Effects of pectin pentaoligosaccharide from Hawthorn ( Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge. var. Major) on the activity and mRNA levels of enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation in the liver of mice fed a high-fat diet

Innovative Applications of Pectin in Lipid Management: Mechanisms, Modifications, Synergies, Nanocarrier Systems, and Safety Considerations

Pectin, a natural polysaccharide predominantly sourced from the cell walls of terrestrial plants, is widely regarded for its gelling, thickening, and stabilizing properties, which have extensive applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological industries. This review discusses the mechanistic pathways by which pectin mediates its lipid-lowering properties, such as pectin's antioxidant activity, the modulation of gut microbiota, its anti-inflammatory properties, its capacity to bind bile acids and cholesterol, and its impact on the expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism. To enhance its hypolipidemic properties, chemical, physical, and enzymatic modification techniques are explored. Additionally, the synergistic effects of pectin in combination with other bioactive compounds such as phytosterols and polyphenols, as well as its potential in nanocarrier-mediated delivery systems for lipid-lowering agents, are highlighted. The review also conducts a critical analysis of the safety and regulatory considerations associated with pectin use, emphasizing the necessity for comprehensive toxicological evaluations and adherence to regulatory standards. This paper underscores the growing potential of pectin not only as a dietary fiber but also as a multifaceted agent for ameliorating hyperlipidemia, catalyzing a shift toward more targeted and efficacious lipid-lowering strategies.

A Comprehensive Review on the Isolation, Bioactivities, and Structure-Activity Relationship of Hawthorn Pectin and Its Derived Oligosaccharides

Hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge) has been highlighted as an excellent source of a variety of bioactive polymers, which has attracted increasing research interest. Pectin, as a kind of soluble dietary fiber in hawthorn, is mainly extracted by hot water extraction and ultrasonic or enzymatic hydrolysis and is then extensively used in food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries. Numerous studies have shown that hawthorn pectin and its derived oligosaccharides exhibit a wide range of biological activities, such as antioxidant activity, hypolipidemic and cholesterol-reducing effects, antimicrobial activity, and intestinal function modulatory activity. As discovered, the bioactivities of hawthorn pectin and its derived oligosaccharides were mainly contributed by structural features and chemical compositions and were highly associated with the extraction methods. Additionally, hawthorn pectin is a potential resource for the development of emulsifiers and gelling agents, food packaging films, novel foods, and traditional medicines. This review provides a comprehensive summary of current research for readers on the extraction techniques, functional characteristics, structure-activity relationship, and applications in order to provide ideas and references for the investigation and utilization of hawthorn pectin and its derived oligosaccharides. Further research and development efforts are imperative to fully explore and harness the potential of hawthorn pectin-derived oligosaccharides in the food and medicine fields.

Preparation, structural characterization, bioactivities, and applications of Crataegus spp. polysaccharides: A review

Crataegus, is a genus within the Rosaceae family. It is recognized as a valuable plant with both medicinal and edible qualities, earning it the epithet of the "nutritious fruit" owing to its abundant bioactive compounds. Polysaccharides are carbohydrate polymers linked by glycosidic bonds, one of the crucial bioactive ingredients of Crataegus spp. Recently, Crataegus spp. polysaccharides (CPs) have garnered considerable attention due to their diverse range of bioactivities, including prebiotic, hypolipidemic, anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, and immunobiological properties. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent research on CPs. The analysis revealed that CPs exhibited a broad molecular weight distribution, ranging from 5.70 Da to 4.76 × 108 Da, and are composed of various monosaccharide constituents such as mannose, rhamnose, and arabinose. Structure-activity relationships demonstrated that the biological function of CPs is closely associated with their molecular weight, galacturonic acid content, and chemical modifications. Additionally, CPs have excellent bioavailability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, which make them promising candidates for applications in the food, medicine, and cosmetic industries. The article also scrutinized the potential development and future research directions of CPs. Overall, this article provides comprehensive knowledge and underpinnings of CPs for future research and development as therapeutic agents and multifunctional food additives.

