Extraction, characterization, and anti-nonalcoholic steatohepatitis activity of a (1,3) (1,6)-β-D-glucan from the Polyporus umbellatus (Pers.) Fries

Rhodiola crenulata polysaccharide alleviates dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis in mice by repairing the intestinal barrier and regulating the intestinal microecology

Polysaccharides, vital biological macromolecules ubiquitous in organisms, have garnered attention as potential therapeutic candidates for ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the therapeutic potential of Rhodiola crenulata polysaccharides (RCP) in UC remains largely unexplored. The RCP was prepared by boiling water extraction, 80% alcohol precipitation, membrane separation, and D101 macroporous resin purification. The monosaccharide composition of RCP (Mw = 67.848 kDa) includes mannose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose, with a molar ratio of 0.22:1:0.07:7.03:2.88:0.64:4.12. In vivo experiments have shown that RCP can improve DSS induced weight loss in UC mice, decrease disease activity index (DAI), alleviate histopathological changes in colon tissue, and suppress the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and MPO activity. Immunohistochemical results showed that essential tight junction proteins such as occludin, claudin1, and ZO-1 were upregulated, improving the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Importantly, RCP regulated the abundance of the intestinal microbiota by reducing the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio (F/B), increasing beneficial bacteria such as Muribaculaceae and Bifidobacterium, decreasing harmful bacteria including Erysipelotrichaceae, Faecalibaculum, Lachnospiraceae_unclassified, Parabacteroides, and Ruminiclostridium_9. Additionally, it enhanced the restoration of acetic acid, propionic acid, isovaleric acid, and valeric acid to maintain intestinal SCFA levels, thereby restoring the intestinal microecology. Therefore, RCP has excellent therapeutic effects on UC and is worthy of further drug development and clinical treatment.

Research progress on edible mushroom polysaccharides as a novel therapeutic strategy for inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex condition linked to the gut microbiota, host metabolism, and the immune system. Edible mushroom polysaccharides (EMPs) are gaining attention for their benefits, particularly as prebiotics that help balance gut microbial, a key factor in IBD. With their scalable production, diverse hydrophilic properties, and demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in both laboratory and animal studies, EMPs show promise for easing IBD symptoms. By supporting a healthy gut microbiome through various mechanisms, EMPs can play an important role in preventing and managing IBD, ultimately benefiting overall health and opening new treatment avenues. This review examines how EMPs affect IBD, focusing on their role in shaping gut microbiota, restoring gut barriers, regulating immune function, and influencing pathways related to colitis. It also explores their impact on the microbiota-gut-multi organ axis and overall host health, as well as the relationship between EMPs preparation, structure, and bioactivity, along with their potential applications in food and medicine. This investigation provides valuable insights into the intricate connections between the gut, immune system, and systemic inflammation system, highlighting how EMPs are key players in this complex interaction.

Stabilizing effect of Leuconostoc mesenteroides Lm10 produced dextran in situ on stirred soy yogurt: Structure-function relationship

Stirred soy yogurt as a dairy alternative is widely accepted among consumers, but its poor stability has been an urgent problem. We found that Leuconostoc mesenteroides Lm10 produced dextran reduced water mobility and improved the water holding capacity of stirred soy yogurt, especially with over 4 % sucrose added which could completely prevent whey separation. With the increase of dextran content, the particle size of stirred soy yogurt was significantly decreased, accompanied by the improvement of viscoelastic behaviors and resistance to deformation. Moreover, dextran had a stronger ability to maintain the stability of stirred soy yogurt in comparison with gelatin, xanthan and carrageenan during cold storage. The structure-function attributes of this dextran were also revealed. Dextransucrase Gtf1674 was responsible for synthesizing dextran during soy yogurt fermentation. The produced dextran was mainly composed of α-1,6 glycosidic linkages with a low-branched degree and high molecular weight. After stirring, the dextran entangled with soy protein and formed small aggregates with a dense gel structure and small pores, causing them prone to binding with water and reducing the syneresis. This study suggested the benefits of dextran produced by Leuc. mesenteroides Lm10 in stirred soy yogurt, and facilitated developing the "clean label" plant-derived products.

A systematic review of advances in preparation, structures, bioactivities, structural-property relationships, and applications of Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharides

Polyporus umbellatus (Pers.) Fries is an edible fungus species belonging to the Polygonaceae family. Polysaccharides, the predominant bioactive compounds in P. umbellatus, have been widely used due to its abundant nutritional and medicinal benefits. Since the first unrefined P. umbellatus polysaccharides (PUPs) was obtained in 1973, they have been studied for half a century, and are currently gaining increasing attention. These research findings are however quite fragmented. In this review, current relevant research data regarding techniques for the preparation (extraction, fractionation, and purification) and structural characterization (molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, glycosidic bond types, and structural features) of PUPs covering a period of over 50 years are reviewed. Furthermore, this review comprehensively examines the functional properties, structure-activity relationships, and current applications of PUPs. Future research should prioritize standardized preparation process, reliable quality control and specific mechanisms to further advance the utilization and development of PUPs and their related products.

