Chemical studies on the polysaccharides of Salicornia brachiata

Protective effects of Chinese bayberry pomace wine against oxidative stress on Drosophila melanogaster

The Chinese bayberry pomace wine (CPW) was prepared with the assisted fermentation of lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid bacteria, and its antioxidant effect on Drosophila melanogaster was researched. After mixed fermentation, CPW had a better color, which means there was more retention of anthocyanins, and the functional activity of anthocyanins could enhance the antioxidant capacity of flies. We found that the lifespan of flies exposed to CPW was prolonged, and the reproductive capacity of these flies was decreased. The food intake of flies was also influenced by CPW with gender differences. Furthermore, CPW alleviated the excessive proliferation of the intestinal precursor cells of H2O2-induced flies and activated the transcription level of antibacterial peptide genes. CPW had a protective effect on H2O2-induced acute injury flies, with an increased survival rate, enhanced SOD and CAT activities, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in flies. The expression of oxidative stress-related genes including CuZn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and CAT was also significantly upregulated by CPW, but the downregulation effect of CPW on age-related gene expression such as methuselah (MTH), the target of rapamycin (TOR) and ribosomaiprotein S6 kinase (S6K) was sex-specific. These results suggested that CPW played an important role in anti-oxidative stress injury, which was beneficial to promoting the reuse of by-products from Chinese bayberry processing.

Effects of steam explosion pretreatment on the digestive properties and gut microbiota of Laminaria japonica polysaccharide

BACKGROUND

Laminaria japonica polysaccharide, which is an important bioactive substance of Laminaria japonica with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, the molecular weight, functional groups and surface morphology were investigated to evaluate the digestive properties of Laminaria japonica polysaccharide before and after steam explosion.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the Laminaria japonica polysaccharide entered the large intestine to be utilized by the gut microbiota after passing through the oral, gastric and small intestinal. Meanwhile, Laminaria japonica polysaccharide of steam explosion promoted the growth of beneficial bacteria Phascolarctobacterium and Intestinimonas, and increased the content of acetic, propionic and butyric acids, which was 2.29-folds, 2.60-folds and 1.63-folds higher than the control group after 48 h of fermentation.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals that the effect of steam explosion pretreatment on the digestion in vitro and gut microbiota of Laminaria japonica polysaccharide will provide a basic theoretical basis for the potential application of Laminaria japonica polysaccharide as a prebiotic in the food industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

In vitro digestive properties of Dictyophora indusiata polysaccharide by steam explosion pretreatment methods

Dictyophora indusiata is medicinal and edible fungi containing various nutrients. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficient extraction and structural evolution of Dictyophora indusiata polysaccharide during the vitro digestion based on steam explosion pretreatment methods. In this study, the extraction rate of Dictyophora indusiata polysaccharide was optimized by steam explosion pretreatment methods, which was 2.46 folds that of the water extraction method. In addition, the digestion and fermentation properties of Dictyophora indusiata polysaccharide before and after steam explosion were evaluated in vitro by the changes of molecular weights, total and reducing sugars levels, surface morphology and functional groups, which showed that the structure of Dictyophora indusiata polysaccharide remained stable after salivary-gastric digestion, and partially entered the large intestine, where it could be utilized by gut microbiota. Dictyophora indusiata polysaccharide promoted the increase of beneficial bacteria Megamonas and increased the content of acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid, which was 2.17, 2.81, 2.43 folds that of the CON group after fermentation for 24 h, and 1.87, 2.77, 1.90 folds that of the CON group after fermentation for 48 h, respectively. This study will provide theoretical basis for the high value utilization of Dictyophora indusiata polysaccharide.

Characterisation of an anticomplement polysaccharide BP-S1 from seeds of Brucea javanica

Bioactivity-guided purification obtained polysaccharide BP-S1 from seeds of Brucea javanica. The results showed that BP-S1 was a homogenous polysaccharide with molecular weight of 45.7 kDa, mainly composed of arabinose and glucose in the ratio of 1.0:1.0 and the backbone of BP-S1 was deduced to be →3,4)-α-Glup-(1→ with branches of →2)-α-Arap-(1→and α-Arap-(1→, and the possible repetitive units were speculated according to result of methylation and 2D-NMR. Moreover, BP-S1 is a periodic rope-like structure. Functional analysis revealed that BP-S1 inhibited complement activation on the classic and alternative pathways with values of CH50 0.073 ± 0.012 mg/mL and AP50 0.097 ± 0.004 mg/mL, respectively. In mechanism study, using complement component depleted-sera methods indicated that BP-S1 selectively interacted with C3 and C4 components.