Yao-Shan of traditional Chinese medicine: an old story for metabolic health

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs), hyperuricemia and gout, and metabolic-related sexual dysfunction are metabolic diseases that affect human health in modern society. Scientists have made great efforts to investigate metabolic diseases using cell models in vitro or animal models in the past. However, the findings from cells or animals are difficult to translate into clinical applications due to factors such as the in vitro and in vivo differences; the differences in anatomy, physiology, and genetics between humans and animals; and the differences in microbiome-host interaction. The Chinese have extensively used the medicated diet of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) (also named as Yao-Shan of TCM, Chinese Yao-Shan et al.) to maintain or improve cardiometabolic health for more than 2,200 years. These ancient classic diets of TCM are essential summaries of long-term life and clinical practices. Over the past 5 years, our group has made every effort to collect and sort out the classic Yao-Shan of TCM from the ancient TCM literature since Spring and Autumn and Warring States Period, especially these are involved in the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, NAFLD, CCVDs, hyperuricemia and gout, and sexual dysfunction. Here, we summarized and discussed the classic Yao-Shan of TCM for metabolic diseases according to the time recorded in the ancient literature, and revised the Latin names of the raw materials in these Yao-Shan of TCM. Moreover, the modern medicine evidences of some Yao-Shan of TCM on metabolic diseases have also been summarized and emphasized in here. However, the exact composition (in terms of ratios), preparation process, and dosage of many Yao-Shan are not standardized, and their main active ingredients are vague. Uncovering the mystery of Yao-Shan of TCM through modern biological and chemical strategies will help us open a door, which is ancient but now looks new, to modulate metabolic homeostasis and diseases.

The lipid-lowering effects of fenugreek gum, hawthorn pectin, and burdock inulin

Objective

The present study aimed to investigate the lipid-lowering effects and mechanisms of fenugreek gum (FG), hawthorn pectin (HP), and burdock inulin (BI) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic rats.

Methods

In this study, high-fat diet (HFD) together with fat emulsion administration were used to establish hyperlipidemia model. The biochemical indices were assayed after administration of FG, HP, and BI. Their effects were evaluated by factor analysis. Alterations of gut microbiota and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the cecal were assessed to illustrate the mechanism of lipid lowering.

Results

The supplementation of FG, HP, and BI on HFD-fed rats decreased the levels of serum lipid and reduced the HFD-related liver and testicle damage. In the scatter plot of factor analysis, HP and BI were closer to normal fat diet (NFD) group in restoring the severity of hyperlipidemia, while FG and HP enhanced the excretion of cholesterol and bile acids (BAs). The levels of total SCFAs, especially butyric acid reduced by HFD were increased by HP. The ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes increased by HFD was reduced by HP and BI. FG, HP, and BI enriched intestinal probiotics, which were related to bile acid excretion or lipid-lowering.

Conclusions

FG inhibited the absorption of cholesterol and enhanced the excretion of it, as well as increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria. While BI restored the imbalance of intestinal microbiota. HP enhanced the excretion of cholesterol and BAs, and restored the imbalance of intestinal microbiota. It was also utilized by intestinal microorganisms to yield SCFAs. This study suggested that FG, HP, and BI possessed the potential to be utilized as dietary supplements for obesity management.

Pectin in Metabolic Liver Disease

Alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) are observed in nutritional liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and have been shown to be associated with the severity of both. Editing the composition of the microbiota by fecal microbiota transfer or by application of probiotics or prebiotics/fiber in rodent models and human proof-of-concept trials of NAFLD and ALD have demonstrated its possible contribution to reducing the progression of liver damage. In this review, we address the role of a soluble fiber, pectin, in reducing the development of liver injury in NAFLD and ALD through its impact on gut bacteria.

Botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activity of Crataegus pinnatifida (Chinese hawthorn): a review

OBJECTIVES

Crataegus pinnatifida (C. pinnatifida), including C. pinnatifida Bge. and its variant C. pinnatifida Bge. var. major N, E. Br., has traditionally been used as a homologous plant for traditional medicine and food in ethnic medical systems in China. Crataegus pinnatifida, especially its fruit, has been used for more than 2000 years to treat indigestion, stagnation of meat, hyperlipidemia, blood stasis, heart tingling, sores, etc. This review aimed to provide a systematic summary on the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and clinical applications of C. pinnatifida.

