Licorice extract ameliorates hyperglycemia through reshaping gut microbiota structure and inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in type 2 diabetic mice

Long-Term Triclocarban Exposure Induced Enterotoxicity by Triggering Intestinal AhR-Mediated Inflammation and Disrupting Microbial Community in Mice

Exposure to triclocarban (TCC), a commonly used antibacterial agent, has been shown to induce significant intestine injuries and colonic inflammation in mice. However, the detailed mechanisms by which TCC exposure triggered enterotoxicity remain largely unclear. Herein, intestinal toxicity effects of long-term and chronic TCC exposure were investigated using a combination of histopathological assessments, metagenomics, targeted metabolomics, and biological assays. Mechanically, TCC exposure caused induction of intestinal aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and its transcriptional target cytochrome P4501A1 (Cyp1a1) leading to dysfunction of the gut barrier and disruption of the gut microbial community. A large number of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are released from the gut lumen into blood circulation owing to the markedly increased permeability and gut leakage. Consequently, toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) and NF-κB signaling pathways were activated by high levels of LPS. Simultaneously, classic macrophage phenotypes were switched by TCC, shown with marked upregulation of macrophage M1 and downregulation of macrophage M2 that was accompanied by striking upregulation of proinflammatory factors such as Il-1β, Il-6, Il-17, and Tnf-α in the intestinal lamina propria. These findings provide new evidence for the TCC-induced enterotoxicity.

Natural Sweetener Glycyrrhetinic Acid Monoglucuronide Improves Glucose Homeostasis in Healthy Mice

Noncaloric or low-caloric sweeteners have become popular worldwide, although debates persist regarding their impact on health. To investigate whether the sweeteners are favorable for glucose homeostasis, our study assessed the effects of glycyrrhetinic acid monoglucuronide (GAMG) and several commonly used sweeteners [glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), stevioside, erythritol, sucralose, and aspartame] on glycometabolism and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. The C57BL/6J male mice were exposed to different sweeteners for 10 weeks, and our results showed that GAMG significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels (FBG-control: 3.81 ± 0.42 mmol/L; FBG-GAMG: 3.37 ± 0.38 mmol/L; p < 0.05) and the blood glucose levels 15 and 30 min after sucrose or maltose loading (p < 0.05). Furthermore, it improved glucose tolerance (p = 0.028) and enhanced insulin sensitivity (p = 0.044), while the other sweeteners had negligible or adverse effects on glucose homeostasis. Subsequent experiments showed that GAMG inhibited α-glucosidases potently (IC50 = 0.879 mg·mL-1), increased three SCFA-producing bacteria and SCFAs levels (p < 0.05), and promoted the gene expression of SCFA receptor GPR43 (p = 0.018). These results suggest that GAMG may regulate blood glucose by inhibiting α-glucosidases and modulating gut microbial SCFAs. Our findings prove that GAMG, beneficial to blood glucose regulation, is a promising natural sweetener for future utilization.

Decoction regulating phytochemicals' micromorphology changes and anti-inflammation activity enhancements originated from herb medicine supermolecules

BACKGROUND

Mahuang Fuzi decoction (MGF) is composed of three herb medicines that has been clinically used to treat inflammatory diseases for a long history. At present, more and more active phytochemicals' aggregations have been found during the thermodynamic process of herb medicine decoction, and revealing the clinical efficacy of herb medicine through supramolecular strategies is the focus of current research. However, it is not clear whether decoction induced supermolecules' morphological changes to modify activity.

METHODS

Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were used to analyze the micromorphology of MGF, MGF SA (MGF supermolecules), and MIX (physical mixture of MGF single decoction). The interaction and thermodynamic parameters of single herbs in a decoction were investigated by Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The phytochemicals were systematically analyzed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-Q Exactive hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS). Under the safe dose on RAW264.7 cells, NO, IL-6 and TNF-α were determined by Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) method. NF-κB p65 translocation from the cytoplasm into the nucleus was examined using the immunofluorescence assay and the western blot, respectively. Furthermore, Metabolomics was used to discover potential biomarkers and the associated metabolic pathways of MGF SA treatment.

