Bioactivities and extraction optimization of crude polysaccharides from the fruits and leaves of Rubus chingii Hu

Progress on the Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Structure-Efficacy Relationship of Polysaccharides from Medical and Edible Homologous Traditional Chinese Medicines

Medicinal food varieties developed according to the theory of medical and edible homologues are effective at preventing and treating chronic diseases and in health care. As of 2022, 110 types of traditional Chinese medicines from the same source of medicine and food have been published by the National Health Commission. Inflammation is the immune system's first response to injury, infection, and stress. Chronic inflammation is closely related to many diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer. Therefore, timely intervention for inflammation is the mainstay treatment for other complex diseases. However, some traditional anti-inflammatory drugs on the market are commonly associated with a number of adverse effects, which seriously affect the health and safety of patients. Therefore, the in-depth development of new safe, harmless, and effective anti-inflammatory drugs has become a hot topic of research and an urgent clinical need. Polysaccharides, one of the main active ingredients of medical and edible homologous traditional Chinese medicines (MEHTCMs), have been confirmed by a large number of studies to exert anti-inflammatory effects through multiple targets and are considered potential natural anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, the structure of medical and edible homologous traditional Chinese medicines' polysaccharides (MEHTCMPs) may be the key factor determining their anti-inflammatory activity, which makes the underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of polysaccharides and their structure-efficacy relationship hot topics of domestic and international research. However, due to the limitations of the current analytical techniques and tools, the structures have not been fully elucidated and the structure-efficacy relationship is relatively ambiguous, which are some of the difficulties in the process of developing and utilizing MEHTCMPs as novel anti-inflammatory drugs in the future. For this reason, this paper summarizes the potential anti-inflammatory mechanisms of MEHTCMPs, such as the regulation of the Toll-like receptor-related signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, NLRP3 signaling pathway, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, PPAR-γ signaling pathway, Nrf2-HO-1 signaling pathway, and the regulation of intestinal flora, and it systematically analyzes and evaluates the relationships between the anti-inflammatory activity of MEHTCMPs and their structures.

Recent advances in natural polysaccharides against hepatocellular carcinoma: A review

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor of the digestive system that poses a serious threat to human life and health. Chemotherapeutic drugs commonly used in the clinic have limited efficacy and heavy adverse effects. Therefore, it is imperative to find effective and safe alternatives, and natural polysaccharides (NPs) fit the bill. This paper summarizes in detail the anti-HCC activity of NPs in vitro, animal and clinical trials. Furthermore, the addition of NPs can reduce the deleterious effects of chemotherapeutic drugs such as immunotoxicity, bone marrow suppression, oxidative stress, etc. The potential mechanisms are related to induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, block of angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, stimulation of immune activity and targeting of MircoRNA. And on this basis, we further elucidate that the anti-HCC activity may be related to the monosaccharide composition, molecular weight (Mw), conformational features and structural modifications of NPs. In addition, due to its good physicochemical properties, it is widely used as a drug carrier in the delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and small molecule components. This review provides a favorable theoretical basis for the application of the anti-HCC activity of NPs.

Rosmarinic acid, the active component of Rubi Fructus, induces apoptosis of SGC-7901 and HepG2 cells through mitochondrial pathway and exerts anti-tumor effect

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a well-known phenolic acid widely present in over 160 species of herbal plants and known to exhibit anti-tumor effects on breast, prostate, and colon cancers in vitro. However, its effect and mechanism in gastric cancer and liver cancer are unclear. Moreover, there is no RA report yet in the chemical constituents of Rubi Fructus (RF). In this study, RA was isolated from RF for the first time, and the effect and mechanism of RA on gastric and liver cancers were evaluated using SGC-7901 and HepG2 cells models. The cells were treated with different concentrations of RA (50, 75, and 100 μg/mL) for 48 h, and the effect of RA on cell proliferation was evaluated by the CCK-8 assay. The effect of RA on cell morphology and mobility was observed by inverted fluorescence microscopy, cell apoptosis and cell cycle were determined by flow cytometry, and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins cytochrome C, cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 was detected by western blotting. The results revealed that, with an increase in the RA concentration, the cell viability, mobility, and Bcl-2 expression decreased, while the apoptosis rate, Bax, cytochrome C, and cleaved caspase-3 expression increased, and SGC-7901 and HepG2 cells could be induced to arrest their cell cycle in the G0/G1 and S phases, respectively. These results together indicate that RA can induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 and HepG2 cells through the mitochondrial pathway. Thus, this study supplements the material basis of the anti-tumor activity of RF and provides an insight into the potential mechanism of RA-inducing apoptosis of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells and liver cancer HepG2 cells, thereby facilitating further developmental studies on and the utilization of the anti-tumor activity of RF.

Characterisation and skin protection activities of polysaccharides from Schnabelia terniflora

The bioactivities of crude polysaccharides from leaves (L-Ps) and flowers (F-Ps) of Schnabelia terniflora (Maxim.) P. D. Cantino were studied, and the characteristics of purified fractions were analysed by HPLC, HP-GPC and NMR. L-Ps exhibited strong DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 value of 251.53 ± 4.62 μg/mL) and tyrosinase inhibition (IC50 value of 163.52 ± 2.59 μg/mL). However, the maximum moisture absorption (74.67 ± 1.53%) and retention (68.00 ± 3.61%) abilities were observed in F-Ps. Two main fractions separated by DEAE-Sepharose fast flow column from L-Ps were eluted with 0.1 and 0.3 M NaCl, while one main fraction from F-Ps was eluted with 0.1 M NaCl. Purified fractions were obviously different in monosaccharide composition, molecular weight and 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra. Therefore, the current manuscript can provide an important evidence for the potential development of L-Ps and F-Ps as promising ingredients in cosmetics industry.

Impact of high pressure pre-treatment and hot water extraction on chemical properties of crude polysaccharide extract obtained from mushroom (Volvariella volvacea)

An examination of the process of extracting crude polysaccharides from Volvariella volvacea solely through hot water treatment (HWE) at 60, 80, and 100 °C and through an approach involving high pressure processing (HPP) at 200, 400, and 600 MPa followed by HWE. The physiological properties of the polysaccharides could be explained by the structural analysis performed via FT-IR spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy, which revealed the extract composition of the protein-bound polysaccharides connected by β-glycosidic bonds. Under the extraction conditions investigated in this current study, the recommended extraction condition was a combination of HPP (600 MPa, 10 min) and HWE (60 °C, 2 h). This condition gave high crude polysaccharide yields (with a 2-12% increase), and β-glucan content (with a 15-20% increase) without disrupting the β-glycosidic bond, as compared to using HWE alone. High pressure extraction could be an alternative technique for reduced extraction temperatures of active compounds from mushrooms.

Purification and structural analysis of a novel polysaccharide from Rehmannia Radix Praeparata

In this paper, the purification, structure, and antioxidant activity of Rehmannia Radix Praeparata polysaccharide (RRPP) were studied. The RRPP was separated using DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-100. The RRPP consisted of xylose, glucose, rhamnose, galactose, and mannose in ratios of 10.64:5.58:3.52:1.39:1.0. No protein was detected in the RRPP fraction, and the molecular weight of RRPP was about 1.75 × 106  Da. The basic skeleton information was obtained using periodic acid oxidation-Smith degradation, and RRPP contained 1→, 1 → 2, 1 → 3, 1 → 4, 1 → 2,6, 1 → 4,6 or 1 → 6, 1 → 2,3, 1 → 2,3,4, and other glycosidic bonds. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy also showed that RRPP has both α- and β-glycosidic bonds. The in vitro antioxidant activity test showed that RRPP could potentialize scavenging effect on ABTS+· and its scavenging rate was 91.3%.