KEY FINDINGS

This plant contains flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, organic acids, saccharides and essential oils. Experimental studies showed that it has hypolipidemic, antimyocardial, anti-ischemia, antithrombotic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic neuroprotective activity, etc. Importantly, it has good effects in treating diseases of the digestive system and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems.

SUMMARY

There is convincing evidence from both in vitro and in vivo studies supporting the traditional uses of C. pinnatifida. However, multitarget network pharmacology and molecular docking technology should be used to study the interaction between the active ingredients and targets of C. pinnatifida. Furthermore, exploring the synergy of C. pinnatifida with other Chinese medicines to provide new understanding of complex diseases may be a promising strategy.

Mechanism of Action of Shenerjiangzhi Formulation on Hyperlipidemia Induced by Consumption of a High-Fat Diet in Rats Using Network Pharmacology and Analyses of the Gut Microbiota

Shenerjiangzhi formulation (SEJZ) is a new traditional Chinese medicine formulation (patent number: CN110680850A). SEJZ contains Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. and Maxim.), Maxim (Araliaceae; E. senticosus radix and rhizome), Lonicera japonica Thunb (Caprifoliaceae; Lonicera japonica branch, stem), Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge (Rosaceae; Crataegus pinnatifida fruit), and Auricularia auricula. SEJZ has been designed to treat hyperlipidemia. Despite the therapeutic benefits of SEJZ, its underlying mechanism of action is not known. We explored the efficacy of SEJZ against hyperlipidemia by integrating network pharmacology and 16S rRNA gene sequencing and elucidated its mechanism of action. First, SEJZ targets were found through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform and from the literature. Hyperlipidemia-related therapeutic targets were obtained from GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, and DrugBank databases. Then, Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins and Cytoscape were applied for the analyses and construction of a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database was employed to identify signaling pathways that were enriched. Second, the therapeutic effects of SEJZ against hyperlipidemia induced by consumption of a high-fat diet in rats were evaluated by measuring body weight changes and biochemical tests. SEJZ treatment was found to alleviate obesity and hyperlipidemia in rats. Finally, 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that SEJZ could significantly increase the abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, restore the intestinal barrier, and maintain intestinal-flora homeostasis. Using PICRUSt2, six metabolic pathways were found to be consistent with the results of network pharmacology: “African trypanosomiasis”, “amoebiasis”, “arginine and proline metabolism”, “calcium signaling pathway”, “NOD-like receptor signaling pathway”, and “tryptophan metabolism”. These pathways might represent how SEJZ works against hyperlipidemia. Moreover, the “African trypanosomiasis pathway” had the highest association with core genes. These results aid understanding of how SEJZ works against dyslipidemia and provide a reference for further studies.

Potential Roles and Key Mechanisms of Hawthorn Extract against Various Liver Diseases

The genus Crataegus (hawthorn), a flowering shrub or tree, is a member of the Rosaceae family and consists of approximately 280 species that have been primarily cultivated in East Asia, North America, and Europe. Consumption of hawthorn preparations has been chiefly associated with pharmacological benefits for cardiovascular diseases, including congestive heart failure and angina pectoris. Treatment with hawthorn extracts can be related to improvements in the complex pathogenesis of various hepatic and cardiovascular disorders. In this regard, the present review described that the presence of hawthorn extracts ameliorated hepatic injury, lipid accumulation, inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer in an abundance of experimental models. Hawthorn extracts might have these promising activities, largely by enhancing the hepatic antioxidant system. In addition, several mechanisms, including AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling and apoptosis, are responsible for the role of hawthorn extracts in repairing the dysfunction of injured hepatocytes. Specifically, hawthorn possesses a wide range of biological actions relevant to the treatment of toxic hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Accordingly, hawthorn extracts can be developed as a major source of therapeutic agents for liver diseases.

Hawthorn pectin: Extraction, function and utilization

Pectin has been widely used as emulsifiers, gelling agents, glazing agents, stabilizers, and thickeners in food products. Hawthorn pectin has a higher viscosity than other foods-derived pectin such as lemon and apple pectin. It is also reported as a multifunctional fruit substance, which reduces the risk of hyperlipidemia and dyslipidemia. Therefore, hawthorn pectin is a potential resource for the development of new drugs, functional foods, and health-care products. This review symmetrically summarized the extraction methods, physiological characteristics, functional properties, and processing technologies of hawthorn pectin. It laid a foundation for the further research of hawthorn pectin and promoted the diversified utilization of hawthorn.

