In vitro antioxidative and immunological activities of polysaccharides from Zizyphus Jujuba cv. Muzao

Polysaccharides extracted from tucum-do-cerrado fruits (Bactris setosa Mart) have antineoplastic effects in mice while preserving hepatic gluconeogenesis

This study investigated the antitumoral, anti-inflammatory and oxidative effects of polysaccharides from tucum (Bactris setosa, TUC) using the Ehrlich carcinoma as a tumor model. Additionally, the glycogen content, cytochrome P levels, and gluconeogenesis from lactate were assessed in the liver of healthy animals. Tumor-bearing female mice were orally treated with 50 and 100 mg.kg-1 of TUC or vehicle, once a day, or with 1.5 mg.kg-1 methotrexate via i.p., every 3 days, along 21 days. Both doses of TUC reduced the tumor weight and volume. In the tumor tissue, it decreased GSH and IL-1β levels, and increased LPO, NAG, NO and TNF-α levels. The tumor histology showed necrosis and leukocytes infiltration. The metabolic effects of TUC were investigated by measurement of total cytochrome P (CYP) and glycogen in tumor-bearing mice, and by ex vivo liver perfusion on non-bearing tumor male mice, using lactate as gluconeogenic precursor. Metabolically, the hepatic glucose and pyruvate productions, oxygen uptake, and the total CYP concentration were not modified by TUC. Thus, tucum-do-cerrado polysaccharides have antitumor effects through the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammation, without impairing glucose production from lactate in the liver, the main organ responsible for the metabolism of organic and xenobiotic compounds.

Exopolysaccharide from Lacticaseibacillus paracasei alleviates gastritis in Helicobacter pylori-infected mice by regulating gastric microbiota

Introduction

Many probiotics have the ability to produce extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). EPS derived from these probiotics has been confirmed to regulate the host intestinal microecological balance and alleviate the symptoms of diseases caused by gastrointestinal microecological imbalance.

Results

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strain with good exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing ability, namely, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei ZFM54 (L. paracasei ZFM54) was screened. The fermentation conditions of L. paracasei ZFM54 for EPS production were optimized. The EPS54 was characterized by chemical component and monosaccharide composition determination, UV, FT-IR and NMR spectra analysis. Cango red, SEM, AFM and XRD analysis were conducted to characterize the structure of EPS54. The EPS54 effectively reduced the colonization of Helicobacter pylori to AGS cells and recovered the cell morphology. EPS54 could also effectively alleviate the gastritis in the H. pylori-infected mice by down-regulating the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β and TNF-α and up-regulating the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in gastric cells. EPS54 was also found to be able to positively regulate the structure of gastric microbiota.

Conclusion

The EPS 54 from L. paracasei ZFM54 can alleviate gastritis in H. pylori-infected mice by modulating the gastric microbiota.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction and Gastrointestinal Digestion Characteristics of Polysaccharides Extracted from Mallotus oblongfolius

The polysaccharides were extracted from the leaves of Mallotus oblongifolius (MO) using an ultrasonic-assisted extraction method in this study. The main variables affecting the yield of polysaccharides extracted from Mallotus appallatus (MOPS) were identified and optimized while concurrently investigating its antioxidant capacity, hypoglycemic activity, and digestive properties. The results indicated that the optimal ultrasound-assisted extraction of MOPS involved an ultrasound power of 200 W, a liquid-to-solid ratio of 25:1 (mL:g), an extraction temperature of 75 °C, and an ultrasound time of 45 min, leading to an extraction yield of (7.36 ± 0.45)% (m/m). The MOPS extract exhibited significant scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS radicals with IC50 values of (25.65 ± 0.53) μg/mL and (100.38 ± 0.38) μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, it effectively inhibited the enzymatic activities of α-glucosidase and α-amylase with IC50 values of (2.27 ± 0.07) mg/mL and (0.57 ± 0.04) mg/mL, respectively. The content of MOPS remained relatively stable in the stomach and small intestine; however, their ability to scavenge DPPH radicals and ABTS radicals and exhibit reducing power was attenuated, and the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity was diminished. In conclusion, the ultrasonic extraction of MOPS showed feasibility and revealed antioxidant and hypoglycemic effects. However, the activities were significantly reduced after gastric and small intestinal digestion despite no significant change in the MOPS content.

Characterization and antioxidant properties of three exopolysaccharides produced by the Cyclocarya paliurus endophytic fungus

In recent years, the considerable potential of endophytic bacteria and fungi as prolific producers of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) have attracted interest. In this study, 56 endophytes were isolated from Cyclocarya paliurus, and the secondary metabolites of EPSs were extracted from Monascus purpureus, Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus versicolor, screened, and named MPE, PCE and AVE, respectively. In this work, the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of three EPSs, their cell proliferation activity on IEC-6 and RAW264.7 were investigated. The three EPSs were mainly composed of neutral sugar and differ in microstructure. However, MPE had a loose structure, and PCE exhibited a dense and sheet-like structure. In addition, the three EPSs performed ordinary antioxidant activity in vitro but showed excellent cell proliferation activity on IEC-6 and RAW264.7. The cell proliferation activity of PCE was 1.4-fold that of the controls at a concentration of 800 μg/mL on IEC-6, and MPE exhibited 1.3-fold increase on RAW264.7. This study provided scientific evidence and insights into the application of endophytes as a novel plant resource possessing huge application potential.