Density-oriented deep eutectic solvent-based system for the selective separation of polysaccharides from Astragalus membranaceus var. Mongholicus under ultrasound-assisted conditions

The water extraction and ethanol precipitation method is an extraction method based on the solubility characteristics of polysaccharides that offers wide applicability in the extraction and separation of plant polysaccharides. However, this method leads to large amounts of proteins, nucleic acids, pigments, and other impurities in the polysaccharides products, which makes downstream purification complicated and time-consuming. In this study, a green, high-density natural deep eutectic solvents was used for the high-purity extraction and separation of polysaccharides from Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge. var. Mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao roots under ultrasound-assisted conditions. In this study, 16 different natural deep eutectic solvents were designed to screen the best solvent for extracting Astragalus polysaccharides (APSs). Based on the yield and recovery of APSs, a natural deep eutectic solvents composed of choline chloride and oxalic acid with a molar ratio of 1:2 was selected. The related factors affecting polysaccharides extraction and solvent precipitation were investigated. To improve the operating methodology, single-factor trials, a Plackett-Burman design, and a Box-Behnken design were used. The optimal extraction process conditions were obtained as follows: water content of 55%, liquid-solid ratio of 24 mL/g, ultrasonic irradiation time of 54 min, ultrasonic irradiation temperature of 50 °C, ultrasonic irradiation power of 480 W, ethanol precipitation time of 24 h, and ethanol concentration of 75%. Under optimal extraction conditions, the recovery of APSs was 61.4 ± 0.6 mg/g. Considering the special matrix characteristics of A. membranaceus var. Mongholicus roots, physical-technology-based ultrasonic waves promote penetration, and the mass transfer function also solves the bottleneck of high-viscosity deep eutectic solvents in the extraction stage. In comparison with the conventional method, the proposed method based on deep eutectic solvents isolation can significantly increase APSs recovery, which is beneficial to simplifying the process of polysaccharides purification by using solvent properties to separate extracts and reduce impurities in APSs.

Biogenic sunflower oil-chitosan decorated fly ash nanocomposite film using white shrimp shell waste: Antibacterial and immunomodulatory potential

A new sunflower oil-chitosan decorated fly ash (sunflower oil/FA-CSNPs) bionanocomposite film was synthesized using the extract of Litopenaeus vannamei (White shrimp) and evaluated as an antibacterial and immunomodulatory agent. Fly ash-chitosan nanoparticles were produced by using chitosan (CS) isolated from white shrimp extract, glacial acetic acid and sodium tripolyphosphate solution as cross-linkage. The ultrafine polymeric sunflower oil-CS film was fabricated by treating fly ash-chitosan nanoparticles with sunflower oil in glacial acetic acid under continuous stirring for 24 h. The nanostructure of the fabricated polymeric film was confirmed and characterized by different microscopic and spectroscopic approaches. The surface morphology of pre-synthesized bionanocomposite film was found to be homogenous, even and without cracks and pores. The crystallinity of formed bionanocomposite film was noticed at angles (2θ) at 12.65°, 15.21°, 19.04°, 23.26°, 34.82°, and 37.23° in the XRD spectrum. The fabricated film displayed excellent stability up to 380 ⁰C. The formed sunflower oil/FA-CSNPs bionanocomposite film showed promising antibacterial towards Bacillus subtilis with highest zone of inhibition of 34 mm and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with zone of inhibition of 28 nm. The as-synthesized bionanocomposite film exhibited highest cell viability effect (98.95%), followed by FA-CSNPs (83.25%) at 200 μg mL-1 concentrations. The bionanocomposite film exerted notable immunomodulatory effect by promoting phagocytosis and enhancing the production of cytokines (NO, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α) in macrophage-derived RAW264.7 cell line.

Competition between FLS and DFR regulates the distribution of flavonols and proanthocyanidins in Rubus chingii Hu

Rubus chingii Hu is a berry plant of the genus Rubus of the Rosaceae family, which has high nutritional and medicinal value and is rich in flavonoids. Flavonol synthase (FLS) and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) compete for the common substrate dihydroflavonols to regulate the metabolic flux of flavonoids. However, the competition between FLS and DFR based on enzyme is rarely reported. Here, we isolated and identified two FLS genes (RcFLS1 and RcFLS2) and one DFR gene (RcDFR) from Rubus chingii Hu. RcFLSs and RcDFR were highly expressed in stems, leaves, and flowers, although the flavonol accumulation in these organs was significantly higher than that of proanthocyanidins (PAs). The recombinant RcFLSs demonstrated bifunctional activities via hydroxylation and desaturation at the C-3α position having a lower Michaelis constant (Km) for dihydroflavonols than RcDFR. We also found that a low concentration of flavonols could significantly inhibit RcDFR activity. To investigate the competitive relationship between RcFLSs and RcDFR, we used a prokaryotic expression system (E. coli) to co-express these proteins. The transgenic cells expressing recombinant proteins were incubated with substrates, and the reaction products were analyzed. Furthermore, two transient expression systems (tobacco leaves and strawberry fruits) and a stable genetic system (Arabidopsis thaliana) were used to co-express these proteins in vivo. The results showed that RcFLS1 was dominant in the competition with RcDFR. Our results demonstrated that the competition between FLS and DFR regulated the metabolic flux distribution of flavonols and PAs, which will be of great significance for the molecular breeding of Rubus plants.

Bioactive components, pharmacological effects, and drug development of traditional herbal medicine Rubus chingii Hu (Fu-Pen-Zi)

Rubus chingii Hu (Chinese Raspberry), known as Fu-Pen-Zi in Chinese, a woody perennial plant of the genus Rubus in the Rosaceae family, has specific nutritional and medicinal values, which is considered food-medicine herb in China for thousands of years to treat impotence, premature ejaculation, enuresis, frequent urination, and other diseases. This review aims to summarize recent advances in the bioactive components, pharmacological effects, and drug development and utilization of Rubus chingii Hu, hoping to provide useful support for its further research and clinical application. The bioactive components in Rubus chingii Hu contain mainly terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic acids, polysaccharides, and steroids. The main pharmacological effects are their anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor capacity on human health. Rubus chingii Hu is a very valuable food-medicine herb. The development of Rubus chingii Hu-related drugs is relatively single, which is limited to traditional Chinese medicine and prescriptions. Therefore, it is vital to pay interest to Rubus chingii Hu and its bioactive components in the future and extend its scientific application.

