Structural characterization and immunoregulatory activity of two polysaccharides from the rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC

Structural characterization of squash polysaccharide and its effect on STZ-induced diabetes mellitus model in MIN6 cells

A novel natural water-soluble acidic polysaccharide (PWESP-3) was isolated from squash with a molecular mass of 140.519 kDa, which was composed of arabinose (Ara, 35.30 mol%), galactose (Gal, 61.20 mol%), glucose (Glc, 1.80 mol%), and Mannuronic acid (ManA, 1.70 mol%) and contained Araf-(1→, →3)-Araf-(1→, →5)-Araf-(1→, Glcp-(1→, Galp-(1→, →3,5)-Araf-(1→, →2)-Glcp-(1→, →2)-Manp-(1→, →3)-Glcp-(1→, →4)-Galp-(1→, →3)-Galp-(1→, →6)-Galp-(1→, →3,4)-Galp-(1→, →4,6)-Galp-(1→ residues in the backbone. Moreover, the structure of PWESP-3 was identified by NMR spectra. The branch chain was connected to the main chain by the O-3 and O-4 atom of Gal. In addition, the effect of PWESP-3 on STZ-induced type I diabetes mellitus model in MIN6 cells was investigated. The results showed that PWESP-3 can increase the viability and insulin secretion of MIN6 cells and reduce the oxidative stress caused by ROS and NO. Meanwhile, PWESP-3 can also reduce the content of ATP, Ca2+, mitochondrial membrane potential and Caspase-3 activity in MIN6 cells. Furthermore, treatment with PWESP-3 can prevent single or double stranded DNA breaking to form DNA fragments and improve DNA damage in MIN6 cells, thereby avoiding apoptosis. Therefore, the above data highlight that PWESP-3 can improve the function of insulin secretion in STZ-induced MIN6 cells in vitro and can be used as an alternative food supplement to diabetes drugs.

Liposomes Enhance the Immunological Activity of Polygonatum Cyrtonema Hua Polysaccharides

Poor stability and difficult uptake of natural polysaccharides have been the main problems in their application. The purpose of this study was to optimize the preparation conditions of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharides liposomes (PCPL) and to investigate the immune enhancement activity of PCPL in vitro and in vivo, with a view to discovering new ways of natural polysaccharide application. The optimal preparation conditions of PCPL were as follows: the adding amount of Tween 80 of 0.5 %, the ultrasound time of 2 min and the ultrasound times of once. Under these conditions, the entrapment efficiency, drug loading rate and particle size of PCPL were 38.033 %±0.050, 2.172 %±0.003 and 146 nm, which indicated that PCPL with small particle size could be prepared by the reverse-phase evaporation method. Furthermore, PCPL promoted proliferation, phagocytosis, and secretion of nitric oxide and related cytokines in RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, PCPL improved spleen and thymus indices, increased the number or proportion of red blood cells, platelets, and lymphocytes in the blood, and ameliorated spleen and thymus atrophy in immunosuppressed mice. This study provides a new idea for applying Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharides (PCP) and references for studying other polysaccharides.

Automated chemoenzymatic modular synthesis of human milk oligosaccharides on a digital microfluidic platform

Glycans, along with proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, constitute the four fundamental classes of biomacromolecules found in living organisms. Generally, glycans are attached to proteins or lipids to form glycoconjugates that perform critical roles in various biological processes. Automatic synthesis of glycans is essential for investigation into structure-function relationships of glycans. In this study, we presented a method that integrated magnetic bead-based manipulation and modular chemoenzymatic synthesis of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), on a DMF (Digital Microfluidics) platform. On the DMF platform, enzymatic modular reactions were conducted in solution, and purification of products or intermediates was achieved by using DEAE magnetic beads, circumventing the intricate steps required for traditional solid-phase synthesis. With this approach, we have successfully synthesized eleven HMOs with highest yields of up to >90% on the DMF platform. This study would not only lay the foundation for OPME synthesis of glycans on the DMF platform, but also set the stage for developing automated enzymatic glycan synthesizers based on the DMF platform.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. Polysaccharides and the Synergistic Antigastric Cancer Effect in Combination with Oxaliplatin

Oxaliplatin (OXA) is recognized as a first-line drug for gastric cancer. However, low accumulation of the OXA in the target site and the development of drug resistance directly led to treatment failure. In the present study, an ultrasonic extraction method for Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. polysaccharides (AKUs) and the combination treatment with OXA in vitro were studied. Results showed that when the pH level was 11, the ultrasound power at 450 W, the solid-liquid ratio was 1:20, and the ultrasound treatment for 30 min, the yield of AKUs was significantly increased to 13.20 ± 0.35%. The molecular weights of the AKUs ranged from 7.21 to 185.94 kDa, and its monosaccharides were mainly composed of arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal), and glucose (Glu) with a ratio of 58.36, 16.90, and 15.49%, respectively. Cell experiments showed that, compared to OXA alone (2 μg/mL, inhibition rate of 18%), the treatment of OXA with AKUs had a significant synergistic inhibitory effect on MKN45 proliferation, which increased to 33, 41, and 45% with increasing AKUs concentrations (5-50 μg/mL), respectively, representing a 2.5-fold inhibition. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) determination confirmed that AKUs significantly increased the intracellular uptake of OXA by 29%, compared to that of OXA alone. We first demonstrated that the combined synergistic inhibitory effect of AKUs and OXA on gastric cancer cells was mediated by reducing the expression of efflux proteins (MRP1 and MRP2) and increasing the expression of ingested protein (OCT2). As a result of the above, AKUs deserved to be an effective adjuvant combined with chemotherapeutics in a clinical setting.

Analyzing the structure-activity relationship of raspberry polysaccharides using interpretable artificial neural network model

The structure-activity relationship has been a hot topic in the field of polysaccharide research. Six polysaccharides and three polysaccharide fragments were obtained from raspberry pulp. Based on their structural information and immune-enhancing activity data, an artificial neural network (ANN) model was used for prediction, and Gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) algorithm was exploited for explanation structure-activity relationship of these raspberry polysaccharides in the present study. The structural information and immune activity data of raspberry polysaccharides were respectively used as input and output in the ANN model. The training and testing losses of ANN model was no longer decreased after trained for 200 epochs. The mean-square error (MSE) of training set and test set stabilized around 0.003 and 0.013, and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of training set and test set were 0.21 % and 0.98 %, indicating the trained ANN model converged well and exhibited strong robustness. The interpretability analysis showed that molecular weight, content of arabinose, galactose or galacturonic acid, and glycosyl linkage patterns of →3)-Arap-(1→, Araf-(1→, →4)-Galp-(1 → were the main structural factors greatly affecting the immune-enhancing activity of raspberry polysaccharides. This work may provide a new perspective for the study of structure-activity relationship of polysaccharides.