Research progress and future development potential of Flammulina velutipes polysaccharides in the preparation process, structure analysis, biology, and pharmacology: A review

In recent years, Flammulina velutipes (F. velutipes) has attracted consequential attention in various research fields due to its rich composition of proteins, vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, and polyphenols. F. velutipes polysaccharides (FVPs) are considered as key bioactive components of F. velutipes, demonstrating multiple physiological activities, including immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Moreover, they offer health benefits such as antioxidant and anti-aging properties, which have exceptionally valuable clinical applications. Polysaccharides derived from different sources exhibit a wide range of biomedical functions and distinct biological activities. The varied biological functions of polysaccharides, coupled with their extensive application in functional foods and clinical applications, have prompted a heightened focus on polysaccharide research. Additionally, the extraction, deproteinization, and purification of FVPs are fundamental to investigate the structure and biological activities of polysaccharides. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive and systematic overview of the extraction, deproteinization, purification, characterization, and structural elucidation of FVPs. Furthermore, the biological activities and mechanisms of FVPs have been further explored through in vivo and in vitro experiments. This review aims to provide a theoretical foundation and guide future research and development of FVPs.

Structural elucidation of an active polysaccharide from Radix Puerariae lobatae and its protection against acute alcoholic liver disease

Radix Pueraria lobata can be used as medicine and food, whose polysaccharide is one of the main bioactive ingredients. To explore the effect and mechanism of Pueraria lobata polysaccharide, a homogeneous and novel water-soluble polysaccharide (PLP1) was successfully isolated and purified from P. lobata by column chromatography in the current study. Structure analysis revealed that PLP1 (Mw = 10.43 kDa) was constituted of the residues including (1 → 4)-α-d-glucose and (1 → 4, 6)-α-d-glucose, which were linked together at a ratio of 5:1 and represented the main glycosidic units. In vitro experiments indicated that PLP1 exhibited a better free radical-scavenging ability than amylose and amylopectin, meanwhile in vivo experiments indicated that PLP1 effectively protected against liver injury in mice with acute ALD through significantly inhibiting oxidative stress to regulate lipid metabolism, increasing short-chain fatty acid production, and maintaining intestinal homeostasis by regulating intestinal flora. Taken together, our results illustrate that PLP1 can regulate intestinal microecology as a feasible therapeutic agent for protecting against ALD on the ground of the gut-liver axis, thus laying a theoretical foundation for the rational exploitation and utilization of P. lobata resources in the clinic.

A Literature Review of the Pharmacological Effects of Jujube

Jujube is a plant native to China that could be used in medicine and food. Its dried fruit is a superior herb commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine formulations for its calming effect and for nourishing the blood and strengthening the spleen and stomach. Jujube contains numerous active components including polysaccharides, phenols, and triterpene acids, which show a diverse array of pharmacological activities such as neuroprotection and the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In this paper, the research status of jujube over the past two decades has been statistically evaluated. Meanwhile, by tracking the latest research advances, the pharmacological efficacy and molecular mechanisms of jujube are exhaustively expounded to provide specific and systematic references for further research on the pharmacological effects of jujube and its application in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Effects of Jujube Powder on Growth Performance, Blood Biochemical Indices, and Intestinal Microbiota of Broiler

In total, 576 Cobb broilers were randomized into 6 treatment groups, with 8 replicates in each treatment group and 12 broilers in each replicate. Each treatment group was fed six different experimental diets containing 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% jujube powder. The group receiving 0% jujube powder was considered the blank control group. The experimental period was 42 days and was divided into two periods: starter (0-21 days) and finisher (22-42 days). Compared with the control group, the addition of 8% jujube powder significantly improved the ADG of broilers (p < 0.05), and 8% and 10% jujube powder significantly improved the total tract apparent digestibility of organic matter in broilers (p < 0.05). Adding 10% jujube powder significantly improved the apparent metabolic energy of broilers (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, 4-10% jujube powder significantly increased IgA, IgG, IgM, and sCD4 levels (p < 0.05) and T-AOC and SOD contents, and it reduced the MDA content in the serum of broilers (p < 0.05). In addition, the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Lactobacillus, and Romboutsia significantly increased in the broiler ileum, whereas that of Proteobacteria and Enterobacter decreased significantly (p < 0.05) when 8% jujube powder was added to the diet. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Bacteroides, and Faecalibacterium in the cecum increased significantly (p < 0.05), whereas that of Bacteroidetes decreased significantly (p < 0.05).