RESULTS

There were nanoscale aggregations in MGF, and the micromorphology of the extracted MGF SA consisted of uniform particles; while the MIX micromorphology had no uniformity. ITC showed that the interaction MH-GC and FZ-GC were a spontaneous exothermic reaction, indicating that their phytochemicals had the property of self-assembly. Though the micromorphology between MGF, MGF SA, and MIX was obviously different, UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS results displayed that the main phytochemicals of MGF and MIX had nearly the same components. Interestingly, MGF and MGF SA could significantly inhibit the production of NO, and had better inhibition effect on the expression of nuclear protein NF-κB p65 than MIX, among which MGF SA had the best effect. Further investigation indicated that the perturbance of metabolic profiling in RAW264.7 inflammatory cells was obviously reversed by MGF SA.

CONCLUSIONS

The decoction enriched the key active phytochemicals and regulated the formation of homogeneous nanoparticles in MGF SA. The supermolecules in MGF SA significantly enhanced its anti-inflammatory activity, primarily affecting the NF-κB signaling pathway and the biosynthesis and metabolism of arginine in RAW264.7 inflammatory cells. Current study displayed that co-decocting herbal medicine were beneficial to the treatment of diseases than the mixture of the single herbs' extraction.

Liquiritin targeting Th17 cells differentiation and abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes alleviates psoriasis via NF-κB and AP-1 pathway

Psoriasis is a common immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease, caused by disturbed interactions between keratinocytes and immune cells. Chinese medicine shows potential clinical application for its treatment. Liquiritin is a flavone compound extracted from licorice and shows potential antitussive, antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects, and therefore may have potential as a psoriasis therapeutic. The aim of this work was to examine the possible roles that liquiritin may have in treating psoriasis. HaCaT cells were stimulated by TNF-α with or without liquiritin, harvested for analysis by western blots and RT-qPCR, and the cellular supernatants were collected and analyzed by ELISA for cytokines. In addition, 4 groups of mice were examined: Normal, Vehicle, LQ-L and LQ-H. The mice were sacrificed after 6 days and analyzed using IHC, ELISA, RT-qPCR and flow cytometry. The results showed that liquiritin could significantly inhibit the progression of psoriasis both in vitro and in vivo. Liquiritin strongly suppressed the proliferation of HaCaT keratinocytes but did not affect cell viability. Moreover, liquiritin alleviated imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation and accumulation of Th17 cells and DCs in vivo. In TNF-α-induced HaCaT keratinocytes, both protein and mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines were sharply decreased. In imiquimod-induced mice, the activation of NF-κB and AP-1 was reduced after treatment with liquiritin. Collectively, our results show that liquiritin might act as a pivotal regulator of psoriasis via modulating NF-κB and AP-1 signal pathways.

Coffee Leaf Tea Extracts Improve Hyperuricemia Nephropathy and Its Associated Negative Effect in Gut Microbiota and Amino Acid Metabolism in Rats

Hyperuricemia nephropathy (HN) is a metabolic disease characterized by tubular damage, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and uric acid kidney stones and has been demonstrated to be associated with hyperuricemia. Coffee leaf tea is drunk as a functional beverage. However, its prevention effects on HN remain to be explored. This study showed that coffee leaf tea extracts (TE) contain 19 polyphenols, with a total content of 550.15 ± 27.58 mg GAE/g. TE decreased serum uric acid levels via inhibiting XOD activities and modulating the expression of urate transporters (GLUT9, OAT3, and ABCG2) in HN rats. TE prevented HN-induced liver and kidney damage and attenuated renal fibrosis. Moreover, it upregulated the abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria (Phascolarctobacterium, Alloprevotella, and Butyricicoccus) in the gut and reversed the amino acid-related metabolism disorder caused by HN. TE also decreased the circulating LPS and d-lactate levels and increased the fecal SCFA levels. This study supported the preliminary and indicative effect of coffee leaf tea in the prevention of hyperuricemia and HN.