Optimization of Extraction Process, Structure Characterization, and Antioxidant Activity of Polysaccharides from Different Parts of Camellia oleifera Abel

The flowers, leaves, seed cakes and fruit shells of Camellia oleifera are rich in bioactive polysaccharides, which can be used as additives in food and other industries. In this study, a Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the extraction conditions of polysaccharides from C. oleifera flowers (P-CF), leaves (P-CL), seed cakes (P-CC), and fruit shells (P-CS). Under the optimized extraction conditions, the polysaccharide yields of the four polysaccharides were 9.32% ± 0.11 (P-CF), 7.57% ± 0.11 (P-CL), 8.69% ± 0.16 (P-CC), and 7.25% ± 0.07 (P-CS), respectively. Polysaccharides were mainly composed of mannose, rhamnose, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, and xylose, of which the molecular weights ranged from 3.31 kDa to 128.06 kDa. P-CC had a triple helix structure. The antioxidant activities of the four polysaccharides were determined by Fe2+ chelating and free radical scavenging abilities. The results showed that all polysaccharides had antioxidant effects. Among them, P-CF had the strongest antioxidant activity, of which the highest scavenging ability of DPPH•, ABTS•+, and hydroxyl radical could reach 84.19% ± 2.65, 94.8% ± 0.22, and 79.97% ± 3.04, respectively, and the best chelating ability of Fe2+ could reach 44.67% ± 1.04. Overall, polysaccharides extracted from different parts of C. oleifera showed a certain antioxidant effect, and could be developed as a new type of pure natural antioxidant for food.

Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Effect of Rubus chingii Leaf Extract against Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma A549 Cells

Rubus chingii is a traditional Chinese medicinal herbal that has been used since ancient times for its great dietary and medicinal values. Recent reports have underscored the promising cytotoxic effect of R. chingii extracts against a wide variety of cancer cells. Therefore, in the current study, we aim to explore the anticancer potential of the Rubus chingii ethanolic leaf extract (RcL-EtOH) against non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. RcL-EtOH efficiently exerted a cytotoxic effect against A549 cells in a dose dependent manner, whilst, it exhibited non-significant toxic effects on normal murine macrophage cells, signifying its safety against normal cells. The reduced viability of A549 cells was reaffirmed by the acridine orange/ethidium bromide double staining, which confirmed the induction of apoptosis in RcL-EtOH-treated A549 cells. In addition, RcL-EtOH instigated the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) with mutual escalation in ROS generation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, RcL-EtOH increased caspase-3, caspase-9 levels in A549 cells post-exposure to RcL-EtOH, which was concomitantly followed by altered mRNA expression of apoptotic (anti-apoptotic: Bcl-2, BclXL; pro-apoptotic: Bax, Bad). To sum up, the RcL-EtOH-instigated apoptotic cell death within A549 cells was assumed to be accomplished via targeting mitochondria, triggering increased ROS generation, with subsequent activation of caspase cascade and altering the expression of gene regulating apoptosis. Collectively, RcL-EtOH might represent a plausible therapeutic option for the management of lung cancer.

Structural Characteristics, Antioxidant, and Immunostimulatory Activities of an Acidic Polysaccharide from Raspberry Pulp

The extraction and characterization of new bioactive plant-derived polysaccharides with the potential for use as functional foods and medicine have attracted much attention. In the present study, A novel acidic polysaccharide (RPP-3a) with a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 88,997 Da was isolated from the raspberry pulp. RPP-3a was composed of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, glucose, mannose, and galacturonic acid at a molar ratio of 13.1:28.6:16.8:1.4:6.2:33.9. Structural analysis suggested that the RPP-3a backbone was composed of repeating units of →4)-β-Galp-(1→3,4)-α-Rhap-(1→[4)-α-GalAp-(1→4)-α-GalAp-(1→]_n with branches at the C-4 position of rhamnose. The side chain of RPP-3a, containing two branch levels, was comprised of α-Araf-(1→, →5)-α-Araf-(1→, →3,5)-α-Araf-(1→, →3)-β-Galp-(1→, →3,6)-β-Galp-(1→, →4)-β-Glcp-(1→, and →2,6)-α-Manp-1→ residues. RPP-3a exhibited moderate reducing power and strong hydroxyl and superoxide anion radical scavenging abilities. RPP-3a significantly promoted the viability of RAW264.7 macrophages by increasing the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) at both the expression and transcriptional levels. In summary, the immunostimulatory and antioxidant activities make RPP-3a a viable candidate as a health-beneficial functional dietary supplement.

Rubus chingii Hu. unripe fruits extract ameliorates carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis and improves the associated gut microbiota imbalance

BACKGROUND

The unripe fruits of Rubus chingii Hu. ("Fu-peng-zi" in Chinese) is a well-known herbal tonic in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for tonifying liver and kidney. However, little is known regarding its therapeutic efficacy against liver fibrosis and the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

The current research aims to explore the potential of Rubus chingii Hu. unripe fruits extract (RF) in the treatment of liver fibrosis and explore the underlying mechanism. RF was administered (450 and 900 mg·kg^- 1 of body weight per day) orally to male C57BL/6 mice with CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis for 3 weeks. The histopathological changes and fibrosis stage in liver tissue were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Sirius red staining. The distribution of α-SMA and Col1A1 in the liver was analyzed to determine the hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent analysis. Various biochemical markers in serum (ALT, AST) and liver (Hyp, IL1-β, IL6, TNF-α and MCP-1) were observed to assess the liver's injury, fibrosis, and inflammation. In liver tissue, fibrosis-associated proteins including α-SMA, TGF-β1, Smad2/3, p-Smad2/3, and Smad4 were detected through a Western blot assay. Pyrosequencing-based analysis of bacterial 16 S ribosomal RNA from variable regions V3-V4 of fecal samples characterized the gut microbiota. Spearman's rank correlation analysis was performed for the association between altered bacterial genera by RF and pharmacodynamics parameters.

RESULTS

Three weeks of RF treatment can significantly lower liver inflammatory levels, pathological abnormalities, and collagen fibrous deposition in mice with CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis. The expressions of α-SMA and Col1A1 were lowered by RF, while the expression levels of TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway-related proteins, including TGF-β1, p-Smad2/3, and Smad4, were dramatically decreased by RF. The RF treatment significantly increased or reduced 18 different bacterial species, restoring the CCl₄-induced gut microbiota imbalance to the normal group's levels. According to correlation analysis, the bacterial genera Bifidobacterium and Turicibacter were the most significant in restoring CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

RF can reduce liver damage and delay the onset of liver fibrosis through modulating TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway. Furthermore, RF's anti-liver fibrosis effect was related to balancing the gut microbial community, partly attained by increasing Bifidobacterium and Turicibacter in liver fibrosis.

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.

