In-depth investigation of the mechanisms of Echinacea purpurea polysaccharide mitigating alcoholic liver injury in mice via gut microbiota informatics and liver metabolomics

Preparation of Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharide by Lactic Acid Bacterium Fermentation and Its Protective Mechanism against Alcoholic Liver Damage in Mice

Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DP) was prepared with lactic acid bacterium fermentation to overcome the large molecular weight and complex structure of traditional DP for improving its functional activity and application range in this work. The structure was analyzed, and then the functional activity was evaluated using a mouse model of alcoholic liver damage. The monosaccharide compositions were composed of four monosaccharides: arabinose (0.13%), galactose (0.50%), glucose (24.38%), and mannose (74.98%) with a molecular weight of 2.13 kDa. The connection types of glycosidic bonds in fermented D. officinale (KFDP) were →4)-β-D-Manp(1→, →4)-β-Glcp(1→, β-D-Manp(1→, and β-D-Glcp(1→. KFDP exhibited an excellent protective effect on alcoholic-induced liver damage at a dose of 80 mg/kg compared with polysaccharide separated and purified from D. officinale without fermentation (KDP), which increased the activity of GSH, GSH-Px, and GR and decreased the content of MDA, AST, T-AOC, and ALT, as well as regulated the level of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β to maintain the normal functional structure of hepatocytes and retard the apoptosis rate of hepatocytes. The results proved that fermentation degradation is beneficial to improving the biological activity of polysaccharides. The potential mechanism of KFDP in protecting alcoholic liver damage was inhibiting the expression of miRNA-150-5p and targeting to promote the expression of Pik3r1. This study provides an important basis for the development of functional foods.

The role of gut microbiota, exosomes, and their interaction in the pathogenesis of ALD

BACKGROUND

The liver disorders caused by alcohol abuse are termed alcoholic-related liver disease (ALD), including alcoholic steatosis, alcoholic steatohepatitis alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis, posing a significant threat to human health. Currently, ALD pathogenesis has not been completely clarified, which is likely to be related to the direct damage caused by alcohol and its metabolic products, oxidative stress, gut dysbiosis, and exosomes.

AIMS

The existing studies suggest that both the gut microbiota and exosomes contribute to the development of ALD. Moreover, there exists an interaction between the gut microbiota and exosomes. We discuss whether this interaction plays a role in the pathogenesis of ALD and whether it can be a potential therapeutic target for ALD treatment.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

Chronic alcohol intake alters the diversity and composition of gut microbiota, which greatly contributes to ALD's progression. Some approaches targeting the gut microbiota, including probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and phage therapy, have been confirmed to effectively ameliorate ALD in many animal experiments and/or several clinical trials. In ALD, the levels of exosomes and the expression profile of microRNA have also changed, which affects the pathogenesis of ALD. Moreover, there is an interplay between exosomes and the gut microbiota, which also putatively acts as a pathogenic factor of ALD.

The roles and potential mechanisms of plant polysaccharides in liver diseases: a review

Plant polysaccharides (PP) demonstrate a diverse array of biological and pharmacological properties. This comprehensive review aims to compile and present the multifaceted roles and underlying mechanisms of plant polysaccharides in various liver diseases. These diseases include non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease (ALD), fibrosis, drug-induced liver injury (DILI), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to elucidate the intricate mechanisms and therapeutic potential of plant polysaccharides, shedding light on their significance and potential applications in the management and potential prevention of these liver conditions. An exhaustive literature search was conducted for this study, utilizing prominent databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI. The search criteria focused on the formula "(plant polysaccharides liver disease) NOT (review)" was employed to ensure the inclusion of original research articles up to the year 2023. Relevant literature was extracted and analyzed from these databases. Plant polysaccharides exhibit promising pharmacological properties, particularly in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism and their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. The ongoing progress of studies on the molecular mechanisms associated with polysaccharides will offer novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of chronic liver diseases (CLDs).

Maslinic acid alleviates alcoholic liver injury in mice and regulates intestinal microbiota via the gut-liver axis

BACKGROUND

Maslinic acid (MA), a pentacyclic triterpene acid, is widely distributed in natural plants and mainly found in the fruit and leaves of olives and hawthorn. MA has been reported as having many health-promoting functions, such as anticancer, anti-inflammation and neuroprotective activities. According to previous study, hawthorn extract has certain hepatoprotective effects. However, the detailed mechanism is still unclear, especially the effect of MA on gut microbiota.