Network Pharmacology-Based Investigation of the Therapeutic Mechanisms of Action of Danning Tablets in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a rising global public health concern due to its prevalence. Danning Tablets (DNt), a composite prescription of Chinese herbal medicine, shows significant curative effects on NAFLD in clinical application. This study aimed to decipher the bioactive substances and potential mechanisms of action of DNt in the treatment of NAFLD, applying an integrated network pharmacology approach. First, the bioactive compounds of DNt were screened based on their pharmacokinetic properties, and the corresponding drug targets were predicted. Then, the NAFLD-related targets were collected. The overlapping targets between the putative targets of DNt and NAFLD-related targets were identified as the potential therapeutic targets of DNt against NAFLD. Subsequently, the networks were constructed and analyzed, and the key bioactive compounds and targets were screened out depending on their importance in the networks. Functional enrichment analysis was carried out to elucidate the potential mechanisms of DNt acting on NAFLD. Finally, a molecular docking simulation was implemented to assess the potential binding affinity between the key targets and the bioactive compounds. As a result, 43 bioactive compounds of DNt and 69 putative targets were identified. Based on the network analysis, we found seven key bioactive compounds (quercetin, ß-sitosterol, luteolin, kaempferol, supraene, curcumenolactone C, and stigmasterol) of DNt might treat NAFLD via intervening IL6, MAPK8, VEGFA, CASP3, ALB, APP, MYC, PPARG, and RELA. The functional enrichment analysis revealed that DNt might affect NAFLD by modulating the signaling pathways involved in lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidation, insulin resistance (IR), atherosclerosis, and apoptosis. Furthermore, most key bioactive compounds might bind firmly with the key targets. This study predicted the multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway mechanisms of DNt in the treatment of NAFLD from a holistic perspective. DNt could be a promising agent for NAFLD, but further experimental verifications are still needed.

Dietary apple pectic oligosaccharide improves reproductive performance, antioxidant capacity, and ovary function of broiler breeders

Reproduction performance is one of the most important economic traits for the poultry industry. Intriguingly, apple pectic oligosaccharide (APO) could promote gastrointestinal function and immune function to improve performance; however, literature about APO on reproduction performance in breeders is limited. This study aimed to determine whether APO administration can improve reproduction performance and ovary function of broiler breeders with different egg laying rates. Two hundred and fifty six Arbor Acres broiler breeders (48-week-old) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 egg laying rates (average [AR] and low [LR]) and 2 dietary levels of APO (0 and 200 mg/kg APO). Results showed that the LR breeders presented higher egg weight but lower egg laying rate, qualified egg rate, and feed efficiency than the AR breeders (P(laying) < 0.05). Also, the LR breeders had decreased serum Anti-Müllerian hormone, leptin, and antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity) levels than the AR breeders (P(laying) ≤ 0.05). Dietary supplementation with APO improved egg weight, feed efficiency, as well as egg albumen quality (higher albumen height and Haugh unit) (P(APO) < 0.05), and decreased the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-8) in serum (P(APO) ≤ 0.05). The apoptosis rate and pro-apoptosis-related gene expression (caspase 9 and Bax) in the ovary of LR breeders were higher, while the anti-apoptosis-related gene expression (Bcl-2, PCNA) was lower in LR compared with the AR breeders (P(laying) < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with APO decreased the caspase 9 and Bax expression in LR breeders (P(interaction) < 0.05), and increased the Bcl-2 and PCNA expression in the 2 breeders (P(APO) < 0.05). These findings indicate that breeders with a lower egg laying rate exhibit lower antioxidant capacity and high cell apoptosis in the ovary. Dietary supplementation with APO might improve albumen quality and antioxidant capacity, and decrease the inflammatory factors and ovary apoptosis-related genes expression to improve ovary function. Moreover, the effect of APO on decreasing ovarian pro-apoptosis-related gene expression was more pronounced in lower reproductive breeders.

