Immunomodulatory effect of Ganoderma atrum polysaccharides on Th17/Treg balance

A comprehensive review on anti-allergic natural bioactive compounds for combating food allergy

Food allergy poses a great challenge to food safety and public health worldwide. Currently, clinical symptoms are primarily managed with medications, which can lead to drug resistance, adverse effects, and disruptions in gut flora balance. As a result, there has been a focus on researching safe and effective anti-allergic natural ingredients. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of food allergy mechanisms, methods of assessment of anti-food allergy studies, and a classification of natural substances with anti-allergic properties. It also examines the anti-allergic effects of these substances on food allergies and investigates gut microbiota changes induced by these natural bioactives, highlighting their significance to food allergies.Natural actives with anti-food allergic properties may alleviate allergic reactions through multiple targets and pathways. These mechanisms include promoting a shift in the Th1/Th2 balance, reducting IgE synthesis, preventing cellular degranulation and reducing the release of allergic mediator. The gut environment is closely related to food allergy and there is a significant interaction between the two. By targeting the intestinal flora, we can adopt dietary interventions to effectively address and control food allergies. This provides valuable insights for the future development of functional foods targeting the alleviation of food allergies.

Extraction, purification, structural characterization, biological activity, mechanism of action and application of polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum: A review

Ganoderma lucidum is a traditional tonic medicine in China, known as the "fairy grass" and "spiritual grass". It contains various chemical components, such as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, alkaloids, nucleosides, sterols, and acid compounds, which have the effects of tonifying qi and calming the mind, stopping cough and asthma, and are used to treat restlessness, lung deficiency cough and asthma, fatigue and shortness of breath, and lack of appetite. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs) are one of the main bioactive ingredients and are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and traditional medicine fields. They have shown good medicinal value in enhancing immunity, inhibiting tumor cell growth, delaying aging, lowering blood sugar, lowering blood lipids, protecting the heart, anti-radiation, anti-fatigue, and other aspects. This article reviews the research progress on the extraction and purification, structural characteristics, pharmacological activity, and mechanisms of GLPs, as well as their applications in industries such as medicine, food, and daily chemical products. The aim is to provide theoretical basis for the treatment of traditional Chinese medicine compound preparations and lay the foundation for the potential value development of Ganoderma lucidum products.

A Review of Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharide: Preparations, Structures, Physicochemical Properties and Application

Ganoderma lucidum (GL) is a kind of edible fungus with various functions and a precious medicinal material with a long history. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLP) is one of the main bioactive substances in GL, with anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-cancer, and other biological activities. GLP is closely related to human health, and the research on GLP is getting deeper. This paper reviewed the extraction and purification methods of GLP, the relationship between structure and activity, and the qualitative and quantitative methods. This review provides solutions for the analysis and application of GLP. At the same time, some new methods for extraction, purification and analysis of GLP, the relationship between advanced structures and activity, and future applications of and research into GLP were emphasized. As a kind of bioactive macromolecule, GLP has unique functional properties. Through the comprehensive summary of the extraction, purification, and analysis of GLP and its future prospects, we hope that this review can provide valuable reference for the further study of GLP.

Immune Enhancement of Clam Peptides on Immunosuppressed Mice Induced by Hydrocortisone

Clam peptides, marine-derived biological peptides, have been broadly investigated and applied as health foods, among which immunomodulation is one of their biological activities that cannot be ignored in vivo. In this study, we concentrated on exploring the effects of Ruditapes philippinarum peptides (RPPs) on immunomodulation and the balance of intestinal microbiota in hydrocortisone (HC)-induced immunosuppressed mice. The results revealed that RPPs could increase the thymus and spleen indices and number of white blood cells, promote the secretion level of cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and INF-γ), repair the morphology of the spleen and thymus, and enhance the proliferation of T-lymphocyte subsets in immunosuppressed mice. Moreover, RPPs improved the abundance of beneficial bacteria and preserved the ecological equilibrium of the gut microbiota. In conclusion, RPPs have significant immunomodulatory effects on immunosuppressed mice and may be developed as immunomodulators or immune adjuvants in functional foods and drugs; they are also beneficial to the utilization of the high value of marine shellfish.

