Inulin from Jerusalem artichoke tubers alleviates hyperlipidemia and increases abundance of bifidobacteria in the intestines of hyperlipidemic mice

Pomegranate Juice Supplemented with Inulin Modulates Gut Microbiota and Promotes the Production of Microbiota-Associated Metabolites in Overweight/Obese Individuals: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Pomegranate juice (PJ) and inulin have been reported to ameliorate diet-induced metabolic disorders by regulating gut microbiota dysbiosis. However, there was a lack of clinical evidence for the combined effects of PJ and inulin on regulating gut microbiota in individuals with metabolic disorders. A double-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted, and 68 overweight/obese individuals (25 ≤ BMI ≤ 35 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to receive 200 mL/d PJ, PJ supplemented with inulin, or placebo for 3 weeks. Our results showed that PJ and PJ+inulin did not significantly alter the levels of anthropometric and blood biochemical indicators after 3 weeks of treatment. However, there was an increasingly significant impact from placebo to PJ to PJ+inulin on the composition of gut microbiota. Detailed bacterial abundance analysis further showed that PJ+inulin treatment more profoundly resulted in significant changes in the abundance of gut microbiota at each taxonomic level than PJ. Moreover, PJ+inulin treatment also promoted the production of microbiota-associated short-chain fatty acids and pomegranate polyphenol metabolites, which correlated with the abundance of the bacterial genus. Our results suggested that PJ supplemented with inulin modulates gut microbiota composition and thus promotes the production of microbiota-associated metabolites that exert potential beneficial effects in overweight/obese subjects.

Lipid metabolism regulation by dietary polysaccharides with different structural properties

Lipid metabolism plays an important role in energy homeostasis maintenance in response to stress. Nowadays, hyperlipidemia-related chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and fatty liver pose significant health challenges. Dietary polysaccharides (DPs) have gained attention for their effective lipid-lowering properties. This review examines the multifaceted mechanisms that DPs employ to lower lipid levels in subjects with hyperlipidemia. DPs could directly inhibit lipid intake and absorption, promote lipid excretion, and regulate key enzymes involved in lipid metabolism pathways, including triglyceride and cholesterol anabolism and catabolism, fatty acid oxidation, and bile acid synthesis. Additionally, DPs indirectly improve lipid homeostasis by modulating gut microbiota composition and alleviating oxidative stress. Moreover, the lipid-lowering mechanisms of particular structural DPs (including β-glucan, pectin, glucomannan, inulin, arabinoxylan, and fucoidan) are summarized. The relationship between the structure and lipid-lowering activity of DPs is also discussed based on current researches. Finally, potential breakthroughs and future directions in the development of DPs in lipid-lowering activity are discussed. The paper could provide a reference for further exploring the mechanism of DPs for lipid regulations and utilizing DPs as lipid-lowering dietary ingredients.

Complexes of Soluble Dietary Fiber and Polyphenols from Lotus Root Regulate High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemia in Mice

In this paper, complexes of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and polyphenols (PPs) isolated from lotus roots were prepared (SDF-PPs), as well as physical mixtures (SDF&PPs), which were given to high-fat-diet (HFD)-fed mice. The results demonstrated that SDF-PPs improve lipid levels and reverse liver injury in hyperlipidemic mice. Western blotting and real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) results showed that SDF-PPs regulated liver lipids by increasing the phosphorylation of Adenine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK), up-regulating the expression of Carnitine palmitoyltransferase1 (CPT1), and down-regulating the expression of Fatty acid synthase (FAS) and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA), as well as the transcription factor sterol-regulatory element binding protein (SPEBP-1) and its downstream liposynthesis genes. Additionally, the intervention of SDF-PPs could modulate the composition of intestinal gut microbes, inducing an increase in Lachnospiraceae and a decrease in Desulfovibrionaceae and Prevotellaceae in high-fat-diet-fed mice. Thus, the research provides a theoretical basis for the application of lotus root active ingredients in functional foods and ingredients.

Extraction of Radix trichosanthis Polysaccharides for Potential Antihyperlipidemic Application

This study focused on the optimization of ultrasound-assisted compound enzyme extraction for polysaccharides (RTPs) from Radix trichosanthis by orthogonal experiment and response surface methodology, and then its extraction kinetics model and antihyperlipidemic activities were studied. The optimum extraction process was as follows: cellulase—1.0%, papain—1.0%, pectase—0.5%, pH—5, extraction temperature—50°C, and liquid-to-solid ratio—30 mL/g; prediction value of RTPs was 7.54%; the experimental yield of RTPs was 7.22%, while 50 minutes was optimized in Weibull kinetics model. Then high-dose groups of RTP extract could reduce the TC, TG, and LDL-C levels and increase the level of HDL-C in high-fat mice, with the ability to lower the MDA content and enhance SOD level.