Analysis of Metabolites and Metabolic Pathways of Three Chinese Jujube Cultivar

Most studies on metabolites in jujube fruits focus on specific types of metabolites, but there are only a few comprehensive reports on the metabolites in jujube fruits. In order to understand the variance of metabolites in fruits of different jujube varieties. The objective of this study was to explore the metabolic components of jujube fruit by comparing three cultivars, namely Linyi LiZao (LZ), Jiaocheng SuantianZao (STZ), and Xianxian Muzao (MZ). The metabolites present in the fruits of these three cultivars were evaluated and compared. The results revealed the detection of 1059 metabolites across the three jujube varieties, with each cultivar exhibiting distinct metabolic characteristics. Notably, MZ exhibited a higher abundance of six metabolite classes, namely amino acids and derivatives, flavonoids, lipids, organic acids, phenolic acids, and terpenoids, compared to LZ. Conversely, LZ exhibited higher concentrations of alkaloids, lignans, coumarins, nucleotides, and their derivatives compared to the other two cultivars. In terms of STZ, its content of amino acids and derivatives, lignans and coumarins, organic acids, and phenolic acids was largely similar to that of LZ. However, the content of alkaloids, nucleotides, and their derivatives, and terpenoids was significantly higher in STZ compared to LZ. Additionally, STZ exhibited lower levels of flavonoids and lipids compared to LZ. Moreover, MZ was found to be less nutritionally rich than STZ, except for lignans and coumarins, as it displayed lower levels of all the metabolites. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed six significantly different metabolic pathways (p < 0.05) between LZ and MZ, including arginine and proline metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and cysteine and methionine metabolism. The metabolites in STZ and MZ exhibited three significantly different pathways (p < 0.05), primarily associated with flavonoid biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, and sphingolipid metabolism. The significantly differential metabolites between LZ and STZ were observed in the phenylpropionic acid biosynthesis pathway and the ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis pathways. LZ showed a closer relationship with STZ than with MZ. STZ and LZ exhibited higher medicinal values, while LZ had lower acidity and MZ displayed better antioxidant activity. This study presents the first thorough analysis of metabolites in LZ, STZ, and MZ cultivars, which can serve as a theoretical basis for quality analysis, functional research, and classification processing of jujube fruit.

Three acidic polysaccharides derived from sour jujube seeds protect intestinal epithelial barrier function in LPS induced Caco-2 cell inflammation model

Normal intestinal epithelial barrier function plays a key role in the prevention of many diseases such as infectious enteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, etc. In this study, three novel acidic polysaccharides ZY-2, ZY-3 and ZY-4 were isolated from sour jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. Spinosa) seeds and purified by DEAE Sephrose Fast Flow gel. The molecular weight of ZY-2, ZY-3 and ZY-4 was 7.76 kDa, 10.71 kDa and 8.31 kDa respectively, mainly composed of different proportions of mannose, rhamnose, glucose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, galactose, xylose and arabinose. ¹H NMR and Congo red experiment results showed that the three polysaccharides mainly contained both α-type and β-type glycosidic bonds with obvious triple helix structural traits. The polysaccharides could up-regulate the expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 in LPS-induced inflammation Caco-2 cells, and reduce IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β and TNF-α significantly. In conclusion, the acidic polysaccharides from sour jujube seeds exhibited great potential in protection intestinal epithelial barrier function through anti-inflammatory effects.

Extraction, Characterization, and Antioxidant Activity of Polysaccharides from Ajwa Seed and Flesh

The date palm has been cultivated in dry and hot areas of the planet for much of human history. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, dates are the main crop used as a source of food. Among several species of date fruits, the Ajwa AL-Madinah date is unique, growing only in Al-Madinah geographical region. The Ajwa date is used in traditional medicine due to its abundant active components and therapeutic properties. This study investigates the structural properties and the antioxidant effects of water-soluble polysaccharides extracted from Ajwa flesh and seed. The polysaccharides were isolated by two techniques including hot water and ultrasonic extraction. After isolation and partial purification, the physicochemical properties of four samples of polysaccharides extracted from flesh and seed were studied by several techniques including FTIR, solid-state NMR, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry. Several radical scavenging experiments were combined to study the antioxidant activity of the polysaccharide compounds. FTIR and NMR results showed a structure typical of heterogeneous polysaccharides. Mass spectrometry revealed that the polysaccharide samples were composed mainly of mannose, glucose, galactose, xylose, arabinose, galacturonic acid, and fucose. In addition, the physicochemical properties and composition of polysaccharides extracted from flesh and seed were compared. The extracted polysaccharides showed antioxidant activity, with 2, 2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging, Fe chelating ability, hydroxyl free radical scavenging ability, and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging. These results highlight their potential to be a useful nutritional element or supplemental medication.

Systematic Comparison of Structural Characterization of Polysaccharides from Ziziphus Jujuba cv. Muzao

To investigate the structural information differences of Ziziphus Jujuba cv. Muzao polysaccharides, ten samples were successfully extracted from aqueous and alkaline solutions, prepared via DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow through different eluents and Sephacryl S-300 columns, and systematically analyzed. Their characteristics were studied and then compared using chemical testing, high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), gas chromatography (GC), methylation analysis, and NMR spectroscopy. The data achieved demonstrated that different jujube polysaccharide fractions possessed different structural characteristics, and most of them belonged to pectic polysaccharides. Overall, the structural information difference of jujube polysaccharides was preliminarily illuminated, which could not only promote the potential application of Z. Jujuba cv. Muzao polysaccharides but also provide an effective way to analyze the structures of polysaccharides from other genera jujube fruit.

