Fu Brick Tea Polysaccharides Prevent Obesity via Gut Microbiota-Controlled Promotion of Adipocyte Browning and Thermogenesis

Consumption of dietary turmeric promotes fat browning and thermogenesis in association with gut microbiota regulation in high-fat diet-fed mice

This study was designed to verify the anti-obesity effect of dietary turmeric powder (TP) as a traditional cooking spice and its underlying mechanism. The HFD-fed C57BL/6J mice were supplemented with or without TP (8%) for 12 weeks. The results indicated that the glucolipid metabolism disorder of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice was significantly ameliorated through the supplementation of TP. The consumption of TP also induced beige-fat development and brown adipose tissue (BAT)-derived nonshivering thermogenesis in HFD-fed obese mice. 16S rDNA-based microbiota or targeted metabolomics analysis indicated that TP ameliorated the intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and microbial metabolism abnormality caused by HFD, reflected by dramatically increasing the relative abundance of Muribaculaceae, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, and Bifidobacterium and production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and succinate. Interestingly, TP-induced BAT thermogenesis and iWAT browning were highly correlated with the reconstruction of the gut microbiome and formation of SCFAs and succinate. Collectively, these findings manifest beneficial actions of TP on the promotion of adipose browning and thermogenesis in association with gut microbiota reconstruction, and our findings may provide a promising way for preventing obesity.

Multilayer Annotation Strategy AnnoSePS: Disentangling the Intricate Structure of Selenium-Containing Polysaccharides Based on Preferential Fragmentation Patterns

Precision mapping of selenium at structural and position levels poses significant challenges in selenium-containing polysaccharide identification. Due to the absence of reference spectra, database-centric approaches are still limited in the discovery of selenium binding sites and distinction among different isomeric structures. A multilayer annotation strategy, AnnoSePS, is proposed for achieving the identification of seleno-substituent and the unbiased profiling of polysaccharides. Applying Snoop-triggered multiple reaction monitoring (Snoop-MRM) identified multidimensional monosaccharides in selenium-containing polysaccharides. Galactose, galacturonic acid, and glucose were the predominant monosaccharides with a molar ratio of 25.19, 19.45, and 11.72, respectively. Selenium present in seleno-rhamnose was found to substitute the hydroxyl group located at C-1 positions through the formation of a Se-H bond. Ions C6H9O3Se-, C6H7O3Se-, C5H5O3Se-, C4H5O2Se-, C3H5O2Se-, C2H3O2Se-, and CHOSe- were defined as the characteristic fragments of seleno-rhamnose. The agglomerative hierarchical clustering algorithm is applied to group spectra from each run based on the characteristic information. Preferential fragmentation patterns in mass spectrometry are revealed by training a probabilistic model. A list of candidate oligosaccharides is generated by step-by-step browsing through the transition pairs for all reference spectra and applying the transitions (addition, insertion, removal, and substitution) to reference structures. Combining time course analyses revealed the linkage composition of selenium-containing oligosaccharides. Glycosidic linkages were annotated based on a synthesis-driven approach. T-Galactose (16.67 ± 5.23%) and T-Galacturonic acid (11.54 ± 4.66%) were the predominant linkage residues. As the database-independent mapping strategy, AnnoSePS makes it possible to comprehensively interrogate spectral data and dissect the fine structure of selenium-containing polysaccharides.

Impact of maternal Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and scGOS/lcFOS supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the maternal immune system and milk composition

Introduction

Maternal synbiotic supplementation during pregnancy and lactation can significantly influence the immune system. Prebiotics and probiotics have a positive impact on the immune system by preventing or ameliorating among others intestinal disorders. This study focused on the immunomodulatory effects of B. breve M-16V and short chain galacto-oligosaccharides (scGOS)/long chain fructo-oligosachairdes (lcFOS), including systemic and mucosal compartments and milk composition.

Methods

Lewis rats were orally administered with the synbiotic or vehicle during pregnancy (21 days) and lactation (21 days). At the weaning day, small intestine (SI), mammary gland (MG), adipose tissue, milk, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), salivary gland (SG), feces and cecal content were collected from the mothers.

Results

The immunoglobulinome profile showed increased IgG2c in plasma and milk, as well as elevated sIgA in feces at weaning. The supplementation improved lipid metabolism through enhanced brown adipose tissue activity and reinforced the intestinal barrier by increasing the expression of Muc3, Cldn4, and Ocln. The higher production of short chain fatty acids in the cecum and increased Bifidobacterium counts suggest a potential positive impact on the gastrointestinal tract.

Discussion

These findings indicate that maternal synbiotic supplementation during gestation and lactation improves their immunological status and improved milk composition.