Effects of dietary supplement with licorice and rutin mixture on production performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, and gut microbiota in quails (Turnix tanki)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of licorice and rutin on production performance, egg quality, and mucosa antioxidant levels in Chinese yellow quail. A total of 240 Chinese Yellow Quail (400-day-old) were randomly distributed into 5 groups: the Control group, fed with a basic diet; the LR1 group, fed with basal diet supplemented with 300 + 100 mg licorice and rutin mixture/kg diet; the LR2 group, fed with basal diet supplemented with 300 + 200 mg licorice and rutin mixture/kg diet; the LR3 group, fed with basal diet supplemented with 600 + 100 mg licorice and rutin mixture/kg diet and the LR4 group, fed with basal diet supplemented with 600 + 200 mg licorice and rutin mixture/kg diet. Compared with the control, supplementation with the licorice and rutin mixture improved the laying rate and eggshell thickness whereas decreased the feed conversion ratio of quails. Moreover, dietary supplementation with the licorice and rutin mixture improved the antioxidant capacity by increasing the activity of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) level and decreasing the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the jejunal mucosa. The licorice and rutin mixture altered the composition of intestinal microbiota by influencing the relative abundances of Bacteroidetes and Bacteroides. The relative abundances of the Bacteroidetes were significantly related to the laying rate of quails. In addition, the mixture of licorice and rutin was also effective in reducing the relative abundance of intestinal Proteobacteria and Enterobacter in quails, reducing the accumulation of antibiotic-resistance genes. The results revealed that supplementation of licorice and rutin mixture to the diet improved production performance, egg quality, and antioxidant capacity and modified the composition of intestinal microbiota in quails. This study provides a reference for Chinese herbal additives to promote production performance by modulating quail gut microbes.

Fructus mori polysaccharide alleviates diabetic symptoms by regulating intestinal microbiota and intestinal barrier against TLR4/NF-κB pathway

Fructus mori polysaccharide (FMP) has a variety of biological activities. In this study, the results showed that FMP alleviated hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, endotoxemia, and high metabolic inflammation levels in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) mice. Next, it was found that the above beneficial effects of FMP on diabetic mice were significantly attenuated after antibiotics eliminated intestinal microbiota (IM) of mice. In addition, FMP suppressed intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress levels by inhibiting the activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, and indirectly upregulated the expression of the tight junction proteins Claudin-1, Occludin, and Zonula occlusionn-1 (ZO-1) to repair the intestinal barrier. Interestingly, the protective effect of FMP on the intestinal barrier was also attributed to its regulation of IM. The 16S rRNA and Spearman correlation analysis showed that FMP could repair the intestinal barrier to improve T2DM by remodeling specific IM, especially by significantly inhibiting 93.66 % of endotoxin-producing Shigella and promoting the proliferation of probiotic Allobaculum and Bifidobacterium by 16.31 % and 19.07 %, respectively. This study provided a theoretical support for the application of FMP as a novel probiotic in functional foods for diabetes.

Sodium alginate-sodium hyaluronate-hydrolyzed silk for microencapsulation and sustained release of kidney tea saponin: The regulation of human intestinal flora in vitro

Kidney tea saponin (KTS) exhibits considerable efficacy in lowering glucose levels; however, it does not have widespread applications owing to its low intestinal utilization. Therefore, in the present study, we prepared sodium alginate (SA)/sodium hyaluronate (HA)/hydrolyzed silk (SF) gel beads for the effective encapsulation and targeted intestinal release of KTS. The gel beads exhibited an encapsulation rate of 90.67 % ± 0.27 % and a loading capacity of 3.11 ± 0.21 mg/mL; furthermore, the release rate of KTS was 95.46 % ± 0.02 % after 8 h of simulated digestion. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the hydroxyl in SA/HA/SF-KTS was shifted toward the strong peak; this was related to KTS encapsulation. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy revealed that the gel bead space network facilitates KTS encapsulation. In addition, the ability of KTS and the gel beads to inhibit α-amylase (IC50 = 0.93 and 1.37 mg/mL, respectively) and α-glucosidase enzymes (IC50 = 1.17 and 0.93 mg/mL, respectively) was investigated. In vitro colonic fermentation experiments revealed that KTS increased the abundance of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes and butyric acid-producing bacteria. The study showed that the developed gel-loading system plays a vital role in delivering bioactive substances, achieving slow release, and increasing the abundance and diversity of intestinal flora.