Structural characterization of a new high molecular weight polysaccharide from jujube fruit

From Ziziphus Jujuba cv. Muzao fruit, a new polysaccharide (PZMP3-1) with high molecular weight was isolated. Constructional characterization revealed that PZMP3-1 comprized 2.56 rhamnose, 7.70 arabinoses, 3.73 galactose, and 6.73 galactose, and it has a 241 kDa average molecular weight. The principal structural components of PZMP3-1 were 1,2,4 and 1,4-linked GalpA, 1,4-linked Galp, 1,3 and 1,5-linked Araf, and 1-linked Rhap based on methylation and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) analyses. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) structural analysis of PZMP3-1 revealed a tangled and branching pattern. Overall, these structural results suggested that PZMP3-1 could have unique bioactivities and be widely used in nutritional supplements.

Critical review on alterations in physiochemical properties and molecular structure of natural polysaccharides upon ultrasonication

Natural polymers, such as polysaccharides, cellulose, and starch, have been widely used in the chemical engineering, medicine, food, and cosmetics industries, which had a great many of biological activities. Natural polysaccharides origin from algae, fungi and plants were components of human diet since antique times. Ultrasonication achieved the breakage the polysaccharides reticulum in an ordered fashion. The factors of temperature, ratio of water/material, sonication frequency, time of exposure, pH of the sonication medium influenced the polysaccharide digestion. Sonication improved the enzyme catalysis over its substrate molecule. Positive health promoting slow digestive starch and resistant starch can be prepared quite easily by the sonication process. The aim of this review is to present the current status and scope of natural polymers as well as some emerging polymers with special characteristic. The physiochemical properties and molecular structure of natural carbohydrates under ultrasonic irradiation were also discussed. Moreover, Polysaccharide based films had industrial applications is formed by ultrasonication. Polysaccharide nanoparticles obtained by sonication had efficient water holding capacity. Sonication is an advanced method to improve the food quality. Hence, this review describes the effects of ultrasonication on physical, chemical, and molecular structure of natural polysaccharides.

Characterization of a novel polysaccharide from red ginseng and its ameliorative effect on oxidative stress injury in myocardial ischemia

BACKGROUND

Red ginseng (RG) was widely used as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or dietary supplement. However, few researches had been reported on the red ginseng polysaccharide (RGP).

METHODS

In this study, a novel heteropolysaccharide named RGP1-1 was fractionated sequentially by DEAE-52 column and Sephadex G-100 gel column. The primary structure of RGP1-1, including glycosyl linkages, molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, morphology and physicochemical property were conducted by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry-thermogravimetric analysis (DSC-TG) and so on. The effect of RGP1-1 in preventing and treating myocardial ischemia was evaluated by an animal model isoprenaline (ISO) induced mice.

RESULTS

RGP1-1, with a homogeneous molecular weight of 5655 Da, was composed of Glc and Gal in the ratio of 94.26:4.92. The methylation and NMR analysis indicated the backbone was composed of → 1)-Glcp-(4 → and → 1)-Galp-(4 →, branched partially at O-4 with α-D-Glcp-(1 → residue. Morphology and physicochemical property analysis revealed a triple-helical conformation, flaky and irregular spherical structure with molecule aggregations and stable thermal properties of RGP1-1. And it contained 6.82 mV zeta potential, 117.4 nm partical size and polymerization phenomenon. Furthermore, RGP1-1 possessed strong antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo, RGP1-1 could decrease cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardium fibrosis of mice in histopathology and it could decrease significantly the serum levels of cardiac troponin (cTnI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA). Western blot analysis showed that RGP1-1 can increase the expression of main protein Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2), NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) and kelch-like ECH-associated protein1(keap1) in oxidative stress injure progress, and therefore regulate the pathway of Nrf2/HO-1.

CONCLUSION

The above findings indicated that RGP1-1 had an improving effect on ISO-induced myocardial ischemia injury in mice, as novel natural antioxidant and heart-protecting drugs.

Structural characterization and anti-inflammatory activity of a pectin polysaccharide AP2-c from the lignified okra

In this paper, a pectin polysaccharide AP2-c with molecular weight 6.69 × 10⁵  Da was obtained from the lignified okra. The monosaccharide composition analysis indicated that AP2-c consisted of galactose, rhamnose and galacturonic acid in a molar ratio of 2.3: 1.5: 1.5. The structural characterization indicated that the main chain of AP2-c was composed of →2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→ and →4)-α-D-GalAp-(1→. →2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→ was branched at position O-4 and the branched chain consisted of →3,6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, →6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, α-L-Rhap-(1→ and β-D-Galp-(1→. AP2-c could inhibit the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and iNOS in LPS-induced macrophages with a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, AP2-c inhibited the phosphorylation of IκB and p65 via NF-κB pathway. The results indicated that AP2-c had obvious anti-inflammatory activity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: When okra seeds were harvested, lignified okra was always abandoned as waste and had not been fully used for exploitation. Nevertheless, it accounted for more than half of the total plant's weight and was abundant in cell wall polysaccharides, which were the main components of okra to perform a variety of biological functions. In the research, the purified pectin polysaccharide AP2-c was obtained from lignified okra and its physicochemical properties, structural features and anti-inflammatory activity were systematically researched. It was detected that AP2-c exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by blocking NF-κB pathway and thus lowering the expression of related inflammatory factors. The results have significant implications for the value-added application of okra and its processing side products can obviously help to promote the anti-inflammatory application of AP2-c and avoid wasting resources.