Effects of Fisetin on Allergic Contact Dermatitis via Regulating the Balance of Th17/Treg in Mice

Background. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a form of chronic cutaneous inflammatory disease of immunological origin that has adverse impacts on patient quality of life, underscoring the need for the development of safe and effective therapeutic agents to treat affected individuals. Fisetin is a Chinese herbal preparation that reportedly exhibits antitumor, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticoagulatory, and antimalarial activity. In the current report, the immunomodulatory activity of fisetin was appraised by assessing its impact on balance between regulatory T (Treg) and Th17 cells in an ACD model. Methods. BALB/c mice ( $n=60$ ) were randomized into control, ACD model, CTX positive control (20 mg/kg), and fisetin treatment groups (three dose levels: 2, 4, or 8 mg/kg). ACD induction was achieved by sensitizing mice on the shaved ventral abdomen via the application of 5% DNFB (50 μL) on days 1 and 2, followed by rechallenge in the right ear with 5% DNFB (20 μL) on day 5. Beginning on day 1, immunized mice were intraperitoneally injected with the appropriate fisetin dose (in saline) once per day for 7 days. On day 7, ear swelling, transcription factor expression, Th17/Treg cell populations, and cytokine production were assessed in vivo. Results. Fisetin treatment significantly suppressed ear swelling and associated inflammatory cell infiltration, besides reducing the production of Th17 cytokines (IL-17, TNF-α, and IL-6) and the expression of the Th17 lineage transcription factor RORγt while simultaneously enhancing Treg-specific cytokine production (TGF-β and IL-10) and the expression of the Treg lineage transcription factor Foxp3, thereby restoring the Th17/Treg cell in ACD mice. Conclusions. These data indicate that fisetin exhibits immunomodulatory activity and can alter the Th17/Treg cell balance, highlighting its potential value as a treatment drug for ACD.

Classification, structure and mechanism of antiviral polysaccharides derived from edible and medicinal fungus

The deficiency of chemical-synthesized antiviral drugs when applied in clinical therapy, such as drug resistance, and the lack of effective antiviral drugs to treat some newly emerging virus infections, such as COVID-19, promote the demand of novelty and safety anti-virus drug candidate from natural functional ingredient. Numerous studies have shown that some polysaccharides sourcing from edible and medicinal fungus (EMFs) exert direct or indirect anti-viral capacities. However, the internal connection of fungus type, polysaccharides structural characteristics, action mechanism was still unclear. Herein, our review focus on the two aspects, on the one hand, we discussed the type of anti-viral EMFs and the structural characteristics of polysaccharides to clarify the structure-activity relationship, on the other hand, the directly or indirectly antiviral mechanism of EMFs polysaccharides, including virus function suppression, immune-modulatory activity, anti-inflammatory activity, regulation of population balance of gut microbiota have been concluded to provide a comprehensive theory basis for better clinical utilization of EMFs polysaccharides as anti-viral agents.

Comparative study on the effect of extraction solvent on the physicochemical properties and bioactivity of blackberry fruit polysaccharides

In this study, hot water, 0.1 M HCl and 0.1 M NaOH and 0.1 M NaCl solution were separately used for extraction of blackberry polysaccharides (BPs: Hw, Ac, Al and Na). The physicochemical properties and biological activities were then investigated and compared. Results showed that the extraction yield, molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, particle size, triple-helical structure, surface morphology and rheological properties of BPs were greatly affected by extraction solvents. Bioactivity assays implied that the four BPs showed that the polysaccharides (Hw and Na) with higher molecular weight had stronger antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Moreover, anti-glycated assay indicated that BPs with higher molecular weight and higher content of galacturonic acid possessed better inhibition of AGEs formation. These results suggested that the higher molecular weight of blackberry polysaccharide could be developed as a beneficial bioactive ingredient for diabetes mellitus and complications.

Coptis chinensis Franch polysaccharides provide a dynamically regulation on intestinal microenvironment, based on the intestinal flora and mucosal immunity

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Coptis chinensis Franch is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese herbs in China and was firstly recorded in "Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica" in the Han Dynasty. The medical records in past thousands years have fully confirmed the clinical efficacies of Coptis chinensis Franch against intestinal diseases. The polysaccharides in herbal medicines can be digested by the flora and uptaken by the Peyer's patches (PPs) in intestine. It can be reasonably presumed that the polysaccharides in Coptis chinensis Franch (CCP) should be one of the critical element in the regulation of intestinal microenvironment.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study intended to explore the dynamic regulation of CCP on intestinal microenvironment from the perspective of the intestinal mucosal immunity and the intestinal flora, in order to provide a new research perspective for the pharmacological mechanism of Coptis chinensis Franch.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The absorption and distribution of CCP in intestinal tissues were observed after the perfusion of FITC labeled CCP. The influences of CCP on intestinal flora were evaluated by the 16sRNA gene illumina-miseq sequencing after gavage. The regulations of CCP on intestinal mucosal immunity were evaluated by the immunohistochemical analysis of the interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-17 (IL-17) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) secretion in PPs and intestinal epithelial tissue.

RESULTS

With the self-aggregation into particles morphology, CCP can be up-taken by PPs and promote the IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17 and TGF-β secretion in PPs in a dose-dependent manner. The CCP can also be utilized by the intestinal flora and dynamically regulate the diversity, composition and distribution of the intestinal flora. The temporal regulations of CCP on IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17 and TGF-β secretions in intestinal epithelial tissues are consistent with the variation tendency of intestinal flora.

