Structural characterization and in vitro hypoglycemic activity of a glucan from Euryale ferox Salisb. seeds

In Vitro Studies of Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata var. Kashi Harit) Seed Protein Fraction(s) to Evaluate Anticancer and Antidiabetic Properties

Chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes are the major public health concerns of India and worldwide. Nowadays, plant-derived products are in great demand for the treatment of these diseases. Pumpkin seeds are traditionally implicated for their pharmacological properties, as exemplified by benign prostatic hyperplasia. Earlier, pumpkin seed proteins were extracted by the Osborne method, and their functional and nutritional qualities were evaluated. Here, the aim is to assess in vitro, the anticancer and antidiabetic properties of seed protein fractions. HepG2, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-7 cell lines were treated with water-soluble (WF) and alkali-soluble fractions (AF) to assess cytotoxicity, while pancreatic β-cells and insulin resistance (IR) - HepG2 cell lines were treated with WF to evaluate the antidiabetic potential. WF and AF showed cytotoxic effects towards HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, suggesting apoptosis-mediated anticancerous activity. WF potentiates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells, in a dose-dependent manner. In IR-HepG2 cell line studies, control, metformin, and WF-treated groups showed uptake of glucose, when compared to the diabetic group, which is well-correlated with the upregulated expressions of GLUT2 and GLUT4 transporters in these groups. These results indicate that proteins from WF and AF may have anticancerous and antidiabetic properties and thus have the potential to utilize pumpkin proteins in the management of cancer and diabetes.

The Anti-Diabetic Effect of Non-Starch Polysaccharides Extracted from Wheat Beer on Diet/STZ-Induced Diabetic Mice

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a major cause of mortality, is characterized by insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. The increasing prevalence of DM is linked to lifestyle changes and there is a need for alternative approaches to conventional oral hypoglycemic agents. Polysaccharides, particularly non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs), have been identified as promising hypoglycemic agents. Cereals, especially wheat, are key sources of dietary polysaccharides, with NSPs derived from wheat beer attracting significant interest. This study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of NSPs extracted from wheat beer in STZ-induced diabetic C57BL/6J male mice. The results showed that NSPs extract positively influenced blood glucose regulation, lipid profiles, and liver and kidney functions, by attenuating liver AST and kidney CRE levels in a dose-dependent manner. The NSPs demonstrated anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, potentially providing significant benefits in managing diabetes and its complications. Moreover, the study revealed the histoprotective effects of NSPs on the liver and pancreas, reducing lipid deposition, necrosis, and inflammation. These findings highlight the multifaceted advantages of NSPs and suggest their potential as effective agents in diabetes management. This study supports the need for further research into the therapeutic potential of NSPs and their application in developing innovative treatments for diabetes and its associated complications.

Polysaccharide fraction from Triplostegia glandulifera Wall and its renoprotective effect in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice by attenuating oxidative stress

Triplostegia glandulifera Wall (T. glandulifera) is an ethnomedicine commonly used by ethnic minorities in Yunnan, China, to treat kidney disease. However, there are few reports on the renoprotective effects of this substance, and the active ingredients remain unclear. In this study, we extracted the polysaccharide fractions TGB and TGC using the water extraction-alcohol precipitation method and determined their molecular weight (Mw) and monosaccharide composition. The study investigated the protective effects of TGB and TGC fractions against diabetic nephropathy (DN) using an in vitro high glucose-induced HRMCs model and an in vivo STZ-induced diabetic mouse model. HPLC analysis revealed that TGB contained D-galacturonic acid, D-glucose, D-galactose, and D-arabinose, and had a lower Mw than TGC. In vitro, TGB showed concentration-dependent antioxidant activity and effectively reduced abnormal proliferation and while attenuating oxidative stress in HRMCs. In mice with diabetes, TGB corrected the dysregulation of glucose-lipid metabolism and alleviated oxidative stress in the kidneys. Additionally, it improved renal function and reduced renal tissue damage. The study suggests that the low Mw polysaccharides (TGB) have better activity against DN through the antioxidative stress mechanism.

The structural characterization and UV-protective properties of an exopolysaccharide from a Paenibacillus isolate

Introduction

Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light is known to cause damage to the skin, leading to sunburn and photo-aging. Chemical sunscreen products may give rise to health risks including phototoxicity, photosensitivity, and photosensitivity. Natural polysaccharides have attracted considerable interests due to diverse biological activities.

Methods

A novel polysaccharide isolated was purified and structurally characterized using chemical methods followed by HPLC, GLC-MS, as well as 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The photoprotective effect of the EPS on UVB-induced damage was assessed in vitro using cultured keratinocytes and in vivo using C57BL/6 mouse models.

Results

The average molecular weight of the EPS was 5.48 × 106 Da, composed of glucose, mannose and galactose residues at a ratio of 2:2:1. The repeating units of the EPS were →3)-β-D-Glcp (1→3) [β-D-Galp (1→2)-α-D-Glcp (1→2)]-α-D-Manp (1→3)-α-D-Manp (1→. In cultured keratinocytes, the EPS reduced cytotoxicity and excessive ROS production induced by UVB irradiation. The EPS also exhibits an inhibitory effect on oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen degradation found in the photodamage in mice. 1H NMR-based metabolomics analysis for skin suggested that the EPS partly reversed the shifts of metabolic profiles of the skin in UVB-exposed mice.

Conclusion

The EPS exhibits skin photoprotective effects through regulating oxidative stress both in vivo and in vitro. Our findings highlight that the EPS is a potential candidate in sunscreen formulations for an efficient solution to UVB radiation.

