Betanin Dose-Dependently Ameliorates Allergic Airway Inflammation by Attenuating Th2 Response and Upregulating cAMP-PKA-CREB Pathway in Asthmatic Mice

Enterotype-Specific Effects of Red Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) Powder and Betanin on Human Gut Microbiota: A Preliminary Study Based on In Vitro Fecal Fermentation Model

Red beetroots, rich in betanin, may act as prebiotics and impact gut microbiota. Because the human gut microbiota is unique to each person, the effectiveness of prebiotics varies with the enterotype. In this study, we hypothesized that the effects of red beetroot powder (RP) and betanin pigment (BP) would differ depending on the enterotype. Fecal samples from 30 subjects were analyzed and categorized into three enterotypes: Phocaeicola, Prevotella, and Bifidobacterium. Feces were collected from one representative subject from each enterotype cluster for fermentation. Results showed that RP and BP affected microbiota composition and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production differently across enterotypes. The Bifidobacterium cluster showed significantly reduced alpha diversity, with the direction of change in the gut microbiota composition being different from that of other subjects. Additionally, SCFAs significantly increased, with the highest increase in the Bifidobacterium cluster. In this cluster, metabolic pathways related to SCFAs (i.e., starch and sucrose metabolism and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis) were altered. Conversely, Prevotella-dominant feces exhibited fewer changes in SCFAs and a lower increase in Bifidobacterium abundance than the others. These findings highlight that RP and BP elicit enterotype-specific responses in the gut microbiota composition and SCFA production, emphasizing the importance of enterotypes in personalized nutrition.

A comprehensive study on the regulation of Compound Zaoren Granules on cAMP/CREB signaling pathway and metabolic disorder in CUMS-PCPA induced insomnia rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Compound Zaoren Granules (CZG), an optimized herbal formulation based on the traditional Chinese medicine prescription Suanzaoren decoction, are designed specifically for insomnia treatment. However, the mechanisms underlying its efficacy in treating insomnia are not yet fully understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The research investigated the mechanisms of CZG's improvement in insomnia by regulating cAMP/CREB signaling pathway and metabolic profiles.

METHODS

The main components of CZG were characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Subsequently, these validated components were applied to network pharmacological analysis to predict signaling pathways associated with insomnia. We evaluated the effect of CZG on BV-2 cells in vitro. We also evaluated the behavioral indexes of CUMS combined with PCPA induced insomnia in rats. HE staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the pathological damage of hippocampus. ELISA was used to detect the levels of various neurotransmitters, orexins, HPA axis, and inflammatory factors in insomnia rats. Then we detected the expression of cAMP/CREB signaling pathway through ELISA, WB, and IHC. Finally, the metabolomics was further analyzed by using UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS to investigate the changes in the hippocampus of insomnia rats and the possible metabolic pathways were also speculated.

RESULTS

The results of CZG in vitro experiments showed that CZG has protective and anti-inflammatory effects on LPS induced BV-2 cells. A total of 161 chemical components were identified in CZG. After conducting network pharmacology analysis through these confirmed components, we select the cAMP/CREB signaling pathway for further investigate. The behavioral research results on insomnia rats showed that CZG significantly prolonged sleep time, mitigated brain tissue pathological damage, and exhibited liver protective properties. CZG treats insomnia by regulating the content of various neurotransmitters, reducing levels of orexin, HPA axis, and inflammatory factors. It can also treat insomnia by upregulating the expression of the cAMP/CREB signaling pathway. Hippocampus metabolomics analysis identified 69 differential metabolites associated with insomnia. The metabolic pathways related to these differential metabolites have also been predicted.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that CZG can significantly prolong sleep time. CZG is used to treat insomnia by regulating various neurotransmitters, HPA axis, inflammatory factors, cAMP/CREB signaling pathways, and metabolic disorders.

Fructus Jujubae cooperated with water-expelling members in Shizao decoction alleviated intestinal injury and malignant ascites by modulating gut microbiota and metabolic homeostasis

BACKGROUND

Shizao decoction (SZD) consisted of Euphorbia kansui (EK), Euphorbia pekinensis (EP), Daphne genkwa (DG), and Fructus Jujubae (FJ) is a classic Chinese herbal medicine formula for treating malignant ascites, which is closely related to the modulation of gut microbiota by our previous study. For water-expelling members (WEM) including EK, EP, and DG may have side effects on the intestine, FJ is employed for detoxification and effectivity enhancement of WEM. However, the underlying mechanism for the compatibility of WEM and FJ is still unknown.

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of the compatibility of WEM with FJ in SZD on malignant ascites and elucidate the potential mechanism from the perspective of the modulation of gut microbiota and related metabolic function.

METHODS

Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of main components was conducted for comprehensive characterization of SZD and WEM. The effect of WEM and SZD was compared on malignant ascites effusion (MAE) rats. The intestinal injury was evaluated by HE staining and oxidative damage. Ascites weight, urine amount, fecal water content, the expression of aquaporins, and cytokines in ascites (IL-6, VEGF, and TNF-α) were measured to estimate the water-expelling activity. The intestinal flora was detected by 16S rDNA sequencing and the content of fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pseudo-germ-free (PGF) and fecal bacteria transplantation animal experiments were subsequently employed to validate this finding. The fecal metabolomics and correlation analysis were finally conducted to explore the related metabolic changes.