The Inclusion of Jujube By-Products in Animal Feed: A Review

Given the increasing demands for the quality and safety of animal-derived foods and the strict regulations on the use of antibiotics in animal feed, the use of functional feed additives has attracted increasing research and development. Jujube fruit is an energy-rich food with antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiarrheal properties. With the expanding areas of cultivation to jujube trees and the intensive processing of jujube in Asia, especially in China, a large number of jujube by-products are produced. These by-products are used widely in animal feed for pigs, chicken, cattle, goats, and fish, as they improve growth performance, promote digestive tract health, and enhance the quality of animal products. This article reviews the nutritional components and benefits of jujube by-products and their potential incorporation in animal feed. The aim of this review is to introduce jujube by-products as a novel supplement or partial dietary replacement in the animal feed industry.

Statistical Optimization of Novel Medium to Maximize the Yield of Exopolysaccharide From Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ZFM216 and Its Immunomodulatory Activity

The traditional media used for the fermentation of Lactobacilli always contain carbohydrate polymers, which interfere with the analysis of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by the bacteria. In this investigation, a novel medium formulation that could avoid such interference was successfully developed. The beef extract, yeast extract, and peptone used in this formulation were subjected to the removal of polysaccharides before use. The factors affecting the EPS production were optimized by a single factor test, Plackett-Burman design, and Box-Behnken design. The optimum formula was ascertained as: 7.5 g L-1 yeast extract, 12.5 g L-1 beef extract, 10 g L-1 peptone, 21.23 g L-1 maltose, 5.51 g L-1 yeast nitrogen base, 2 g L-1 K2HPO4, 5 g L-1 anhydrous sodium acetate, 2 g L-1 ammonium citrate, 0.58 g L-1 MgSO4⋅7H2O, 0.25 g L-1 MnSO4⋅H2O, and 1 mL L-1 Tween 80. The initial pH of the medium was 6.5. The optimized conditions for fermentation of the strain to produce EPS were as follows: seed size 1%, culture temperature 37°C, and culture time 20 h. Optimum results showed that EPS yield was 496.64 ± 3.15 mg L-1, being 76.70% higher than that of unoptimized conditions (281.07 ± 5.90 mg L-1). The EPS was mainly comprised of glucose and guluronic acid, with a weight average molecular weight of 19.9 kDa; it was also characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV analysis. EPS was found to significantly enhance the phagocytic capacity, promote the NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 secretion, and improve mRNA expression of cytokines in RAW 264.7 macrophages, indicating its considerable immunomodulatory activity. Western bolt and immunofluorescence results demonstrated that the EPS was able to increase p65 nuclear translocation in the macrophages, indicating that EPS enhanced immunity via the NF-κB signaling pathway. EPS investigated in this work has potential as an attractive functional food supplement candidate for the hypoimmunity population.

Valorization of Polysaccharides Obtained from Dark Tea: Preparation, Physicochemical, Antioxidant, and Hypoglycemic Properties

The structure and hypoglycemic activity of tea polysaccharides has been extensively studied, while there are few reports on the characterization and hypoglycemic activity of dark tea polysaccharides. The crude dark tea polysaccharide (CDTPS) was optimally extracted from Fuzhuan dark tea. Six polysaccharide fractions (namely DTPS-1, DTPS-2, DTPS-3, DTPS-4, DTPS-5, and DTPS-6) were isolated from CDTPS, and their physicochemical, structural, and biological properties were compared and analyzed. The results revealed that the compositions, structural characteristics, and biological properties of the six DTPSs were different. Therein, DTPS-4 and DTPS-6 had looser morphology, faster solubility, and a more stable structure. Additionally, DTPS-4 had the optimum in vitro antioxidant capabilities, and DTPS-6 had the strongest in vitro hypoglycemic capabilities. In addition, a correlation analysis revealed that the molecular weight and uronic acid content were significantly related to their antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. Our results indicated that DTPS-4 and DTPS-6 could be further developed into functional foods or additives, respectively.