An Overview on Mushroom Polysaccharides: Health-promoting Properties, Prebiotic and Gut Microbiota Modulation Effects and Structure-function Correlation

Mushroom polysaccharides are recognized as "biological response modifiers". Besides several bioactivities, a growing interest in their prebiotic potential has been raised due to the gut microbiota modulation potential. This review comprehensively summarizes mushroom polysaccharides' biological properties, structure-function relationship, and underlying mechanisms. It provides a recent overview of the key findings in the field (2018-2024). Key findings and limitations on structure-function correlation are discussed. Although most studies focus on β-glucans or extracts, α-glucans and chitin have gained interest. Prebiotic capacity has been associated with α-glucans and chitin, while antimicrobial and wound healing potential is attributed to chitin. However, further research is of utmost importance. Human fecal fermentation is the most reported approach to assess prebiotic potential, indicating impacts on intestinal biological, mechanical, chemical and immunological barriers. Gut microbiota dysbiosis has been directly connected with intestinal, cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurological diseases. Concerning gut microbiota modulation, animal experiments have suggested proinflammatory cytokines reduction and redox balance re-establishment. Most literature focused on the anticancer and immunomodulatory potential. However, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antidiabetic, hypocholesterolemic, antilipidemic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties are discussed. A significant overview of the gaps and research directions in synergistic effects, underlying mechanisms, structure-function correlation, clinical trials and scientific data is also given.

Metabolites of traditional Chinese medicine targeting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway for hypoglycemic effect in type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance, with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Due to the tightly intertwined connection between the insulin resistance pathway and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway and its associated targets is essential for hypoglycemia and the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In recent years, metabolites isolated from traditional Chinese medicine has received more attention and acceptance for its superior bioactivity, high safety, and fewer side effects. Meanwhile, numerous in vivo and in vitro studies have revealed that the metabolites present in traditional Chinese medicine possess better bioactivities in regulating the balance of glucose metabolism, ameliorating insulin resistance, and preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In this article, we reviewed the literature related to the metabolites of traditional Chinese medicine improving IR and possessing therapeutic potential for type 2 diabetes mellitus by targeting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, focusing on the hypoglycemic mechanism of the metabolites of traditional Chinese medicine in type 2 diabetes mellitus and elaborating on the significant role of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in type 2 diabetes mellitus. In order to provide reference for clinical prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Recent advances in medicinal and edible homologous plant polysaccharides: Preparation, structure and prevention and treatment of diabetes

Medicinal and edible homologs (MEHs) can be used in medicine and food. The National Health Commission announced that a total of 103 kinds of medicinal and edible homologous plants (MEHPs) would be available by were available in 2023. Diabetes mellitus (DM) has become the third most common chronic metabolic disease that seriously threatens human health worldwide. Polysaccharides, the main component isolated from MEHPs, have significant antidiabetic effects with few side effects. Based on a literature search, this paper summarizes the preparation methods, structural characterization, and antidiabetic functions and mechanisms of MEHPs polysaccharides (MEHPPs). Specifically, MEHPPs mainly regulate PI3K/Akt, AMPK, cAMP/PKA, Nrf2/Keap1, NF-κB, MAPK and other signaling pathways to promote insulin secretion and release, improve glycolipid metabolism, inhibit the inflammatory response, decrease oxidative stress and regulate intestinal flora. Among them, 16 kinds of MEHPPs were found to have obvious anti-diabetic effects. This article reviews the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications by MEHPPs and provides a basis for the development of safe and effective MEHPP-derived health products and new drugs to prevent and treat diabetes.

A review on the hypoglycemic effect, mechanism and application development of natural dietary polysaccharides

Diabetes mellitus (DM) as one chronic metabolic disease was greatly increased over recent decades. The major agents treating diabetes have noticeable side effects as well as the tolerability problems. The bioactive dietary polysaccharides from abundant natural resources exhibit good hypoglycemic effect with rare adverse effects, which might serve as a candidate to prevent and treat diabetes. However, the correlations between the hypoglycemic mechanism of polysaccharides and their structure were not mentioned in several studies, what's more, most of the current hypoglycemic studies on polysaccharides were based on in vitro and in vivo experiments, and there was a lack of knowledge about the effects in human clinical trials. The aim of this review is to discuss recent literature about the variety of dietary polysaccharides with hypoglycemic activity, as well the mechanism of action and the structure-function relationship are highlighted. Meanwhile, the application of dietary polysaccharides in functional foods and clinical medicine are realized with an in-depth understanding. So as to promote the exploration of dietary polysaccharides in low glycemic healthy foods or clinical medicine to prevent and treat diabetes.

A polysaccharide NAP-3 from Naematelia aurantialba: Structural characterization and adjunctive hypoglycemic activity

A novel polysaccharide (NAP-3) was isolated and purified from Naematelia aurantialba after water extraction. The structure of NAP-3, which was determined by FT-IR, HPLC, GC-MS, and NMR, indicated that NAP-3 was a homogeneous polysaccharide with the molecular weight of 428 kDa, mainly consisted of β-1, 3-D-Manp, β-1, 2, 3-D-Manp, β-D-Xylp, β-1, 4-D-Glcp, β-1, 4-D-Rhap in a molar ratio of 6.49: 1.11: 2.4: 0.13: 0.83. In vitro α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory assay showed that NAP-3 had a low IC₅₀ value, which exhibited similar enzyme inhibitory activity as acarbose. NAP-3 was evaluated as an adjuvant with metformin for antidiabetic therapy in HFD/STZ-induced diabetic mice and insulin resistance HepG2 cells. The combination of NAP-3 and metformin in diabetic mice exhibited significant hypoglycemic activity, reducing body weight, serum insulin levels, glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, and increasing antioxidant levels compared to metformin alone. The combination of NAP-3 and metformin improved oxidative stress by increasing ROS clearance, thereby enhancing glucose uptake in HepG2 cells. This study provided new data for the study of Naematelia aurantialba polysaccharides and offers a new adjuvant therapy for the treatment of diabetes.

Potential Application of Marine Fucosyl-Polysaccharides in Regulating Blood Glucose and Hyperglycemic Complications

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has become the world's third major disease after tumors and cardiovascular disease. With the exploitation of marine biological resources, the efficacy of using polysaccharides isolated from marine organisms in blood glucose regulation has received widespread attention. Some marine polysaccharides can reduce blood glucose by inhibiting digestive enzyme activity, eliminating insulin resistance, and regulating gut microbiota. These polysaccharides are mainly fucose-containing sulphated polysaccharides from algae and sea cucumbers. It follows that the hypoglycemic activity of marine fucosyl-polysaccharides is closely related to their structure, such as their sulfate group, monosaccharide composition, molecular weight and glycosidic bond type. However, the structure of marine fucosyl-polysaccharides and the mechanism of their hypoglycemic activity are not yet clear. Therefore, this review comprehensively covers the effects of marine fucosyl-polysaccharides sources, mechanisms and the structure-activity relationship on hypoglycemic activity. Moreover, the potential regulatory effects of fucosyl-polysaccharides on vascular complications caused by hyperglycemia are also summarized in this review. This review provides rationales for the activity study of marine fucosyl-polysaccharides and new insights into the high-value utilization of marine biological resources.