Extraction Optimization, Structural Characterization, and Anti-Hepatoma Activity of Acidic Polysaccharides From Scutellaria barbata D. Don

The Chinese medicinal herb Scutellaria barbata D. Don has antitumour effects and is used to treat liver cancer in the clinic. S. barbata polysaccharide (SBP), one of the main active components extracted from S. barbata D. Don, exhibits antitumour activity. However, there is still a lack of research on the extraction optimization, structural characterization, and anti-hepatoma activity of acidic polysaccharides from S. barbata D. Don. In this study, the optimal extraction conditions for SBP were determined by response surface methodology (RSM): the material-liquid ratio was 1:25, the extraction time was 2 h, and the extraction temperature was 90°C. Under these conditions, the average extraction efficiency was 3.85 ± 0.13%. Two water-soluble polysaccharides were isolated from S. barbata D. Don, namely, SBP-1A and SBP-2A, these homogeneous acidic polysaccharide components with average molecular weights of 1.15 × 10⁵ Da and 1.4 × 10⁵ Da, respectively, were obtained at high purity. The results showed that the monosaccharide constituents of the two components were fucose, galactosamine hydrochloride, rhamnose, arabinose, glucosamine hydrochloride, galactose, glucose, xylose, and mannose; the molar ratio of these constituents in SBP-1A was 0.6:0.3:0.6:30.6:3.3:38.4:16.1:8:1.4, and that in SBP-2A was 0.6:0.5:0.8:36.3:4.4:42.7:9.2:3.6:0.7. In addition, SBP-1A and SBP-2A contained uronic acid and β-glucan, and the residue on the polysaccharide was mainly pyranose. The in vitro results showed that the anti-hepatoma activity of SBP-2A was better than that of SBP-1A and SBP. In addition, SBP-2A significantly enhanced HepG2 cell death, as cell viability was decreased, and SBP-2A induced HepG2 cell apoptosis and blocked the G1 phase. This phenomenon was coupled with the upregulated expression of P53 and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, as well as the downregulated expression of the cell cycle-regulating protein cyclinD1, CDK4, and Bcl-2 in this study. Further analysis showed that 50 mg/kg SBP-2A inhibited the tumour growth in H22 tumour-bearing mice, with an average inhibition rate of 40.33%. Taken together, SBP-2A, isolated and purified from S. barbata showed good antitumour activity in vivo and in vitro, and SBP-2A may be a candidate drug for further evaluation in cancer prevention. This study provides insight for further research on the molecular mechanism of the anti-hepatoma activity of S. barbata polysaccharide.

Influence of Three Extraction Methods on the Physicochemical Properties of Kefirans Isolated from Three Types of Animal Milk

Kefiran is a heteropolysaccharide biopolymer usually extracted from kefir grains cultured in cow milk. Due to the lack of information on exopolysaccharides from other types of animal milk, in the present study, cow, buffalo and goat milks were used as raw materials for fermentation. The kefiran extractions from kefir grains were carried out with cold water (method I), hot water (method II) and mild heated water-ultrasound (method III), and then the recovery yield and the physicochemical properties of the kefirans were evaluated to establish the influence of both the extraction conditions and the type of milk. The highest yield was recorded for the cow kefiran using method III (4.79%). The recoveries of goat and buffalo kefirans with methods II and III were similar (2.75-2.81%). Method I had the lowest yields (0.15-0.48%). The physicochemical characteristics were studied with Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed the same qualitative profile for all the samples, regardless of the method and the type of milk, confirming that the extraction methods did not affect the chemical structure of the kefirans. Otherwise, the thermal and morphological features of the samples showed differences according to both the type of the milk and the extraction method. The kefiran samples were very thermally stable, having a temperature of degradation (Td) in the range from 264 to 354 °C. The resulting morphological and thermal differences could lead to different practical applications of kefirans in the fields of nutrition and pharmacology.

Structural characteristics, anti-proliferative and immunomodulatory activities of a purified polysaccharide from Lactarius volemus Fr

Lactarius volemus Fr. is an edible mushroom widely consumed in China. Polysaccharide is an important nutritional component of L. volemus. This research aimed to isolate the polysaccharide from L. volemus and study its structure and bioactivities. A purified polysaccharide was identified and named as LVF-I whose primary structure was proposed considering the comprehensive results of monosaccharide composition, periodate oxidation-smith degradation, methylation analysis, FT-IR and 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy. Then the immunomodulation of LVF-I and its inhibition effect on H1299 and MCF-7 cells were investigated. Results showed that LVF-I (12,894 Da) contained fucose, mannose, glucose and galactose. It had a backbone consisting of →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, →6)-β-D-Manp-(1→, →6)-α-D-Galp-(1 → and →4)-β-D-Manp-(1→. And its side chains were branched at C2 of →4)-β-D-Manp-(1 → by →6)-α-D-Galp-(1→, α-D-Glcp-(1→, α-D-Galp-(1 → and α-L-Fucp-(1→. LVF-I (250-1000 μg/mL) could inhibit the proliferation of H1299 and MCF-7 cells, while enhance the proliferative response of splenocyte and the phagocytic ability of RAW264.7. Furthermore, LVF-I (250-1000 μg/mL) significantly induced the secretion of nitric oxide, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) by up-regulating their mRNA expression in macrophages. These results suggested that LVF-I had the potential to be developed as antitumor or immunomodulatory agents by inhibiting the proliferation of tumor cells and stimulating macrophages-mediated immune responses.

Combined transcriptomic and metabolic analyses reveal potential mechanism for fruit development and quality control of Chinese raspberry (Rubus chingii Hu)

Combined transcriptomic and metabolic analyses reveal that fruit of Rubus chingii Hu launches biosynthesis of phenolic acids and flavonols at beginning of fruit set and then coordinately accumulated or converted to their derivatives. Rubus chingii Hu (Chinese raspberry) is an important dual functional food with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical values. Comprehensively understanding the mechanisms of fruit development and bioactive components synthesis and regulation could accelerate genetic analysis and molecular breeding for the unique species. Combined transcriptomic and metabolic analyses of R. chingii fruits from different developmental stages, including big green, green-to-yellow, yellow-to-orange, and red stages, were conducted. A total of 89,188 unigenes were generated and 57,545 unigenes (64.52%) were annotated. Differential expression genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were mainly involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The fruit launched the biosynthesis of phenolic acids and flavonols at the very beginning of fruit set and then coordinately accumulated or converted to their derivatives. This was tightly regulated by expressions of the related genes and MYB and bHLH transcription factors. The core genes products participated in the biosynthesis of ellagic acid (EA) and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (K-3-R), such as DAHPS, DQD/SDH, PAL, 4CL, CHS, CHI, F3H, F3'H, FLS, and UGT78D2, and their corresponding metabolites were elaborately characterized. Our research reveals the molecular and chemical mechanisms of the fruit development of R. chingii. The results provide a solid foundation for the genetic analysis, functional genes isolation, fruit quality improvement and modifiable breeding of R. chingii.

Development of fruit color in Rubus chingii Hu (Chinese raspberry): A story about novel offshoots of anthocyanin and carotenoid biosynthesis

Rubus chingii, is widely distributed in many Asian countries and well known for its medicinal and dietary properties. Diversity of fruit color in raspberry has been attributed to the presence of either anthocyanins or carotenoids. In this study, we investigated anthocyanins and carotenoids, and their biosynthesis by LC-MS/MS. Six anthocyanins mainly consisted of flavanol-anthocyanins while five carotenoids mainly consisted of β-citraurin esters. Flavanol-anthocyanins were produced from an offshoot of the anthocyanin biosynthesis, which started with biosynthesis of flavanols and anthocyanidin by leucoanthocyanidin reductase (LAR)/anthocyanidin reductase (ANR) and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS/LDOX) respectively. β-citraurin esters were produced from cleavage of zeaxanthin and esterification by organic acid, which was an offshoot of the carotenoid biosynthesis. The offshoot started with biosynthesis of zeaxanthin and β-citraurin by carotene β-hydroxylase (CHYB/LUT5) and carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCD) respectively. During fruit ripening, biosynthesis of flavanols and anthocyanins was down-regulated by genes/proteins involved in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis, while biosynthesis of β-citraurin esters was up-regulated by imbalanced expression of genes/proteins involved in β,β-ring and β, ε-ring hydroxylation. Thus, β-citraurin esters, instead of anthocyanins imparted reddish color to the ripe fruit. These pigments and their biosynthesis in R. chingii are totally different from what occurs in other raspberry species.