Extraction of Polysaccharides from Root of Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax. and the Effects of Ultrasound Treatment on Its Properties and Antioxidant and Immune Activities

The hydrophilic polysaccharides (PS) were isolated and purified from the tuberous roots of Pseudostellaria heterophylla. The extraction process of PS from Pesudostellariae radix was optimized by single-factor experiments and orthogonal design. The extract was purified by DEAE cellulose column to obtain the pure polysaccharide PHP. Then PHP was treated with different intensities of sonication to study the effect of sonication on PHP's characteristics and its biological activity in vitro and in vivo. The results of this study revealed that ultrasound treatment did not significantly change the properties of PHP. Further, with the increase of ultrasound intensity, PHP enhanced the proliferation and phagocytosis of macrophage RAW264.7. Meanwhile, it could also significantly improve the body's antioxidant activity and immune function. The results of this study demonstrated that PHP has the potential as a food additive with enhanced antioxidant and immune functions, and its biological activities could be enhanced by sonication.

Salicornia bigelovii, S. brachiata and S. herbacea: Their Nutritional Characteristics and an Evaluation of Their Potential as Salt Substitutes

Excessive sodium (salt) intake in our diet is a main contributor to hypertension and a major risk factor for cardiovascular illnesses. As a result, research has made great efforts to develop salt alternatives, and Salicornia spp. offers a very high potential in the food industry for its promising functional characteristics. This review focuses on the nutritional profile, health effects and commercial potential of three specific species of the Salicornia genus: S. bigelovii, S. brachiata and S. herbacea. It also addresses the methods that are used to produce them as salt substitutes. Owing to the antinutritional and anti-inflammatory effects of its bioactive compounds, Salicornia spp. can serve as an organic biological preservative in foods with better consumer appeal when compared with chemical preservatives that are common in the food industry. Overall, the commercial use of these underutilized species will help to improve food security.

Novel Compound Polysaccharides from Chinese Herbal Medicines: Purification, Characterization, and Antioxidant Activities

The present study investigated physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities in vivo and in vitro of purified compound polysaccharides (CPs-1) from Chinese herbal medicines, composed of lotus leaf, hawthorn, Fagopyrum tataricum, Lycium barbarum, Semen cassiae, and Poria cocos with the mass ratio of 2 : 4 : 2 : 1 : 1.5 : 1. The HPGPC profile and FT-IR spectra indicated that the average molecular weight of CPs-1 was 38.7 kDa and possessed the α- and β-D-pyranose, respectively. The methylation analysis and NMR spectrum demonstrated that CPs-1 had a →6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→6)-β-D-Glcp(1→ backbone. Furthermore, the antioxidant assays in vitro revealed that CPs-1 displayed high scavenging abilities for DPPH, hydroxyl, and reducing power, as well as ABTS and superoxide scavenging capacity. The antioxidant experiments in vivo revealed that CPs-1 could significantly enhance CAT, SOD, and GSH-Px activities and dramatically reduce MDA levels in liver and serum of high-fat mice. Therefore, CPs-1 could be potentially incorporated into pharmaceutical products or functional foods as a natural antioxidant.

Therapeutic potential of Moringa oleifera seed polysaccharide embedded silver nanoparticles in wound healing

Wound healing is a complicated process that influences patient's life quality. Plant-based polysaccharide has recently gained interest in its use in wound dressing materials because of its biological compatibility, natural abundance, and ideal physiochemical properties. The present study reveals the potential of polysaccharide isolated from Moringa oleifera seed (MOS-PS) and its nanocomposite with silver (MOS-PS-AgNPs) as alternative materials for wound dressing. First, MOS-PS was isolated and structurally characterized by TLC, HPLC, FTIR, NMR, and GPC analyses. A green and simple method was used to synthesize AgNPs using MOS-PS as a stabilizing and reducing agent. The size, morphology, and structure of the MOS-PS-AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and zeta potential analysis. The results showed that the MOS-PS-AgNPs were spherically shaped, having no cytotoxicity toward mouse fibroblasts cells and promoting their in-vitro migration. Moreover, the MOS-PS-AgNPs displayed strong anti-microbial activity against wound infectious pathogenic bacteria. Finally, the MOS-PS-AgNPs were used for dressing animal wounds and its preliminary mechanism was studied by RT-PCR and histological analysis. The results showed that the MOS-PS-AgNPs can promote wound contraction and internal tissue growth well. Overall, our results indicated that the MOS-PS-AgNPs might be an excellent candidate for use as an optimal wound dressing material.