Structure and physicochemical properties of low digestible Euryale ferox Salisb. seed starch

BACKGROUND

Euryale ferox Salisb. is widely grown in China and Southeast Asia as a grain crop and medicinal plant. The composition, morphology, structure, physicochemical properties, thermal properties, and in vitro digestibility of North Euryale ferox seeds starch (NEFS), hybrid Euryale ferox seeds starch (HEFS), and South Euryale ferox seeds starch (SEFS) were studied.

RESULT

Of the varieties that were studied, the amylose content of NEFS (23.03%) was the highest. Starch granules of each variety were smooth, sharp, small, and had an average diameter of 2 μm. All three varieties were A-type crystals with crystallinity ranging from 26.42% to 28.17%. The degree of double helix and the short-range order ranged from 1.9006 to 2.5324 and 1.4294 to 1.6006, respectively. The high proportion of C1 region in NEFS (17.74%) and HEFS (17.66%) were found. Thermodynamic properties in North Euryale ferox seeds included the highest onset temperature (T_o ) (71.43 °C), peak temperature (T_p ) (76.60 °C), conclusion temperature (T_c ) (82.77 °C), enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH) (12.64 J g^-1 ), and peak viscosity (1514 mPa·s). All three varieties maintained a low level of in vitro digestibility, with the highest resistant starch (RS) content (29.57%), the lowest rapidly digestible starch (RDS) content (27.07%), and the slowest hydrolysis kinetic constant (0.0303) in NEFS.

CONCLUSION

The results revealed that the low digestibility of NEFS was attributable to compact granules, high crystallinity, high degree of order, and strong thermal stability. These digestive, physicochemical, and thermodynamic properties provide information for the future application of Euryale ferox seed starch in the food industry. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Ethnopharmacological, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Review of Euryale ferox Salisb.: A Chinese Medicine Food Homology

Euryale ferox Salisb. (prickly water lily) is the only extent of the genus Euryale that has been widely distributed in China, India, Korea, and Japan. The seeds of E. ferox (EFS) have been categorized as superior food for 2000 years in China, based on their abundant nutrients including polysaccharides, polyphenols, sesquineolignans, tocopherols, cyclic dipeptides, glucosylsterols, cerebrosides, and triterpenoids. These constituents exert multiple pharmacological effects, such as antioxidant, hypoglycemic, cardioprotective, antibacterial, anticancer, antidepression, and hepatoprotective properties. There are very few summarized reports on E. ferox, albeit with its high nutritional value and beneficial activities. Therefore, we collected the reported literature (since 1980), medical classics, database, and pharmacopeia of E. ferox, and summarized the botanical classification, traditional uses, phytochemicals, and pharmacological effects of E. ferox, which will provide new insights for further research and development of EFS-derived functional products.

Production of Food-Derived Bioactive Peptides with Potential Application in the Management of Diabetes and Obesity: A Review

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus and obesity is increasing worldwide. Bioactive peptides are naturally present in foods or in food-derived proteins. Recent research has shown that these bioactive peptides have an array of possible health benefits in the management of diabetes and obesity. First, this review will summarize the top-down and bottom-up production methods of the bioactive peptides from different protein sources. Second, the digestibility, bioavailability, and metabolic fate of the bioactive peptides are discussed. Last, the present review will discuss and explore the mechanisms by which these bioactive peptides help against obesity and diabetes based on in vitro and in vivo studies. Although several clinical studies have demonstrated that bioactive peptides are beneficial in alleviating diabetes and obesity, more double-blind randomized controlled trials are needed in the future. This review has provided novel insights into the potential of food-derived bioactive peptides as functional foods or nutraceuticals to manage obesity and diabetes.

Euryale ferox stem-inspired anisotropic quaternized cellulose/xanthan-based antibacterial sponge with high absorbency and compressibility for noncompressible hemorrhage

Uncontrollable hemorrhage from deep noncompressible wounds remains an intractable challenge. Herein, inspired by the euryale ferox stem which is capable of transporting water and nutrient substances efficiently along longitudinally aligned channels, an anisotropic sponge with rapidly liquid absorption capacity, excellent mechanical compressibility and antibacterial property based on quaternized cellulose (QC), xanthan gum (XG) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), was constructed. The euryale ferox stem-like structure and multiple interactions, involving hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction and chemical crosslinking, endowed the sponge with excellent fatigue resistance, elasticity and efficient liquid absorption capacity. In vivo rat liver injury, tail amputation and liver noncompressible hemorrhage model experiments confirmed that the sponge exhibited superior hemostatic performance than commercial gelatin sponge, attributing to the positive charge, efficient absorption capacity and rough surface of the sponge, which synergistically promoting the aggregation and activation of red blood cells and platelets as well as formation of fibrin network, leading to accelerated blood coagulation process. Besides, the sponge showed favorable cytocompatibility, hemocompatibility and antibacterial property. Overall, the bioinspired sponge had fantastic potential for controlling deep noncompressible hemorrhage and providing a new idea for designing hemostatic materials.