Metallothionein-Kidney Bean Polyphenol Complexes Showed Antidiabetic Activity in Type 2 Diabetic Rats by Improving Insulin Resistance and Regulating Gut Microbiota

Previous studies have shown that interaction between polyphenols and proteins can benefit health, but the mechanism of its antidiabetic effect has not been thoroughly elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of the metallothionein (MT)-kidney bean polyphenol complex on the blood glucose levels and gut microbiota of rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induced by a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin (STZ). After 7 weeks of intervention, the MT-kidney bean polyphenol complex can significantly improve the loss of body weight, the increase in blood glucose and blood lipids, and insulin resistance caused by T2DM in rats. In addition, it can effectively alleviate the damage to the pancreas and liver in rats. The MT-kidney bean polyphenol complex also significantly increased the concentrations of six short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the intestinal contents of rats, especially acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid (296.03%, 223.86%, and 148.97%, respectively). More importantly, the MT-kidney bean polyphenol complex can significantly reverse intestinal microflora dysbiosis in rats caused by T2DM, increase intestinal microorganism diversity, improve the abundance of various beneficial bacteria, and reshape the gut microbiota. In summary, the hypoglycemic effect of the MT-kidney bean polyphenol complex and its possible mechanism was expounded in terms of blood glucose level, blood lipid level, and gut microbiota, providing a new perspective on the development of the MT-kidney bean polyphenol complex as functional hypoglycemic food.

Comparison of Neuroprotection and Regulating Properties on Gut Microbiota between Selenopeptide Val-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-SeMet and Its Native Peptide Val-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-Met In Vitro and In Vivo

Selenopeptides are promising candidates for intervening in neuroinflammation; however, the key role of selenium (Se) in selenopeptides remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we compared the neuroprotective effects of selenopeptide Val-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-SeMet (namely, Se-P1) and its native peptide Val-Pro-Arg-Lys-Leu-Met (namely, P1). Our results demonstrate that Se-P1 treatment exhibits superior antioxidant and antineuroinflammatory effects in PC12 cells and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-injured mice compared to P1. Moreover, the administration of Se-P1 and P1 resulted in a shift in the gut microbiota composition. Notably, during LPS-induced injury, Se-P1 treatment demonstrated greater stability in maintaining gut microbiota composition compared to P1 treatment. Specifically, Se-P1 may have a positive impact on gut microbiota dysbiosis by modulating inflammatory-related bacteria such as enhancing Lactobacillus abundance while reducing that of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group. Furthermore, the alteration of metabolites induced by Se-P1 treatment exhibited a significant correlation with gut microbiota, subsequently modulating the inflammatory-related metabolic pathways including histidine metabolism, lysine degradation, and purine metabolism. These findings suggest that organic Se contributes to the bioactivities of Se-P1 in mitigating neuroinflammation in LPS-injured mice compared to P1. These findings hold significant value for the development of potential preventive or therapeutic strategies against neurodegenerative diseases and introduce novel concepts in selenopeptide nutrition and supplementation recommendations.

Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharide Alleviates Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Restoring Gut Microbiota and Repairing Intestinal Barrier via the LPS/TLR4/TRIF/NF-kB Axis

Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP), the main active component, has a variety of bioactivities. In this study, a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and antibiotic-induced pseudo-germ-free mouse models were used to investigate the hypoglycemic mechanisms of DOP. The findings showed that DOP ameliorated dysfunctional glucolipid metabolism, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) leakage, and metabolic inflammation levels in T2DM mice. Furthermore, DOP significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of tight junction proteins Claudin-1, Occludin, and ZO-1 and reduced intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress damage through the LPS/TLR4/TRIF/NF-κB axis to repair the intestinal barrier. Interestingly, pseudo-germ-free mouse experiments confirmed that the above beneficial effects of DOP were dependent on gut microbiota. 16S rRNA analysis showed that DOP strongly inhibited the harmful bacterium Helicobacter by 94.57% and facilitated the proliferation of probiotics Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus by 34.96, 139.41, and 88.95%, respectively. Therefore, DOP is capable of rebuilding certain specific intestinal microbiota to restore intestinal barrier injury, which supports the utilization of DOP as a new type of prebiotic in functional foods for T2DM.