Structural characterization and antioxidant activities of one neutral polysaccharide and three acid polysaccharides from Ziziphus jujuba cv. Hamidazao: A comparison

A neutral polysaccharide (HJP-1a) and three acid polysaccharides (HJP-2, HJP-3 and HJP-4) were obtained from Z. jujuba cv. Hamidazao. HJP-1a was mainly composed of arabinose and galactose in a ratio of 56.9:20.0, with an average molecular weight of 3.115 × 10⁴ g/mol. HJP-2, HJP-3 and HJP-4 were homogeneous heteropolysaccharides mainly containing galacturonic acid, arabinose and galactose, with average molecular weights of 4.590 × 10⁴, 6.986 × 10⁴ and 1.951 × 10⁵ g/mol, respectively. Structural characterization indicated that the backbone of HJP-3 appeared to be mainly composed of →4)-α-d-GalpA (1→ and →2,4)-α-l-Rhap (1→ residues with some branches consisting of →5)-α-l-Araf (1→ residues and terminals of T-α-l-Araf (1→ and T-β-d-Galp residues. The four purified fractions displayed dose-dependent radical scavenging activity on ABTS⁺ radicals and reducing capacity, as well as excellent protective effect on H₂O₂-induced HepG2 cells and metronidazole-damaged zebrafish embryos, especially HJP-2 in vitro and HJP-1a in vivo. Therefore, the polysaccharides from Z. jujuba cv. Hamidazao could be used as a potential antioxidant in functional foods.

Zizyphus jujuba cv. Muzao polysaccharides enhance intestinal barrier function and improve the survival of septic mice

This study aimed to examine the role of Zizyphus jujuba cv. Muzao polysaccharides (ZJPs) in protecting intestinal barrier function and the survival of septic mice. The sepsis mouse model was generated through cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to observe the effect of ZJPs on the function of the intestinal barrier in the context of sepsis. We observed the clinical symptoms and survival time of the mice and evaluated serum inflammatory cytokines, intestinal pathological changes and intestinal permeability. Moreover, tight junction (TJ) proteins and apoptosis-associated proteins in intestinal tissue were examined. Finally, TLR4/NF-κB pathway-related proteins were measured in all groups. The results showed that pretreatment with ZJPs improved clinical and histological scores and reduced intestinal barrier permeability, and the levels of proinflammatory factors were decreased. Pretreatment with ZJPs also upregulated the levels of TJ proteins and downregulated the expression of proapoptotic proteins. Moreover, the activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling was partly inhibited in septic mice by ZJPs pretreatment. The current study provides evidence that ZJPs have the potential to protect intestinal barrier function and improve the survival of septic mice via the attenuation of TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory signaling. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study reports the potential protective effect of ZJPs against cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis. Our data reveal that CLP induced damage to the gut mucosal barrier, inflammation, and apoptosis in intestinal tissues. However, pretreatment with ZJPs improved clinical and histological scores, reduced intestinal barrier permeability, and decreased the levels of proinflammatory factors in mice. Pretreatment with ZJPs also upregulated the levels of TJ proteins and downregulated the expression of proapoptotic proteins. Moreover, the activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling was partly inhibited in septic mice after ZJPs pretreatment. These findings provide evidence that pretreatment with ZJPs has the potential to attenuate CLP-induced gut damage in mice by restraining inflammation and apoptosis via the attenuation of NF-κB signaling. It provides a basis for further study of ZJPs in sepsis.

Characterization of a novel polysaccharide from Moutan Cortex and its ameliorative effect on AGEs-induced diabetic nephropathy

This study aimed to investigate the structure of a new heteropolysaccharide (MC-Pa) from Moutan Cortex (MC), and its protection on diabetic nephropathy (DN). The MC-Pa composed of D-glucose and L-arabinose (3.31:2.25) was characterized with homogeneous molecular weight of 1.64 × 10⁵ Da, and the backbone was 4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → 5-α-L-Araf-(1 → 3,5-α-L-Araf-(1→, branched partially at O-3 with α-L-Araf-(1 → residue with methylated-GC-MS and NMR. Furthermore, MC-Pa possessed strong antioxidant activity in vitro and inhibited the production of ROS caused by AGEs. In vivo, MC-Pa could alleviate mesangial expansion and tubulointerstitial fibrosis of DN rats in histopathology and MC-Pa could decrease significantly the serum levels of AGEs and RAGE. Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis showed that MC-Pa can reduce the expression of main protein (FN and Col IV) of extracellular-matrix, down-regulate the production of inflammatory factors (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1), and therefore regulate the pathway of TGF-β1. The above indicated that MC-Pa has an improving effect on DN.

Black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) polysaccharide ameliorates palmitate-induced lipotoxicity in hepatocytes by activating Nrf2 signaling pathway

Black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) has shown health benefits against metabolic disorders. Lipotoxicity is considered as a potentially cause of metabolic syndrome, and there is no effective treatment. However, the protective effect and its mechanism of black mulberry against lipotoxicity are unclear. In this study, three polysaccharide fractions (BP1, BP2, BP3) were isolated from black mulberry by stepwise precipitation with 30%, 60%, and 90% of ethanol and analyzed by GPC, HPLC and FT-IR methods. BP1 exhibited a better protective effect than BP2 and BP3 on palmitic acid (PA)-induced lipotoxicity in HepG2 cells. BP1 effectively reduced PA-induced lipotoxicity by eliminating accumulation of ROS, improving mitochondrial function, reversing glutathione depletion and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities. Mechanistically, BP1 activated the Nrf2 signaling pathway, a master regulator of the antioxidant defense system, through increasing Nrf2 nuclear translocation and phosphorylation. Collectively, these results demonstrate that BP1 has the great potential for applications in lipid disorders.