Structural characterization, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and antioxidant activity of neutral polysaccharide from apricot (Armeniaca Sibirica L. Lam) kernels

Screening for α-glucosidase inhibitors and antioxidants from natural sources that could reduce postprandial glucose in diabetic patients and reduce oxidative stress had attracted considerable interest. In this study, a neutral polysaccharide (AP-1) with a triple helix structure was isolated and purified from the residue of apricot (Armeniaca sibirica L. Lam.) kernels by using DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100 columns. The molecular weight of AP-1 was 23.408 kDa and consisted mainly of glucose with trace amounts of arabinose, galactose, and mannose, which had molar percentages of 98.48, 0.63, 0.62 and 0.27 %, respectively. The main chain of AP-1 was composed of →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → interlinked, and α-D-Glcp-(1 → was attached as a branched chain at the O-6 position of →4,6)-α-D-Glcp-(1→. In addition, AP-1 exhibited stronger α-glucosidase inhibition and free radical scavenging ability compared to crude polysaccharides. Therefore, AP-1 could be used as a potential natural hypoglycemic agent and antioxidant in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Structural characterization of Euglena gracilis polysaccharide and its in vitro hypoglycemic effects by alleviating insulin resistance

Diabetes mellitus, characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, is a disorder of the endocrine metabolic system which has emerged as a common chronic disease worldwide. Euglena gracilis polysaccharides have ideal development potential in the treatment of diabetes. However, their structure and bioactivity are largely unclear. A novel purified water-soluble polysaccharide (EGP-2A-2A) from E. gracilis with a molecular weight of 130.8 kDa consisted of xylose, rhamnose, galactose, fucose, glucose, arabinose, and glucosamine hydrochloride. The SEM image for EGP-2A-2A suggested a rough surface with the presence of globule-like protrusions. Methylation and NMR spectral analyses revealed that EGP-2A-2A was mainly composed of →6)-β-D-Galp-(1 → 2)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → 2)-α-L-Rhap-(1 → 3)-α-L-Araf-(1 → 6)-β-D-Galp-(1 → 3)-α-D-Araf-(1 → 3)-α-L-Rhap-(1 → 4)-β-D-Xylp-(1 → 6)-β-D-Galp-(1 → with complex branching structure. EGP-2A-2A significantly increased glucose consumption and glycogen content in IR-HeoG2 cells and modulates glucose metabolism disorders by regulating PI3K, AKT, and GLUT4 signaling pathways. EGP-2A-2A significantly suppressed TC, TG, and LDL-c levels, and enhanced that of HDL-c. EGP-2A-2A ameliorated abnormalities caused by disorders of glucose metabolism and the hypoglycemic activity of EGP-2A-2A may be mainly positively related to its high glucose content and the β-configuration in the main chain. These results suggested that EGP-2A-2A played an important role in alleviating disorders of glucose metabolism through insulin resistance and has the potential for development as a novel functional food with nutritional and health benefits.

The Effect and Mechanism of Corilagin from Euryale Ferox Salisb Shell on LPS-Induced Inflammation in Raw264.7 Cells

(1) Background: Euryale ferox Salisb is a large aquatic plant of the water lily family and an edible economic crop with medicinal value. The annual output of Euryale ferox Salisb shell in China is higher than 1000 tons, often as waste or used as fuel, resulting in waste of resources and environmental pollution. We isolated and identified the corilagin monomer from Euryale ferox Salisb shell and discovered its potential anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of corilagin isolated from Euryale ferox Salisb shell. (2) Methods: We predict the anti-inflammatory mechanism by pharmacology. LPS was added to 264.7 cell medium to induce an inflammatory state, and the safe action range of corilagin was screened using CCK-8. The Griess method was used to determine NO content. The presence of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-10 was determined by ELISA to evaluate the effect of corilagin on the secretion of inflammatory factors, while that of reactive oxygen species was detected by flow cytometry. The gene expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS were determined using qRT-PCR. qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and expression of target genes in the network pharmacologic prediction pathway. (3) Results: Network pharmacology analysis revealed that the anti-inflammatory effect of corilagin may be related to MAPK and TOLL-like receptor signaling pathways. The results demonstrated the presence of an anti-inflammatory effect, as indicated by the reduction in the level of NO, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and ROS in Raw264.7 cells induced by LPS. The results suggest that corilagin reduced the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS genes in Raw264.7 cells induced by LPS. The downregulation of the phosphorylation of IκB-α protein related to the toll-like receptor signaling pathway and upregulation of the phosphorylation of key proteins in the MAPK signaling pathway, P65 and JNK, resulted in reduced tolerance toward lipopolysaccharide, allowing for the exertion of the immune response. (4) Conclusions: The results demonstrate the significant anti-inflammatory effect of corilagin from Euryale ferox Salisb shell. This compound regulates the tolerance state of macrophages toward lipopolysaccharide through the NF-κB signaling pathway and plays an immunoregulatory role. The compound also regulates the expression of iNOS through the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby alleviating the cell damage caused by excessive NO release.

Physicochemical properties and prebiotic activities of polysaccharides from Zizyphus jujube based on different extraction techniques

Zizyphus jujube polysaccharide was extracted with hot water, ultrahigh pressure, deep eutectic solvent (DES) and ultrahigh pressure-assisted DES. Comparative analyses were conducted on the yield, physicochemical properties and prebiotic activity of four polysaccharides (JP-H, JP-U, JP-D and JP-UD). The yield of JP-UD (10.42 %) was 3.3 times that of JP-H (3.12 %), and its sugar content was the highest. JP-UD possessed the lowest Mw, while JP-H possessed the highest. Four JPs were acidic pyranose and mainly composed of galacturonic acid, arabinose and galactose. NMR results demonstrated that they contained not only similar glycosidic linkage but also the specific glycosidic linkage of →4)-α-D-Glcp-(l→ appeared in JP-U and JP-UD, the esterified units of GalA and CONH₂ group appeared in JP-D and JP-UD, and the Terminal β-D-Galp and →4)-α-GalpA-(1→ appeared in JP-UD. JPs showed different proliferation effects on four lactobacillus strains, among which JP-UD exhibited the strongest prebiotic activity. Zizyphus jujube polysaccharides have great potential for application in the functional food and medical industry.

Euryale ferox, a prominent superfood: Nutritional, pharmaceutical, and its economical importance

Euryale ferox (also known as foxnut), belongs to the family Nymphaeaceae. It is mainly grown in India, China, Japan, and Korea. It is a highly nutritious food, abundant in nutritional and bioactive compounds such as carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols. It is considered a functional food owing to its various health benefits such as antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antifatigue, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antimelanogenic, etc. E. ferox has immense potential in both food and non-food industries. Regardless of being recognized as a superfood packed with nutritional as well as medicinal properties, it is still neglected, and there has not been much attention given to its cultivation. Therefore, in this review, the potential of E. ferox as a superfood has been explored to enhance its utilization in the development of different foods and make it available outside its growing area. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Euryale ferox is abundant in several macronutrients and micronutrients; and considered as a superfood in terms of various health benefits. E. ferox has the ability to be used in the development of different health, functional, and nutraceutical foods, which will open a new door for the food industry to combat with numerous diseases.