Effect of Lactobacillus fermentum HFY06 Combined with Arabinoxylan on Reducing Lipid Accumulation in Mice Fed with High-Fat Diet

In this experiment, a high-fat diet was used to induce hyperlipidemia in mice to determine the synergistic effect of AX and L. fermentum HFY06 on the prevention of hyperlipidemia and its potential regulatory mechanism. The results of this study showed that after the AX and L. fermentum HFY06 synergistic intervention, the body weight, epididymal fat index, blood lipid level, and liver function indexes of mice were improved. In addition, the synbiotics comprising AX and L. fermentum HFY06 increased the CAT activity in the serum of mice on a high-fat diet, reduced NO and MDA levels, and improved the body's oxidative stress. From the perspective of molecular biology, on the one hand, AX and L. fermentum HFY06 synergistic intervention activated the AMPK pathway to regulate body lipid metabolism; up-regulated the mRNA expressions of CPT-1, PPAR-α, CYP7A1, and HSL; and down-regulated the mRNA expressions of ACC, C/EBPα, and LPL. On the other hand, the synergistic effect of AX and HFY06 enhanced the mRNA expressions of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 in the small intestine of mice, increased the strength of the intestinal barrier, and optimized the composition of the intestinal microbiota. From the above results, it can be concluded that AX and L. fermentum HFY06 have a synergistic effect in improving hyperlipidemia. However, this study was only performed using animal models, and the lipid synthesis and metabolism mechanism are complicated; hence, further clinical studies are needed.

Uniform and disperse selenium nanoparticles stabilized by inulin fructans from Codonopsis pilosula and their anti-hepatoma activities

The present work reported the extraction, purification and characterization of an inulin fructan from Codonopsis pilosula (CPW1) and its application in stabilization of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). The morphology, stability, and stabilization mechanism of CPW1 stabilized SeNPs (CPW1-Se) were explored, and the results showed that the SeNPs were amorphous state, with size of 54-79 nm, and kept stable within 15 days due to the interaction between SeNPs and the hydroxyl groups on the surface of CPW1. Moreover, the effects on proliferation and apoptosis of CPW1-Se to both normal cells (293T) and liver cancer cells (Huh-7 and HepG2) were evaluated systematically by using the CCK8 assay, plate clone formation assay, flow cytometry and western blot. The results indicated that CPW1-Se possessed selective anti-hepatoma activities without side effects on normal cells, which exhibited strong potential application in liver cancer treatments.

Inactivation of Inulinase and Marination of High-Quality Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) Pickles With Screened Dominant Strains

Freshly harvested Jerusalem artichoke tubers contain inulinase, an enzyme that requires inactivation, because of its ability to hydrolysis inulin into fructose, which can be consumed by microorganism during marination. As the traditional pickling process takes 6 months, and involves the addition of a large amount of salt (18-20%), this production strategy is uneconomical and increases the nitrite intake. Additionally, miscellaneous bacteria produced during pickling affect the product taste. In this study, the enzyme inactivation effects of NaCl, NaHCO3, and ultrasound were evaluated. NaHCO3 treatment results in the highest degree of enzyme inactivation; however, the quality and flavor of the obtained Jerusalem artichoke pickles were not ideal. The Jerusalem artichoke pickles in which the enzymes were inactivated using a combination of NaCl and ultrasound exhibited better flavor than those exposed to NaHCO3; further, this combination reduced the inulinase activity of the Jerusalem artichokes to 2.50 U/mL, and maintained the inulin content at 61.22%. The strains LS3 and YS2, identified as Enterococcus faecalis and the salt-tolerant yeast Meyerozyma guilliermondii, respectively, were the dominant microorganisms isolated from the pickle juice. Jerusalem artichokes with inactivated inulinase were pickled with microbial powder, separated, purified, and dried to remove the natural Jerusalem artichoke sauce. This process shortened the fermentation cycle and improved product quality.