RESULTS

Our study reveals that MA effectively counteracts alcohol-induced liver injury and oxidative stress. It mitigates alcohol-induced intestinal barrier damage, reverses increased permeability and reduces translocation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This prevents LPS/Toll-like receptor 4 activation, leading to decreased TNF-α and IL-1β production. Furthermore, MA rebalances gut microbiota by reversing harmful bacterial abundance and enhancing beneficial bacteria post-alcohol consumption.

CONCLUSION

MA, through modulation of gut microbiota, alleviates alcohol-induced liver injury via the gut-liver axis. These findings support the potential use of MA as a functional food ingredient for preventing or treating alcoholic liver disease. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

The gut-liver axis in fatty liver disease: role played by natural products

Fatty liver disease, a condition characterized by fatty degeneration of the liver, mainly classified as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD), has become a leading cause of cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. The gut-liver axis is the bidirectional relationship between the gut and its microbiota and its liver. The liver can communicate with the gut through the bile ducts, while the portal vein transports the products of the gut flora to the liver. The intestinal flora and its metabolites directly and indirectly regulate hepatic gene expression, leading to an imbalance in the gut-liver axis and thus contributing to the development of liver disease. Utilizing natural products for the prevention and treatment of various metabolic diseases is a prevalent practice, and it is anticipated to represent the forthcoming trend in the development of drugs for combating NAFLD/ALD. This paper discusses the mechanism of the enterohepatic axis in fatty liver, summarizes the important role of plant metabolites in natural products in fatty liver treatment by regulating the enterohepatic axis, and provides a theoretical basis for the subsequent development of new drugs and clinical research.

Echinacea purpurea polysaccharide intervene in hepatocellular carcinoma via modulation of gut microbiota to inhibit TLR4/NF-κB pathway

Echinacea purpurea polysaccharide (EPP) exhibit various pharmacological activities, including immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects. In this study, we investigated the potential mechanism of EPP intervention in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The results demonstrated that EPP effectively mitigated liver injury caused by HCC, inhibited the proliferation of HCC, and induced apoptosis. Following EPP intervention, there was a significant increase in propionic acid and butyric acid-producing gut microbiota such as Coprococcus, Clostridium and Roseburia, leading to enhanced expression of intestinal tight junction proteins and the repair of the intestinal barrier. This controls lipopolysaccharide (LPS) leakage, which in turn inhibits the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and reduces the expression of inflammatory factors such as IL-6, as well as migration factors like MMP-2. Metabolomics revealed the downregulation of pyrimidine metabolism and nucleotide metabolism, along with the upregulation of butyrate metabolism in tumor cells. This study demonstrated that EPP effectively regulated LPS leakage by modulating gut microbes, and this modulation influenced the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, ultimately disrupting tumor cell survival induced by HCC in mice.

Extracellular polysaccharides from Sporidiobolus pararoseus alleviates rheumatoid through ameliorating gut barrier function and gut microbiota

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is becoming a prevalent autoimmune disease affecting people worldwide, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic approaches due to the associated adverse effects of conventional therapeutic drugs. Sporidiobolus pararoseus polysaccharide (SPP) has been shown to exhibit significant immune stimulation and antioxidant activities. In this study, we constructed a mouse model of type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of SPP intervention on RA. Results showed that SPP intervention alleviated the degree of ankle swelling, joint histopathologic changes, joint pathological score and the expression of serum-associated inflammatory mediators (such as IL-1β and IL-6). 16S rRNA sequencing results indicated that SPP intervention significantly remodeled the intestinal microbiota composition. In particular, SPP intervention significantly increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Parabacteroides, Bacteroides and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group) with the potential to degrade fungal polysaccharides or produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The production of SCFAs (especially acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid) indeed increased significantly. These SCFAs played an important role in maintaining intestinal barrier function and regulating immune homeostasis, which helped reduce inflammatory responses and alleviate the symptoms of RA.