CONCLUSION

CCP can provide effective, dynamical and dose-dependent regulations on intestinal microenvironment, not only the intestinal flora but also the PPs and intestinal epithelium related immune response. These may be involved in the multiple biological activities of Coptis chinensis Franch.

Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide ameliorates intestinal mucosal dysfunction associated with autophagy in immunosuppressed mice

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide (PSG-1) on cyclophosphamide (Cy)-induced intestinal mucosal dysfunction in mice. Results showed that PSG-1 promoted the formation of IgA-secreting cells, modulated sIgA, IgE, IgG, IgM secretion, and improved TLR-2, TLR-4, TLR-6 mRNA levels while these factors were suppressed after Cy treatment. CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell numbers were also elevated by PSG-1. Cytokines including IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-12p70, IL-4, IL-1β, IL-17, IL-21, IL-23, TGF-β3 and transcription factors including T-bet, GATA-3, RORγt, Foxp3 increased after PSG-1 administration. Besides, PSG-1 reversed goblet cell numbers, and upregulated tight junction proteins like ZO-1, occludin and claudin-1 in immunosuppressed mice. Apart from these, the autophagy-related proteins LC3, Beclin-1, Atg5 and Atg7 were enhanced by PSG-1. These findings demonstrated that PSG-1 could ameliorate Cy-induced impairment of intestinal immunity and mucosal integrity, which maybe associated with autophagy in mice.

Cultured Cordyceps sinensis polysaccharides modulate intestinal mucosal immunity and gut microbiota in cyclophosphamide-treated mice

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of cultured Cordyceps sinensis polysaccharides (CSP) on cyclophosphamide (Cy)-induced intestinal mucosal immunosuppression and microbial dysbiosis in mice. Results showed that CSP stimulated cytokines secretion (IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-13, IL-6, IL-17, IL-10, TGF-β3, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-21) and transcription factors production (T-bet, GATA-3, RORγt, Foxp3). TLRs (TLR-2, TLR-4, TLR-6) and NF-κB pathway key proteins (p-IκB-α, NF-κB p65) were also upregulated after CSP administration. Moreover, CSP recovered SCFAs levels which decreased by Cy treatment. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing of fecal samples was performed. α-diversity and β-diversity analysis revealed CSP improved microbial community diversity and modulated the overall structure of gut microbiota. Taxonomic composition analysis found that CSP increased the abundance of probiotics (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides) and decreased pathogenic bacteria (Clostridium, Flexispira). These findings suggested the potential of CSP as a prebiotics to reduce side effects of Cy on intestinal mucosal immunity and gut microbiota.

Structural characterization of a novel Lactarius volemus Fr. polysaccharide and its immunity activity in BALB/c mice

Lactarius volemus Fr. has been regarded as a great edible medicinal fungal resource in China. In this study, L. volemus Fr. polysaccharide (LVP) with an average molecular weight of 16.842 kDa was obtained by water extraction. The structure of LVP was characterized to be mannan, and the linkages in the mannan were found to comprise the Manp, (1→4)-α-Man and (1→4,6)-α-Man. Furthermore, intraperitoneal administration of LVP increased the thymus, spleen and liver indices, dose-dependently. Additionally, LVP enhanced the immune response and the phagocytic activities. Pathological evaluations showed that LVP in mice increased the proliferation of red medullary lymphocytes (60–70%). Collectively, these results indicated that LVP might be a potential resource of raw material for further investigations of functional foods.

Lactarius volemus Fr. has been regarded as a great edible medicinal fungal resource in China.

Development of an Efficient Strategy to Improve Extracellular Polysaccharide Production of Ganoderma lucidum Using L-Phenylalanine as an Enhancer

Ganoderma lucidum has been a well-known species of basidiomycetes for a long time, and has been widely applied in the fields of food and medicine. Based on the simulation results of model iZBM1060 in our previous research, the effect of L-phenylalanine on G. lucidum extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) was investigated in this study. EPS production reached 0.91 g/L at 0.4 g/L L-phenylalanine after a 24 h culture, which was 62.5% higher than that of control (0.56 g/L). Transcriptome and genome analysis showed that L-phenylalanine deaminase and benzoate 4-hydroxylase (related to L-phenylalanine metabolism) were significantly up-regulated, while the cell wall mannoprotein gene was down-regulated. Transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy results showed that the cell wall thickness decreased by 58.58%, and cell wall porosity increased in cells treated with L-phenylalanine, which probably contribute to the increasing EPS production. This study provides an efficient strategy for fungal polysaccharide production with high output and low cost.