Enantiomeric 8-O-4'-type neolignans from Crataegus pinnatifida exhibit cytotoxic effect via apoptosis and autophagy in Hep3B cells

Crataegus pinnatifida has been famous for its nutritional purpose. However, systematic investigation on the bioactive constituents is still lacking, although this fruit has been reported for its cytotoxic effect before. In this study, two pairs of new lignan enantiomers (1a/1b, 2a/2b), which isolated using chiral chromatographic column from the fruits of C. pinnatifida were studied. The absolute configurations of enantiomers were determined by comparison between the experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and calculated ECD spectra. Among them, 1a/1b exhibited a better cytotoxic effect in hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells with an IC₅₀ value of 34.97 ± 2.74 and 17.42 ± 0.71 μM, respectively. In addition, 1b induced much more apoptotic, autophagic cells than 1a in Hep3B cells. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism was demonstrated that p38 activation could promote 1b-induced apoptosis and autophagy. Moreover, 1b-induced apoptosis was significantly decreased in the presence of autophagic inhibitor Bafilomycin A1 (Baf A1), suggesting that the induction of autophagy enhanced apoptotic cell death in 1b-treated cells. In general, these findings provide a valuable basis for further understanding the effect of 8-O-4' lignans in C. pinnatifida on cytotoxic effect.

Chemical composition, antibacterial activity and action mechanism of different extracts from hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.)

Present study was designed to compared the total flavonoids and polyphenols contents and antibacterial activity of hawthorn extracts with different polarities as well as the underlying antibacterial mechanisms. The results showed that among all hawthorn extracts, methanol and ethanol extracts (ME and EE) exhibited high levels of total flavonoids and polyphenols contents, followed by acetone, ethyl acetate, trichloromethane and petroleum ether extracts. ME exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity against tested bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus with a 1.25 μg/mL of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericide concentration (MBC). Further analysis revealed that the main phenolic compounds from ME were epicatechin (281.6 mg/100 g DW), procyanidin B2 (243.5 mg/100 g DW), chlorogenic acid (84.2 mg/100 g DW) and quercetin (78.4 mg/100 g DW). The action mechanism of ME against S. aureus could be ascribed to ME damaging cell wall and cell membrane integrity, inhibiting intracellular enzyme activity, increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS), also changing expression of associated genes and then inducing apoptosis of S. aureus. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of ME against S. aureus has also been demonstrated to be efficient in the food matrix (whole milk).

Roles and Mechanisms of Hawthorn and Its Extracts on Atherosclerosis: A Review

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially atherosclerosis, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally; it causes a considerable burden on families and caregivers and results in significant financial costs being incurred. Hawthorn has an extensive history of medical use in many countries. In China, the use of hawthorn for the treatment of CVD dates to 659 AD. In addition, according to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, it acts on tonifying the spleen to promote digestion and activate blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis. This review revealed that the hawthorn extracts possess serum lipid-lowering, anti-oxidative, and cardiovascular protective properties, thus gaining popularity, especially for its anti-atherosclerotic effects. We summarize the four principal mechanisms, including blood lipid-lowering, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and vascular endothelial protection, thus providing a theoretical basis for further utilization of hawthorn.

Application of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine By-products as Dietary Feed Supplements and Antibiotic Replacements in Animal Production

BACKGROUND

Misuse of synthetic antibiotics in livestock leads to the transfer of antibiotic resistant pathogens into humans and deposits toxic residues in meat and milk. There is therefore an urgent need for safe and viable alternative approaches to improve the nutrition and wellbeing of farm animals. An alternative source that has been widely exploited is Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine (TCHM). These herbs contain several but less toxic bioactive compounds which are generally regarded as biodegradable. Recently, advances in the knowledge of the importance of TCHM have led to a rapid increase in its production and hence, increasing the amount of by-products generated. Such by-products have become a serious environmental challenge because producers regard them as industrial waste and discard them directly. This review summarizes scientific findings on the bioactive compounds in TCHM and TCHM by-products, discusses functional dietary patterns and outlines challenges that may hinder full utilization of TCHM by-products in animal production.

METHODS

Information for this review was obtained through scientific databases and websites such as Pubmed and Google scholar from 2004 to 2017 using experimental studies on bioactive compounds in TCHM and their effects in animal production.