The chromosome-scale reference genome of Rubus chingii Hu provides insight into the biosynthetic pathway of hydrolyzable tannins

Rubus chingii Hu (Fu-Pen-Zi), a perennial woody plant in the Rosaceae family, is a characteristic traditional Chinese medicinal plant because of its unique pharmacological effects. There are abundant hydrolyzable tannin (HT) components in R. chingii that provide health benefits. Here, an R. chingii chromosome-scale genome and related functional analysis provide insights into the biosynthetic pathway of HTs. In total, sequence data of 231.21 Mb (155 scaffolds with an N50 of 8.2 Mb) were assembled into seven chromosomes with an average length of 31.4 Mb, and 33 130 protein-coding genes were predicted, 89.28% of which were functionally annotated. Evolutionary analysis showed that R. chingii was most closely related to Rubus occidentalis, from which it was predicted to have diverged 22.46 million years ago (Table S8). Comparative genomic analysis showed that there was a tandem gene cluster of UGT, carboxylesterase (CXE) and SCPL genes on chromosome 02 of R. chingii, including 11 CXE, eight UGT, and six SCPL genes, which may be critical for the synthesis of HTs. In vitro enzyme assays indicated that the proteins encoded by the CXE (LG02.4273) and UGT (LG02.4102) genes have tannin hydrolase and gallic acid glycosyltransferase functions, respectively. The genomic sequence of R. chingii will be a valuable resource for comparative genomic analysis within the Rosaceae family and will be useful for understanding the biosynthesis of HTs.

Transcriptomic, Proteomic and Metabolomic Analysis of Flavonoid Biosynthesis During Fruit Maturation in Rubus chingii Hu

Rubus chingii HU, is a medicinal and nutritious fruit, which is very rich in flavonoids. However, the biosynthesis of its flavonoids is poorly understood. This study examined flavonoids and the genes/proteins at four fruit ripening phases using LC-MS/MS and qPCR. Six major kinds of anthocyanins, primarily consisted of flavanol-anthocyanins, which differed in form or concentration from other Rubus species. In contrast to other known raspberries species, R. chingii had a decline in flavonoids during fruit ripening, which was due to down-regulation of genes and proteins involved in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis. Unexpectedly, anthocyanin also continuously decreased during fruit maturation. This suggests that anthocyanins are not responsible for the fruit's reddish coloration. Flavanol-anthocyanins were derived from the proanthocyanidin pathway, which consumed two flavonoid units both produced through the same upstream pathway. Their presence indicates a reduction in the potential biosynthesis of anthocyanin production. Also, the constantly low expression of RchANS gene resulted in low levels of anthocyanin biosynthesis. The lack of RchF3'5'H gene/protein hindered the production of delphinidin glycosides. Flavonoids primarily comprising of quercetin/kaempferol-glycosides were predominately located at fruit epidermal-hair and placentae. The proportion of receptacle/drupelets changes with the maturity of the fruit and may be related to a decrease in the content of flavonoids per unit mass as the fruit matures. The profile and biosynthesis of R. chingii flavonoids are unique to Rubus. The unique flavonol pathways of R. chingii could be used to broaden the genetic diversity of raspberry cultivars and to improve their fruit quality.

Anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory prenylated isoflavones and coumaronochromones from the fruits of Ficus altissima

Ficus altissima, an evergreen arbor belonging to the Moraceae family, is mainly cultivated in the tropics and subtropics of South and Southeast Asia with the characteristic of exuberant vitality and luxuriant foliage. In this article, four new prenylated isoflavones (1-4), along with ten previously described isoflavones (5-14) and two known prenylated coumaronochromones (15 and 16) were firstly obtained from the fruits of F. altissima. Their structures were identified by various spectroscopic techniques including specific optical rotation, HR-ESI-MS and NMR. The isolated products were evaluated for their anti-proliferative activities against three human tumor cell lines (HepG2, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) through MTT assay. Compounds 2, 3 and 16 exhibited obvious anti-proliferative activities against MDA-MB-231 cell line and compounds 3, 13 and 16 showed effective cytotoxic effects on HepG2 cell line in a concentration-dependent manner, as verified by the colony formation assay, cell and nucleus morphological assessment and apoptosis assay. Meanwhile, compounds 5 and 12 exhibited significant inhibition activities on NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell line compared with positive control indometacin. The phytochemical investigation of the fruits of F. altissima in this study could provide the evidence for the discovery of lead compounds.

Bioadsorbents from algae residues for heavy metal ions adsorption: chemical modification, adsorption behaviour and mechanism

Biosorption is an emerging technology for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater by natural or modified biomass. In this study, we proposed a novel protocol for making full use of seaweeds. Brown seaweed Sargassum carpophyllum residue (SCR) and green seaweed Caulerpa lentillifera residue (CLR) were obtained after extraction of the bioactive polysaccharides. The obtained residues were further chemical modified by butanedioic anhydride to obtained respective carboxylated product, named CSCR and CCLR. According to the titration results, CSCR and CCLR contained 2.77 and 2.12 mmol/g of carboxyl group. After modification, the adsorption capacity for metal ions increased by 3-6 times. The adsorption capacity of CSCR for Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Mn²⁺ was 52.37, 107.11, 85.62, and 43.52 mg/g, and that of CCLR was 78.10, 108.80, 87.30 and 57.80 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption was well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir adsorption isotherm equation.

Molecular mechanisms underlying macrophage immunomodulatory activity of Rubus chingii Hu polysaccharides

The present study was to investigate the mechanisms involved in macrophage activation by polysaccharides from the fruits of Rubus chingii Hu (RFPs). The results showed that RFPs enhanced pinocytic and phagocytic activity, promoted the expression and secretion of inflammatory factors (ROS, PTGS2, iNOS, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α) and chemokines (CCL2 and CXCL10), and boosted the expression of accessory and costimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80, CD86, MHC-I and MHC-II). RNA-Seq analysis identified 2564 DEGs, 1710 GO terms and 101 KEGG pathways. TNF was identified as the core gene via analysis of pathway information integration and PPI network. The western blot analysis combined with functional verification assay confirmed that MAPK, NF-κB and Jak-STAT pathways were essential to RFPs-mediated macrophage activation. TLR2 was revealed to be the functional receptor and involved in the early recognition of RFPs. These results indicated that RFPs modulated macrophage immune response mainly through TLR2-dependent MAPK, NF-κB and Jak-STAT pathways.

Improving in vitro bioaccessibility and bioactivity of carnosic acid using a lecithin-based nanoemulsion system

As a phenolic terpenoid, carnosic acid (CA) mainly exists in rosemary, which can be effectively used for the treatment of degenerative and chronic diseases by taking advantage of its health-promoting bioactivities. However, the low solubility and dissolution of CA in aqueous solutions at ambient and body temperatures result in low stability and bioaccessibility during the digestion process, which limits its application scope in the functional foods industry. In this regard, a lecithin based nanoemulsion system (CA-NE) is employed in the present work to enhance the bioaccessibility and bioactivities of CA. It is revealed that the CA-NE under investigation exhibits high loading capacity (2.80 ± 0.15%), small particle size (172.0 ± 3.5 nm) with homogeneous particle distribution (polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.231± 0.025) and high repulsive force (zeta potential = -57.2 ± 0.24 mV). More importantly, the bioaccessibility of CA-NE is improved by 2.8-fold compared to that of CA in MCT oil. In addition, the cellular antioxidant assay (CAA) and cellular uptake study of the CA-NE in HepG2 cell models demonstrate a longer endocytosis process, suggesting the well-controlled release of CA from CA-NE. Furthermore, an improved anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated via the inhibition of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) and TNF-α production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The results clearly demonstrated a promising application of CA-NE as a functional food.

