Manipulations of glucose/lipid metabolism and gut microbiota of resistant starch encapsulated Ganoderma lucidum spores in T2DM rats

A review of the fungal polysaccharides as natural biopolymers: Current applications and future perspective

As a unique natural resource, fungi are a sustainable source of lipids, polysaccharides, vitamins, proteins, and other nutrients. As a result, they have beneficial medicinal and nutritional properties. Polysaccharides are among the most significant bioactive components found in fungi. Increasing research has revealed that fungal polysaccharides (FPS) contain a variety of bioactivities, including antitumor, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and anti-aging properties. However, the exact knowledge about FPS and their applications related to their future possibilities must be thoroughly examined to enhance a better understanding of this sustainable biopolymer source. Therefore, FPS' biological applications and their role in the food and feed industry, agriculture, and cosmetics applications were all discussed in this work. In addition, this review highlighted the mode of action of FPS on human diseases by regulating gut microbiota and discussed the mechanism of FPS as antioxidants in the living cell. The structure-activity connections of FPS were also highlighted and explored. Moreover, future perspectives were listed to pave the way for future studies of FPS applications. Hence, this study can be a scientific foundation for future FPS research and industrial applications.

From ancient wisdom to modern science: Gut microbiota sheds light on property theory of traditional Chinese medicine

The property theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been practiced for thousands of years, playing a pivotal role in the clinical application of TCM. While advancements in energy metabolism, chemical composition analysis, machine learning, ion current modeling, and supercritical fluid technology have provided valuable insight into how aspects of TCM property theory may be measured, these studies only capture specific aspects of TCM property theory in isolation, overlooking the holistic perspective inherent in TCM. To systematically investigate the modern interpretation of the TCM property theory from multidimensional perspectives, we consulted the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition) to compile a list of Chinese materia medica (CMM). Then, using the Latin names of each CMM and gut microbiota as keywords, we searched the PubMed database for relevant research on gut microbiota and CMM. The regulatory patterns of different herbs on gut microbiota were then summarized from the perspectives of the four natures, the five flavors and the meridian tropism. In terms of the four natures, we found that warm-natured medicines promoted the colonization of specific beneficial bacteria, while cold-natured medicines boosted populations of some beneficial bacteria while suppressing pathogenic bacteria. Analysis of the five flavors revealed that sweet-flavored and bitter-flavored CMMs positively influenced beneficial bacteria while inhibiting harmful bacteria. CMMs with different meridian tropism exhibited complex modulative patterns on gut microbiota, with Jueyin (Liver) and Taiyin (Lung) meridian CMMs generally exerting a stronger effect. The gut microbiota may be a biological indicator for characterizing the TCM property theory, which not only enhances our understanding of classic TCM theory but also contributes to its scientific advancement and application in healthcare. Please cite this article as: Yang YN, Zhan JG, Cao Y, Wu CM. From ancient wisdom to modern science: Gut microbiota sheds light on property theory of traditional Chinese medicine. J Integr Med 2024; 22(4): 413-445.

PuRenDan alleviates type 2 diabetes mellitus symptoms by modulating the gut microbiota and its metabolites

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

PuRenDan (PRD) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula comprising five herbs that have been traditionally used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). While PRD has been shown to be effective in treating T2DM in clinical and animal studies, the mechanisms by which it works on the gut microbiome and metabolites related to T2DM are not well understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study was to partially elucidate the mechanism of PRD in treating T2DM through analyses of the gut microbiota metagenome and metabolome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were fed high-fat diets (HFDs) and injected with low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) to replicate T2DM models. Then the therapeutic effects of PRD were evaluated by measuring clinical markers such as blood glucose, insulin resistance (IR), lipid metabolism biomarkers (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, non-esterified fatty acids, and triglycerides), and inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6 [IL-6], interferon gamma, and IL-1β). Colon contents were collected, and metagenomics, combined with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry metabolic profiling, was performed to evaluate the effects of T2DM and PRD on gut microbiota and its metabolites in rats. Spearman analysis was used to calculate the correlation coefficient among different microbiota, clinical indices, and metabolites.