Bio-Fabrication of Euryale ferox (Makhana) Leaf Silver Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Potential

Bio-fabrication of green or plant extract-based silver nanoparticles has garnered much praise over the past decade as the methodology is environment-friendly, undemanding, non-pathogenic, and economical. In the current study, leaves of Eurale ferox (Makhana), considered as waste, were used for the bio-fabrication of silver nanoparticles (ELAgNPs). Various analytical techniques including UV−VIS spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (FESEM-EDX), Particle size analyzer (PSA), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used for their characterization. Their antibacterial efficacy was examined against gram positive bacterium, Bacillus subtilis and gram negative bacterium, Escherichia coli. The antioxidant potential of the ELAgNPs was compassed by 2, 2 diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH; λmax = 517 nm) assay, H2O2 (λmax = 230 nm) and OH− (λmax = 520 nm)-based radical scavenging assays. The cytotoxicity was checked against the VERO cell line using 3-[4, 5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl]-2, 5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. A mean particle size of 26.51 ± 8.87 nm with a size distribution of 7.08−53.94 nm was obtained using HRTEM. The ELAgNPs exhibited dose-dependent antibacterial efficacy with a maximum zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 21.98 ± 0.59 mm against B. subtilis and of 16.46 ± 0.22 mm against E. coli at 500 ppm after 24 h of incubation. The median lethal concentration for the cytotoxicity analysis was found to be 9.54 ± 0.35 ppm, 120.9 ± 6.31 ppm, and 20.74 ± 0.63 ppm for ELAgNPs, commercial silver nanoparticles (CAgNPs), and silver nitrate (SN), respectively. The ordinary one-way ANOVA results exhibited a significant decrease in cell viability after 72 h of incubation at p < 0.05, α = 0.05. In conclusion, the ELAgNPs showed good antibacterial, radical scavenging and dose-dependent cytotoxicity against the VERO cells. Therefore, these could be used for biomedical applications. Phyto-constituents present in the plant not only act as reducing agents but also as stabilizing and coating agents, and the availability of a wide range of metabolites makes the green approach more promising.

The Protective Effects of Corn Oligopeptides on Acute Alcoholic Liver Disease by Inhibiting the Activation of Kupffer Cells NF-κB/AMPK Signal Pathway

Alcohol can cause injury and lead to an inflammatory response in the liver. The NF-κB/AMPK signaling pathway plays a vital role in regulating intracellular inflammatory cytokine levels. In this study, corn oligopeptides (CPs), as the research objects, were obtained from corn gluten meal, and their regulation of the activation of the Kupffer cell NF-κB/AMPK signal pathway induced by LPS was investigated. Results showed that ALT, AST, and inflammatory cytokines in mice serum after the administration of CPs at 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 g/kg of body weight displayed a distinct (p < 0.05) reduction. On the other hand, the CPs also inhibited the expression of recognized receptor CD14 and TLR4, down-regulated P-JNK, P-ERK, and P-p-38, and thus inhibited inflammatory cytokine levels in Kupffer cells (KCs). Furthermore, four kinds of dipeptides with a leucine residue at the C-terminus that might exhibit down-regulated inflammatory cytokines in the NF-κB/AMPK signaling pathway functions were detected using HPLC-MS/MS. These results indicated that CPs have a potential application value in acute alcoholic liver disease.

Recent advances in medicinal and edible homologous polysaccharides: Extraction, purification, structure, modification, and biological activities

110 kinds of traditional Chinese medicines can be used for medicine and food from Chinese pharmacopoeia in 2021. With the deepening of research in recent years, medicinal and edible homologous (MEH) traditional Chinese medicines have great development and application prospects in many fields. Polysaccharides are one of the major and representative pharmacologically active macromolecules in traditional Chinese medicines with MEH. Moreover, traditional Chinese medicines with MEH have become the main source of natural polysaccharides with safety, high efficiency, and low side effects. Increasing researches have confirmed that MEH polysaccharides (MEHPs) have multiple biological activities both in vitro and in vivo methods, such as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-tumor, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic activities, and regulating intestinal flora. Additionally, different raw materials, extraction, purification, and chemical modification methods result in differences in the structure and biological activities of MEHPs. The purpose of the present review is to provide comprehensively and systematically reorganized information in the extraction, purification, structure, modification, biological activities, and potential mechanism of MEHPs to support their therapeutic effects and health functions. New valuable insights and theoretical basis for the future researches and developments regarding MEHPs were proposed in the fields of medicine and food.

Oat β-glucan and L-arabinose synergistically ameliorate glucose uptake in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells and exert anti-diabetic activity via activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway in db/db mice

Oat β-glucan (OBG) and L-arabinose (LA) have exhibited positive effects on diabetes and its complications. However, it is unclear whether OBG and LA have a synergistic effect. We investigated the effect of variable compositions (OBG : LA = 1 : 1, 1 : 2, 1 : 4,1 : 6, 1 : 8, 1 : 10, 2 : 1, 4 : 1, 6 : 1, 8 : 1, 10 : 1) on glucose uptake in IR-HepG2 cells induced by dexamethasone (DEX) to find out the optimal composition showing synergistic effects. Furthermore, this study evaluated the anti-diabetic activity of the optimal composition in db/db mice. In vitro, the OBG : LA = 1 : 1 group showed the strongest synergistic effects among the varied compositions, outperforming OBG and LA alone. In vivo, there were more beneficial effects in the OBG : LA = 1 : 1 group compared with the OBG and LA single-dosing groups. OBG : LA = 1 : 1 supplementation markedly decreased the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and insulin (INS) in serum, improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, lowered blood lipid levels, and reduced liver lipid accumulation. Moreover, the western blot results indicated that the OBG : LA = 1 : 1 group up-regulated the protein expression of glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and phospho-protein kinase B (p-AKT), while down-regulating the protein expression of phospho-phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1 (p-IRS1) to enhance insulin transduction in liver tissues. These findings suggest that OBG : LA = 1 : 1 synergistically ameliorated glucose metabolism disorders and alleviated insulin resistance by promoting the PI3K/AKT pathway in the liver.

