Plasma metabolomic profiles reveal regulatory effect of chitosan oligosaccharides on loperamide-induced constipation in mice

The Role of Nondigestible Oligosaccharides in Alleviating Human Chronic Diseases by Regulating the Gut Microbiota: A Review

The gut has been a focus of chronic disease research. The gut microbiota produces metabolites that act as signaling molecules and substrates, closely influencing host health. Nondigestible oligosaccharides (NDOs), as a common dietary fiber, play an important role in regulating the structure and function of the gut microbiota. Their mechanism of action is mainly attributed to providing a carbon source as specific probiotics, producing related metabolites, and regulating the gut microbial community. However, due to the selective utilization of oligosaccharides, some factors, such as the type and structure of oligosaccharides, have different impacts on the composition of microbial populations and the production of metabolites in the colon ecosystem. This review systematically describes the key factors influencing the selective utilization of oligosaccharides by microorganisms and elaborates how oligosaccharides affect the host's immune system, inflammation levels, and energy metabolism by regulating microbial diversity and metabolic function, which in turn affects the onset and progress of chronic diseases, especially diabetes, obesity, depression, intestinal inflammatory diseases, and constipation. In this review, we re-examine the interaction mechanisms between the gut microbiota and its associated metabolites and diseases, and we explore new strategies for promoting human health and combating chronic diseases through dietary interventions.

Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics revealed the anti-constipation mechanisms of xylooligosaccharides from corn cobs

Xylooligosaccharides (XOSs) have recently garnered interest for their potential as an anti-constipation agent. In this study, we investigated the effects of XOSs derived from corn cobs on constipation in mice through a comprehensive analysis of both the metabolome and transcriptome. Our multi-omics approach revealed that XOSs primarily modulated butanoate metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways, as well as key signaling pathways such as PPAR and NF-kappa B. Notably, we observed a decrease in inflammatory biomarker expression and an elevation of butyric acid metabolite levels with XOSs treatment. A deeper analysis of gene expression and metabolite alterations highlighted significant changes in genes encoding critical enzymes and metabolites involved in these pathways. Overall, these findings underscore the considerable potential of XOSs derived from corn cobs as a dietary supplement for effectively alleviating constipation.

LimosiLactobacillus pentosus Isolated from Mustard Relieves Drug-induced Constipation in Mice Fed a High-fat Diet by Modulating Enteric Neurotransmitter Function

Functional constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders. Oxidative stress can aggravate organ dysfunction. Enteric neurotransmitters have significant effects on the regulation of the enteric nervous system and intestinal muscle contraction. Oxidative stress and reduced gastrointestinal motility are considered to be one of the main causes of constipation. This study aimed to investigate whether LimosiLactobacillus pentosus CQZC02 alleviated loperamide hydrochloride (Lop)-induced constipation in mice under high-fat diet (HFD) conditions and to elucidate the underlying mechanism, focusing on enteric neurotransmitters. Four-week-old female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal group (Nor), constipation model group (H-Lop), L. pentosus CQZC02 low-dose group (H-Lop + ZC02L), L. pentosus CQZC02 high-dose group (H-Lop + ZC02H), and LimosiLactobacillus bulgaricus control group (H-Lop + LB). The fecal weight, water content, and total gastrointestinal transit time were measured to determine whether the mice were constipated. Small bowel and colon tissue damage was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, while the degree of damage was determined by double-blind scoring. The levels of serum oxidative stress markers malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase and neurotransmitters motilin, gastrin, substance P, endothelin, somatostatin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide were measured. The gene expression levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, inducible nitric oxide synthase, neuronal nitric oxide synthase, nuclear factor kappa-B, and cyclooxygenase-2 in small intestine tissue were calculated. The constipation symptoms of mice in H-Lop group were manifested by a variety of physiological indicators. In addition, compared with the H-Lop group, H-Lop + ZC02H could effectively relieve the symptoms of constipation in mice. In symptom characterization, the mice in the H-Lop + ZC02H group lost weight and increased feces and water content. In functional experiments, gastrointestinal motility was enhanced; the inflammation score of intestinal tissue was decreased, and gene expression levels were modulated; serum oxidative factor levels were modulated, and oxidative stress levels were decreased.

Zhishi Daozhi decoction alleviates constipation induced by a high-fat and high-protein diet via regulating intestinal mucosal microbiota and oxidative stress

Background

A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that a high-fat and high-protein diet (HFHPD) causes constipation. This study focuses on understanding how the use of Zhishi Daozhi decoction (ZDD) affects the intricate balance of intestinal microorganisms. The insights gained from this investigation hold the potential to offer practical clinical approaches to mitigate the constipation-related issues associated with HFHPD.