Ceftriaxone alters the gut microbiome composition and reduces alcohol intake in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats

Ceftriaxone is an antibiotic that increases central nervous system (CNS) protein expression of the glutamate transporters GLT-1 and xCT and ameliorates pathological behaviors in rodent models of neurological disease and substance use disorder. However, little ceftriaxone passes through the blood-brain-barrier, the CNS binding partner of ceftriaxone is unknown, and ceftriaxone does not consistently upregulate GLT-1 and xCT in cell culture. Ceftriaxone alters the gut microbiome composition in rodents and humans, and the microbiome-gut-brain axis regulates drug-seeking. Thus, here we test the hypothesis that ceftriaxone reduces alcohol intake while ameliorating alcohol-induced disruption of the gut microbiome composition. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats received intermittent access to alcohol (IAA) while controls received access to only water. Following 17 IAA sessions, ceftriaxone/vehicle treatment was given for 5 days. Analysis of the gut microbiome composition was assessed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing conducted on fecal pellets collected prior to and after alcohol consumption and following ceftriaxone treatment. Male rats displayed escalated alcohol intake and preference over the course of the 17 sessions; however, total alcohol intake did not differ between the sexes. Ceftriaxone reduced alcohol intake and preference in male and female rats. While alcohol affected a diverse set of amplicon sequencing variants (ASV), ceftriaxone markedly reduced the diversity of microbial communities reflected by a blooming of the Enterococcaceae family. The remaining effects of ceftriaxone, however, encompassed families both affected and unaffected by prior alcohol drinking and highlight the Ruminococcaceae and Muribaculaceae families as bidirectionally modulated by alcohol and ceftriaxone. Altogether, our study confirms that ceftriaxone reduces alcohol intake in rats and partially reverses alcohol-induced dysbiosis.

Hepatoprotective effects of peach gum polysaccharides against alcoholic liver injury: moderation of oxidative stress and promotion of lipid metabolism

Natural polysaccharides extracted from plants have received increasing attention due to their rich bioactivity. In our study, peach gum polysaccharides (PGPs) were extracted by water extraction-alcohol precipitation method. PGPs are typical pyranose polysaccharides with a mean molecular weight of 3.68 × 106 g/mol. The antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective capacity of PGPs were studied. In vitro, assays showed that PGPs scavenged DPPH, OH, and O2- in a dose-dependent manner. PGPs exhibited antioxidative properties against alcohol-induced HL7702 cells, as evidenced by the normalization of MDA, SOD, ROS, and GSH levels. To further elucidate the hepatoprotective mechanism of PGPs, we carried out in vivo experiments in male mice. PGPs exerted hepatoprotective effects in alcohol liver disease (ALD) mice by exerting antioxidant effects, decreasing the inflammatory response and modulating lipid metabolism. In addition, metabolomic analysis indicated that PGPs mainly regulate D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and arginine biosynthesis to promote hepatic metabolism and maintain body functions. Overall, this study revealed that the hepatoprotective mechanism of PGPs against ALD might be associated with the regulation of oxidative stress and lipid metabolism.

The gut-liver axis perspective: Exploring the protective potential of polysaccharides from Cistanche deserticola against alcoholic liver disease

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the potential mechanism behind the protective effect of Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides (CP) against alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Multiple chromography techniques were employed to characterize CP from polysaccharide, the molecular weight distribution of polysaccharides, monosaccharide composition, isomeric hydrogen and isomeric carbon, in order to clarify the material basis of CP. To create the ALD mouse model, we utilized the well-established Lieber-DeCarli alcoholic liquid feed method. Findings from the study revealed that CP administration resulted in significant improvements in intestinal permeability, upregulation of barrier proteins expression, and reduced levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in mouse liver and serum. Additionally, CP treatment reduced the presence of inflammatory cytokines both in serum and liver while enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the liver. Furthermore, CP effectively reduced alcohol-induced oxidative damage by downregulating Keap1 protein levels in the liver, leading to increased expression of Nrf2 protein. The 16S rDNA sequencing results revealed that CP significantly restored the intestinal microbiota composition in ALD mice. These findings establish a strong association between gut microbiota and liver injury indicators, highlighting the potential of CP in preventing and treating ALD by modulating the gut-liver axis.

Metabolomics reveals the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum dy-1 fermentation on the lipid-lowering capacity of barley β-glucans in an in vitro model of gut-liver axis

