mice. RCHP-S was composed of mannose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose. NMR spectroscopy and methylation analysis showed that RCHP-S was mainly composed of HG-type pectin domains but also contains a small amount of RG-I. The anti-inflammatory tests indicated that the mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells pretreated with RCHP-S could show a significant inhibitory effect on the mRNA level of iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in vitro. Polysaccharide RCHP-S reduced the enteritis symptoms in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice by inhibiting released inflammatory factors. These results indicated that the R. chingii Hu polysaccharide can be used as food additives for the treatment of intestinal inflammation.

Glycyrrhiza Polysaccharide Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice

Background

Licorice is one of the most ubiquitous herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, with notable anti-inflammatory and antiulcerative effects as well as potent digestive disease therapeutic impacts; yet, its active components and mechanisms remain unclear. There is a lot of evidence that Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide (GPS) has antioxidants, improving intestinal flora, anti-inflammatory effects, etc. Hypothesis/Purpose. Here, we investigated the effects of GPS on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute ulcerative colitis (UC) mice and its possible mechanisms.

Methods

GPS (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) or the positive control drug sulfasalazine (SASP) (200 mg/kg) were orally administered to mice for 8 days. Body weight was recorded daily. Symptoms associated with UC, such as disease activity index (DAI), colon length, spleen weight, and mucosal damage were detected. The possible mechanism of GPS ameliorating enteritis symptoms was explored by detecting intestinal permeability and serum levels of inflammatory factors, and changes in intestinal permeability were expressed by serum concentration of FITC-dextran and D-lactic acid.

Results

The results demonstrated that GPS administration alleviated UC symptoms in colitis mice, including weight loss, DAI index, shorting colon length, and mucosal damage. Mechanistic evaluation revealed that GPS treatment reduced intestinal permeability and serum levels of inflammatory factors: IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, while increasing serum levels of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10, suggesting that GPS's mechanism in UC is related to reducing intestinal permeability and inhibiting the inflammatory response, with intestinal permeability implicated as the initiating mechanism.

Conclusion

This study highlights GPS as a promising therapeutic agent, with high therapeutic efficacy and a good safety profile, for enteritis and beyond.

Influence of Natural Polysaccharides on Intestinal Microbiota in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: An Overview

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has increased in recent years. Considering the potential side effects of conventional drugs, safe and efficient treatment methods for IBD are required urgently. Natural polysaccharides (NPs) have attracted considerable attention as potential therapeutic agents for IBD owing to their high efficiency, low toxicity, and wide range of biological activities. Intestinal microbiota and their fermentative products, mainly short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), are thought to mediate the effect of NPs in IBDs. This review explores the beneficial effects of NPs on IBD, with a special focus on the role of intestinal microbes. Intestinal microbiota exert alleviation effects via various mechanisms, such as increasing the intestinal immunity, anti-inflammatory activities, and intestinal barrier protection via microbiota-dependent and microbiota-independent strategies. The aim of this paper was to document evidence of NP–intestinal microbiota-associated IBD prevention, which would be helpful for guidance in the treatment and management of IBD.

Selenium-containing tea polysaccharides ameliorate DSS-induced ulcerative colitis via enhancing the intestinal barrier and regulating the gut microbiota

Both tea polysaccharides and selenium have certain remission potential for ulcerative colitis (UC), but few reports focused on natural selenium-containing tea polysaccharides. The purpose of this study was to isolate a selenium-containing tea polysaccharide (ASeTP) and determine its structure and effects on UC. Results showed that ASeTP was primarily composed of three purified, β-pyranoside-linked, protein-binding polysaccharides (SeTP-1, SeTP-2, and SeTP-3) with SeOC, OSeO, and SeO linkages. Specifically, SeTP-1 was a neutral heteropolysaccharide principally composed of mannose, glucose, galactose, xylose, and arabinose, while SeTP-2 and SeTP-3 were acidic heteropolysaccharides due to the existence of glucuronic acid. ASeTP effectively alleviated the symptoms of weight loss, colon shortens, and disease activity index scores increase in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice. ASeTP attenuated the histological damage and maintained the colonic mucosal barrier via up-regulating the expression of occludin, claudin-1, and zona occludens-1 (ZO-1). ASeTP suppressed the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhanced the antioxidant capacity of colon tissue. Besides, ASeTP beneficially increased the selenium content of the colon. Furthermore, ASeTP remodeled the gut microbiota by accelerating the proliferation of beneficial bacteria and inhibiting pathogenic microorganisms. Thus, ASeTP has the potential to be a functional food against colitis.