Euryale Small Auxin Up RNA62 promotes cell elongation and seed size by altering the distribution of indole-3-acetic acid under the light

Euryale (Euryale ferox Salisb.) is an aquatic crop used as both food and drug in Asia, but its utilization is seriously limited due to low yield. Previously, we hypothesized that Euryale small auxin up RNAs (EuSAURs) regulate seed size, but the underlying biological functions and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we observed that the hybrid Euryale lines (HL) generate larger seeds with higher indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentrations than those in the North Gordon Euryale (WT). Histological analysis suggested that a larger ovary in HL is attributed to longer cells around. Overexpression of EuSAUR62 in rice (Oryza sativa L.) resulted in larger glumes and grains and increased the length of glume cells. Immunofluorescence and protein interaction assays revealed that EuSAUR62 modulates IAA accumulation around the rice ovary by interacting with the rice PIN-FORMED 9, an auxin efflux carrier protein. Euryale basic region/leucine zipper 55 (EubZIP55), which was highly expressed in HL, directly binds to the EuSAUR62 promoter and activated the expression of EuSAUR62. Constant light increased the expression of both EubZIP55 and EuSAUR62 with auxin-mediated hook curvature in HL seedlings. Overall, we proposed that EuSAUR62 is a molecular bridge between light and IAA and plays a crucial role in regulating the size of the Euryale seed.

Effect of Thermal Treatment on the Physicochemical, Ultrastructural, and Antioxidant Characteristics of Euryale ferox Seeds and Flour

Euryale ferox seeds (EFS) were less gelatinized, preventing the release of nutrients and functional compounds, resulting in limited applications in meals and the food industry. Nutraceutical importance of EFS includes starch, protein, lipids, 20 amino acids, minerals, and vitamins (C, E, and beta carotene). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of three different thermal treatments on EFS’s physicochemical and nutritional properties and expected to improve its applicability. The results showed that the bulk density, thousand-grain weight, and hardness of thermal treated EFS were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), whereas the maximum decrease was observed in the industrial infrared heating-assisted fluidized bed (IHFH) treatment. Meanwhile, there were more crevices, fissures, and heightened porous structures in EFS between the pericarp and episperm and the endosperm after heat treatment, which facilitated grinding and water absorption. Notably, EFS’s water and oil absorption capacities increased significantly (p < 0.05) with microwave and IHFH treatments. EFS ground’s solubility into powder was increased significantly with thermal treatment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the functional properties of TPC, TFC, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and reducing power were significantly increased (p < 0.05). In general, the changes in the physicochemical properties of EFS and increased bioactivity were caused by microwave and IHFH treatments. Hence, it might improve the food value of EFS while providing valuable information to researchers and food manufacturers.

Structural characterization of a water-soluble and antimicrobial β-glucan secreted by Rhizobium pusense

In this study, a bacterium with the ability to extracellularly produce a water-soluble polysaccharide (with high molecular mass of 743 kDa) was obtained from saline soils. This strain named as ZB01 was identified as Rhizobium punsense by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The monomer composition and structure of extracellular polysaccharides were investigated by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography-pulsed amperometric detector, Fourier-transform infrared, methylation and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis. In addition, the morphological characterization of extracellular polysaccharides was performed by scanning electron microscopy analysis. As a result, the polysaccharide is found to be a novel water-soluble type of glucan most likely consisting of repeating two β-d-Glcp-(1 → 3) and one α-d-Glcp-(1 → 3). Furthermore, it showed pronounced antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, suggesting it has the potential to be used as a natural antibacterial agent in the future.

Structure and hypoglycemic effect of a neutral polysaccharide isolated from sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus

In addition to its high nutritious value, sea cucumber has been recognized by folk medicine for a long time. This study investigated the structure and hyperglycemic activity of a neutral polysaccharide (NPsj) from sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus, whose molecular weight was determined as 301.75 kDa by HPGPC method. Monosaccharide composition analysis indicated that NPsj is a glucan. The structure of NPsj was obtained by combining the analysis of methylation analysis, FTIR, NMR, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation and ESI-MS, which is mainly composed of (1 → 4)-α-d-glucoses with β-d-glucose(1→) branches substituted at O-6 every 7-9 of 1,4 linked glucoses. An in vitro insulin resistance Hep G2 cells model and a 3 T3-L1 cells model were established, and the NPsj has significant effect to increase glucose consumption with no toxicity at 10-100 μg/mL. Furthermore, NPsj upregulates the phosphorylation of Akt1 and down-regulated GSK3β, and then reduces the phosphorylation of GS, indicating its mechanism of ameliorating insulin resistance via Akt/GSK3β/GS signaling pathway.

Structural characterization and in vitro hypoglycaemic activity of glucomannan from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge

A new polysaccharide (AABP-2B) was obtained from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge after purification by gradient alcohol precipitation and DEAE-52 cellulose column chromatography. AABP-2B was confirmed to be a homogeneous polysaccharide with a molecular weight of 5800 Da and was composed of mannose and glucose at a molar ratio of 7.2 : 2.8. Structural analysis demonstrated that the backbone of AABP-2B was mainly composed of 4)-β-D-Manp-(1, 4,6)-β-D-Glcp-(1 and 3,6)-β-D-Manp-(1. The hypoglycaemic effect of AABP-2B was evaluated by its inhibition of α-glucosidase activities and insulin resistance in a HepG2 cell model. The results showed that AABP-2B displayed α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and could significantly improve glucose consumption by activating the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. Hence, AABP-2B may have potential as a functional food or medicine for diabetes therapy.