Pectic polysaccharides from edible halophytes: Insight on extraction processes, structural characterizations and immunomodulatory potentials

The preparation, chemical properties and bio-activities of polysaccharides derived from halophytes have gained an increasing interest in the past few years. Phytochemical and pharmacological reports have shown that carbohydrates are important biologically active compounds of halophytes with numerous biological potentials. It is believed that the mechanisms involved in these bio-activities are due to the modulation of immune system. The main objective of this summary is to appraise available literature of a comparative study on the extraction, structural characterizations and biological potentials, particularly immunomodulatory effects, of carbohydrates isolated from halophytes (10 families). This review also attempts to discuss on bioactivities of polysaccharides related with their structure-activity relationship. Data indicated that the highest polysaccharides yield of around 35% was obtained under microwave irradiation. Structurally, results revealed that the most of extracted carbohydrates are pectic polysaccharides which mainly composed of arabinose (from 0.9 to 72%), accompanied by other monosaccharides (galactose, glucose, rhamnose, mannose and xylose), significant amounts of uronic acids (from 18.9 to 90.1%) and some proportions of fucose (from 0.2 to 8.3%). The molecular mass of these pectic polysaccharides was varied from 10 to 2650 kDa. Hence, the evaluation of these polysaccharides offers a great opportunity to discover novel therapeutic agents that presented especially beneficial immunomodulatory properties. Moreover, reports indicated that uronic acids, molecular weights, as well as the presence of sulfate and unmethylated acidic groups may play a significant role in biological activities of carbohydrates from halophyte species.

Technology of a dietary supplement “SoleVit Mg” based on Salicornia Europaea L. for use in food technologies

On the basis of the above-ground part of the plant samples of Salicornia Europaea, technologies of the dietary supplement “SoleVit Mg” and frozen semi-finished products for use in food technologies have been developed. It has been experimentally confirmed that they contain all groups of basic nutrients – proteins, fats and carbohydrates, are a source of valuable vitamins (choline, nicotinic acid, vitamin C, β-carotene, etc.) and mineral elements, have an increased content of sodium chloride, have antioxidant activity. Sodium – 3460 mg, potassium – 1155 mg, magnesium – 770 mg, calcium – 580 mg, phosphorus – 650 mg, silicon – 80 mg, zinc – 11.5 mg, iron – 9.6 mg, manganese – 2.9 mg. Microbiological studies have confirmed the compliance of the safety indicators of the developed additive with current requirements and sanitary standards Using frozen semi-finished products from Salicornia, the technology of salted curd masses with high organoleptic characteristics has been developed. Promising areas of application of Salicornia in food technologies have been formulated. It is proposed to use a dietary supplement to create food products and optimize the diet of the population in order to enrich with substances of plant origin, mineral elements, biologically active substances, to prevent and maintain the functional activity of the human body.

PL-S2, a homogeneous polysaccharide from Radix Puerariae lobatae, attenuates hyperlipidemia via farnesoid X receptor (FXR) pathway-modulated bile acid metabolism

Polysaccharides are important active constituents of Radix Puerariae lobatae (RPL). In this study, a novel homogeneous polysaccharide from RPL was successfully obtained by HP-20 macroporous resin and purified by Sepharose G-100 column chromatography. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis showed that the main glycosidic bonds were composed of α-1,3-linked and α-1,4-linked glucose. The molecular weight of PL-S2 was 18.73 kDa. The hypolipidemic effect of PL-S2 on hyperlipidemic rats was evaluated in histopathology and metabolomics analyses. PL-S2 significantly reduced plasma lipid levels and inhibited bile acid metabolism. We also demonstrated that treatment with PL-S2 activated FXR, CYP7A1, BESP, and MRP2 in rat liver. Our findings first indicate that PL-S2 decreases plasma lipid levels in hyperlipidemic rats by activating the FXR signaling pathway and promoting bile acid excretion. Therefore, PL-S2 derived from RPL is implicated as a functional food factor with lipid-regulating activity, and highlighted as a potential food supplement for the treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Structural analysis and potential anti-tumor activity of Sporisorium reilianum (Fries) polysaccharide