RESULTS

Studies have shown that TCHM by-products contain high amounts of bioactive compounds which confer several nutritional and health benefits to animals and thus could be incorporated as feed additives.

CONCLUSION

The findings for this review indicate that TCHM by-products apart from being a good alternative for synthetic antibiotics could also minimize the current environmental challenges associated with its disposal.

Efficacy of traditional Chinese medication Tangminling pill in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes

The morbidity of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been increasing rapidly worldwide. Tangminling pill, consisting of ten Chinese herbal medications, is usually prescribed for T2DM in mainland China. Whether treatment with Tangminling can improve clinical outcomes of T2DM patients was still debated. Four studies comparing Tangminling vs. placebo treatment in T2DM patients were included and 767 T2DM patients were enrolled in our analyses. Tangminling treatment exhibited better efficacy than placebo in reducing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (1.11 vs. 0.32%; pooled weighted mean difference [WMD]: 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65–0.96; P<0.001), fasting plasma glucose (0.82 vs. −0.40 mM; WMD: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.56–1.64; P<0.001), 2-h postprandial glucose (2-hr PG) (2.81 vs. 1.11 mM; WMD: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.72–1.88; P<0.001), homeostatic model assessment-β level (4.28 vs. 0.41; WMD: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.27–0.61; P<0.001), waist circumference (WC) (1.04 vs. 0.36 cm; WMD: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.37–1.19; P<0.001) and body weight index (0.37 vs. 0.11 kg/m²; WMD: 0.30; 95% CI: −0.00 to 0.61; P=0.05). Tangminling pill might reduce glucose level and body weight and improve β-cell function in T2DM patients. Our study highlights the important role of Tangminling pill in the management of T2DM.

Pectin Oligosaccharides Ameliorate Colon Cancer by Regulating Oxidative Stress- and Inflammation-Activated Signaling Pathways

Colon cancer (CC) is the third common neoplasm worldwide, and it is still a big challenge for exploring new effective medicine for treating CC. Natural product promoting human health has become a hot topic and attracted many researchers recently. Pectin, a complex polysaccharide in plant cell wall, mainly consists of four major types of polysaccharides: homogalacturonan, xylogalacturonan, rhamnogalacturonan I and II, all of which can be degraded into various pectin oligosaccharides (POS) and may provide abundant resource for exploring potential anticancer drugs. POS have been regarded as a novel class of potential functional food with multiple health-promoting properties. POS have antibacterial activities against some aggressive and recurrent bacterial infection and exert beneficial immunomodulation for controlling CC risk. However, the molecular functional role of POS in the prevention of CC risk and progression remains doubtful. The review focuses on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory roles of POS for promoting human health by regulating some potential oxidative and inflammation-activated pathways, such as ATP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2 (Nrf2), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways. The activation of these signaling pathways increases the antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities, which will result in the apoptosis of CC cells or in the prevention of CC risk and progression. Thus, POS may inhibit CC development by affecting antioxidant and antiinflammatory signaling pathways AMPK, Nrf2, and NF-κB. However, POS also can activate signal transduction and transcriptional activator 1 and 3 signaling pathway, which will reduce antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and promote CC progression. Specific structural and structurally modified POS may be associated with their functions and should be deeply explored in the future. The present review paper lacks the important information for the linkage between the specific structure of POS and its function. To further explore the effects of prebiotic potential of POS and their derivatives on human immunomodulation in the prevention of CC, the specific POS with a certain degree of polymerization or purified polymers are highly demanded to be performed in clinical practice.

Dietary apple pectic oligosaccharide improves gut barrier function of rotavirus-challenged weaned pigs by increasing antioxidant capacity of enterocytes

Rotavirus can lead to decreasing gut barrier function and diarrhea of children and young animals. Apple pectic oligosaccharide treatment reduced diarrhea in rotavirus-infected piglets. This study was conducted to explore whether apple pectic oligosaccharide administration could protect gut barrier function of piglets against rotavirus infection. A total of 28 crossbred weaned barrows were allotted into 2 treatments fed the diets supplementing 0 and 200 mg/kg apple pectic oligosaccharide. Half of pigs in each diet treatment were challenged by rotavirus on d 15. The whole duration of this experiment is 18 days. Rotavirus challenge increased average diarrhea index, and impaired microbiota in cecal digesta, and histology, expressions of tight-junction proteins, mucins and glucagon like peptide-2 concentrations, antioxidant capacity, endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy and apoptosis in jejunal mucosa of piglets. However, dietary apple pectic oligosaccharide supplementation relieved effects of rotavirus challenge on diarrhea, gut health, and antioxidant capacity, endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy and apoptosis of jejunal mucosa in piglets. These results suggest that apple pectic oligosaccharide administration can prevent diarrhea and damage of gut barrier function via improving antioxidant capacity that might reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy and apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells in rotavirus-infected piglets.