Isolation, purification, and structural characterization of polysaccharides from Codonopsis pilosula and its therapeutic effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in vitro and in vivo

Codonopsis pilosula is a famous edible and medicinal plants, in which polysaccharides are recognized as one of the important active ingredients. A neutral polysaccharide (CPP-1) was purified from C. pilosula. The structure was characterized by HPSEC-MALLS-RID, UV, FT-IR, GC-MS, methylation analysis, and NMR. The results showed that CPP-1 was a homogeneous pure polysaccharide, mainly containing fructose and glucose, and a small amount of arabinose. Methylation analysis showed that CPP-1 composed of →1)-Fruf-(2→, Fruf-(1→ and Glcp-(1→ residues. Combined the NMR results the structure of CPP-1 was confirmed as α-D-Glcp-(1 → [2)-β-D-Fruf-(1 → 2)-β-D-Fruf-(1]26 → 2)-β-D-Fruf with the molecular weight of 4.890 × 103 Da. The model of AML12 hepatocyte fat damage was established in vitro. The results showed that CPP-1 could increase the activity of SOD and CAT antioxidant enzymes and reduce the content of MDA, thus protecting cells from oxidative damage. Subsequently, the liver protective effect of CPP-1 was studied in the mouse model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by the high-fat diet. The results showed that CPP-1 significantly reduced the body weight, liver index, and body fat index of NAFLD mice, and significantly improved liver function. Therefore, CPP-1 should be a potential candidate for the treatment of NAFLD.

Effects of in vitro fermentation of Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. polysaccharide on fecal microbiota and metabolites in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. polysaccharide (AKP) has been shown to have hypoglycemic activity. In this study, the effects of AKP on fecal microbiota and metabolites in healthy subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were investigated using an in vitro simulated digestive fermentation model. AKP were isolated and purified from Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. Its main component AKP1 (AKP-0 M, about 78 % of AKP) has an average molecular weight of 3.25 kDa with monosaccharide composition of rhamnose, arabinose, and galactosamine in a molar ratio of 1: 1.25: 2.88. Notably, AKP fermentation might improve the intestinal microbiota of T2DM patients by the enrichment of some specific bacteria rather than the increase of microbial diversity. The addition of AKP specifically enriched Bifidobacteriaceae and weakened the proportion of Escherichia-Shigella. Moreover, AKP also increased the levels of short-chain fatty acids without affecting total gut gas production, suggesting that AKP could have beneficial effects while avoiding flatulence. Metabolomic analysis revealed that ARP fermentation caused changes in some metabolites, which were mainly related to energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Importantly, ARP fermentation significantly increased the level of myo-inositol, an insulin sensitizer. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between specific microbiota and differential metabolites. This study has laid a theoretical foundation for AKP application in functional foods.

Preclinical pharmacokinetics-related pharmacological effects of orally administered polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicines: A review

Polysaccharides (TCMPs) derived from traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), such as Ganoderma lucidum, Astragalus membranaceus, Lycium barbarum, and Panax ginseng, are considered to be the main active constituents in TCMs. However, the significant pharmacological effects of orally administered TCMPs do not align well with their poor pharmacokinetics. This article aims to review the literature published mainly from 2010 to 2022, focusing on the relationship between pharmacokinetics and pharmacological effects. It has been found that unabsorbed TCMPs can exert local pharmacological effects in the gut, including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, regulation of intestinal flora, modulation of intestinal immunity, and maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity. Unabsorbed TCMPs can also produce systemic pharmacological effects, such as anti-tumor activity and immune system modulation, by regulating intestinal flora and immunity. Conversely, some TCMPs can be absorbed and distributed to various tissues, especially the liver, where they exhibit tissue-protecting effects against inflammation and oxidative stress-induced damage and improve glucose and lipid metabolism. In future studies, it is important to improve quality control and experimental design. Furthermore, research on enhancing the oral bioavailability of TCMPs, exploring the activity of TCMP metabolites, investigating pharmacokinetic interactions between TCMPs and oral drugs, and developing oral drug delivery systems using TCMPs holds great significance.

Atractylodes lancea Rhizome Polysaccharide Alleviates Immunosuppression and Intestinal Mucosal Injury in Mice Treated with Cyclophosphamide

Plant-derived polysaccharides, such as Atractylodes lancea rhizome polysaccharide (ALP), are good immune regulators. However, the immune regulatory mechanism of the ALP is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ALP on the intestinal mucosal barrier and intestinal mucosal immunity of immunosuppressed mice. We also compared the activity of raw Atractylodes lancea rhizome polysaccharide (SALP) with wheat bran processed bran-fried Atractylodes lancea rhizome polysaccharide (FALP; both at 1.2 g/kg/d for mice). Our results showed that ALP effectively increased the immune organ index and blood cell count, stimulated the secretion of cytokines, and promoted the expression of occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1). ALP also promoted the expression of T cells and the secretion of sIgA. Furthermore, ALP alleviated the gut microbiota disorder in Cy-treated mice and increased the relative abundances of Lactobacillus and Faecalibaculum. ALP reversed the decrease in the level of SCFAs and promoted the expression of G protein-coupled receptor 43 (GPR43). To our knowledge, this study was the first to explore how the ALP protects the intestinal mucosal barrier and enhances intestinal mucosal immunity by alleviating the gut microbiota imbalance and metabolic disorders of SCFAs. FALP was more therapeutic than SALP, suggesting that FALP could be developed as a promising functional food component.

Authenticating the geographic origins of Atractylodes lancea rhizome chemotypes in China through metabolite marker identification

Introduction

Atractylodes lancea is widely distributed in East Asia, ranging from Amur to south-central China. The rhizome of A. lancea is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, however, the quality of products varies across different regions with different geochemical characteristics.

Method

This study aimed to identify the chemotypes of A. lancea from different areas and screen for chemical markers by quantifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using a targeted metabolomics approach based on GC-MS/MS.