Preparation and structural properties of selenium modified heteropolysaccharide from the fruits of Akebia quinata and in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity

Cancer is a complex disease, and blocking tumor angiogenesis has become one of the most promising approaches in cancer therapy. Here, an exopoly heteropolysaccharide (AQP70-2B) was firstly isolated from Akebia quinata. Monosaccharide composition indicated that the AQP70-2B was composed of rhamnose, glucose, galactose, and arabinose. The backbone of AQP70-2B consisted of →1)-l-Araf, →3)-l-Araf-(1→, →5)-l-Araf-(1→, →3,5)-l-Araf-(1→, →2,5)-l-Araf-(1→, →4)-d-Glcp-(1→, →6)-d-Galp-(1→, and →1)-d-Rhap residues. Based on the close relationship between selenium and anti-tumor activity, AQP70-2B was modified with selenium to obtain selenized polysaccharide Se-AQP70-2B. Then, a series of methods for analysis and characterization, especially scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), indicated that Se-AQP70-2B was successfully synthesized. Furthermore, zebrafish xenografts and anti-angiogenesis experiments indicated that selenization could improve the antitumor activity by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and migration and blocking angiogenesis.

Characterization and immunomodulatory effect of an alkali-extracted galactomannan from Morchella esculenta

In our continuous exploration for bioactive polysaccharides, a novel polysaccharide FMP-2 was isolated and purified from the fruiting bodies of Morchella esculenta by alkali-assisted extraction. FMP-2 had an average molecular weight of 1.09 × 10⁶ Da and contained mannose, glucuronic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose in a molar ratio of 4.10:0.22:1.00:5.75:0.44. The backbone of FMP-2 mainly consisted of 1,2-α-D-Galp, 1,6-α-D-Galp, and 1,4-α-D-Manp, with branches of 1,4,6-α-D-Manp and 1,2,6-α-D-Galp. FMP-2 can stimulate phagocytosis and promote the secretion of NO, ROS, and cytokines like IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in RAW264.7 cells ranging from 25 to 400 μg/mL. FMP-2 had great repairing effect on the immune injury of zebrafish induced by chloramphenicol. The phagocytosis ability of zebrafish macrophages and the proliferation of neutrophils can be greatly enhanced by polysaccharide FMP-2 with concentrations from 50 to 200 μg/mL. These findings suggest that FMP-2 might be used as a potential immunomodulator in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Processing, digestion property and structure characterization of slowly digestible gorgon nut starch

Slowly digestible gorgon nut starch (GN-SDS) was prepared by heating-cooling treatment (HCT), meanwhile its morphological and structural features were characterized in detail by SEM, DSC, XRD and IR detection. The optimized parameters of GN-SDS processing were as following: starch milk (20%) was heated at 100 °C for 20 min, and then cooled under 4 °C for 24 h. Under the optimized parameters, the SDS content increased from 20.49 to 61.74%. GN-SDS showed typical SDS characteristics in in vivo digestion with a low postprandial blood glucose. SEM images suggested that GN-S particles changed from uniform regular polyhedron with smooth surface to irregular gravel-like particles with coarse surface and obvious layered structure inside after HCT. The results of SEM, DSC, XRD and IR determination indicated that HCT changed the granule morphology, interior structure, gelatinization temperature and crystal type (A to B-type) of GN-S, and therefore made it hard to be digested accordingly.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-021-01007-6.

Reenvisioning Traditional to Regenerative Therapeutic Advances in Managing Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Diabetes Mellitus

Reports indicate the increasing prevalence of liver disorders in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Clinically, it has also been revealed that the existence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) enhances the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while T2DM exacerbates NAFLD to extremely severe forms of steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. This implies the coexistence and bidirectional nature of NAFLD and T2DM, which function synergistically to drive adverse consequences in clinical practice. For treatment of such comorbid state, though the existing practices such as lifestyle management, traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), and pharmaceuticals have offered somewhat relief, the debate continues about the optimal therapeutic impacts. Recent developments in the field of tissue engineering have led to a renewed interest in novel biomaterial alternatives such as stem cells. This might be attributable to their differentiation potential towards hepatic and pancreatic lineage. These cellular therapies could be further complemented by platelet-derived biomaterials, TCM formulations, or any specific drug. Based on these abovementioned approaches, we aimed to comprehensively analyze various preclinical and clinical studies from traditional to regenerative therapeutic approaches in managing concomitant NAFLD and T2DM.

Characterization of a neutral polysaccharide from pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch) with potential immunomodulatory activity

A neutral polysaccharide designated as CMDP-1a (molecular mass 9.263 kDa) was isolated from Cucurbita moschata Duch through hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, and column chromatography. On the basis of methylation, fourier-transform infrared, monosaccharide composition, and one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analyses, the structure of CMDP-1a was determined to be a backbone composed of α-1,4 linked glucopyranosyl residues with α-Glcp residue linkage at backbone C-6. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed that CMDP-1a had a spherical conformation in solution. In immunostimulation assays, CMDP-1a promoted the proliferation of RAW 264.7 macrophages and significantly enhanced their pinocytic and phagocytic capacity. Furthermore, CMDP-1a induced the M1 polarization of original macrophages and the conversion of macrophages from M2 to M1, thereby modulating the balance of M1/M2 macrophages. These results indicated that CMDP-1a might be a potential immunomodulator for food purposes.

Structural characteristics of a hypoglycemic polysaccharide from Fructus Corni

PFC-3 is a homogeneous polysaccharide extracted from the dried pulps of Fructus Corni with a molecular weight of 40.3 kDa. The crude polysaccharide was obtained and further purified by DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and Sephadex G-100 columns to investigate its structure and glycemic effect. The monosaccharides in the PFC-3, determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, consisted of glucose (Glc), xylose (Xyl), and galactose (Gal) with a mass molar ratio of 2.35:12.49:1.00. The methylation analysis combined with 1D (1H and 13C), and 2D NMR (1H-1H COSY, HSQC, and HMBC) further demonstrated that PFC-3 was mainly composed of 1,3-α-D-Xylp, 1,6-α-D-Galp, 1,2-α-D-Glcp, and T-α-D-Galp, and contained a backbone fragment of →6)-α-D-Galp-(1 → 2)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → 3)-α-D-Xylp-(1 → . The hypoglycemic effect of PFC-3 in vitro was evaluated by glucose uptake and consumption assays, and the results showed that PFC-3 concentration-dependently enhanced glucose uptake and significantly improved glucose consumption in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. Furthermore, PFC-3 significantly reduced fasting blood glucose level, glycosylated hemoglobin level, amylase activity, ameliorate lipid metabolism, and hepatic lesions in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Our research provided insights into the hypoglycemic activities of PFC-3.