Fruits for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are leading global health problems. Accumulating epidemiological studies have indicated that consuming fruits was inversely related to the risk of CVDs. Moreover, substantial experimental studies have supported the protective role of fruits against CVDs, and several fruits (grape, blueberry, pomegranate, apple, hawthorn, and avocado) have been widely studied and have shown potent cardiovascular protective action. Fruits can prevent CVDs or facilitate the restoration of morphology and functions of heart and vessels after injury. The involved mechanisms included protecting vascular endothelial function, regulating lipids metabolism, modulating blood pressure, inhibiting platelets function, alleviating ischemia/reperfusion injury, suppressing thrombosis, reducing oxidative stress, and attenuating inflammation. The present review summarizes recent discoveries about the effects of fruits on CVDs and discusses potential mechanisms of actions based on evidence from epidemiological, experimental, and clinical studies.

Pectin penta-oligogalacturonide reduces cholesterol accumulation by promoting bile acid biosynthesis and excretion in high-cholesterol-fed mice

Haw pectin penta-oligogalacturonide (HPPS) has important role in improving cholesterol metabolism and promoting the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids (BA) in mice fed high-cholesterol diet (HCD). However, the mechanism is not clear. This study aims to investigate the effects of HPPS on cholesterol accumulation and the regulation of hepatic BA synthesis and transport in HCD-fed mice. Results showed that HPPS significantly decreased plasma and hepatic TC levels but increased plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) levels, compared to HCD. BA analysis showed that HPPS markedly decreased hepatic and small intestine BA levels but increased the gallbladder BA levels, and finally decreased the total BA pool size, compared to HCD. Studies of molecular mechanism revealed that HPPS promoted hepatic ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1), and scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI) expression but did not affect ATB binding cassette transporter G5/G8 (ABCG5/8) expression. HPPS inactivated hepatic farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and target genes expression, which resulted in significant increase of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase 1 (CYP7A1) and sterol 12α-hydroxylase (CYP8B1) expression, with up-regulations of 204.2% and 33.5% for mRNA levels, respectively, compared with HCD. In addition, HPPS markedly enhanced bile salt export pump (BSEP) expression but didn't affect the sodium/taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP) expression. In conclusion, the study revealed that HPPS reduced cholesterol accumulation by promoting BA synthesis in the liver and excretion in the feces, and might promote macrophage-to-liver reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) but did not liver-to-fecal RCT.

Hot-Water Extracts from Roots of Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana and Identified ε-Viniferin Improve Obesity in High-Fat Diet-Induced Mice

In this study, hot-water extracts (HW) from roots of Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana (VTT-R) were shown to lower levels of lipid accumulation significantly (P < 0.01 or 0.001) compared to the control in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The VTT-R-HW (40 mg/kg) interventions concurrent with a high-fat (HF) diet in C57BL/6 mice over a 5 eek period were shown to reduce body weights significantly (P < 0.05) compared to those of mice fed a HF diet under the same food-intake regimen. The (+)-ε-viniferin isolated from VTT-R-HW was shown to reduce the size of lipid deposits significantly compared to the control (P < 0.05 or 0.001) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and dose-dependent 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitions showed that the 50% inhibitory concentration was calculated to be 96 μM. The two-stage (+)-ε-viniferin interventions (10 mg/kg, day 1 to day 38; 25 mg/kg, day 39 to day 58) were shown to lower mice body weights significantly (P < 0.05 or 0.001), the weight ratio of mesenteric fat, blood glucose, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein compared to that of the HF group under the same food-intake regimen but without concurrent VTT-R-HW interventions. It might be possible to use VTT-R-HW or (+)-ε-viniferin as an ingredient in the development of functional foods for weight management, and this will need to be investigated further.