Results

The A. lancea distributed in Hubei, Anhui, Shaanxi, and a region west of Henan province was classified as the Hubei Chemotype (HBA). HBA is characterized by high content of β-eudesmol and hinesol with lower levels of atractylodin and atractylon. In contrast, the Maoshan Chemotype (MA) from Jiangsu, Shandong, Shanxi, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, and other northern regions, exhibited high levels of atractylodin and atractylon. A total of 15 categories of VOCs metabolites were detected and identified, revealing significant differences in the profiles of terpenoid, heterocyclic compound, ester, and ketone among different areas. Multivariate statistics indicated that 6 compounds and 455 metabolites could serve as candidate markers for differentiating A. lancea obtained from the southern, northern, and Maoshan areas.

Discussion

This comprehensive analysis provides a chemical fingerprint of selected A. lancea. Our results highlight the potential of metabolite profiling combined with chemometrics for authenticating the geographical origin of A. lancea.

Xuanfei Baidu decoction in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Efficacy and potential mechanisms

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread worldwide and become a major global public health concern. Although novel investigational COVID-19 antiviral candidates such as the Pfizer agent PAXLOVID™, molnupiravir, baricitinib, remdesivir, and favipiravir are currently used to treat patients with COVID-19, there is still a critical need for the development of additional treatments, as the recommended therapeutic options are frequently ineffective against SARS-CoV-2. The efficacy and safety of vaccines remain uncertain, particularly with the emergence of several variants. All 10 versions of the National Health Commission's diagnosis and treatment guidelines for COVID-19 recommend using traditional Chinese medicine. Xuanfei Baidu Decoction (XFBD) is one of the "three Chinese medicines and three Chinese prescriptions" recommended for COVID-19. This review summarizes the clinical evidence and potential mechanisms of action of XFBD for COVID-19 treatment. With XFBD, patients with COVID-19 experience improved clinical symptoms, shorter hospital stay, prevention of the progression of their symptoms from mild to moderate and severe symptoms, and reduced mortality in critically ill patients. The mechanisms of action may be associated with its direct antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidative, and antimicrobial properties. High-quality clinical and experimental studies are needed to further explore the clinical efficacy and underlying mechanisms of XFBD in COVID-19 treatment.

The effect of structure and preparation method on the bioactivity of polysaccharides from plants and fungi

Polysaccharides are not only the main components in the cell walls of plants and fungi, but also a structure that supports and protects cells. In the process of obtaining polysaccharides from raw materials containing cell walls, the polysaccharides on the cell walls are the products and also a factor that affects the extraction rate. Polysaccharides derived from plants and fungi have mild characteristics and exhibit various biological activities. The biological activity of polysaccharides is related to their chemical structure. This review summarizes the effects of the physicochemical properties and structure of polysaccharides, from cell walls in raw materials, that have an impact on their biological activities, including molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, chain structure, and uronic acid content. Also, the structure of certain natural polysaccharides limits their biological activity. Chemical modification and degradation of these structures can enhance the pharmacological properties of natural polysaccharides to a certain extent. At the same time, the processing method affects the structure and yield of polysaccharides on the cell wall and in the cell. The extraction and purification methods are summarized, and the effects of preparation methods on the structure and physiological effects of polysaccharides from plants and fungi are discussed.

Structural characteristics of polysaccharide from Zingiber striolatum and its effects on gut microbiota composition in obese mice

To investigate a polysaccharide from Zingiber striolatum favorably modulates gut microbiota in mice fed a high-fat diet. Z. striolatum was utilized to extract the crude polysaccharide CZSP, which was subsequently refined using DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-150 to yield the novel polysaccharide Zingiber strioatum pure polysaccharide-1 (ZSPP-1). ZSPP-1 was an acidic heteroglycan made up of galactose, mannose, glucose, xylose, arabinose, glucuronic acid, and galacturonic acid with an average molecular weight of 1.57 × 106 Da. The structure of ZSPP-1 was investigated by FT-IR, methylation and NMR analysis, and the results denoted that the linkage structure types include T-Manp-linked, β-Xylp-(1,2)-linked, β-Galp-(1,4)-linked, α-GlcpA-(1,6)-linked, β-Arap-(1,4)-linked, α-Glcp-(1,3,4,6)-linked, α-Glcp-(1,2)-linked, and β-T-Xylp-linked, in which β-Galp-(1,4)-linked and α-GalpA-(1,4)-linked might be the main linkage. The results of the intervention experiments showed that ZSPP-1 changed the intestinal flora structure of the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in obese mice, and promoted the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides in the intestine. It also restored the imbalanced flora structure due to high-fat diet to normal. It also restored the imbalanced flora structure due to high-fat diet to normal. Z. striolatum polysaccharides presented a considerable advantage in alleviating high-fat diet induced obesity, which indicates that it can be further exploited as a natural functional food resource.

A nondestructive solution to quantify monosaccharides by ATR-FTIR and multivariate regressions: A case study of Atractylodes polysaccharides

The quality evaluation of nature polysaccharides is a tough nut to crack because of its high M_w distributions and larger polarity property. It is well-known that infrared spectroscopy and multiple regression modeling have been used for quantitative examinations in multiple fields, but it has not been applied to the compositional analysis of polysaccharides. In this study, attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is used to simultaneously quantify aldoses, ketose and uronic acids in Atractylodes polysaccharides by a combination of multivariate regressions. After experience of different data processing pretreatments, the resulting spectrum contains maximum amount of information of monosaccharide contents in Atractylodes polysaccharides. In this case, different smoothing points, derivatives, SNV and MSC are used in the pre-modeling spectrum processing and VIP screening is used to reduce the number of variables to simplify the calculation of the model. All the most optimal prediction models have both good prediction ability (R² ≥ 0.9 and RPD > 3) and no over fitting (RMSEP/RMSEC < 3). This strategy has opened a new possibility for the nondestructive determination of complex monosaccharide compositions of natural polysaccharides in a short detection time, low equipment requirement and high experimental safety.

Polysaccharide from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz binding with zinc oxide nanoparticles: Characterization, immunological effect and mechanism

Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (A. macrocephala) has been used both as a traditional medicine and functional food for hundreds of years in Asia. And it has a variety of biological activities, such as enhancing the ability of immunity and modulating effect on gastrointestinal motility. In this study, a water-soluble polysaccharide with molecular weight of 2.743 × 10³ Da was isolated from the root of A. macrocephala. Polysaccharide from A. macrocephala (AMP) consisted of arabinose, galactose, glucose, xylose, mannose, ribose, galactose uronic acid, glucose uronic acid, with a percentage ratio of 21.86, 12.28, 34.19, 0.43, 0.92, 0.85, 28.79, and 0.67%, respectively. Zinc plays an important role in immune system. Therefore, we supposed that AMP binding with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (AMP-ZnONPs) might be an effective immunostimulator. AMP-ZnONPs was prepared by Borch reduction, and its structural features were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), TEM-energy dispersive spectroscopy mapping (TEM-EDS mapping), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size and zeta-potential distribution analysis. Then, its immunostimulatory activity and the underlying mechanism were evaluated using RAW264.7 cells. The results showed that AMP-ZnONPs remarkably promoted cell proliferation, enhanced phagocytosis, the release of nitric oxide (NO), cytokines (IL-6 and IL-1β) and the expression of co-stimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86 and MHCII). Moreover, AMP-ZnONPs could promote the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6), phospho-IκBα (P-IκBα) and phospho-p65 (P-p65), and TLR4 inhibitor (TAK242) inhibited the expression of these proteins induced by AMP-ZnONPs. Therefore, AMP-ZnONPs activated macrophages by TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, indicating that AMP-ZnONPs could act as a potential immunostimulator in medicine and functional food.

Polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus Fruiting Bodies: Structural Characterization, Immunomodulatory Activity and Mechanism

Five fractions from crude Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides (HEPs), including HEP-1, HEP-2, HEP-3, HEP-4 and HEP-5, were obtained through column chromatography with a DEAE Cellulose-52 column and Sephadex G-100 column. The contents of total carbohydrates and uronic acid in HEPs were 53.36% and 32.56%, respectively. HEPs were mainly composed of Fuc, Gal and Glu in a molar ratio of 7.9:68.4:23.7. Its chemical structure was characterized by sugar and methylation analysis, along with ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. HEP-1 contains the backbone composed of (1→6)-linked-galactose with branches attached to O-2 of some glucose. The immunological activity assay indicated that HEP-1 significantly promoted the production of nitric oxide, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α and the phosphorylation of signaling molecules. Collectively, these results suggested that HEP-1 could improve immunity via NF-κB, MAPK and PI3K/Akt pathways. Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides might be explored as an immunomodulatory agent for use in dietary supplements.

A Comparison Study on Polysaccharides Extracted from Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. Using Different Methods: Structural Characterization and Anti-SGC-7901 Effect of Combination with Apatinib

For hundreds of years, Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. (AK) has been widely used as a treatment for spleen and stomach diseases in China. The AK polysaccharides (AKPs) have been thought to be the important bioactive components. In this stud, the impacts of different extraction methods were analyzed. The differences between AKPs extracted by hot water extraction (HWE), AKPs extracted by ultrasonic extraction (UAE), and AKPs extracted by enzyme extraction (EAE) were compared in terms of yield, total carbohydrate content, molecular weight distribution, monosaccharide composition, and synergistic activity of the AKPs with apatinib were determined. The results indicated that the yield of the polysaccharide obtained from HWE was higher than that of UAE and EAE. However, activity assays indicated that UAE-AKPs and HWE-AKPs enhanced apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells (SGC-7901) treated with apatinib and UAE-AKPs showed the strongest synergistic activities. This is also in agreement with the fact that UAE-AKPs have a smaller molecular weight, β-configuration, and higher galactose content. These findings suggested that UAE is an efficient and environmentally friendly method for producing new polysaccharides from Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. for the development of natural synergist and for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Preparation, characterization and immunoregulatory activity of derivatives of polysaccharide from Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC

A polysaccharide (ALP-1) extracted from Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. was carboxymethylated (C-ALP-1), phosphorylated (P-ALP-1) and acetylated (A-ALP-1) to improve its physicochemical properties and bioactivities. The solubility of all derivatives was increased, and the solubility of A-ALP-1 increased to 137.5 mg/mL, which was much higher than the solubility of ALP-1 (15.0 mg/mL). The results of HPSEC-MALLS-RID showed that the molecular weight of polysaccharides was slightly increased after the modification, and the root mean square radius of rotation (Rz) and morphology of polysaccharides in solution were also changed. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed that the surface morphology of ALP-1 changed dramatically and the crystallinity decreased after structural modification. From thermal analysis results, the T₅₀ of ALP-1, C-ALP-1, P-ALP-1 and A-ALP-1 were 281.34, 292.14, 333.75 and 298.70 °C, which showed that derivatives had stronger thermal stability than ALP-1. The immunomodulatory activity studies displayed that P-ALP-1 showed the best ability to stimulate RAW264.7 macrophages to release NO, and A-ALP-1 showed the best capacity to stimulate TNF-α and IL-6 releasing. These results indicated that chemical modification could enhance the solubility, the thermal stability and immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharides, which is beneficial for the development and utilization of natural polysaccharides.

Diverse Sesquiterpenoids and Polyacetylenes from Atractylodes lancea and Their Anti-Osteoclastogenesis Activity

Twenty-two sesquiterpenoids (1-22) and 11 polyacetylenes (23-33) were obtained from the rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea. Among them, 11 compounds (1-5, 11, 12, 23, 24, 30, and 31) are new. The scaffolds represented by the isolates of sesquiterpenoids were found to be varied and included two rare rearranged spirovetivane sesquiterpenoids with a spiro [4,4] skeleton, eight spirovetivanes, three guaianes, eight eudesmanes, and one eremophilane. Their planar structures and relative configurations were elucidated by UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR, and HRESIMS data analysis. The absolute configurations of the new sesquiterpenoids were determined using X-ray diffraction analysis and by comparison of the calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism and optical rotation data, as well as chemical transformations. All the isolated compounds (1-33) were evaluated for their activity against RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in bone marrow macrophages. Two polyacetylene-type compounds, 25 and 32, showed potent activity with IC₅₀ values of 1.3 and 0.64 μM, respectively. Rearranged spirovetivane sesquiterpenoids with a spiro [4,4] skeleton are reported herein from the genus Atractylodes for the first time. Polyacetylenes were demonstrated as the main active constituents of A. lancea with osteoclastogenesis inhibitory activity.

Structure and immunological activity of an arabinan-rich acidic polysaccharide from Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC

An arabinan-rich acidic polysaccharide, named ALP4-2 ([α]20 D = +197.8 (c 1.0 mg/mL, H₂O); and M_w = 5.59 × 10³ g/mol), was obtained from Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. ALP4-2 is mainly comprised of Ara along with a small amount of GalA, Gal, Rha, Glc and Xyl. The structure was decorated by glycosidic linkages of α-Araf-(1→, →3)-α-Araf-(1→, →5)-α-Araf-(1→, →3,5)-α-Araf-(1→, →2,4)-α-Rhap-(1→, α-GalAp-(1→, →4)-α-GalAp-6-OMe-(1→, →4)-α-GalAp-6-OMe and β-Galp-(1→ with a ratio of 6:1:7:5:5:1:7:1:4. The structure, configuration and microstructure of ALP4-2 was proposed by comprehensive considerations of results from SEC-MALLS-RID, SEC-HRMS, GC-MS, and 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy. Except for a high methyl ester in full pectin regions, an abundant arabinan moiety is observed in ALP4-2 with highly complex and branched characteristics. The immunoactivity displayed that ALP4-2 can significantly promote phagocytosis of macrophage without cytotoxicity, and stimulate nitric oxide and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10) release on RAW 264.7.