Structural characterization, anticancer, hypoglycemia and immune activities of polysaccharides from Russula virescens

Russula virescens is an edible wild mushroom that is widely distributed in south of China. This research aimed to analyze the structure characterization and evaluate the hypoglycemic, anticancer and immunological activities of two water soluble polysaccharides RVP-1 and RVP-2 from R. virescens. The results showed RVP-1 and RVP-2 were non-triple helix structured hetero-polysaccharides with different weight-average molecular weight 14,883 and 13,301 Da, respectively. Both RVP-1 and RVP-2 were composed of galactose, glucose, mannose and fructose, and the sugar residues were mainly linked by 1,6→, 1,2→, 1→ and 1,3,6→ glycosidic bonds. Moreover, the antidiabetic, anticancer and immune activities of RVP-1 and RVP-2 were explored in vitro methods. The two polysaccharides have potential for inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities, suppressing HepG-2, A549 and MCF-7 cancer cells proliferation, and activating macrophage RAW 264.7 cells to secret immune cytokines for mediating cellular immune response. These findings provided a scientific basis for further utilization of polysaccharide from R. virescens.

New function of polysaccharide from Rubus chingii Hu: protective effect against ethyl carbamate induced cytotoxicity

BACKGROUND

Rubus chingii Hu is a widely cultivated fruit in China and has declared multiple bioactivities including antioxidative activity. Ethyl carbamate (EC), mostly found in fermented food and alcoholic beverages, is a recognized human carcinogen, and researchers have proposed the correlation between oxidative stress and its toxicity. This study acquired the polysaccharide from R. chingii (RP) and explored its effect on EC-induced cytotoxicity using Caco-2 cells as the cell model.

RESULTS

Results showed that RP exhibited protection against EC-induced toxicity by repairing redox imbalance as indicative of mitigated mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, attenuated reactive oxygen species overproduction, and impeded glutathione depletion. Moreover, the structural features of RP were characterized and revealed that it was mainly constituted by galacturonic acid and arabinose, with an average molecular weight of 7.039 × 10⁵  g mol^-1 .

CONCLUSION

Overall, our results provided a new approach dealing with the toxicity caused by EC from the perspective of oxidative stress and described a new potential healthy value of R. chingii Hu, which could contribute to the development of a promising dietary supplement and functional food. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Characterization of carotenoids and phenolics during fruit ripening of Chinese raspberry (Rubus chingii Hu)

Chinese raspberry (Rubus chingii Hu) is a fruit valued for it's health benefits, which is indigenous to China. It is a great source of antioxidants. However, the fruit phytochemicals are poorly understood. Phenolics and carotenoids attract much attention for their antioxidant capability, and they dramatically change during fruit ripening, leading to the difference in color, flavor and medicinal components. In this study, we investigated the change of carotenoids, phenolics and antioxidant activity using spectrophotometry during four different ripening phases i.e. mature green (MG), green yellow (GY), yellow orange (YO) and red (RE). The major components of carotenoids, anthocyanins, ellagitannins and flavonols were identified and quantified by LC-MS/MS. As a result, five carotenoids (mainly β-Citraurin and its esters), six anthocyanins (mainly anthocyanins covalently linked to another flavonoid unit), methyl (S)-flavogallonate and rourinoside were first identified in Rubus. In contrast to other known raspberries, R. chingii had a continuous decrease in total phenolics during fruit ripening, which was due to a continuous decrease in flavonoids (including anthocyanin). Total anthocyanin and flavonoid respectively declined from 19.5 to 6.9 mg/100 g FW, and 646.2 to 128.5 mg/100 g FW during fruit maturation and coloration. Accordingly, the components of anthocyanins, ellagitannins and flavonols also declined, thus resulting in a decrease in antioxidant activity (from 41.2 to 10.1 TEAC/100 g FW in ABTS and from 35.3 to 7.7 mmol TEAC/100 g FW in FRAP). In contrast, total carotenoid increased from 184.2 to 305.4 mg/100 g FW. Accordingly, the components of carotenoids also increased, with the exception of lutein. Additionally, kaempferol and quercetin were the main flavonoid aglycones, which were linked to a variety of glycosides. These kaempferol- and quercetin-glycosides mainly accumulated in epidermal hair and placentae. Notably, carotenoids (i.e. β-citraurin esters), instead of anthocyanins, gradually accumulated during fruit ripening, imparting the reddish color to ripe fruit.

Rubus chingii Hu: an overview of botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology

Rubus chingii Hu, a member of the rosaceae family, is extensively distributed in China and Japan. Its unripe fruits (Fupenzi in Chinese) have a long history of use as an herbal tonic in traditional Chinese medicine for treating various diseases commonly associated with kidney deficiency, and they are still in use today. Phytochemical investigations on the fruits and leaves of R. chingii indicate the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, phenolics, and organic acids. Extracts or active substances from this plant are reported to have various pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antifungal, antithrombotic, antiosteoporotic, hypoglycemic, and central nervous system-regulating effects. This review provides up-to-date information on the botanical characterizations, traditional usages, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, toxicity, and quality control of R. chingii. Possible directions for future research are also briefly proposed. This review aims to supply fundamental data for the further study of R. chingii and contribute to the development of its clinical use.

Metal-Phenolic Network Covering on Zein Nanoparticles as a Regulator on the Oil/Water Interface

Interfacial self-assembly has become a powerful force for regulating the amphipathy of Pickering emulsions on the oil/water interface. Herein, metal-phenolic supramolecular coatings, acting as a regulator on the oil/water interface, were fabricated on the surface of zein nanoparticles (NPs), as a consequence of which the prepared Pickering emulsions stabilized by the decorated zein NPs exhibited diverse properties, decided by different concentrations of zein, tannic acid (TA), and metal ions (Fe³⁺). Metal-phenolic network-decorated zein NPs named ZTFex NPs (ZTFe NPs represented zein/TA/Fe³⁺ NPs, and x represented different concentrations of compounds) exhibited increasing diameters of 100-110 nm. Three-phase contact angles also showed that the strong hydrophobicity of zein NPs could be decreased as a result of the formation of metal-phenolic networks. As for corresponding Pickering emulsions, the covering of TA-Fe³⁺ networks on zein NPs could enhance the stability of zein NP-based emulsion obviously, which might be due to the fact that ZTFex NPs revealed the ability to form strong films on the oil/water interfaces. ZTFe4 was selected as an optimal concentration because of its minimum size and excellent storage stability. Besides, it was also found that the diameter of ZTFe4-based emulsion enhanced with the increase in the oil phase. The rheological measurement results showed that both G' and G″ increased with the increase of x and the oil phase. In general, our paper not only highlighted a straightforward method for the interfacial nanofabrication of solid particles but also provided a novel and potential strategy in Pickering emulsion applications.