Large Yellow Tea Polysaccharide Alleviates HFD-Induced Intestinal Homeostasis Dysbiosis via Modulating Gut Barrier Integrity, Immune Responses, and the Gut Microbiome

Long-term high-fat diet (HFD) will induce dysbiosis and a disturbance of intestinal homeostasis. Large yellow tea polysaccharide (LYP) has been shown to improve obesity-associated metabolic disease via modulation of the M2 polarization. However, the contribution of LYP to intestinal barrier impairment and improvement mechanisms in obesity caused by an HFD are still not clear. In this study, we evaluated the impacts of LYP on the mucosal barrier function and microbiota composition in HFD-feeding mice. Results exhibited that dietary LYP supplement could ameliorate the physical barrier function via maintaining intestinal mucosal integrity and elevating tight-junction protein production, strengthen the chemical barrier function via up-regulating the levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 and increasing mucin-producing goblet cell numbers, and enhance the intestinal immune barrier function though suppressing immune cell subsets and cytokines toward pro-inflammatory phenotypes. Moreover, LYP reshaped the constitution and metabolism of intestinal flora by enriching probiotics that produce short-chain fatty acids. Overall, LYP might be used as a critical regulator of intestinal homeostasis to improve host health by promoting gut barrier integrity, modulating intestinal immune response, and inhibiting bowel inflammation.

Probiotic-fermented tomato alleviates high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice: Insights from microbiome and metabolomics

Probiotic-fermented plant-based foods are associated with weight loss. Here, we hypothesized probiotic-fermented tomato (FT) as a functional food with potential to alleviate obesity, thus the obesity-alleviating effects and mechanisms of FT on high-fat diet-induced obese mice were explored via biochemical, gut microbiome, and serum metabolomics analysis. The results showed that FT performed better than unfermented tomato in reducing body weight gain and fat accumulation, improving dyslipidemia and glucose homeostasis, and relieving inflammation and adipocytokine dysregulation. Particularly, live probiotic-fermented tomato (LFT) was associated with improved diversity, composition, and structure of gut microbiota, suppressed obesity-related genera growth (e.g., Clostridium, Olsenella, and Mucispirillum), and promoted beneficial genera growth (e.g., Roseburia, Coprococcus, and Oscillospira), which were associated negatively with body weight, TC, TG, and TNF-α levels. Additionally, LFT was associated with positive changes in glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, unsaturated fatty acids, and amino acids levels. Collectively, as a functional food, LFT possessed potential for obesity alleviation.

Recent advances in the extraction, purification, structural-property correlations, and antiobesity mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine-derived polysaccharides: a review

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has displayed preventive and therapeutic effects on many complex diseases. As natural biological macromolecules, TCM-derived antiobesogenic polysaccharides (TCMPOs) exhibit notable weight-loss effects and are seen to be a viable tactic in the fight against obesity. Current studies demonstrate that the antiobesity activity of TCMPOs is closely related to their structural characteristics, which could be affected by the extraction and purification methods. Therefore, the extraction, purification and structural-property correlations of TCMPOs were discussed. Investigation of the antiobesity mechanism of TCMPOs is also essential for their improved application. Herein, the possible antiobesity mechanisms of TCMPOs are systematically summarized: (1) modulation of appetite and satiety effects, (2) suppression of fat absorption and synthesis, (3) alteration of the gut microbiota and their metabolites, and (4) protection of intestinal barriers. This collated information could provide some insights and offer a new therapeutic approach for the management and prevention of obesity.

Effects of Fu brick tea polysaccharides on gut microbiota and fecal metabolites of HFD/STZ-induced type 2 diabetes rats

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has dramatically increased globally, and the antidiabetic effects and underlying mechanisms of the polysaccharides extracted from Fu brick tea (FBTP) were investigated in high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2DM rats. Administration of FBTP at 200 and 400 mg per kg bw significantly relieved dyslipidemia (i.e. TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C), insulin resistance (IR) and pancreas oxidative stress (i.e. CAT and GSH-Px) in T2DM rats. Mechanistically, FBTP rescued the HFD/STZ-induced alterations in the abundance of Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. At the genus level, FBTP notably increased the abundance of Ruminococcus, Lactobacillus and Lachnospiraece_NK4A136_group, but reduced the population of Prevotella and Faecalibaculum in T2DM rats. FBTP also significantly elevated colonic short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) levels. Moreover, apparent changes in amino acid absorption and metabolism were observed upon FBTP intervention. These findings suggested that FBTP might alleviate T2DM by reshaping the gut microbiota and regulating intestinal metabolites.