RESULTS

51 and 33 components were identified in SZD and WEM, respectively. Compared to WEM alone, the compatibility with FJ remarkably reduced intestinal oxidative damage in MAE rats. Ascites was also relieved by downregulating the expression of AQP3 in the colon and decreasing the levels of IL-6, TNF-α and VEGF in ascites. The diversity of gut microbiota was reversed with an increase in Lactobacillus and Clostridia_UCG-014 while a decrease in Colidextribacter. Under the PGF condition, compatibility of WEM with FJ failed to reduce intestinal injury and alleviate MA significantly, but this effect was further enhanced after FMT. 23 potential fecal metabolites were finally identified. Correlation analysis further showed that Lactobacillus and Clostridia_UCG-014 were positively correlated with SCFAs and l-tryptophan. Colidextribacter was negatively correlated with thymidine but positively correlated with ursodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid.

CONCLUSION

FJ cooperated with WEM reduced intestinal injury and alleviated malignant ascites by modulating gut microbiota, short-chain fatty and tryptophan metabolism. These findings provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of FJ from SZD and the safe usage of SZD.

Jiao-tai-wan and its effective component-berberine improve diabetes and depressive disorder through the cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Jiao-tai-wan (JTW), a classic herbal formula of traditional Chinese medicine recorded in Han Shi Yi Tong, has been used to alleviate sleep disorders since ancient times. In modern pharmacological research, JTW has been adopted for treating diabetes mellitus and even exerts antidepressant effects. However, the potential mechanisms deserve further elucidation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus combined with depressive disorder (DD) is continuing to increase, yet it is currently under-recognized and its treatment remains inadequate. The present study aims to explore the underlying therapeutics and mechanisms of JTW on DD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Chronic restraint stress was used on db/db mice to construct a mouse model of DD. The therapeutic effects of JTW were assessed by glucolipid metabolic indexes, behavioral tests, and depression-related neurotransmitter levels. The inflammatory status and cell apoptosis of different mice were investigated and the changes in the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway were detected. Combining the results of fingerprinting with molecular docking, the active components of JTW were screened. A cellular model was constructed by intervention of glucose combined with corticosterone (CORT). The levels of apoptosis and depression-related neurotransmitters in HT-22 cells were examined, and the changes in the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway were tested. Finally, the activator and inhibitor of the PKA protein were used for reverse validation experiments.

RESULTS

JTW could improve the impaired glucose tolerance, lipid metabolism disorders, and depression-like symptoms in DD mice. Meanwhile, JTW could alleviate the inflammatory status, suppress the microglia activation, and improve hippocampal neuron apoptosis in DD mice. The dual effects of JTW might be associated with the activation of the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway. Berberine (Ber) was identified for the in vitro experiment, it could reverse the apoptosis of HT-22 cells and up-regulate the depression-related neurotransmitter levels, and the effects of Ber were related to the activation of the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway as well.

CONCLUSION

JTW could exert both hypoglycemic and antidepressant effects through activating the cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway, its active component, Ber, could improve the damage to HT-22 cells induced by glucose combined with CORT via the activation of the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway. Ber may be one of the effective components of the dual effects of JTW.

Plant Food Dyes with Antioxidant Properties and Allergies-Friend or Enemy?

Color is an important food attribute which increases its attractiveness, thus influencing consumer preferences and acceptance of food products. The characteristic color of fresh, raw food is due to natural dyes present in natural food sources. Food loses its natural color during processing or storage. Loss of natural color (e.g., graying) often reduces the appeal of a product to consumers. To increase the aesthetic value of food, natural or synthetic dyes are added to it. Interestingly, the use of food coloring to enhance food attractiveness and appetizing appearance has been practiced since antiquity. Food coloring can also cause certain health effects, both negative and positive. Dyes added to food, both natural and synthetic, are primarily chemical substances that may not be neutral to the body. Some of these substances have strong antioxidant properties. Thanks to this activity, they can also perform important pro-health functions, including antiallergic ones. On the other hand, as foreign substances, they can also cause various adverse food reactions, including allergic reactions of varying severity and anaphylactic shock. This article discusses food dyes of plant origins with antioxidant properties (anthocyanins, betanins, chlorophylls, carotenoids, and curcumin) and their relationship with allergy, both as sensitizing agents and immunomodulatory agents with potential antiallergic properties.

Effects of heat degradation of betanin in red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) on biological activity and antioxidant capacity

Betanin is a red pigment of red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.), providing the beneficial effects to maintain human health. Betanin is involved in the characteristic red color of red beetroot, and used as an edible dye. Betanin is known to be a highly unstable pigment, and water solutions of betanin are nearly fully degraded after heating at 99°C for 60 min in the experimental conditions of this study. The present study investigated the effects of red beetroot juice (RBJ) and betanin on immune cells, and found that stimulation with RBJ and betanin induces interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, and IL-10 mRNA in a human monocyte derived cell line, THP-1 cells. This mRNA induction after stimulation with RBJ and betanin was not significantly changed after heat treatment when attempting to induce degradation of the betanin. Following these results, the effects of heat degradation of betanin on the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264 cells and the antioxidant capacity were investigated. The results showed that the inhibition activity of RBJ and betanin with the LPS induced NO production is not altered after heat degradation of betanin. In addition, the results of FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) and DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assays indicate that a not inconsiderable degree of the antioxidant capacity of RBJ and betanin remained after heat degradation of betanin. These results suggest that it is important to consider the effects of degradation products of betanin in the evaluation of the beneficial effects of red beetroot on health.