Preparation, characterization, and bioactivity evaluation of oligosaccharides from Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC

Sixteen oligosaccharide monomers with the degree of polymerization 3 to 18 (DP 3 to DP 18) and three active fractions (DP 3-9, DP 8-11, and DP 11-17) were separated from Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. by optimized fast protein liquid chromatography coupled with refractive index detector (FPLC-RID) and preparation hydrophilic interaction chromatography (Pre-HILIC). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and methylation analysis showed that the oligosaccharide in A. lancea was 1-kestose [β-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 → 1)-β-D-fructofuranosyl-(2 → 1)-α-D-glucopyranoside] (inulin-type fructooligosaccharides, FOS). Particularly, DP 3-9 showed the best capacity in stimulating phagocytic, NO, and cytokines production on RAW264.7 cells than any other purified oligosaccharide monomers and active fractions. It could also activate T-cells in Peyer's patch cells and enhance the production of colony stimulation factors. Besides, FPLC-RID showed a good capacity for large-scale preparation of DP 3-9 with the recovery of more than 93%. The bioactivity of sixteen FOS monomers (DP 3 to DP 18) and three FOS fractions (DP 3-9, DP 8-11, and DP 11-17) investigated in this study are beneficial for the utilization of FOS as a functional ingredient in novel product development.

Ultrasonic extraction, structural characterization, and antioxidant activity of oligosaccharides from red yeast rice

Red yeast rice is consumed as a medicinal food to lower blood lipids. Besides, it is used to color food, make wine, etc. In this study, water-soluble oligosaccharides in red yeast rice were extracted by ultrasonic-assisted extraction method. The parameters to extract oligosaccharides from red yeast rice were optimized by the Box-Behnken design under the following optimal extraction conditions: extraction temperature, 60°C; extraction time, 97 min; and liquid/material ratio, 25 ml/g. The structure and the antioxidant activity of the new oligosaccharide were preliminarily investigated. Total carbohydrates extracted from red yeast rice with 80% ethanol-water solution (v/v) were first removed from pigments using D101 macroporous adsorption resin. The total sugar contents were then purified by DE52 resins and Sephadex G-25 resins to obtain red yeast rice oligosaccharides, coded as RYRO1. Structural characterization experiments indicated that RYRO1 is an oligosaccharide with a weight average molecular weight of 874 Da and a theoretical degree of polymerization of 4.86. RYRO1 is composed of mannose, glucosamine, glucose, and galactose with a molar ratio of 0.248:0.019:1:0.026. The ABTS, DPPH, and hydroxyl free radical scavenging assays showed antioxidant nature of RYRO1.

Structural characterization and immunoregulatory activity of polysaccharides from Dendrobium officinale leaves

In this study, two kinds of polysaccharides from leaves of Dendrobium officinale, namely DLP-1 and DLP-2, were obtained by hot water extraction, ethanol sedimentation, and chromatographic separation using DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-100 columns. They were composed of different monosaccharides and the content of monosaccharides varied significantly while DLP-1 (M_w 1.38 × 10⁶  Da) was mainly composed of mannose (71.69%) and glucose (22.89%), and DLP-2 (M_w 1.93 × 10⁶  Da) was constituted by rhamnose (35.05%), arabinose (24.12%), and galactose (25.65%). A triple-helical conformation was exhibited by both of them. The scanning electron microscope image of DLP-1 showed an irregular and large lamellar shape, as well as a smooth surface and a porous interior, illustrating they had an amorphous structure. In contrast, DLP-2 revealed a rough, loose, and uneven surface consisting of large sponge-like particles. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis showed that (1→4)-β-D-Manp, (1→4)-β-D-Glcp, and (1→4)-2-O-acetyl-β-D-Manp were the main linkage types of DLP-1, whereas DLP-2 was constituted by a large amount of (1→4)-β-D-Manp, (1→4)-β-D-Glcp, and other residues. Besides, DLP-1 and DLP-2 stimulated the proliferation and phagocytic capacities of RAW 264.7 cells and improved the production of nitric oxide, interleukin-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. These results proved that both DLP-1 and DLP-2 possessed excellent immunoregulatory bioactivities and could be functional food or adjuvant drug. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The leaf of Dendrobium officinale is a by-product with huge biomass. The lack of systematic research on its chemical composition and pharmacologic effect, leading to a great waste of resources. In order to maximize the value of D. officinale, this study aimed to investigate the structural characteristics and immunologic effects of two polysaccharide fractions (DLP-1 and DLP-2) from D. officinale leaves, showing that DLP-1 and DLP-2 in D. officinale leaves could be used as anti-inflammatory agents to avoid wasting.

A novel LC-MS/MS method for complete composition analysis of polysaccharides by aldononitrile acetate and multiple reaction monitoring

Carbohydrate analysis has always been a challenging task due to the occurrence of high polarity and multiple isomers. Aldoses are commonly analyzed by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) following aldononitrile acetate derivatization (AND). However, the GLC technique cannot be applied for the simultaneous determination of aldoses, ketoses, and uronic acids. In this study, a new method based on the combination of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and AND is developed for the complete characterization of monosaccharide composition (i.e., aldoses, ketoses, alditols, amino sugars, and uronic acids) in plant-derived polysaccharides. In addition to discussing the possible byproducts, the study optimizes the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) parameters and LC conditions. The final separation of 17 carbohydrates is performed on a BEH Shield RP18 column (150 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) within 25 min, without using any buffer salt. Notably, the complex polysaccharides extracted from Ligusticum chuanxiong, Platycodon grandiflorum, Cyathula officinalis Kuan, Juglans mandshurica Maxim, and Aralia elata (Miq.). Seem bud can be successfully characterized using the developed method. Overall, the results demonstrated that the newly established LC-MS/MS MRM method is more effective and powerful than the GLC-based methods reported previously, and it is more suitable for the analysis of highly complex natural polysaccharides, including complex pectins, fructosans, and glycoproteins.