Sulfated modification, characterization and monosaccharide composition analysis of Undaria pinnatifida polysaccharides and anti-tumor activity

Undaria pinnatifida (U. pinnatifida) polysaccharides (UPPS) are considered to be the major bioactive components of U. pinnatifida. The aim of the present study was to investigate the separation, sulfated modification, characterization and monosaccharide composition of UPPS. The optimal processing conditions were as follows: Distilled water-to-solid ratio, 50 ml/g; extraction time, 300 min; and extraction temperature, 90˚C. The major polysaccharide fraction of U. pinnatifida (UPPS-B1) was purified via DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-200 column chromatography. The chlorosulfonic acid-pyridine method was applied for sulfation modification. UPPS-B1 and sulfated (S)-UPPS-B1 were characterized via chemical analysis, ultraviolet-visible and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The total sugar content of UPPS-B1 and S-UPPS-B1 was 79.78 and 77.28%, respectively. The sulfate radical content of UPPS-B1 and S-UPPS-B1 was 8.53 and 29.12%, whilst the content of uronic acid was 9.29 and 7.98%, respectively. The average molecular weight of UPPS-B1 and S-UPPS-B1 was determined to be 37 and 110 kD, respectively. UPPS-B1 was considered to be a heteropolysaccharide composed of xylose, mannose, glucose and galactose at a ratio of 7.9:8.7:12.0:9.8. In addition, S-UPPS-B1 was a heteropolysaccharide composed of xylose, mannose, glucose and galactose at a ratio of 1.0:9.7:6.4:1.6. The results of the tumor growth inhibition experiment demonstrated that UPPS-B1 exhibited anti-tumor activity in vivo, which was improved following sulfation to yield S-UPPS-B1.

Macrophage escape by cholesterol-polyoxyethylene sorbitol oleate micelles for pulmonary delivery

Aim: Micelles are one of the most promising nanoplatforms for drug delivery, and here, cholesterol-conjugated polyoxyethylene sorbitol oleate (CPSO) micelles have been fabricated for the pulmonary delivery of paclitaxel (PTX). Materials & methods: PTX-CPSO micelles were prepared by a dialysis-ultrasonic method, and a single-factor experiment with a Box-Behnken design was conducted to optimize the formulation. Furthermore, intracellular and phagocytosis escape studies of the optimized formulation were performed on A549 and NR8383 cells. Results: The optimal micelles exhibited satisfactory encapsulation efficiency (78.48 ± 2.36%) and drug loading (17.06 ± 1.71%). In vitro studies showed enhanced CPSO micelle A549 cellular uptake and their ability to escape macrophages. Conclusion: PTX-CPSO micelles could be a promising system for pulmonary targeting by intravenous administration.

Histochemical assays of secretory trichomes and the structure and content of mineral nutrients in Rubus idaeus L. leaves

Leaves of Rubus idaeus are a raw material, ingredients of herbal blend, and a source of antioxidants. There are no data concerning histochemistry of trichomes, and little is known about the leaf structure of this species. The aim of this study was to determine the histochemistry of active compounds and the structure of glandular trichomes, micromorphology, anatomy, and ultrastructure of leaves as well as content of elements. To determine the histochemistry of glandular trichomes, different chemical compounds were used. The leaf structure was analysed using light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopes. The content of elements was determined with atomic absorption spectrometry, and the microanalysis of the epidermis ultrastructure was carried out with a transmission electron microscope equipped with a digital X-ray analyser. In glandular trichomes, polyphenols, terpenes, lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates were identified. The main elements in the ultrastructure of the epidermis were Na, Mo, Se, Ca, and Mg. In dry matter of leaves, K, Mg, Ca, P, and Fe were dominant. Infusions from leaves are safe for health in terms of the Cd and Pb concentrations. Leaves can be a valuable raw material. Non-glandular trichomes prevent clumping of mixed raw materials in herbal mixtures.

Purification, Characterization of Two Polysaccharides from Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine and Their Anti-Inflammatory Effects on Mucus Secretion of Airway Epithelium

Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum cum Alumine (PRPCA) is an important traditional processed herbal medicine mainly used for treating phlegm in China for more than 2000 years. In our previous studies, extraction optimization, characterization, and bioactivities of total polysaccharides from PRPCA were investigated. In this study, further purification of these polysaccharides was performed. Two polysaccharides named neutral fraction of total polysaccharides-II (TPN-II) and acidic fraction of total polysaccharides-II (TPA-II) were obtained by gradient ion-exchange chromatography followed by gel-permeation chromatography. Results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis in the present study showed that TPN-II had a tight structure with a rough and uneven surface, while TPA-II had a relative homogeneous surface and a loose structure. Further studies indicated that TPN-II was a homosaccharide mainly composed by glucose with a molecular weight of 8.0 kDa. TPA-II was mainly composed of mannose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose and arabinose in a molar ratio of 2.1, 2.3, 1.7, 10.6, 2.6, 14.2, and 2.5, with a molecular weight of 1250 kDa. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) results indicated that α and β form glycoside bonds existed in TPN-II and TPA-II, and TPN-II was composed of α-glucopyranose. In addition, both purified polysaccharides have significant anti-inflammatory effects on mucus secretion of human airway epithelial NCI-H292 cells without cytotoxicity. Compared with TPN-II, TPA-II exhibited more significant anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced airway inflammation by regulating levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and inhibiting mucus secretion. The results suggest that polysaccharides from PRPCA could be explored as therapeutic agents in treating inflammation and over secretion of mucus in asthma.

Rubus chingii Hu: A Review of the Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Rubus chingii Hu (R. chingii), referred to as "Fu-Pen-Zi" in Chinese, has great medicinal and dietary values since ancient times. The dried fruits of R. chingii have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of kidney enuresis and urinary frequency for centuries. According to current findings, R. chingii has been reported to contain a variety of chemical constituents, mostly triterpenoids, diterpenoids, flavonoids, and organic acids. These compounds have been demonstrated to be the major bioactive components responsible for pharmacological effects such as anticomplementary, anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory functions. Therefore, this review focused on the up-to-date published data of the literature about R. chingii and comprehensively summarized its phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control, and toxicity to provide a beneficial support to its further investigations and applications in medicines and foods.

Identification of Ellagitannins in the Unripe Fruit of Rubus Chingii Hu and Evaluation of its Potential Antidiabetic Activity

As a functional food, the unripe fruits of Rubus chingii Hu have been widely used in China for thousands of years. Twenty-five major ellagitannins (ETs) were identified from the unripe fruits, and a novel ellagitannin, chingiitannin A (1), together with four other known ETs (2-5) were isolated and identified by HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and 2D-NMR. Chingiitannin A showed the highest α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities (IC₅₀ 2.89 and 4.52 μM, respectively), which occurred in a reversible and noncompetitive manner. Static quenching was indicated in a fluorescence quenching assay. Molecular docking results revealed that chingiitannin A interacted with the enzymes mainly by hydrogen bonding and was bound in the allosteric site. Chingiitannin A was nontoxic, and it increased the glucose uptake in L6 myotubes. The results suggested that the unripe fruits of Rubus chingii Hu are rich sources of ETs, and chingiitannin A might be a good candidate for functional foods or antidiabetic drugs.