Sciadonic acid attenuates high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice with alterations in the gut microbiota

Obesity has been reported to be associated with dysbiosis of gut microbiota. Sciadonic acid (SC) is one of the main functional components of Torreya grandis "Merrillii" seed oil. However, the effect of SC on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity has not been elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of SC on lipid metabolism and the gut flora in mice fed with a high-fat diet. The results revealed that SC activates the PPARα/SREBP-1C/FAS signaling pathway and reduces the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerols (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), but increases the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and inhibits weight gain. Among them, high-dose SC was the most effective; the TC, TG and LDL-C levels were reduced by 20.03%, 28.40% and 22.07%, respectively; the HDL-C level was increased by 8.55%. In addition, SC significantly increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels by 98.21% and 35.17%, respectively, decreased oxidative stress, and ameliorated the pathological damage to the liver caused by a high-fat diet. Furthermore, SC treatment altered the composition of the intestinal flora, promoting the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, while simultaneously decreasing the relative abundance of potentially harmful bacteria such as Faecalibaculum, norank_f_Desulfovibrionaceae, and Romboutsia. Spearman's correlation analysis indicated that the gut microbiota was associated with SCFAs and biochemical indicators. In summary, our results suggested that SC can improve lipid metabolism disorders and regulate the gut microbial structure.

Cordyceps militaris polysaccharide alleviates diabetic symptoms by regulating gut microbiota against TLR4/NF-κB pathway

The relationship between gut microbiota and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has attracted increasing attention. In our work, one purified fraction a (AEPSa) was obtained from Cordyceps militaris polysaccharides, and its hypoglycemic activity and underlying mechanisms were investigated in high-fat diet (HFD)- and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2DM mice. The results revealed that AEPSa reshaped gut microbiota by increasing Allobaculum, Alistipes, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and norank_f_Muribaculaceae and decreasing Enterococcus and Ruminococcus_torques_group to inhibit the colonic toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway and upregulate intestinal tight junction protein expression, thereby improving glucose and serum lipid metabolism, hormone secretion and complications. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) also confirmed these findings. These results indicated that symptomatic relief of T2DM might be related to AEPSa regulating the gut microbiota against the TLR4/NF-κB pathway to protect the intestinal barrier. Therefore, AEPSa might be developed as a prebiotic agent against T2DM by regulating gut microbiota.

Radix Glycyrrhizae extract and licochalcone a exert an anti-inflammatory action by direct suppression of toll like receptor 4

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Radix Glycyrrhizae (GL), a herbal medicine that is widely available, has shown advantages for a variety of inflammatory diseases. Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway has been shown to play a key role in the progression of inflammation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to investigate the involvement of TLR4 in the anti-inflammatory mechanism of GL extract and its active constituent on acute lung injury (ALI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A model of inflammation produced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was established in C57BL/6 mice and macrophages derived from THP-1. To screen the active components of GL, molecular docking was used. Molecular dynamics and surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) were used to study the interaction of a specific drug with the TLR4-MD2 complex. TLR4 was overexpressed by adenovirus to confirm TLR4 involvement in the anti-inflammatory activities of GL and the chosen chemical.

RESULTS

We observed that GL extract significantly reduced both LPS-induced ALI and the production of pro-inflammatory factors including TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β. Additionally, GL inhibited the binding of Alexa 488-labeled LPS (LPS-488) to the membrane of THP-1 derived macrophages. GL drastically reduce on the expression of TLR4 and the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-B (NF-κB). Furthermore, molecular docking revealed that Licochalcone A (LicoA) docked into the LPS binding site of TLR4-MD2 complex. MD2-LicoA binding conformation was found to be stable using molecular dynamic simulations. SPRi indicated that LicoA bound to TLR4-MD2 recombinant protein with a KD of 3.87 × 10^-7 M. LicoA dose-dependently reduced LPS-488 binding to the cell membrane. LicoA was found to significantly inhibit LPS-induced lung damage and inflammation. Furthermore, LicoA inhibited TLR4 expression, MAPK and NF-κB activation in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of GL and LicoA on LPS-induced inflammation and TLR4 signaling activation were partly eliminated by TLR4 overexpression.