Atractylodin inhibits fructose-induced human podocyte hypermotility via anti-oxidant to down-regulate TRPC6/p-CaMK4 signaling

High fructose has been reported to drive glomerular podocyte oxidative stress and then induce podocyte foot process effacement in vivo, which could be partly regarded as podocyte hypermotility in vitro. Atractylodin possesses anti-oxidative effect. The aim of this study was to explore whether atractylodin prevented against fructose-induced podocyte hypermotility via anti-oxidative property. In fructose-exposed conditionally immortalized human podocytes, we found that atractylodin inhibited podocyte hypermotility, and up-regulated slit diaphragm proteins podocin and nephrin, and cytoskeleton protein CD2-associated protein (CD2AP), α-Actinin-4 and synaptopodin expression, which were consistent with its anti-oxidative activity evidenced by up-regulation of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1 expression, and reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Atractylodin also significantly suppressed expression of transient receptor potential channels 6 (TRPC6) and phosphorylated Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMK4) in cultured podocytes with fructose exposure. Additionally, in fructose-exposed podocytes, CaMK4 siRNA up-regulated synaptopodin and reduced podocyte hypermotility, whereas, silencing of TRPC6 by siRNA decreased p-CaMK4 expression, inhibited podocyte hypermotility, showing TRPC6/p-CaMK4 signaling activation in podocyte hypermotility under fructose condition. Just like atractylodin, antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) could inhibit TRPC6/p-CaMK4 signaling activation to reduce fructose-induced podocytes hypermotility. These results first demonstrated that the anti-oxidative property of atractylodin may contribute to the suppression of podocyte hypermotility via inhibiting TRPC6/p-CaMK4 signaling and restoring synaptopodin expression abnormality.

Structural elucidation and anti-diabetic osteoporotic activity of an arabinogalactan from Phellodendron chinense Schneid

Phellodendron chinense Schneid. was widely used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of diabetic osteoporosis in China. In this study, an arabinogalactan, named as PPCP-1, was isolated from the bark of Phellodendron chinense Schneid., and purified by DEAE-cellulose DE52 and Sephacryl S-200 HR column chromatography. The structure of PPCP-1 was characterized as a repeating unit consisting of →3)-β-d-Galp-(1→, →3,6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, →5)-α-l-Araf-(1→, →4)-α-d-Glcp-(1→, →3)-α-d-Glcp-(1→, →4)-α-d-Manp-(1→ with branches of →5)-α-l-Araf-(1→, →3,5)-α-l-Araf-(1→ and terminal α-l-Araf. Pharmacologically, the oral administration of PPCP-1 preserved osteoporosis associated with hyperglycemia by inhibiting α-glucosidase activity, improving glucose tolerance, decreasing the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), as well as down-regulating the expression of receptor for AGEs in tibias of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Collectively, the present study suggested that the arabinogalactan PPCP-1 from Phellodendron chinense Schneid. might potentially be used as functional foods for bone health and/or developed for drug discovery for alleviating diabetic osteoporosis.

Glycan Assembly Strategy: From Concept to Application

Glycans have been hot topics in recent years due to their exhibition of numerous biological activities. However, the heterogeneity of their natural source and the complexity of their chemical synthesis impede the progress in their biological research. Thus, the development of glycan assembly strategies to acquire plenty of structurally well-defined glycans is an important issue in carbohydrate chemistry. In this review, the latest advances in glycan assembly strategies from concepts to their applications in carbohydrate synthesis, including chemical and enzymatic/chemo-enzymatic approaches, as well as solution-phase and solid-phase/tag-assisted synthesis, are summarized. Furthermore, the automated glycan assembly techniques are also outlined.

Application of nonthermal processing technologies in extracting and modifying polysaccharides: A critical review

Polysaccharides are natural polymer compounds widely distributed in plants, animals, and microorganisms, most of which have a broad spectrum of biological activities to promote human health. They could also be used as texture modifiers in food industry due to their excellent rheological and mechanical properties. Many researchers have shown that nonthermal processing technologies have numerous advantages, such as high extraction efficiency, short extraction time, and environmental friendliness, in the extraction of polysaccharides compared with the traditional extraction methods. Moreover, nonthermal technologies could effectively change the physicochemical properties and structural characteristics of polysaccharides to improve their biological activities or processing properties. Therefore, a comprehensive summary about the extraction and modification of polysaccharides by nonthermal technologies, including ultrasound, high hydrostatic pressure, pulsed electric fields, and cold plasma, was provided in this review. In particular, the underlying mechanisms, processing operations, and current application status of these technologies were discussed. In addition, the applications of combining nonthermal techniques with other technological methods in polysaccharide extraction and modification were briefly introduced.

Therapeutic effects of traditional Thai herbal blood and wind tonic formulations for treatment of menopausal symptoms

INTRODUCTION

Traditional Thai herbal medicine formulations have been used as alternative therapies for menopausal symptoms due to concerns from adverse effects associated with hormone therapy. This study aimed to demonstrate the effects of traditional Thai herbal blood and wind tonic formulations used by a traditional Thai medicine doctor, Mr. Somporn Chanwanitsakul, in postmenopausal women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A pilot clinical study was conducted on thirty-five postmenopausal women, referring to Tambon Thung Tam Sao Health Promotion Hospital, Hat Yai, Songkhla, from October 2019 to March 2020. The participants consumed combined Thai herbal formulations including blood tonic and wind tonic thrice daily for four weeks. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, end of treatment (4 weeks), and follow-up (8 weeks). Pre- and post-treatment measures included menopause rating scale, sleep quality, and quality of life questionnaire. All data were analyzed using SPSS software at the significance level of 0.05.

RESULTS

Therapeutic effects of Thai herbal medicine formulations on menopausal symptoms intensity were assessed by modified Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). Severity of women's total menopausal symptoms decreased significantly (p < 0.05) at end of treatment and follow-up. Analysis of changes in specific symptoms indicated significantly less moderate headache, mild hot flashes, sweating, emotional instability, irritability, anxiety, sleep problem, lethargy, back pain, joint pain, muscular discomfort, dry skin, dryness of vagina, boring sex, and frequent urination (MRS score 0). In addition, subjective analysis of sleep quality using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) data revealed significant post-treatment improvements in subjective sleep quality and daytime dysfunction over the last month (PSQI score 0). Furthermore, subjective analysis of quality of life using World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief showed significant post-treatment improvement in psychological health (score 23).

CONCLUSION

The findings demonstrate that Thai herbal medicine formulations used by a traditional Thai medicine doctor, Mr. Somporn Chanwanitsakul, are effective for treating menopausal symptoms and improve sleep quality and quality of life in postmenopausal women.