Polysaccharides from Armillariella tabescens mycelia ameliorate insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic mice

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia mainly due to insulin resistance. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of polysaccharides from Armillariella tabescens mycelia (AT) on insulin resistance in mice fed a high-fat diet in combination with streptozotocin to induce T2DM. Following treatment with different doses of AT, hyperglycemia and lipid metabolism dysfunction, insulin resistance, and hepatic function-related indices were markedly ameliorated; the histopathological alterations, oxidative stress, and inflammatory reaction in hepatic tissue were also alleviated; most importantly, AT inhibited the expression of hepatic thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) to repress the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and activated the 5'AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway in a dose-dependent manner in T2DM mice. In conclusion, these findings revealed that the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of AT were associated with the alleviation of insulin resistance through repression of the TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and activation of the AMPK pathway.

Pea-derived peptides, VLP, LLP, VA, and LL, improve insulin resistance in HepG2 cells via activating IRS-1/PI3K/AKT and blocking ROS-mediated p38MAPK signaling

This study evaluated the effect of four peptides, VLP, LLP, LL, and LL from pea on regulating glucose metabolism and antioxidant through IRS-1/PI3K/AKT and p38MAPK signal pathway in IR-HepG2 cell induced by 10-6 M insulin. The genes expression of PEPCK, G6Pase, GLUT2, and IRS-1 and proteins of IRS-1, p(Ser307)-IRS-1, AKT, p(Ser473)-AKT, p38MAPK, and p-p38MAPK were determined by RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. Results show that they displayed highly potent on stimulation glucose metabolism and relief oxidative stress in IR-HepG2 cells. VLP, LLP, VA, and LL reduced Ser307 phosphorylation of IRS-1 and promoted Ser473 phosphorylation of AKT. Among them, LLP, VA, and LL increased the expression both gene and protein of GLUT2, and VLP and LL reduced p38MAPK phosphorylation showing strong antioxidant capacity. Therefore, pea oligopeptides have considerable potential for reversing the metabolic abnormalities associated with type 2 diabetes. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This paper examined the intervention effect of VLP, LLP, VA, and LL that from pea on insulin resistance, and the mechanisms were detected by western blotting. The results provide a theoretical knowledge for the prevention of insulin resistance in T2D of pea-derived peptides and lay the foundation for the development of functional products and drugs in the future.

Polysaccharides from Armillariella tabescens mycelia ameliorate renal damage in type 2 diabetic mice

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), accompanied by chronic low-grade inflammation, is one of the most common complications of diabetes. Armillariella tabescens has potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of polysaccharides from Armillariella tabescens mycelia (AT) on the kidney in type 2 diabetic mice and explore the underlying mechanism. The mice were randomized into 4 groups: normal control (NC), diabetic control (DC), DC + 200 mg/kg AT (LAT), and DC + 400 mg/kg AT (HAT). The results showed that compared with the NC group, the levels of fasting blood glucose, renal function-related indices, and serum pro-inflammatory mediators including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18 were elevated; the renal morphopathological alterations, oxidative stress, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation and renal fibrosis were aggravated; the intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and colonic inflammation and barrier dysfunction were deteriorated in the DC group. After supplementation with AT, the aforementioned indices were ameliorated in the AT treatment groups, especially in the HAT group. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that modulating the intestinal microbiota and inflammatory reaction was implicated in the effects of AT against DKD in mice.

Structural characterization of a homopolysaccharide with hypoglycemic activity from the roots of Pueraria lobata

A water-soluble neutral homopolysaccharide (PLP-1) was obtained from the roots of Pueraria lobata by DEAE cellulose and Sephadex G-200 gel chromatography purification. The average molecular weight of PLP-1 was 16.2 kDa. Monosaccharide composition analysis showed that PLP-1 was composed of glucose as a glucan. The structure of PLP-1 was characterized on the basis of extensive physical and chemical analysis, which indicated that the backbone of PLP-1 was mainly composed of →3)-α-d-Glcp(1→ and →4)-β-d-Glcp(1→ with a molar ratio of 7.0 : 1.0. Moreover, the hypoglycemic activity of PLP-1 was investigated by palmitic acid and high glucose induced insulin resistant HepG2 cells. The results elucidated that PLP-1 could decrease the glucose concentration by up-regulating the expression of PI3K and AKT, and down-regulating the expression of FoxO1, PCK2, and G6Pase in insulin resistant cells. Therefore, PLP-1 could serve as a dietary supplement to ameliorate insulin resistance for diabetic patients.

Cordyceps cicadae polysaccharides ameliorated renal interstitial fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy rats by repressing inflammation and modulating gut microbiota dysbiosis

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a complication of diabetes mellitus, has been the leading cause of death in people with chronic kidney disease. This study was conducted to examine the potential health benefits of Cordyceps cicadae polysaccharides (CCP) on kidney injury and renal interstitial fibrosis that occur in DN rats. First, a DN model was established using SD rats fed with a high-fat diet for 8 weeks, then injected with STZ (35 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. The rats were then supplemented with CCP (75, 150 and 300 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. The results indicated that CCP improve insulin resistance and glucose tolerance in DN rats. Furthermore, CCP intervention significantly suppressed the inflammation, renal pathological changes and renal dysfunction, slowing down the progression of renal interstitial fibrosis. Moreover, high-throughput pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA suggested that CCP modulated the dysbiosis of gut microbiota by enhancing the relative abundance and proliferation capacity of probiotics. In vitro, CCP can markedly decrease LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine levels and TGF-β1-induced fibroblast activation. In summary, the results provided evidence that CCP exerted a beneficial effect on tubulointerstitial fibrosis in DN rats by possibly suppressing the inflammatory response and modulating gut microbiota dysbiosis, via blocking the TLR4/NF-κB and TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.