Large yellow tea polysaccharides ameliorate obesity-associated metabolic syndrome by promoting M2 polarization of adipose tissue macrophages

Obesity-induced metabolic syndrome is strongly associated with infiltrated adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs). Large yellow tea, a traditional functional beverage in China, has been shown to possess anti-obesity effects. However, the effect of large yellow tea polysaccharides (LYPs) against obesity-associated metabolic syndrome and their underlying mechanisms remain unclear and must be extensively investigated. In this study, we investigated the ameliorative effect of LYPs on metabolic syndrome using a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model. Our results indicated that LYPs significantly alleviated weight gain, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance. Moreover, LYPs restored the homeostasis of energy metabolism and pancreatic β-cell function. Notably, LYPs promoted M2 polarization of ATMs by regulating the expression of genes and specific cytokines involved in the assembly and secretion of M2 polarization. The improved metabolic syndrome of LYPs might be associated with the modulation of macrophage polarization. These findings suggest that LYPs might be a novel potential therapeutic agent to prevent or treat HFD-induced metabolic disorders by regulating M2 polarization.

Eurotium cristatum from Fu Brick Tea Promotes Adipose Thermogenesis by Boosting Colonic Akkermansia muciniphila in High-Fat-Fed Obese Mice

This study investigated the potential fat-thermogenic effects of Eurotium cristatum, and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. The 12-week administration of E. cristatum in HFD-fed obese mice reduced body weight and improved glucolipid metabolism disorders. The administration of E. cristatum also efficiently promoted thermogenesis by increasing the expression of UCP1 and PRDM16 in both interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) and inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) of HFD-fed mice. Furthermore, E. cristatum shaped the gut microbiome by increasing the abundance of Parabacteroides and Akkermansia muciniphila, and also elevated the levels of cecal short-chain fatty acids, particularly propionate and acetate. Of note, A. muciniphila was highly negatively correlated with body weight gain (r = -0.801, p < 0.05) and the iWAT index (r = -0.977, p < 0.01), suggesting that A. muciniphila may play an important role in the thermogenic mobilization induced by E. cristatum. Continuous supplementation with A. muciniphila suppressed adipose accumulation, improved glucolipid metabolism, and enhanced the thermogenic activity of iWAT and iBAT. Collectively, our results propose that boosted A. muciniphila acts as a key microbe in tea-derived probiotic E. cristatum-mediated fat-thermogenic and anti-obesity effects.

Polysaccharide from Ziyang Selenium-Enriched Green Tea Prevents Obesity and Promotes Adipose Thermogenesis via Modulating the Gut Microbiota

The objective of the current study was to explore the potential mechanism of Ziyang selenium-enriched green tea polysaccharide (Se-GTP) against obesity. The results showed that Se-GTP significantly alleviated obesity and related metabolic disorders caused by high-fat diet (HFD) in mice. 16S rRNA gene sequencing results revealed that Se-GTP improved gut microbiota disturbance of obese mice and facilitated proliferation of probiotics such as Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Akkermansia. In addition, the colonic content of succinate, a product of microbial metabolite in connection with adipocyte thermogenesis, was significantly enhanced by Se-GTP treatment. Therefore, Se-GTP facilitated brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis and inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) browning in obese mice, which could be revealed by increased expressions of thermogenic marker proteins UCP1, PGC-1α, and CIDEA in BAT and iWAT. Interestingly, Se-GTP intervention also observably increased the content of M2-like macrophages in iWAT of obese mice. To summarize, the results of this study are the first to show that Se-GTP can stimulate the browning of iWAT and BAT thermogenesis to counteract obesity, which may be pertinent with the alteration of gut microbiota in obese mice.

Polysaccharides from Fu brick tea ameliorate obesity by modulating gut microbiota and gut microbiota-related short chain fatty acid and amino acid metabolism

Fu brick tea (FBT) is a traditional tea manufactured by solid-state fermentation of tea leaves (Camellia sinensis). Although anti-obesity effects have been reported for FBT, the associated role of FBT polysaccharides (PSs) and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we found that FBTPSs inhibited obesity, hyperlipidemia, and inflammation; improved intestinal barrier function; and alleviated gut microbiota dysbiosis in high-fat diet-fed rats. Akkermansia muciniphila, Bacteroides, Parasutterella, Desulfovibrio, and Blautia were the core microbes regulated by FBTPSs. FBTPSs regulated the production of gut microbiota-related metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), branched-chain amino acids, and aromatic amino acids throughout the development of obesity, and regulated the SCFA-GPR signaling pathway. FBTPS-treated fecal microbiota transplant ameliorated obesity, alleviated gut microbiota dysbiosis, and improved gut microbiota-associated metabolites, suggesting that the anti-obesity effect of FBTPSs was gut microbiota-dependent. FBTPSs may serve as novel prebiotic agents for the treatment of obesity and dysbiosis of gut microbiota.