Comparison of the Effects of Essential Oil Obtained from the Crude and Bran-Processed Atractylodes lancea on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Injury of Human Colonic Epithelial Cells by Downregulating the IKK/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Background

Atractylodes lancea (AL) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases including digestive disorders. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common digestive system disease with a low cure rate and easy recurrence. However, it is still not clear whether AL is suitable for UC treatment. Currently, stir-baking with wheat bran is most commonly used to process AL. Here, we aimed to address the effects of the crude and bran-processed AL on UC in vitro and uncover the underlying mechanism based on regulating the IKK/NF-kappa B signaling pathway.

Methods

Human colonic epithelial cells (HCoEpiC) were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic the inflammatory injury of UC in vitro. The essential oil from crude and bran-processed AL was used to treat LPS-induced HcoEpiC cells. The cell viability was detected by an MTT assay. The levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-1-β, TNF-α, and NO were determined by ELISA, and the mRNA expressions of IKK-α, NF-κB, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were determined by RT-PCR. Meanwhile, the expressions of IKK-α, p-IKK-α, p-IKK-β, NF-κB, IL-6, and IL-8 proteins were determined by Western blot.

Results

The essential oil of AL, whether it was from crude or bran-processed AL, could significantly increase the viability of LPS-induced HCoEpiC cells. The treatment of AL essential oil also notably inhibited the productions of IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-1-β, TNF-α, NO, p-IKK-α, p-IKK-β, and NF-κB and downregulated the mRNA expressions of NF-κB, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. Meanwhile, IL-4 protein and mRNA expression were significantly stimulated by AL essential oil. Moreover, the essential oil from bran-processed AL was more effective than that from crude AL.

Conclusion

Both kinds of AL essential oil had the anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-induced HCoEpiC, and the essential oil from bran-processed AL was more effective. The mechanism could be through the IKK/NF-κB signaling pathway in vitro.

Atractylodis Rhizoma: A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and quality control

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Atractylodis Rhizoma (AR), mainly includes Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. (A. lancea) and Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. (A. chinensis) is widely used in East Asia as a diuretic and stomachic drug, for the treatment of rheumatic diseases, digestive disorders, night blindness, and influenza as it contains a variety of sesquiterpenoids and other components of medicinal importance.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

A systematic summary on the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and quality control of AR was presented to explore the future therapeutic potential and scientific potential of this plant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A review of the literature was performed by consulting scientific databases including Google Scholar, Web of Science, Baidu Scholar, Springer, PubMed, ScienceDirect, CNKI, etc. Plant taxonomy was confirmed to the database "The Plant List".

RESULTS

Over 200 chemical compounds have been isolated from AR, notably sesquiterpenoids and alkynes. Various pharmacological activities have been demonstrated, especially improving gastrointestinal function and thus allowed to assert most of the traditional uses of AR.

CONCLUSIONS

The researches on AR are extensive, but gaps still remain. The molecular mechanism, structure-activity relationship, potential synergistic and antagonistic effects of these components need to be further elucidated. It is suggested that further studies should be carried out in the aspects of comprehensive evaluation of the quality of medicinal materials, understanding of the "effective forms" and "additive effects" of the pharmacodynamic substances based on the same pharmacophore of TCM, and its long-term toxicity in vivo and clinical efficacy.

Structural elucidation of an immunological arabinan from the rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong, a traditional Chinese medicine

In the present study, an immunological arabinan, LCP70-2A, was isolated from Ligusticum chuanxiong for the first time. The absolute molecular weight of LCP70-2A was determined to be 6.46 × 10⁴ g/mol using the HPSEC-MALLS-RID method. The absolute configuration of arabinose in LCP70-2A was determined to be L-configuration. Physicochemical characterization revealed that LCP70-2A was a homogeneous polysaccharide and had a backbone of (1 → 5)-linked α-L-Araf with terminal α-L-arabinose residues at position O-2 and O-3. Molecular conformation analysis showed that LCP70-2A was a branching polysaccharide with a compact coil chain conformation in 0.1 M NaCl solution. In addition, in vitro cell assays showed that LCP70-2A can activate macrophages by enhancing the phagocytosis and potentiating the secretion of immunoregulatory factors including NO, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Furthermore, LCP70-2A was proved to promote the production of ROS and NO using the zebrafish model, suggesting that LCP70-2A can be further developed as a candidate supplement for immunological enhancement.

Isolation and structure elucidation of polysaccharides from fruiting bodies of mushroom Coriolus versicolor and evaluation of their immunomodulatory effects

Coriolus versicolor is an edible medicinal mushroom in China. Two polysaccharides, named as CVPn and CVPa were separated from the dried fruiting bodies of Coriolus versicolor by water extraction and ethanol precipitation. Their chemical structures were well elucidated with overall consideration of monosaccharide composition, methylation analysis and 1D/2D-NMR spectra data. The bioactivities on RAW 264.7 macrophages cells were evaluated, and further structure-bioactivity relationships were concluded. With molecular weight of 29.7 kDa for CVPn and 50.8 kDa for CVPa, the two isolated polysaccharides were both composed of (l → 4)-β-/(1 → 3)-β-d-glucopyranosyl group as backbone with branches attached at O-6 site. Comparing to CVPn, CVPa with relative high molecular weight and less branches showed significant induction of NO production, obvious augmentation of iNOS and TNF-α mRNA expression level, and phagocytosis on RAW 264.7 cells. These results clarified that CVP polysaccharides with less branches and high molecular weight possessed enhanced immunomodulatory ability, and this finding could be a reference for the utilization of Coriolus versicolor.

Genome survey sequencing of Atractylodes lancea and identification of its SSR markers

Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. is a traditional Chinese medicine rich in sesquiterpenes that has been widely used in China and Japan for the treatment of viral infections. Despite its important pharmacological value, genomic information regarding A. lancea is currently unavailable. In the present study, the whole genome sequence of A. lancea was obtained using an Illumina sequencing platform. The results revealed an estimated genome size for A. lancea of 4,159.24 Mb, with 2.28% heterozygosity, and a repeat rate of 89.2%, all of which indicate a highly heterozygous genome. Based on the genomic data of A. lancea, 27,582 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were identified. The differences in representation among nucleotide repeat types were large, e.g., the mononucleotide repeat type was the most abundant (54.74%) while the pentanucleotide repeats were the least abundant (0.10%), and sequence motifs GA/TC (31.17%) and TTC/GAA (7.23%) were the most abundant among the dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeat motifs, respectively. A total of 93,434 genes matched known genes in common databases including 48,493 genes in the Gene Ontology (GO) database and 34,929 genes in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. This is the first report to sequence and characterize the whole genome of A. lancea and will provide a theoretical basis and reference for further genome-wide deep sequencing and SSR molecular marker development of A. lancea.