A neutral polysaccharide WM-NP-60 was successfully isolated and purified from a phytopathogenic fungus Sporisorium reilianum (Fries). The characteristics and potential antitumor activities of WM-NP-60 were studied. WM-NP-60 was a water-soluble polysaccharide. The molecular weight of WM-NP-60 was 15.6 kDa. The main chain of WM-NP-60 was composed of β-1,6-D-Glcp and its side chains were β-1,3-D-Glcp. The side chains bound to the main chain with glycosyl groups at the C-3 positions. Gal might be attached to the backbone as a side chain or bound to the linear β-1,3-D-Glcp side chain. WM-NP-60 could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 and SGC7901 cells in a dose-dependently manner. In addition, it was found that WM-NP-60 triggered the HepG2 and SGC7901 cell cycle arrest at the G₁ phase and induced apoptosis of HepG2 and SGC7901 cells. Taken together, these results suggested that WM-NP-60 possessed a tumor-suppressive activity and might be regarded as a potential natural anti-tumor drug.

Isolation, characterization and cytoprotective effects against UV radiation of exopolysaccharide produced from Paenibacillus polymyxa PYQ1

A novel exopolysaccharide (EPS) from Paenibacillus polymyxa PYQ1 was extracted, well purified and characterized. This EPS was homogeneous glucomannan-type polysaccharide with the average molecular weight of 4.38 × 10⁶ Da. Structural characterization indicated that the monosaccharides of EPS were pyranoses connected by β-glycosidic linkages. Furthermore, our results showed the protective benefits of EPS against UVC induced cytotoxicity in HaCaT cells through scavenging excessive reactive oxygen species, mitigating the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential, improving catalase activity and maintaining membrane integrity. Taken together, this study qualified EPS from P. polymyxa PYQ1 was a promising natural polymer which worth further investigation as a skin-care agent.

Extraction kinetics, thermodynamics, rheological properties and anti-BVDV activity of the hot water assisted extraction of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide

The extraction kinetics and thermodynamic parameters of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide (GP) were studied, and its rheological properties and antiviral activity were evaluated. The results showed that the extraction process could be fitted to Fick's second law of diffusion. The optimum concentration (97.62 mg mL^-1) was obtained at a solid-liquid ratio of 1 : 15, (g mL^-1), an extraction time of 120 min and an extraction temperature of 80 °C. The whole extraction process was spontaneous and endothermic. GP was shown to be an acid glycoprotein with a complex structure using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). A study of its rheological properties showed that GP has the characteristics of a typical non-Newtonian pseudoplastic fluid and that its viscosity could be significantly affected by temperature, pH and the presence of other ions. Branched and soft fiber structures with irregular molecular aggregation were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Moreover, GP showed good inhibitory activity against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) via the regulation of the relative expression levels of the IRF-1 and IRF-3 genes in MDBK cells. This activity was found to be dependent on the physicochemical and structural properties of GP. These findings imply that GP can be considered as a natural source of active material for the prevention of viral disease.

Structural characterization and osteogenic bioactivities of a novel Humulus lupulus polysaccharide

Humulus lupulus is a perennial climbing plant of the subfamily Cannabioideae native to the Northern Hemisphere. The primary use of H. lupulus is in the brewing industry, where it is an essential ingredient for imparting a unique flavor (bitterness and aroma) to beer. The female flowers of H. lupulus are also used in traditional Chinese medicine, but the biologically active ingredients underlying its benefits remain unclear. China is the largest producer and consumer of H. lupulus in Asia. Using the waste from the beer-brewing process of H. lupulus as raw materials, the biologically active polysaccharides can be screened. This is useful for the full utilization of H. lupulus, potentially leading to disease prevention and treatment. In this study, we isolated a homogeneous polysaccharide (HLP50-1) with a molecular weight of 49.13 kDa from female flowers of H. lupulus via a DEAE-Cellulose 52 anion exchange column and a Sephadex G-75 gel filtration column. Methylation, GC-MS, and NMR analyses revealed that the HLP50-1 comprised →4)-α-d-Glcp-(1→, →6)-α-d-Manp-(1→, →3)-α-l-Rhap-(1→, β-d-Glcp-(1→, α-l-Araf-(1→, →4,6)-2-OAc-β-d-Galp-(1→, β-d-Galp-(1→, →3,6)-β-d-Glcp-(1→, →2,3,4)-α-d-Xylp-(1→, →6)-α-d-Glcp-(1→, →3)-α-d-Galp-(1→, →4)-α-d-Galp-(1→. Advanced structural analysis showed that the HLP50-1 contained irregular fragments of different sizes and shapes with a smooth surface. The aggregates appeared be composed of accumulated crystals. Furthermore, the osteogenic activities of the HLP50-1 were evaluated via MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro. The results showed that 0.13 μM HLP50-1 led to outstanding proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of the MC3T3-E1 cells. Therefore, HLP50-1 has osteogenic effects, and it may be a candidate for the treatment of osteoporosis. It has broad application prospects in functional foods, health-care products, and pharmaceuticals.