RESULTS

PRD exhibited significant improvement in blood glucose and IR, and reduced serum levels of lipid metabolism biomarkers and inflammatory factors. Moreover, the diversity and abundance of gut microbiota undergo significant changes in rats with T2DM that PRD was able to reverse. The gut microbiota associated with T2DM including Rickettsiaceae bacterium 4572_127, Psychrobacter pasteurii, Parabacteroides sp. CAG409, and Paludibacter propionicigenes were identified. The gut microbiota most closely related to PRD were Prevotella sp. 10(H), Parabacteroides sp. SN4, Flavobacteriales bacterium, Bacteroides massiliensis, Alistipes indistinctus, and Ruminococcus flavefaciens. Additionally, PRD regulated the levels of gut microbiota metabolites including pantothenic acid, 1-Methylhistamine, and 1-Methylhistidine; these affected metabolites were involved in pantothenate and coenzyme A biosynthesis, histidine metabolism, and secondary bile acid biosynthesis. Correlation analysis illustrated a close relationship among gut microbiota, its metabolites, and T2DM-related indexes.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides insights into the gut microbiota and its metabolites of PRD therapy for T2DM. It clarifies the role of gut microbiota and the metabolites in the pathogenesis of T2DM, highlighting the potential of PRD for the treatment of this disease.

Regulatory effect of Ganoderma lucidum and its active components on gut flora in diseases

Driven by the good developmental potential and favorable environment at this stage, Ganoderma lucidum is recognized as a precious large fungus with medicinal and nutritional health care values. Among them, polysaccharides, triterpenoids, oligosaccharides, trace elements, etc. are important bioactive components in G. lucidum. These bioactive components will have an impact on gut flora, thus alleviating diseases such as hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and obesity caused by gut flora disorder. While numerous studies have demonstrated the ability of G. lucidum and its active components to regulate gut flora, a systematic review of this mechanism is currently lacking. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the regulatory effects of G. lucidum and its active components on gut flora in cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and renal metabolic diseases, and summarize the research progress of G. lucidum active components in improving related diseases by regulating gut flora. Additionally, review delves into the principle by which G. lucidum and its active components can treat or assist treat diseases by regulating gut flora. The research progress of G. lucidum in intestinal tract and its potential in medicine, health food and clinical application were fully explored for researchers.

Nutrition at the Intersection between Gut Microbiota Eubiosis and Effective Management of Type 2 Diabetes

Nutrition is one of the most influential environmental factors in both taxonomical shifts in gut microbiota as well as in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Emerging evidence has shown that the effects of nutrition on both these parameters is not mutually exclusive and that changes in gut microbiota and related metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) may influence systemic inflammation and signaling pathways that contribute to pathophysiological processes associated with T2DM. With this background, our review highlights the effects of macronutrients, carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, as well as micronutrients, vitamins, and minerals, on T2DM, specifically through their alterations in gut microbiota and the metabolites they produce. Additionally, we describe the influences of common food groups, which incorporate varying combinations of these macronutrients and micronutrients, on both microbiota and metabolic parameters in the context of diabetes mellitus. Overall, nutrition is one of the first line modifiable therapies in the management of T2DM and a better understanding of the mechanisms by which gut microbiota influence its pathophysiology provides opportunities for optimizing dietary interventions.

Potentialities of Ganoderma lucidum extracts as functional ingredients in food formulation

Owing to the recognized therapeutic characteristics of G. lucidum, it is one of the most extensively researched mushrooms as a chemopreventive agent and as a functional food. It is a known wood-degrading basidiomycete possessing numerous pharmacological functions and is termed a natural pharmacy store due to its rich number of active compounds which have proved to portray numerous therapeutic properties. This current review highlights studies on the potentialities of G. lucidum extracts as functional ingredients on organoleptic and nutritional properties of food products (e.g., dairy, wine, beverage, bakery, meat, and other products). In addition, the study delved into various aspects of encapsulated G. lucidum extracts, their morphological and rheological characteristics, prebiotic and immunomodulatory importance, the effects on apoptosis, autophagy, cancer therapy, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, antioxidant activities, and safety concerns. These findings have significant implications for the development of new products in the food and pharmaceutical industries. On the other hand, the various active compounds extracted from G. lucidum exhibited no toxic or adverse effects, and the appeal for it as a dietary food, natural remedy, and health-fortifying food is drastically increasing as well as attracting the interest of both the industrial and scientific communities. Furthermore, the formation of functional foods based on G. lucidum appears to have actual promise and exciting prospects in nutrition, food, and pharmaceutical sciences.