A Atractylodes lancea polysaccharide inhibits metastasis of human osteosarcoma U-2 OS cells by blocking sialyl Lewis X (sLex )/E-selectin binding

In this study, a new water and alkaline‐soluble polysaccharide (ALP), with an average molecular weight of 6.63 × 10⁴ Da, was successfully purified from the rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea. GC analysis demonstrated that ALP was a kind of glucan. The effect of the ALP on the interaction between E‐selectin and sialyl Lewis X (sLe^x) was examined in human osteosarcoma U‐2 OS cells. It was obvious that the expression of sLe^x antigen on the surface of U‐2 OS cells was visible under fluorescence microscopy. The addition of ALP (0.5, 1 and 2 mg/mL) resulted in a marked inhibition on the adhesion, migration and invasion of U‐2 OS cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), which was achieved by the decreased sLe^x expression on U‐2 OS cells. Additionally, the induction of apoptosis can be observed in U‐2 OS cells following ALP treatment using TUNEL staining and Annexin V‐FITC/PI double‐staining analysis on flow cytometry. In conclusion, these results indicated that ALP exerted anti‐metastatic activity towards osteosarcoma cells via inhibition of sLe^x/E‐selectin binding, which suggested that ALP could be a potent agent for human osteosarcoma intervention.

A novel low-molecular-mass pumpkin polysaccharide: Structural characterization, antioxidant activity, and hypoglycemic potential

The novel natural low-molecular-mass polysaccharide (SLWPP-3) from pumpkin (Cucurbia moschata) was separated from the waste supernatant after macromolecular polysaccharide production and purified using a DEAE cellulose-52 column and gel-filtration chromatography. Chemical and instrumental studies revealed that SLWPP-3 with a molecular mass of 3.5 kDa was composed of rhamnose, glucose, arabinose, galactose and uronic acid with a weight ratio of 1: 1: 4: 6: 15, and primarily contained →3,6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, →4)-α-GalpA-(1→(OMe), →4)-α-GalpA-(1→, →2,4)-α-d-Rhap-(1→, →3)-β-d-Galp-(1→, →4)-α-d-Glcp, and →4)-β-d-Galp residues in the backbone. The branch chain passes were connected to the main chain through the O-4 atom of glucose and O-3 atom of arabinose. Physiologically, the ability of SLWPP-3 to inhibit carbohydrate-digesting enzymes and DPPH and ABTS radicals, as well as protect pancreatic β cells from oxidative damage by decreasing MDA levels and increasing SOD activities, was confirmed. The findings elucidated the structural types of pumpkin polysaccharides and revealed a potential adjuvant natural product with hypoglycemic effects.

Structural characterization and antioxidant activity of oligosaccharides from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer

The purpose of present work was to investigate the antioxidant activity of oligosaccharides from mountain-cultivated ginseng (MCG) and cultivated ginseng (CG). The antioxidant activity of total oligosaccharides from MCG and CG were compared preliminary. And then, the total oligosaccharides of MCG, which displayed stronger activity than that of CG, were separated by Carbon-Celite column and eluted with water and ethanol of different concentrations (30%, 50%, 70%, 95%, v/v). Five fractions, MCGOS-H₂O, MCGOS-30, MCGOS-50, MCGOS-70, MCGOS-95, were obtained. Seven oligosaccharides were purified from MCGOS-30-MCGOS-95. The structure features of oligosaccharides (MCGO-1-MCGO-7) were characterized using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), methylation and gas chromatography-mass (GC-MS), as well as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. ABTS radical scavenging assay, DPPH radical scavenging assay as well as ferric reducing antioxidant power assay were adopted for antioxidant activity of all the different oligosaccharides sub-fraction. The result showed that the fractions of MCGOS-70 and MCGOS-95 exhibited significant radical scavenging activity with DPPH and ABTS. In conclusion, the oligosaccharides from MCG possessed the significant antioxidant activity. Therefore, we propose that the oligosaccharides from Panax ginseng can be developed as natural antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical fields.

Biodegradation of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by the thermophilic bioemulsifier-producing Aeribacillus pallidus strain SL-1

The utilization of thermophilic hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms is a suitable strategy for improving biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons and PAHs, as well as enhancing oil recovery from high-temperature reservoirs. In this study, the thermophilic strain Aeribacillus pallidus SL-1 was evaluated for the biodegradation of crude oil and PAHs at 60 °C. Strain SL-1 was found to preferentially degrade short-chain n-alkanes (<C17) and aromatic hydrocarbons from crude oil. The highest degradation rate of 84% was obtained with 1000 mg/l naphthalene as sole carbon source. Additionally, the strain was able to degrade 80% of phenanthrene (200 mg/l) and 50% of pyrene (50 mg/l) within 5 days at 60 °C. The SL-bioemulsifier produced by strain SL-1 was identified as a glycoprotein with stable emulsifying activity over a wide range of environmental conditions. Chemical composition studies exhibited that the SL-bioemulsifier consisted of polysaccharides (65.6%) and proteins (13.1%), among them, proteins were the major emulsifying functional substrates. Furthermore, the SL-bioemulsifier was able to enhance the solubility of PAHs. Thus, the bioemulsifier-producing strain SL-1 has great potential for applications in high-temperature bioremediation.

A fructan from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge showing neuroprotective and immunoregulatory effects

A novel polysaccharide, AAP70-1, was isolated from Anemarrhena asphodeloides for the first time. The primary structural analysis revealed that AAP70-1 was composed of glucose and fructose, had an absolute molecular weight of 2720 Da, and contained a (2→6)-linked β-D-fructofuranose (Fruf) backbone and a (2→1,6)-linked β-D-Fruf side chain with an internal α-D-glucopyranose (Glcp) in the form of a neokestose. To explore the potential factors responsible for the medicinally relevant bioactivities of A. asphodeloides, a biological assay was performed. Using flow cytometry analysis, AAP70-1 was experimentally shown to have neuroprotective effects, and it can prevent and ameliorate neurological damage via reducing apoptosis. The immunomodulation assay further revealed that AAP70-1 can significantly improve immune function by promoting phagocytic capacity and the secretion of cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α) in RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that AAP70-1 has potential as a therapeutic agent for central nervous system diseases or as an immunomodulatory agent.