Optimization of the extraction, preliminary characterization, and anti-inflammatory activity of crude polysaccharides from the stems of Trapa quadrispinosa

A novel method was developed using pressurized-assisted extraction (PAE) to efficiently extract crude Trapa quadrispinosa polysaccharides (TQCPS) from plant stems, and the extraction process was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). At a water-to-material fixed ratio of 30 mL g⁻¹, the highest yield of 3.72 ± 0.13% was obtained under the optimum conditions of extraction time of 32 min, extraction temperature at 47 °C, and extraction pressure at 1.87 Mpa, which were in agreement with the predicted value of 3.683%. Compared with conventional hot water extraction (HWE), the PAE method remarkably enhanced the extraction yield with the further advantages of short extraction time and low extraction temperature. The preliminary characteristics of TQCPS were analyzed through UV-vis, FT-IR, and chemical composition analysis. In subsequent anti-inflammatory studies, when RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells were treated with TQCPS, satisfactory anti-inflammatory activity was observed, and TQCPS significantly suppressed the release of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and synchronously restrained the expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), TNF-α, and IL-6 mRNA induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that PAE is a technology that can be used for efficient extraction of polysaccharides from medicinal plants, and TQCPS can be explored as a potential anti-inflammatory agent in medicine.

The high-yield TQCPS extracted by PAE presented good anti-inflammatory activity.

Relevance of functional foods in the Mediterranean diet: the role of olive oil, berries and honey in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases

The traditional Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is a well-known dietary pattern associated with longevity and improvement of life quality as it reduces the risk of the most common chronic pathologies, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), that represent the principal cause of death worldwide. One of the most characteristic foods of MedDiet is olive oil, a very complex matrix, which constitutes the main source of fats and is used in the preparation of foods, both raw as an ingredient in recipes, and in cooking. Similarly, strawberries and raspberries are tasty and powerful foods which are commonly consumed in the Mediterranean area in fresh and processed forms and have attracted the scientific and consumer attention worldwide for their beneficial properties for human health. Besides olive oil and berries, honey has lately been introduced in the MedDiet thanks to its relevant nutritional, phytochemical and antioxidant profile. It is a sweet substance that has recently been classified as a functional food. The aim of this review is to present and discuss the recent evidence, obtained from in vitro, in vivo and epidemiological studies, on the potential roles exerted by these foods in the prevention and progression of different types of cancer and CVDs.

Studies on the anti-aging activity of a glycoprotein isolated from Fupenzi (Rubus chingii Hu.) and its regulation on klotho gene expression in mice kidney

In this study, a novel glycoprotein with molecular weight of 22.0 kDa was isolated and purified from Fupenzi (a kind of unripe fruits of Rubus chingii Hu.) by means of anion-exchange (DEAE-52) and gel column chromatography (Sephadex G-100). The glycoprotein consists of a carbohydrate component (81.42 ± 0.96%) and protein component (14.56 ± 1.21%). The anti-aging capability was measured in d‑galactose induced aging mice model, and the experimental data showed that the glycoprotein could significantly inhibit the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and raise the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in mice kidney and serum. The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) and western blots showed that the glycoprotein significantly increase the expression of anti-aging gene klotho in mice kidney. The results suggested that the anti-aging mechanism of FPZ might be achieved by improving the klotho gene expression and repairing the renal function. This study will provide a scientific basis for the view of traditional Chinese medicine that tonifying kidney is the basic way of anti-aging. In addition, the glycoprotein could be exploited as a potent dietary supplement to attenuate aging and prevent age-related diseases in humans.

Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction and Structural Characterization of the Polysaccharide from Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) Seeds

In the present study, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of crude polysaccharides (PSP) from pumpkin seeds was optimized by response surface method (RSM). The polysaccharide yield (2.29 ± 0.14%), which agreed closely with the theoretical predicted value 2.40%, was obtained under the optimal extraction conditions: extraction time 24 min, extraction temperature 50 °C, ultrasonic power 347 W, and liquid to solid ratio 23 mL/g. After further purification by two-step column chromatography, a novel polysaccharide (PSP-1) was isolated from pumpkin seeds. PSP-1 was composed of mannose, glucose, and galactose in a molar ratio of 1.00:4.26:5.78 with molecular weight of 3728 g/mol. 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy analysis revealed that the backbone of PSP-1 was mainly formed by β→6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, →6)-α-d-Glcp-(1→, and →3,6)-β-d-Manp-(1→ with branching at O-3 and O-6 of →3,6)-β-d-Manp-(1→. Branch linkages were composed of α-d-Glcp-(1→ and →4)-α-d-Galp-(1→.

Physicochemical characterization and in vitro hypoglycemic activities of polysaccharides from Sargassum pallidum by microwave-assisted aqueous two-phase extraction

Microwave-assisted aqueous two-phase extraction (MAATPE) was applied for simultaneous extraction and separation of polysaccharides from Sargassum pallidum (SPPs). The optimal extraction parameters, physicochemical properties, and hypoglycemic activities in vitro of SPPs were investigated. The results revealed that the optimal extraction conditions were as follows: 21.0% ethanol (w/w) and 22.0% ammonium sulfate (w/w) for ATPS, ratio of material to liquid 1:60 (g/mL), extraction time 15 min, microwave power 830 W, and extraction temperature 95 °C. Under the optimal these conditions, the maximum yields of SPPs were 0.75 ± 0.04% of the top phase (SPP-1) and 6.81 ± 0.33% of the bottom phase (SPP-2). SPP-1 and SPP-2 were homogeneous with molecular weights of 1518.6 and 50.6 kDa, respectively. SPP-1 mainly consisted of fucose, galactose, mannose, and glucuronic acid with a molar ratio of 4.97:9.75:6.44:6.07, whereas SPP-2 was mainly composed of fucose, galactose, glucose, and mannose with a molar ratio of 4.20:2.88:18.05:7.83. SPP-1 and SPP-2 exhibited favorable α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, and could remarkably improve glucose consumption in insulin resistance (IR) model cells. Notably, SPP-1 exhibited stronger α-glucosidase inhibitory activity than SPP-2, and even was comparable with acarbose.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of polyphenols extracted from Ilex latifolia Thunb

To promote the rational and effective application of Ilex latifolia Thunb., a Chinese bitter tea widely consumed as a health beverage, polyphenols were extracted from its leaves and their cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) and anti-inflammatory effect against mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells were analyzed. Results showed that the antioxidant capacity of polyphenols was high, and their CAA values in PBS wash and no PBS wash protocols were 6871.42 ± 85.56 and 25161.61 ± 583.55 μmol QE (quercetin equivalents)/100 g phenolic extracts, respectively. In addition, polyphenols from I. latifolia displayed strong inhibition on LPS-induced NO-production in RAW 264.7 cells. Polyphenol treatment inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) induced by LPS in a dose-dependent manner by ELISA and mRNA expression analysis. Western blot results showed that the anti-inflammatory activity of polyphenols from I. latifolia might be exerted through inhibiting the activation of MAPKs (ERK and JNK) and NF-κB to decrease NO, COX-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines production. Thus, the polyphenol enriched extracts from I. latifolia are a good source of natural antioxidants with a beneficial effect against inflammation, and they may be applied as a food supplement and/or functional ingredient.