CONCLUSION

Our findings imply that GL and LicoA exert inhibitory effects on inflammation by targeting the TLR4 directly.

Review on the Diverse Biological Effects of Glabridin

Glabridin is a prenylated isoflavan from the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra Linne and has posed great impact on the areas of drug development and medicine, due to various biological properties such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, anti-microorganism, bone protection, cardiovascular protection, neuroprotection, hepatoprotection, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetes. Many signaling pathways, including NF-κB, MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin, ERα/SRC-1, PI3K/AKT, and AMPK, have been implicated in the regulatory activities of glabridin. Interestingly, glabridin has been considered as an inhibitor of tyrosinase, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and CYP2E1 and an activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), although their molecular regulating mechanisms still need further investigation. However, poor water solubility and low bioavailability have greatly limited the clinical applications of glabridin. Hopefully, several effective strategies, such as nanoemulsions, microneedles, and smartPearls formulation, have been developed for improvement.

Regeneration of Pancreatic β-Cells for Diabetes Therapeutics by Natural DYRK1A Inhibitors

The pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus is characterized by insulin resistance and islet β-cell dysfunction. Up to now, the focus of diabetes treatment has been to control blood glucose to prevent diabetic complications. There is an urgent need to develop a therapeutic approach to restore the mass and function of β-cells. Although exogenous islet cell transplantation has been used to help patients control blood glucose, it is costly and has very narrow application scenario. So far, small molecules have been reported to stimulate β-cell proliferation and expand β-cell mass, increasing insulin secretion. Dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) inhibitors can induce human β-cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, and show great potential in the field of diabetes therapeutics. From this perspective, we elaborated on the mechanism by which DYRK1A inhibitors regulate the proliferation of pancreatic β-cells, and summarized several effective natural DYRK1A inhibitors, hoping to provide clues for subsequent structural optimization and drug development in the future.

Gut microbiota: The key to the treatment of metabolic syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine - a case study of diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Metabolic syndrome mainly includes obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) and cardiovascular diseases. According to the ancient experience philosophy of Yin-Yang, monarch-minister compatibility of traditional Chinese medicine, prescription is given to treat diseases, which has the advantages of small toxic and side effects and quick effect. However, due to the diversity of traditional Chinese medicine ingredients and doubts about the treatment theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine is still in doubt. Gastrointestinal tract is an important part of human environment, and participates in the occurrence and development of diseases. In recent years, more and more TCM researches have made intestinal microbiome a new frontier for understanding and treating diseases. Clinically, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) often co-occur. Our aim is to explain the mechanism of interaction between gastrointestinal microbiome and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or traditional Chinese medicine formula to treat DM and NAFLD. Traditional Chinese medicine may treat these two diseases by influencing the composition of intestinal microorganisms, regulating the metabolism of intestinal microorganisms and transforming Chinese medicinal compounds.

DEVELOPMENT OF MICROCAPSULES BASED ON COMBINED ANTIDIABETIC SUBSTANCE: PHARMACOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The comparative assessment results of the hypoglycemic activity of a combined preparation containing microcapsules with a phytocomposition consisting of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. extracts, a dry extract of Galega officinalis L., Mentha piperita L., and gliclazide, are discussed in the article. Methods for obtaining microcapsules with an original PEG-6000 shell are described.