Pharmacological Activities and Safety of Ganoderma lucidum Spores: A Systematic Review

Ganoderma lucidum is traditionally used to prevent and treat some diseases such as liver disorders, hypertension, insomnia, diabetes, and cancer. G. lucidum spore extracts are also reported to share similar bioactivities as extracts from its other parts. However, there is no systematic review that elucidates its pharmacological effect. Our aim is to comprehensively summarise current evidence of G. lucidum spore extracts to clarify its benefits to be applied in further studies. We searched five primary databases: PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Global Health Library (GHL), System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe (SIGLE), and Google Scholar on September 13, 2021. Articles were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. A manual search was applied to find more relevant articles. Ninety studies that reported the pharmacological effects and/or safety of G. lucidum spores were included in this review. The review found that G. lucidum spore extracts showed quite similar effects as other parts of this medicinal plant including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant effects, and immunomodulation. G. lucidum sporoderm-broken extract demonstrated higher efficiency than unbroken spore extract. G. lucidum extracts also showed their effects on some genes responsible for the body's metabolism, which implied the benefits in metabolic diseases. The safety of G. lucidum should be investigated in depth as high doses of the extract could increase levels of cancer antigen (CA)72-4, despite no harmful effect shown on body organs. Generally, there is a lot of potential in the studies of compounds with pharmacological effects and new treatments. Sporoderm breaking technique could contribute to the production of extracts with more effective prevention and treatment of diseases. High doses of G. lucidum spore extract should be used with caution as there was a concern about the increase in CA.

Taraxasterol Inhibits Hepatic Gluconeogenesis and Increases Glycogen Synthesis via the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Objective: Taraxasterol (TS) is the main active compound of Taraxacum, which plays a significant role in the treatment of diabetes in many classic prescriptions. However, the mechanisms of TS in the treatment of diabetes remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism of TS in hepatic gluconeogenesis and glycogen synthesis in HepG2 cells with insulin resistance (IR). Methods: Molecular docking was conducted by using Discovery Studio (DS) to predict the target of TS in the treatment of diabetes. Then we treated HepG2 cells with glucosamine for 18 h. After the cells were treated with TS, the glucose consumption was examined. Oil red O staining was used to detect the lipid accumulation of HepG2 cells, and cellular glucose uptake levels were assessed using fluorescent 2-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl) amino)-2-deoxy-D-glucose. The expression of the related proteins of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the HepG2 cells was evaluated by western blot assay. Results: The molecular docking analysis revealed a good binding pose between the insulin receptor and TS. Furthermore, TS administration significantly enhanced glucose uptake and consumption, and reduced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells with IR. The results of pharmacological mechanism study showed that TS up-regulated glycogenesis by PI3K/Akt/GSK3-motivated GS activation, and down-regulated gluconeogenesis by PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 expression of PEPCK and G6Pase in HepG2 cells with IR. Conclusions: Molecular docking and in vitro experimental results indicate that TS suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis and augments glycogen synthesis by the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and it may have similar effects as insulin in regulating blood glucose.

The Interaction between Mushroom Polysaccharides and Gut Microbiota and Their Effect on Human Health: A Review

Mushroom polysaccharides are a kind of biological macromolecule extracted from the fruiting body, mycelium or fermentation liquid of edible fungi. In recent years, the research on mushroom polysaccharides for alleviating metabolic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, cancers and other symptoms by changing the intestinal microenvironment has been increasing. Mushroom polysaccharides could promote human health by regulating gut microbiota, increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids, improving intestinal mucosal barrier, regulating lipid metabolism and activating specific signaling pathways. Notably, these biological activities are closely related to the molecular weight, monosaccharide composition and type of the glycosidic bond of mushroom polysaccharide. This review aims to summarize the latest studies: (1) Regulatory effects of mushroom polysaccharides on gut microbiota; (2) The effect of mushroom polysaccharide structure on gut microbiota; (3) Metabolism of mushroom polysaccharides by gut microbiota; and (4) Effects of mushroom polysaccharides on gut microbe-mediated diseases. It provides a theoretical basis for further exploring the mechanism of mushroom polysaccharides for regulating gut microbiota and gives a reference for developing and utilizing mushroom polysaccharides as promising prebiotics in the future.

Research Progress on Hypoglycemic Mechanisms of Resistant Starch: A Review

In recent years, the prevalence of diabetes is on the rise, globally. Resistant starch (RS) has been known as a kind of promising dietary fiber for the prevention or treatment of diabetes. Therefore, it has become a hot topic to explore the hypoglycemic mechanisms of RS. In this review, the mechanisms have been summarized, according to the relevant studies in the recent 15 years. In general, the blood glucose could be regulated by RS by regulating the intestinal microbiota disorder, resisting digestion, reducing inflammation, regulating the hypoglycemic related enzymes and some other mechanisms. Although the exact mechanisms of the beneficial effects of RS have not been fully verified, it is indicated that RS can be used as a daily dietary intervention to reduce the risk of diabetes in different ways. In addition, further research on hypoglycemic mechanisms of RS impacted by the RS categories, the different experimental animals and various dietary habits of human subjects, have also been discussed in this review.