Bioactive polysaccharides known as the biological response modifiers, can directly interact with intestinal epithelium cells (IEC) and regulate key metabolic processes such as lipid metabolism. Here, the coculture of Caco-2/HT29 monolayer (>400 Ω × cm2) and HepG2 cells was developed to mimic the gut-liver interactions. This system was used to investigate the effects of raw and fermented barley β-glucans (RBG and FBG) on lipid metabolism by directly interacting with IEC. Both RBG and FBG significantly and consistently reduced the lipid droplets and triacylglycerol levels in monoculture and coculture of HepG2 overloaded with oleic acid. Notably, FBG significantly and distinctly elevated PPARα (p < 0.05) and PPARα-responsive ACOX-1 (p < 0.01) gene expressions, promoting lipid degradation in cocultured HepG2. Moreover, the metabolomics analyses revealed that FBG had a unique impact on extracellular metabolites, among them, the differential metabolite thiomorpholine 3-carboxylate was significantly and strongly correlated with PPARα (r = -0.68, p < 0.01) and ACOX-1 (r = -0.76, p < 0.01) expression levels. Taken together, our findings suggest that FBG-mediated gut-liver interactions play a key role in its lipid-lowering effects that are superior to those of RBG. These results support the application of Lactiplantibacillus fermentation for improving hypolipidemic outcomes.

Anti-Bordetella bronchiseptica effects of targeted bacteriophages via microbiome and metabolic mediated mechanisms

Bordetella bronchiseptica poses a significant challenge in the context of respiratory infections, particularly in weanling pigs. In this study, we investigated the impact of a novel targeted bacteriophage in controlling B. bronchiseptica challenge (BBC) in an experimental design involving five distinct treatment groups: NC (no challenge), PC (BBC challenge), BF (108 pfu bacteriophage/kg diet + BBC), BN (2 × 107 pfu/day bacteriophage by nasal spray + BBC), and AT (antibiotic + BBC). The experiment was conducted for 2 weeks. The highest turbinate score was observed in the PC. The BF treatment showed higher plasma IL (interleukine)-1β and IL-6 compared with the BN and AT treatments. Plasma concentrations of IL-1β were increased in the BF pigs compared with the BN, AT, and NC. Among the BBC groups, the PC treatment exhibited a higher abundance of Staphylococcus. aureus and B. bronchiseptica in the lung. A lower S. aureus, Streptococcus. suis, and B. bronchiseptica colonization was detected in the AT compared with the BF and BN treatments. The BF showed lower plasma zonulin compared with the BN and AT. A higher plasma concentration of superoxide dismutase was observed in the BF and AT compared with PC and BN. The BN influenced the glycine, serine-threonine metabolism; glycerolipid metabolism; glyoxylate-dicarboxylate metabolism; and arachidonic acid metabolism compared with the NC. In conclusion, nasal-sprayed bacteriophage effectively controlled B. bronchiseptica infection, however, their efficiency was lower than the antibiotic.

Effect of natural polysaccharides on alcoholic liver disease: A review

In this study, we systematically collected relevant literature in the past five years on the intervention of natural polysaccharides in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and reviewed the pharmacological activities and potential mechanisms of action. Natural polysaccharides are effective in preventing liver tissue degeneration, inhibiting the alcohol-induced expression of inflammatory factors, inactivation of antioxidant enzymes, and abnormal hepatic lipid deposition. Natural polysaccharides regulate the expression of proteins, such as tight junction proteins, production of small molecule metabolites, and balance of intestinal flora in the intestinal tract to alleviate ALD. Natural polysaccharides also exert therapeutic effects by modulating inflammatory, oxidative, lipid metabolism, and other pathways in the liver. Natural polysaccharides also inhibit alcohol-induced intestinal abnormalities by regulating intestinal flora and feeding back into the liver via the gut-liver axis. However, existing research on natural polysaccharides has many shortcomings: for example, most of the natural polysaccharides for testing are total polysaccharides or crude polysaccharides, progress in research on in vivo metabolic processes and mechanisms is slow, and the degree of industrialisation is insufficient. Finally, we discuss the difficulties in studying natural polysaccharides and future directions to provide a theoretical basis for their development and application.

Lonicera caerulea L. polyphenols improve short-chain fatty acid levels by reshaping the microbial structure of fermented feces in vitro

Increasing evidence suggests that the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is closely related to the gut microbiota. Polyphenols have been shown to alleviate T2DM, but the effects of L. caerulea L. polyphenols (LPs) on the gut microbiota and metabolites remain elusive. In this study, the inhibitory effects of fermented L. caerulea L. polyphenols (FLPs) and unfermented L. caerulea L. polyphenols (ULPs) on α-amylase and α-glucosidase and the impact of LP on the gut microbiota and metabolites were investigated. Furthermore, the relationship between the two was revealed through correlation analysis. The results showed that ULP and FLP had the highest inhibitory rates against α-amylase and α-glucosidase at 4 mg ml-1, indicating a strong inhibitory ability. In addition, LP plays a regulatory role in the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and tends to restore them to their normal levels. LP reversed the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota caused by T2DM, as evidenced by an increase in the abundance of bacterial genera such as Lactobacillus, Blautia, and Bacteroides and a decrease in the abundance of bacterial genera such as Escherichia-Shigella and Streptococcus. Similarly, after LP intervention, the relationships among microbial species became more complex and interconnected. In addition, the correlation between the gut microbiota and metabolites was established through correlation analysis. These further findings clarify the mechanism of action of LP against T2DM and provide a new target for T2DM interventions.