The physiological functions and pharmaceutical applications of inulin: A review

Inulin (IN), a fructan-type plant polysaccharide, is widely found in nature. The major plant sources of IN include chicory, Jerusalem artichoke, dahlia etc. Studies have found that IN possessed a wide array of biological activities, e.g. as a prebiotic to improve the intestinal microbe environment, regulating blood sugar, regulating blood lipids, antioxidant, anticancer, immune regulation and so on. Currently, IN is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. IN can be used as thickener, fat replacer, sweetener and water retaining agent in the food industry. IN also can be applied in the pharmaceutics as stabilizer, drug carrier, and auxiliary therapeutic agent for certain diseases such as constipation and diabetes. This paper reviews the physiological functions of IN and its applications in the field of pharmaceutics, analyzes its present research status and future research direction. This review will serve as a one-in-all resource for the researchers who are interested to work on IN.

Anti-inflammatory activity of alkali-soluble polysaccharides from Arctium lappa L. and its effect on gut microbiota of mice with inflammation

In this study, an alkali-soluble polysaccharide (ASALP) from Arctium lappa L. were extracted and purified. Our results indicated that ASALP was a homogeneous polysaccharide with a molecular weight of 1.2 × 10⁵ Da composed of rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, glucose and galactose in a molar ratio of 1.2: 4.4: 0.9: 0.9: 2.6. The structure characterization indicated that ASALP was mainly consisted of →5-α-L-Araf-(1 → backbone and α-Araf-(1→,→2)-α-Rhap-(1 → T-Glcp-(1→, →3)-β-D-Xylp-(1 → 4)-α-GalpA-(1 → branches. In vitro and in vivo assay showed that ASALP could effectively alleviate inflammation by improving the dysregulation of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Specifically, ASALP significantly inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophages and in the serum of inflammatory mice, but increased the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10. The results from 16S rRNA (V3-V4) amplicon sequencing showed that the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Alistipes, Odoribacter and Lactobacillus in mice was significantly increased after ASALP treatment. Lower levels of Proteobacteria, Staphylococcus and Bacteroidetes were detected in LPS + ASALP treatment group. ASALP alleviated inflammation by improving the reduction of microbial diversity and affecting the composition of the gut microbiota. Our study could provide the basis for the subsequent research and application of ASALP.

Inulin from Jerusalem artichoke tubers alleviates hyperglycaemia in high-fat-diet-induced diabetes mice through the intestinal microflora improvement

The rate of hyperglycaemia in people around the world is increasing at an alarming rate at present, and innovative methods of alleviating hyperglycaemia are needed. The effects of Jerusalem artichoke inulin on hyperglycaemia, liver-related genes and the intestinal microbiota in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and treated with streptozotocin (STZ) to induce hyperglycaemia were investigated. Inulin-treated hyperglycaemic mice had decreased average daily food consumption, body weight, average daily water consumption and relative liver weight and blood concentrations of TAG, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and fasting blood glucose. Liver-related gene expressions in hyperglycaemic (HFD-fed and STZ-treated) compared with control mice showed eighty-four differentially expressed genes (forty-nine up-regulated and thirty-five down-regulated). In contrast, hyperglycaemic mice treated with inulin had twenty-two differentially expressed genes compared with control ones. Using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology, the rarefaction and the rank abundance curves as well as the α diversity indices showed the treatment-induced differences in bacterial diversity in intestine. The linear discriminant analysis of effect size showed that the inulin treatment improved intestinal microbiota; in particular, it significantly increased the number of Bacteroides in the intestine of mice. In conclusion, inulin is potentially an effective functional food for the prevention and/or treatment of hyperglycaemia.

Interaction between Sex and LDLR rs688 Polymorphism on Hyperlipidemia among Taiwan Biobank Adult Participants

Hyperlipidemia is one of the strong risk factors for ischemic heart disease. Using the Taiwan Biobank (TWB) database, we evaluated the risk of hyperlipidemia and its interaction with sex and rs688 polymorphism on the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene. Data collection in the biobank started in 2008 and is ongoing. Data analysis was performed on the participants’ data collected between 2008 and 2015. In general, 27.92% of the 9237 female participants and 32.65% of the 8690 male participants were identified with hyperlipidemia. Compared to the C/C genotype, C/T and T/T genotypes were not significant risk factors for hyperlipidemia (OR = 1.061, CI: 0.976–1.153 for C/T and OR = 1.052, CI: 0.845–1.309 for T/T genotype) in the general model. However, there was a significant interaction between sex and rs6888 on hyperlipidemia risk (p-interaction = 0.0321). With the male sex/CC genotype being the reference group, only the female sex/CT and T/T genotypes were closely associated with hyperlipidemia, with respective ORs of 1.153 (CI: 1.014–1.311) and 1.423 (CI: 1.056–1.917). Our data indicate that rs688 C/T and T/T genotypes may be associated with increased risk of hyperlipidemia in Taiwanese women. These findings may be relevant in lipid-modification therapy.