Characterization of the antioxidative polysaccharides from Ziziphus jujube cv. Goutouzao and its tumor-inhibitory effects on human colorectal carcinoma LoVo cells via immunocyte activation

Colorectal cancer, the most common malignancy in Asian and west world, is listed as the fourth lethal neoplastic disease with increasing incidence worldwide. Recently, Ziziphus jujube were reported with hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, and hypoglycemic functions. The polysaccharides from Ziziphus jujube was considered as the main component for these bioactivities. In this study, polysaccharides from Ziziphus jujube cv. Goutouzao (GZSP) was comprehensively investigated, and characterized as a heteropolysaccharide with antioxidant activity. Besides, it can stimulate the viability of immune cells RAW 264.7, which in turn inhibited the proliferation of colorectal carcinoma cells (LoVo) by inducing apoptosis, arresting cell cycle in G0/G1, and increasing intracellular ROS, as demonstrated by Flow Cytometric analyses. The results suggest that, different from chemotherapeutic modalities, GZSP can exert antitumor effects by activating immune reaction, providing more evidence for the development of GZSP-based functional foods and anticancer drugs serving as human colon cancer prevention. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Natural products from medicinal and edible plant are great sources of phytochemicals beneficial to human health, such as tea polyphenols, carotenoids, and phytosterols, etc. In this study, GZSP, the polysaccharides from a well-received fruit, Ziziphus jujube cv. Goutouzao, has been comprehensively investigated. The results show that GZSP fights against free radicals commonly found in human circulation, a property that enables it to be used as an antioxidant food additive with jujube flavor. More importantly, GZSP impedes neoplastic progression by activating immune response, as evidenced by the inhibition of colorectal carcinoma (LoVo) cells. Comparing with chemotherapies usually imposing cytotoxicity on normal tissues, natural product GZSP is able to exert the antiproliferative effects on carcinoma cells with minimal side-effects. Therefore, GZSP-based functional foods and anticancer drugs with the purpose of preventing human colon cancer formation are promising to be developed.

A Novel Pectic Polysaccharide of Jujube Pomace: Structural Analysis and Intracellular Antioxidant Activities

After extraction from jujube pomace and purification by two columns (DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow and Sepharcyl S-300), the structure of SAZMP4 was investigated by HPGPC, GC, FI-IR, GC-MS, NMR, SEM, and AFM. Analysis determined that SAZMP4 (Mw = 28.94 kDa) was a pectic polysaccharide mainly containing 1,4-linked GalA (93.48%) with side chains of 1,2,4-linked Rha and 1,3,5-linked Ara and terminals of 1-linked Rha and 1-linked Ara, which might be the homogalacturonan (HG) type with side chains of the RG-I type, corresponding to the results of NMR. In AFM and SEM images, self-assembly and aggregation of SAZMP4 were respectively observed indicating its structural features. The antioxidant activity of SAZMP4 against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in Caco-2 cells was determined by activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, indicating SAZMP4 can be a natural antioxidant. Also, a better water retention capacity and thermal stability of SAZMP4 was observed based on DSC analysis, which could be applied in food industry as an additive.

Study on immunostimulatory activity and extraction process optimization of polysaccharides from Caulerpa lentillifera

The process of extracting polysaccharides from the green algae Caulerpa lentillifera was studied by single factor experiments and response surface methodology. Additionally, the immunostimulatory activity of Caulerpa lentillifera polysaccharides (CLP) on RAW264.7 mouse macrophage was evaluated by in vitro cell experiments. The results showed that the optimal extraction conditions consisted of ultrasonification for 30 min, extraction time of 9 h, extraction temperature of 100 °C, and a ratio of water to raw material of 40:1. RAW264.7 macrophage exhibited enhanced phagocytosis with no toxic effects after treatment with CLP. In addition, CLP effectively increased the synthesis and secretion of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and NO), whereby the secretion levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β were 1,840.32 ± 21.03 pg/mL (50 μg/mL), 197.17 ± 3.13 ng/mL (50 μg/mL), and 1,178.35 ± 78.82 pg/mL (25 μg/mL), respectively. The polysaccharides contained in Caulerpa lentillifera have potential value for further development due to their immunological activity.

Antineoplastic effect of pectic polysaccharides from green sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) on mammary tumor cells in vivo and in vitro

The present study investigated the antineoplastic effects of pectic polysaccharides that were extracted from green sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum [CAP]) in the Ehrlich carcinoma in mice and in human mammary tumor lineages. After the subcutaneous inoculation of 2 × 10⁶ Ehrlich tumor cells, Female Swiss mice received 50, 100, or 150 mg/kg CAP or vehicle orally once daily or methotrexate (2.5 mg/kg, i.p., every 5 days) for 21 days. CAP dose-dependently reduced Ehrlich tumor growth. It also reduced the viability of MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-436 human mammary cell lineages. Treatment with CAP reduced the gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in vivo and in vitro, reduced vessel areas of the tumors, and induced necrosis in Ehrlich solid tumors. CAP treatment significantly increased Interleukin-6 in tumors. The antineoplastic effect of CAP appears to depend on the regulation of inflammation and angiogenesis. Further studies are encouraged to better understand the CAP potential for the treatment of breast tumors.