The Preparation and Structure Analysis Methods of Natural Polysaccharides of Plants and Fungi: A Review of Recent Development

Polysaccharides are ubiquitous biomolecules found in nature that contain various biological and pharmacological activities that are employed in functional foods and therapeutic agents. Natural polysaccharides are obtained mainly by extraction and purification, which may serve as reliable procedures to enhance the quality and the yield of polysaccharide products. Moreover, structural analysis of polysaccharides proves to be promising and crucial for elucidating structure–activity relationships. Therefore, this report summarizes the recent developments and applications in extraction, separation, purification, and structural analysis of polysaccharides of plants and fungi.

Structural characterization and immunomodulating activities of a novel polysaccharide from Nervilia fordii

Nervilia fordii (Hance) Schltr. has been widely used as a medicinal and edible herb in Southwest China and Southeast Asia. In this study, NFP-1, a new water-soluble polysaccharidewith a purity of 97.8%, was purified from water extract of Nervilia fordii by DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-100 chromatography. NFP-1 has a relative molecular weight of 950 kDa determined by high performance gel-permeation chromatography (HPGPC). Its monosaccharide compositions were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after pre-column derivatizing its hydrolysate with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP). NFP-1 mainly consists of galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, and galacturonic acid. Based on FT-IR, methylation and GC–MS analysis, and NMR, the structure unit of NFP-1 was established as →4)-α-Rhap-(2→ 4)-α-GalpA-(1→2)-α-Rhap-(1→2)-α-Rhap-(4→1)-β-Galp-T containing two branch chains of →2,4)-α-Rhap-(1→5)-α-Araf-(1→3)-α-Araf-(1→, and →2,4)-α-Rhap-(1→4)-β-Galp-(1→. The immunomodulatory assays revealed the dual-functionalities of NFP-1. NFP-1 could significantly induce the secretion of nitric oxide (NO), and promote the secretions of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in RAW264.7 macrophages. NFP-1 could also significantly inhibit the production of NO, depress the secretions of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in RAW264.7 macrophages activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and promote the production of IL-10 meanwhile. Our study suggested that Nervilia fordii could be an ideal medicinal or functional food due to its dual immunomodulatory activities.

Salicornia: evaluating the halophytic extremophile as a food and a pharmaceutical candidate

Food insecurity is a major issue in current scenario where a large section of mankind is at risk of insufficient diet. As food productivity has its limits, the prospecting of unutilized or underutilized flora as food candidates is collectively recognized as a sustainable option. In the past decade, a number of obscure plants have been identified to be rich in dietary components and deemed fit for integration into the food platter. This review discusses a candidate Salicornia, belonging to family Amaranthaceae. This halophyte has a broad geographical distribution, and phytochemical profiling has indicated its food relevance. An array of functional nutrients as fibers, polyphenols, and flavonoids have been detected in Salicornia. Though high salt, oxalate and saponin content in the plants are anti-nutrients, they can be removed to justify usage of Salicornia as a ‘sea vegetable’. Apart from culinary relevance, medicinal attributes like immunomodulatory, lipid-lowering, antiproliferative, osteoprotective, and hypoglycemic render this lesser-known marsh plant significant for phytochemical studies. This appraisal is expected to be useful towards further research and popularization of this extremophile halophyte.

Functional modification mediated value addition of seaweed polysaccharides – a perspective

Value addition of seaweed polysaccharides by their functional modification with various substrates leading to new effects.