Attenuation Effects of Bulk and Nanosized ZnO on Glucose, Lipid Level, and Inflammation Profile in Obese Mice

ZnO and ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are widely used in food packaging, food preservation, cosmetic preparation, and animal feed. ZnO is alleged showing multiple bioactivities including antimicrobial and anti-inflammation. It is hypothesized in this study that bulk ZnO and ZnO NPs could attenuate symptoms associated with high-fat-diet-induced obesity. Bulk ZnO and ZnO NPs with diameters of 30 and 90 nm were administered to high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Body weight, liver and fat tissue indices of ZnO-treated mice were decreased compared with those of obese mice (MOD). Blood glucose levels in oral glucose tolerant test and insulin tolerant test of ZnO-treated mice were lower than those of MOD. Serum lipid profile of ZnO-treated mice was ameliorated with lower total cholesterol, total triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared with that of MOD. In addition, the levels of serum IL-1β and LPS-binding protein were also decreased by ZnO treatment. Both bulk and nanosized ZnO could attenuate HFD-induced phenotypes related with obesity, but ZnO NP is more efficient to lower the fat index and bulk ZnO is better to restore the disturbed serum lipid profile.

Anti-hyperlipidemic, antioxidant and organic protection effects of acidic-extractable polysaccharides from Dictyophora indusiata

In the present work, we investigated the anti-hyperlipidemic, antioxidant and organic protection effects of acidic-extractable Dictyophora indusiata polysaccharides (Ac-DPS) on hyperlipidemic mice induced by high-fat emulsion. The results demonstrated that Ac-DPS had impressive abilities to mitigate oxidative stress by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzyme and reducing the contents of lipid peroxide. Moreover, lipid levels in serum were returned to normal status. Besides, Ac-DPS exhibited potential hepatic and renal protection effects reflected by decreasing serum enzyme activities, lowering TBIL, UREA and CREA levels and increasing ALB content. At the same time, histopathological observations proved protective effects of Ac-DPS on organs. Subsequently, the physical properties of polysaccharide were also investigated by HPGPC and FT-IR. The above consequences confirmed the important role of Ac-DPS as a functional food and natural medicine in the fight against oxidative stress and the prevention of hyperlipidemia.

Rutin and Its Combination With Inulin Attenuate Gut Dysbiosis, the Inflammatory Status and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Paneth Cells of Obese Mice Induced by High-Fat Diet

Gut dysbiosis induced by high fat diet (HF) or obesity is a predisposing factor to develop diverse inflammatory diseases. Polyphenols and fibers, often eaten together, have been reported to have prebiotic actions, but their health promoting benefits still need to be further characterized and defined. This study attempted to understand how polyphenol rutin and polysaccharide inulin influence intestinal health in mouse model fed a HF (60 kcal%) diet. A total of 48 C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups fed with a low fat (10% kcal%) control diet (LC), a high fat control diet (HC), a high-fat diet supplemented with rutin (HR), or a high-fat diet supplemented rutin and inulin (HRI) for 20 weeks. Rutin supplementation reduced the HF diet-induced increase of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio, Deferribacteraceae population and plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (p < 0.05); ameliorated inflammation as indicated by the decreased circulating inflammatory cytokines (p < 0.05) and the reduced expressions of intestinal inflammatory mediators (p < 0.05); and attenuated the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in Paneth cells as indicated by the decreased expressions of the ER markers (p < 0.05). Compared to the rutin supplementation alone, the co-administration of rutin with inulin improved the utilization of rutin as indicated by its decreased excretion, suppressed a number of harmful bacteria including Deferribacteraceae and Desulfovibrionaceae (p < 0.05), and further reduced the expression of the key inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and increased the production of butyrate, despite the supplementation of inulin reversed the decrease of body weight induced by rutin supplementation due to an increased food intake. Taken together, our data demonstrated that rutin supplementation ameliorated the inflammatory status and ER stress in Paneth cells under a HF-induced obese state, and its co-administration with inulin further mitigated the inflammatory status, indicating the potential to combine polyphenol rutin and the polysaccharide inulin as a dietary strategy to ameliorate gut dysbiosis, to improve inflammatory status and thereby to reduce medical disorders associated with HF-induced obesity.