The aim of the study was to develop an optimal technology for obtaining microcapsules with a PEG-6000 shell containing a combined antidiabetic substance, and conduct its detailed pharmacological study on the model of type 2 diabetes mellitus, to conduct a detailed comparative pharmacological study of a microencapsulated antidiabetic composition with a shell based on PEG-6000, including gliclazide and a sum of phytoextracts on the model of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials and methods. As the main objects of the study, microcapsules with a PEG-6000 shell were obtained using methyl miristate as the base liquid. The capsules contained the amount of plant extracts in their composition: a dry extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra L., a dry extract of Galega officinalis L., a dry extract of Mentha piperita L., and gliclazide. The study of a hypoglycemic activity was carried out after a single administration of drugs to the animals with alloxan-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus. The cumulative effect assessment of the drugs was carried out within 14 days with a test for the resistance to oral glucose on days 7 and 14.

Results. Microcapsules with the original shell were obtained by dispersion in a liquid-liquid system with the adjustment of some technological stages. The effect of the drugs under study on the glycemic profile in the rats with an experimental model of type 2 diabetes mellitus was investigated. A comparative evaluation of the pharmacological effect was carried out with a separate and combined use of microencapsulated preparations.

Conclusion. The rationality of combining phytocomponents and a synthetic antidiabetic agent in microcapsules has been proven. The obtained results testify to the rationality of plant extracts combination and a synthetic hypoglycemic agent – gliclazide in microcapsules.

Validation of the Anticolitis Efficacy of the Jian-Wei-Yu-Yang Formula

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality due to its repetitive remission and relapse. The Jian-Wei-Yu-Yang (JW) formula has a historical application in the clinic to combat gastrointestinal disorders. The investigation aimed to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms of JW.

Methods

2% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was diluted in drinking water and given to mice for 5 days to establish murine models of experimental colitis, and different doses of JW solution were administered for 14 days. Network pharmacology analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were utilized to predict the therapeutic role of JW against experimental colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics were conducted using murine feces. Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and wound healing experiments were performed to confirm the molecular mechanisms.

Results

(1) Liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry was utilized to confirm the validity of the JW formula. The high dose of JW treatment markedly attenuated DSS-induced experimental colitis progression, and the targets were enriched in inflammation, infection, and tumorigenesis. (2) The JW targets were related to the survival probability in patients with colorectal cancer, underlying a potential therapeutic value in CRC intervention. (3) Moreover, the JW therapy successfully rescued the decreased richness and diversity of microbiota, suppressed the potentially pathogenic phenotype of the gut microorganisms, and increased cytochrome P450 activity in murine colitis models. (4) Our in vitro experiments confirmed that the JW treatment suppressed caspase3-dependent pyroptosis, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α), and interleukin-1b (IL-1b) in the colon; facilitated the alternative activation of macrophages (Mφs); and inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in intestinal organoids (IOs).

Conclusion

The JW capsule attenuated the progression of murine colitis by a prompt resolution of inflammation and bloody stool and by re-establishing a microbiome profile that favors re-epithelization and prevents carcinogenesis.

Flavonoids from Lycium barbarum leaves attenuate obesity through modulating glycolipid levels, oxidative stress, and gut bacterial composition in high-fat diet-fed mice

Traditional herbal therapy made from Lycium barbarum leaves has been said to be effective in treating metabolic diseases, while its exact processes are yet unknown. Natural flavonoids are considered as a secure and reliable method for treating obesity. We thus made an effort to investigate the processes by which flavonoids from L. barbarum leaves (LBLF) reduce obesity. To assess the effectiveness of the intervention following intragastric injection of various dosages of LBLF (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg⋅bw), obese model mice developed via a high-fat diet were utilized. Treatment for LBLF may decrease body weight gain, Lee’s index, serum lipids levels, oxidative stress levels, and hepatic lipids levels. It may also enhance fecal lipids excretion and improve glucose tolerance. Additionally, LBLF therapy significantly restored gut dysfunction brought on by a high-fat diet by boosting gut bacterial diversities and altering the composition of the gut bacterial community by elevating probiotics and reducing harmful bacteria.