Preliminary Characterization and Bioactivities of Some Impatiens L. Water-Soluble Polysaccharides

Preliminary characterization and bioactivity of water-soluble polysaccharides from four Impatiens species—I. glandulifera Royle, I. parviflora DC., I. balsamina L., and I. noli-tangere L.—were investigated. The yields of polysaccharides range widely from 1.97% for I. parviflora roots to 18.63% for I. balsamina aerial parts. SEC (Size exclusion chromatography) chromatograms show that all samples contained a low molecular weight part that consisted of components of similar molecular weight. The aerial parts and roots of I. balsamina, and I. glandulifera aerial parts had considerable amounts of high molecular weight components up to 2.3 MDa. The sugar composition analysis revealed that Impatiens polysaccharides consisted primarily of galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, mannose, xylose, and glucose. All polysaccharide fractions, except for I. parviflora roots, also contain galacturonic acid. Moreover, in vitro bioactivity of obtained polysaccharides were evaluated. The antioxidant activity was evaluated on the basis of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethyl-benzthia-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays. The highest antioxidant activity was obtained for I. balsamina aerial parts and I. parviflora roots. Among the tested fractions, only the polysaccharides from I. glandulifera aerial parts were able to significantly decrease the production of IL-8 by 32.7 ± 10.5%. The results suggest that Impatiens species can be considered as a new source of antioxidants.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of triterpenic acids in normal and immunosuppressed rats after oral administration of Jujubae Fructus extract by UPLC-MS/MS

The fruit of Ziziphus jujuba (Jujubae Fructus) has been used as food and crude drug for thousands of years. Although several chemical and biological studies have revealed triterpenic acid as the main bioactive constituent of Jujubae Fructus responsible for immune-regulatory activity, only few pharmacokinetic studies have been conducted. To comprehend the kinetics of triterpenic acids and promote their curative application, a sensitive and efficient ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry method (UPLC-MS/MS) was established. UPLC-MS/MS was applied for the simultaneous determination of ceanothic acid, epiceanothic acid, pomonic acid, alphitolic acid, maslinic acid, betulinic acid, and betulonic acid in normal and immunosuppressed rat plasma samples. After sample preparation, chromatographic separation was performed on an Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈ column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) with acetonitrile: methanol (1:1, v/v) and 0.5% ammonium acetate in water as mobile phase. The established method was validated and found to be specific, accurate, and precise for the seven triterpenic acids, and was successfully applied for the pharmacokinetic study of rat plasma samples. The results showed that the pharmacokinetic parameters (C_max, T_max, AUC_0-t, AUC_0-∞, and CLz/F) in the plasma samples of immunosuppressed rats were significantly different from those in normal rats, and might provide an insight for the clinical usage of triterpenic acids from Jujubae Fructus.

Extraction and physicochemical properties of polysaccharides from Ziziphus Jujuba cv. Muzao by ultrasound-assisted aqueous two-phase extraction

In this paper, ultrasound-assisted aqueous two-phase extraction (UAATPE) performed via a one-step procedure was applied to extract polysaccharides from Ziziphus Jujuba cv. Muzao. Using an ethanol/ammonium sulfate system as a multiphase solvent, effects of UAATPE on extraction of ZMP, such as solvent-to-material ratio, composition of aqueous two-phase system, and extraction time and temperature, were investigated using response surface methodology on basis of results of single-factor experiment. The final optimal conditions were ATPS composition: 29% ethanol and 15% (NH₄)₂SO₄, extraction time: 38min, extraction temperature: 48°C, solvent-to-material ratio: 30, and microwave power: 70W. Under these conditions, the experimental extraction yield was 8.18%. Chemical analysis revealed that ZMP were composed of rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose, galactose, and galacturonic acid, at a ratio of 1.46:2.47:2.27:1.12:1.00:1.57:5.40, respectively. The structures were also characterized with UV, FTIR, and SEM. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities showed ZMP had moderately antioxidant activity.

Protective Effect of Flavonoids from Ziziphus jujuba cv. Jinsixiaozao against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Mice

This study was aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant activities and hepatoprotective effect of flavonoids from Ziziphus jujuba cv. Jinsixiaozao (ZJF). The composition of ZJF was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and antioxidant properties were investigated by biological assays in vitro. The hepatoprotective activity of ZJF was evaluated in acetaminophen (APAP)-treated BALB/c mice. Results indicate that ZJF displayed significant antioxidant capacity. Pretreatment with ZJF significantly decreased APAP-elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin (TB). Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were enhanced with ZJF administration, while malondialdehyde (MDA) level and glutathione (GSH) depletion were reduced. Meanwhile, ZJF reversed the suppression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation, and up-regulated the protein expression of NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1) in liver damage mice. Furthermore, ZJF attenuated APAP-induced inflammatory mediator production, such as nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Expression of p65 showed that ZJF dampened nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation. The results strongly indicate that the hepatoprotective role of ZJF in APAP-induced hepatotoxicity might result from its induction of antioxidant defense via activation of Nrf2 and reduction of inflammation via inhibition of NF-κB.