Polyporus umbellatus, A Precious Rare Fungus With Good Pharmaceutical and Food Value

Polyporus umbellatus is a rare porous fungus that exhibits notable pharmacological activities. Particularly, due to its diuretic properties, it is considered an important source of targeted drugs for the treatment of kidney disease. Extensive research has been conducted on this fungus, focusing not only on its challenging cultivation techniques but also on its diverse array of medicinal ingredients, including polysaccharides and steroids. These active compounds demonstrate considerable variability and exhibit a wide range of medicinal properties. As a result, extracting, separating, and purifying these active compounds has become a subject of interest. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the types, structures, and physicochemical properties of these active compounds. Additionally, the medicinal effects of P. umbellatus are thoroughly examined, offering valuable insights into the utilization of its resources and the rational development of medical fungi.

Effects of water-soluble and water-insoluble α-glucans produced in situ by Leuconostoc citreum SH12 on physicochemical properties of fermented soymilk and their structural analysis

This study investigated the effect of in situ produced water-soluble α-glucan (LcWSG) and water-insoluble α-glucan (LcWIG) from Leuconostoc citreum SH12 on the physicochemical properties of fermented soymilk. α-Glucans produced by Leuc. citreum SH12 improved water-holding capacity, viscosity, viscoelasticity and texture of fermented soymilk. Gtf1365 and Gtf836 of the five putative glucansucrases were responsible for synthesizing LcWSG and LcWIG during soymilk fermentation, respectively. Co-fermentation of soymilk with Gtf1365 and Gtf836 and non-exopolysaccharide-producing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum D1031 indicated that LcWSG effectively hindered the whey separation of fermented soymilk by increasing viscosity, while LcWIG improved hardness, springiness and accelerated protein coagulation. Fermented soymilk gel formation was mainly based on hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, which were promoted by both LcWSG and LcWIG. LcWIG has a greater effect on α-helix to β-sheet translation in fermented soymilk, causing more rapid protein aggregation and thicker cross-linked gel network. Structure-based exploration of LcWSG and LcWIG from Leuc. citreum SH12 revealed their distinct roles in the physicochemical properties of fermented soymilk due to their different ratio of α-1,6 and α-1,3 glucosidic linkages and various side chain length. This study may guide the application of the water-soluble and water-insoluble α-glucans in fermented plant protein foods for their quality improvement.

A Systematic Review on the Research Progress on Polysaccharides from Fungal Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a class of natural drugs with multiple components and significant therapeutic effects through multiple targets. It also originates from a wide range of sources containing plants, animals and minerals, and among them, plant-based Chinese medicine also includes fungi. Fungal traditional Chinese medicine is a medicinal resource with a long history and widespread application in China. Accumulating evidence confirms that polysaccharide is the main pharmacodynamic material on which fungal TCM is based. The purpose of the current systematic review is to summarize the extraction, isolation, structural identification, biological functions, quality control and medicinal and edible applications of polysaccharides from fungal TCM in the past three years. This paper will supplement and deepen the understanding and application of polysaccharides from fungal TCM, and propose some valuable insights for further research and development of drugs and functional foods.

Utilization of Food-Derived β-Glucans to Prevent and Treat Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease nowadays. Currently, there is no officially approved drug to treat NAFLD. In view of the increasing global prevalence of NAFLD and an absence of treatments, the development of effective treatments is of utmost importance. β-glucan, a natural bioactive polysaccharide, has demonstrated hepatoprotective effects in NAFLD prevention and treatment. This review solely focuses on gathering the published preclinical animal studies that demonstrated the anti-liver injury, anti-steatotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and antioxidant activities of β-glucan. The impact of β-glucan on gut microbiota and its metabolites including short-chain fatty acids and bile acids as the underlying mechanism for its bioactive beneficial effect on NAFLD is also explored. Given the limited knowledge of β-glucan on anti-fibrotic activity, bile acid metabolism, and gut microbiota function, additional relevant research is highly encouraged to lay a solid foundation for the use of food-derived β-glucan as a functional food for NAFLD. It is envisaged that further investigation of food-derived β-glucan in human clinical studies should be carried out for its wider utilization.

Curculigo orchioides polysaccharide COP70-1 stimulates osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells by activating the BMP and Wnt signaling pathways

The crude polysaccharide CO70 isolated from Curculigo orchioides could alleviate ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats. To clarify the bioactive components, a new heteropolysaccharide (COP70-1) was purified from CO70 in this study, which was consisted of β-D-Manp-(1→, →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, →4)-β-D-Manp-(1→, →3,4)-β-D-Manp-(1→, →4,6)-β-D-Manp-(1→, and →4,6)-α-D-Galp-(1→. COP70-1 significantly promoted the osteoblastic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells through improving alkaline phosphatase activity, the deposition of calcium as well as up-regulating the expression of osteogenic markers (RUNX2, OSX, BSP, OCN, and OPN). Furthermore, COP70-1 stimulated the expression of critical transcription factors of the BMP and Wnt pathways, including BMP2, p-SMAD1, active-β-catenin, p-GSK-3β, and LEF-1. In addition, LDN (BMP pathway inhibitor) and DKK-1 (Wnt pathway inhibitor) suppressed the COP70-1-induced osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Therefore, COP70-1 was one of the bioactive constituents of C. orchioides for targeting osteoblasts to treat osteoporosis by triggering BMP/Smad and Wnt/β-catenin pathways.