Protective Effect of Polyphenols, Protein, Peptides, and Polysaccharides on Alcoholic Liver Disease: A Review of Research Status and Molecular Mechanisms

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has emerged as an important public health problem in the world. The polyphenols, protein, peptides, and polysaccharides have attracted attention for prevention or treatment of ALD. Therefore, this paper reviews the pathogenesis of ALD, the relationship between polyphenols, peptides, polysaccharides, and ALD, and expounds the mechanism of gut microbiota on protecting ALD. It is mainly found that the hydroxyl group of polyphenols endows it with antioxidation to protect ALD. The ALD protection of bioactive peptides is related to amino acid composition. The ALD protection of polysaccharides is related to the primary structure. Meanwhile, polyphenols, protein, peptides, and polysaccharides prevent or treat ALD by antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptosis, lipid metabolism, and gut microbiota regulation. This contribution provides updated information on polyphenols, protein, peptides, and polysaccharides in response to ALD, which will not only facilitate the development of novel bioactive components but also the future application of functional food raw materials will be promoted.

Physical and chemical properties, structural characterization and nutritional analysis of kefir yoghurt

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and low field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) were used to analyse the relationship between the chemical, texture, rheology, microstructure and water distribution of kefir (yeast, acetic acid bacteria and Lactobacillus plantarum) yoghurt fermented by mixed bacteria and L. plantarum L₁ fermented yoghurt. This work was conducted to prepare a real champagne yoghurt and explore the difference between it and ordinary yoghurt. The nutritional evaluation of the two treatment groups was carried out by amino acid analysis, and the volatile flavour substances of the two treatment groups were detected by solid phase microextraction (SPME)-gas chromatograph (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS). Results showed that the addition of acetic acid bacteria and yeast increased the water content of kefir, resulting in a decrease in its water-holding rate. Moreover, the increase in acidity weakened the connection between the protein networks, the flocculent protein structure was not more densely stacked than the L₁ group, and the internal bonds were unstable. The rheological results showed that the apparent viscosity decreased faster with the increase in shear force. The CLSM and LF-NMR showed that the hydration and degree of freedom of kefir yoghurt protein decreased, resulting in an increased protein network density. The SEM showed that the cross-linking between kefir casein clusters was considerably tight to form small chains, the pore distribution was uneven, and a weak cheese structure was formed. In addition, the volatile flavour substances in the kefir group increased the phenylethyl alcohol, isobutanol, and isoamyl alcohol compared with those in the L₁ group, with a slight refreshing taste brought by alcohol and special soft malt alcohol aroma and rose aroma not found in ordinary yoghurt, which was more in line with the characteristics and taste of traditional kefir champagne yoghurt. Graphical Abstract.

Ganoderma lingzhi culture enhance growth performance via improvement of antioxidant activity and gut probiotic proliferation in Sanhuang broilers

Introduction

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Ganoderma lingzhi culture (GLC) as a fermented feed on growth performance, serum biochemical profile, meat quality, and intestinal morphology and microbiota in Sanhuang broilers. In addition, the association between gut bacteria and metabolites was investigated via untargeted metabolomic analysis.

Methods

A total of 192 Sanhuang broilers (112 days old) with an initial body weight of 1.62 ± 0.19 kg were randomly allocated to four treatments, six replicate pens per treatment with 8 broilers per pen. The four treatments contain a control diet (corn-soybean meal basal diet, CON), a positive control diet (basal diet + 75 mg/kg chlortetracycline, PCON), and the experimental diets supplemented with 1.5 and 3% of GLC, respectively. The trial includes phase 1 (day 1-28) and phase 2 (day 29-56).