Preclinical Studies of Natural Products Targeting the Gut Microbiota: Beneficial Effects on Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious metabolic disease characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, with a continuously increasing morbidity and mortality. Although traditional treatments including insulin and oral hypoglycemic drugs maintain blood glucose levels within the normal range to a certain extent, there is an urgent need to develop new drugs that can effectively improve glucose metabolism and diabetes-related complications. Notably, accumulated evidence implicates that the gut microbiota is unbalanced in DM individuals and is involved in the physiological and pathological processes of this metabolic disease. In this review, we introduce the molecular mechanisms by which the gut microbiota contributes to the development of DM. Furthermore, we summarize the preclinical studies of bioactive natural products that exert antidiabetic effects by modulating the gut microbiota, aiming to expand the novel therapeutic strategies for DM prevention and management.

Gut Microbiota: The Potential Key Target of TCM’s Therapeutic Effect of Treating Different Diseases Using the Same Method—UC and T2DM as Examples

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine often exerts the therapeutic effect of “treating different diseases with the same method” in clinical practice; in other words, it is a kind of herbal medicine that can often treat two or even multiple diseases; however, the biological mechanism underlying its multi-path and multi-target pharmacological effects remains unclear. Growing evidence has demonstrated that gut microbiota dysbiosis plays a vital role in the occurrence and development of several diseases, and that the root cause of herbal medicine plays a therapeutic role in different diseases, a phenomenon potentially related to the improvement of the gut microbiota. We used local intestinal diseases, such as ulcerative colitis, and systemic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, as examples; comprehensively searched databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure; and summarized the related studies. The results indicate that multiple individual Chinese herbal medicines, such as Rhizoma coptidis (Huang Lian), Curcuma longa L (Jiang Huang), and Radix Scutellariae (Huang Qin), and Chinese medicinal compounds, such as Gegen Qinlian Decoction, Banxia Xiexin Decoction, and Shenling Baizhu Powder, potentially treat these two diseases by enriching the diversity of the gut microbiota, increasing beneficial bacteria and butyrate-producing bacteria, reducing pathogenic bacteria, improving the intestinal mucosal barrier, and inhibiting intestinal and systemic inflammation. In conclusion, this study found that a variety of traditional Chinese herbal medicines can simultaneously treat ulcerative colitis and type 2 diabetes, and the gut microbiota may be a significant target for herbal medicine as it exerts its therapeutic effect of “treating different diseases with the same method”.

Review of the correlation between Chinese medicine and intestinal microbiota on the efficacy of diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a serious metabolic disorder that can lead to a number of life-threatening complications. Studies have shown that intestinal microbiota is closely related to the development of diabetes, making it a potential target for the treatment of diabetes. In recent years, research on the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), TCM compounds, and prepared Chinese medicines to regulate intestinal microbiota and improve the symptoms of diabetes mellitus is very extensive. We focus on the research progress of TCM active ingredients, herbal compounds, and prepared Chinese medicines in the treatment of diabetes mellitus in this paper. When diabetes occurs, changes in the abundance and function of the intestinal microbiota disrupt the intestinal environment by disrupting the intestinal barrier and fermentation. TCM and its components can increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria while decreasing the abundance of harmful bacteria, regulate the concentration of microbial metabolites, improve insulin sensitivity, regulate lipid metabolism and blood glucose, and reduce inflammation. TCM can be converted into active substances with pharmacological effects by intestinal microbiota, and these active substances can reverse intestinal microecological disorders and improve diabetes symptoms. This can be used as a reference for diabetes prevention and treatment.

Gut microbiota: A new target for T2DM prevention and treatment

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), one of the fastest growing metabolic diseases, has been characterized by metabolic disorders including hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance (IR). In recent years, T2DM has become the fastest growing metabolic disease in the world. Studies have indicated that patients with T2DM are often associated with intestinal flora disorders and dysfunction involving multiple organs. Metabolites of the intestinal flora, such as bile acids (BAs), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and amino acids (AAs)may influence to some extent the decreased insulin sensitivity associated with T2DM dysfunction and regulate metabolic as well as immune homeostasis. In this paper, we review the changes in the gut flora in T2DM and the mechanisms by which the gut microbiota modulates metabolites affecting T2DM, which may provide a basis for the early identification of T2DM-susceptible individuals and guide targeted interventions. Finally, we also highlight gut microecological therapeutic strategies focused on shaping the gut flora to inform the improvement of T2DM progression.