Materials and methods

Mice were randomly divided into five groups: the normal (MN) group, the natural recovery (MR) group, the low-dose ZDD (MLD) group, the medium-dose ZDD (MMD) group, and the high-dose ZDD (MHD) group. After the constipation model was established by HFHPD combined with loperamide hydrochloride (LOP), different doses of ZDD were used for intervention. Subsequently, the contents of cholecystokinin (CCK) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in serum, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver were determined. The DNA of intestinal mucosa was extracted, and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was used to analyze the changes in intestinal mucosal microbiota.

Results

After ZDD treatment, CCK content in MR group decreased and CGRP content increased, but the changes were not significant. In addition, the SOD content in MR group was significantly lower than in MLD, MMD, and MHD groups, and the MDA content in MR group was significantly higher than in MN, MLD, and MHD groups. Constipation modeling and the intervention of ZDD changed the structure of the intestinal mucosal microbiota. In the constipation induced by HFHPD, the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Aerococcus, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Desulfovibrio, Clostridium, and Prevotella increased. After the intervention of ZDD, the relative abundance of these pathogenic bacteria decreased, and the relative abundance of Candidatus Arthromitus and the abundance of Tropane, piperidine, and pyridine alkaloid biosynthesis pathways increased in MHD group.

Conclusion

Constipation induced by HFHPD can increase pathogenic bacteria in the intestinal mucosa, while ZDD can effectively relieve constipation, reduce the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria, and alleviate oxidative stress injury. In addition, high-dose ZDD can increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria, which is more conducive to the treatment of constipation.

In vitro Study of Bifidobacterium lactis BL-99 With Fructooligosaccharide Synbiotics Effected on the Intestinal Microbiota

Probiotics and prebiotics relieve constipation by altering the composition of the intestinal microbiota. However, their synergistic mechanism of action remains unclear. Herein, an in vitro fermentation model was constructed to examine the synergistic effects of Bifidobacterium lactis BL-99 and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on the regulation of intestinal microbiota from a population with constipation. The utilization of FOS was promoted by BL-99, and the increase rate being 22.33%. Relative to the BL-99 and the FOS groups, the BL-99_FOS group showed a highly significant increase in acetic acid content (P < 0.01) and a marked decrease in CO₂ and H₂S contents (P < 0.01) in the fermentation broth. In addition, the BL-99_FOS combination significantly changed the structure of the intestinal microbiota, enhanced the relative abundances of beneficial bacteria that relieved constipation, including Bifidobacterium, Fecalibacterium, Lactobacillus, Subdoligranulum, and Blautia, and decreased those of the harmful bacteria, including Bilophila and Escherichia-Shigella. These findings suggested that BL-99 and FOS synergistically regulated the composition and structure of the intestinal microbiota from the population with constipation and increased acetic acid and decreased CO₂ and H₂S levels, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the application of synbiotics.

Biodegradation and Prospect of Polysaccharide from Crustaceans

Marine crustacean waste has not been fully utilized and is a rich source of chitin. Enzymatic degradation has attracted the wide attention of researchers due to its unique biocatalytic ability to protect the environment. Chitosan (CTS) and its derivative chitosan oligosaccharides (COSs) with various biological activities can be obtained by the enzymatic degradation of chitin. Many studies have shown that chitosan and its derivatives, chitosan oligosaccharides (COSs), have beneficial properties, including lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities, and have important application value in the medical treatment field, the food industry and agriculture. In this review, we describe the classification, biochemical characteristics and catalytic mechanisms of the major degrading enzymes: chitinases, chitin deacetylases (CDAs) and chitosanases. We also introduced the technology for enzymatic design and modification and proposed the current problems and development trends of enzymatic degradation of chitin polysaccharides. The discussion on the characteristics and catalytic mechanism of chitosan-degrading enzymes will help to develop new types of hydrolases by various biotechnology methods and promote their application in chitosan.

In vitro Study of Bifidobacterium lactis BL-99 With Fructooligosaccharide Synbiotics Effected on the Intestinal Microbiota

Probiotics and prebiotics relieve constipation by altering the composition of the intestinal microbiota. However, their synergistic mechanism of action remains unclear. Herein, an in vitro fermentation model was constructed to examine the synergistic effects of Bifidobacterium lactis BL-99 and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on the regulation of intestinal microbiota from a population with constipation. The utilization of FOS was promoted by BL-99, and the increase rate being 22.33%. Relative to the BL-99 and the FOS groups, the BL-99_FOS group showed a highly significant increase in acetic acid content (P < 0.01) and a marked decrease in CO2 and H2S contents (P < 0.01) in the fermentation broth. In addition, the BL-99_FOS combination significantly changed the structure of the intestinal microbiota, enhanced the relative abundances of beneficial bacteria that relieved constipation, including Bifidobacterium, Fecalibacterium, Lactobacillus, Subdoligranulum, and Blautia, and decreased those of the harmful bacteria, including Bilophila and Escherichia-Shigella. These findings suggested that BL-99 and FOS synergistically regulated the composition and structure of the intestinal microbiota from the population with constipation and increased acetic acid and decreased CO2 and H2S levels, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the application of synbiotics.