Results

The results showed that broilers in PCON and GLC-added treatments showed a lower FCR (P < 0.05) in phase 2 and overall period and a higher ADG (P < 0.05) in phase 2. On day 56, the concentrations of serum SOD (P < 0.05), and HDL (P < 0.05) and cecal SCFA contents (P < 0.05) were increased in broilers fed GLC diets. Broilers fed GLC also showed a higher microbiota diversity and an elevated abundance of SCFA-related bacteria in the caecum. The association between intestinal bacteria and metabolites was investigated via correlation analysis. The differential metabolites in the caecum, such as L-beta-aspartyl-L-aspartic acid and nicotinamide riboside, were identified.

Conclusion

In summary, dietary GCL supplementation could increase growth performance to some extent. Moreover, GLC might benefit broilers' health by improving serum HDL content, antioxidant status, SCFAs contents, bacterial diversity, and probiotic proliferation in the caecum.

Combination of Houttuynia cordata polysaccharide and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P101 alleviates acute liver injury by regulating gut microbiota in mice

BACKGROUND

Polysaccharides and probiotics can play an outstanding role in the treatment of liver disease by regulating gut microbiota. Recently, the combined therapeutic effect of probiotics and polysaccharides has attracted the attention of researchers. Houttuynia cordata polysaccharide (HCP) combined with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P101 was used to prevent carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄ )-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in mice, and its effect on gut microbiota regulation was explored.

RESULTS

Results showed that, in mice, HCP combined with L. plantarum P101 significantly alleviated oxidative stress and inflammatory injury in the liver by activating Nrf2 signals and inhibiting NF-κB signals. The analysis of gut microbiota revealed that the combination of HCP and L. plantarum P101 increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Alloprevotella, Roseburia, and Akkermansia, but reduced that of the pro-inflammatory bacteria Alistipes, Enterorhabdus, Anaerotruncus, and Escherichia-Shigella. Correlation analysis also indicated that the expression of Nrf2 and TLR4/NF-κB was connected to the changes in gut microbiota composition. Houttuynia cordata polysaccharide combined with L. plantarum P101 can regulate the gut microbiota and then mediate the gut-liver axis to activate the antioxidant pathway and inhibit inflammatory responses, thereby alleviating CCl₄ -induced ALI.

CONCLUSION

Our study provided a new perspective on the use of polysaccharides combined with probiotics in the treatment of liver disease. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Polysaccharide from Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Attenuates the Progress of Obesity-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease through Modulating Intestinal Microbiota-Related Gut–Liver Axis

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, thus treatments for it have attracted lots of interest. In this study, the Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (SMRR) polysaccharide was isolated by hot water extraction and ethanol precipitation, and then purified by DEAE anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. With a high-fat-diet-induced obesity/NAFLD mouse model, we found that consumption of the SMRR polysaccharide could remarkably reverse obesity and its related progress of NAFLD, including attenuated hepatocellular steatosis, hepatic fibrosis and inflammation. In addition, we also reveal the potential mechanism behind these is that the SMRR polysaccharide could regulate the gut–liver axis by modulating the homeostasis of gut microbiota and thereby improving intestinal function.

In-depth investigation of the hypoglycemic mechanism of Morchella importuna polysaccharide via metabonomics combined with 16S rRNA sequencing

Increasing evidence indicates that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is closely related to intestinal bacteria disorders and abnormal hepatic metabolism. Morchella importuna polysaccharide (MIP) shows excellent hypoglycemic activity in vitro. However, the hypoglycemic effect and mechanism of MIP in vivo have yet to be investigated. In this study, the blood glucose, blood lipid and insulin resistance of diabetic mice after MIP intervention were measured to evaluate its hypoglycemic effect. Then, the microbiome and metabolomics were combined to explore the hypoglycemic mechanism of MIP. Results indicated that high dose MIP (400 mg/kg) had significant hypoglycemic effect. Furthermore, MIP could reverse diabetes-induced intestinal disorder by increasing the abundance of Akkermansia, Blautia, Dubosiella, and Lachnospiraceae, as well as decreasing the abundance of Helicobacteraceae. Besides, the hepatic metabolites and complex network systems formed by multiple metabolic pathways were regulated after MIP treatment. Notably, a new biomarker of diabetes (N-P-coumaroyl spermidine) was discovered in this study. Moreover, the significant association between intestinal bacteria and hepatic metabolites was determined by correlations analysis, which in turn confirmed MIP alleviated T2DM via the gut-liver axis. Therefore, these findings elucidated in-depth hypoglycemic mechanisms of MIP and provided a new biomarker for the prevention of diabetes.