Effects of Polar Compounds Generated from the Deep-Frying Process of Palm Oil on Lipid Metabolism and Glucose Tolerance in Kunming Mice

In the present study, effects of deep-fried palm oil, specifically polar compounds generated during the frying process, on animal health including lipid and glucose metabolism and liver functions were investigated. Kunming mice were fed a high-fat diet containing deep-fried palm oil or purified polar compounds for 12 weeks. Their effects on animal health including hepatic lipid profile, antioxidant enzyme activity, serum biochemistry, and glucose tolerance were analyzed. Our results revealed that the consumption of polar compounds was related to the change of lipid deposition in liver and adipose tissue, as well as glucose tolerance alteration in Kunming mice. Correspondingly, the transcription study of genes involved in lipid metabolism including PPARα, Acox1, and Cpt1α indicated that polar compounds probably facilitated the fatty acid oxidation on peroxisomes, whereas lipid oxidation in mitochondria was suppressed. Furthermore, glucose tolerance test (GTT) revealed that a high amount of polar compound intake impaired glucose tolerance, indicating its effect on glucose metabolism in vivo. Our results provide critical information on the effects of polar compounds generated from the deep-frying process of palm oil on animal health, particularly liver functions and lipid and glucose metabolism, which is important for the evaluation of the biosafety of frying oil.

Quality Comparison of Hawthorn Wines Fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae with and without Pulp Contact and Pectase Treatment

This study evaluated the chemical and volatile composition of hawthorn wines fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae A3.12 with and without pulp contact and pectase treatment during fermentation. The results indicated that the addition of pectase was in favor of pH decrease and clarification. The pectase-treated wines had significantly higher concentrations of acetic acid, ethyl octanoate, and isoamyl acetate than the non-enzyme-treated wines. Furthermore, the nonextracted wines had significantly higher concentrations of isoamyl alcohol, phenylethyl alcohol, ethyl lactate, and isoamyl acetate than the extracted wines. The first principal component separated the wine from the nonextracted juice with pectase from other samples based on the higher concentrations of isoamyl acetate (0.14 μg/g), diethyl butanedioate (0.07 μg/g), 2-phenylethyl acetate (0.23 μg/g), and acetoin (1.47 μg/g). The wine from nonextracted pulpy juice with pectase was significantly more aromatic than the others and 26.2% of the consumers were found to be willing to purchase this product.

Major triterpenoids in Chinese hawthorn "Crataegus pinnatifida" and their effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis induction in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells

The cytotoxicity and antiproliferative effect of phytochemicals presenting in the fruits of Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) were evaluated. Shanlihong (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge. var. major N.E.Br.) variety possessed significant levels of flavonoids and triterpenoids, and showed potent antiproliferative effect against HepG₂, MCF-7 and MDA-MB- 231 human cancer cells lines. Triterpenoids-enriched fraction (S9) prepared by Semi-preparative HPLC, and its predominant ingredient ursolic acid (UA) demonstrated remarkably antiproliferative activities for all the tested cancer cell lines. DNA flow cytometric analysis showed that S9 fraction and UA significantly induced G1 arrest in MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Western blotting analysis revealed that S9 fraction and UA significantly induced PCNA, CDK4, and Cyclin D1 downregulation in MDA-MB-231 cells, followed by p21^Waf1/Cip1 up-regulation. Additionally, flow cytometer and DNA ladder assays indicated that S9 fraction and UA significantly induced MDA-MB-231 cells apoptosis. Mitochondrial death pathway was involved in this apoptosis as significantly induced caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation. These results suggested that triterpenoids-enriched fraction and UA exhibited antiproliferative activity through the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction, and was majorly responsible for the potent anticancer activity of Chinese hawthorn.

Anti-fibro-hepatocarcinogenic Chinese herbal medicines: A mechanistic overview

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is an integral component of complementary/alternative medicine and it is increasingly becoming the preferred therapeutic modality for the treatment of liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. Accordingly, the World Health Organization (WHO) has attested to the popularity and efficacy of indigenous herbal therapies including CHM as a first line of treatment for some diseases including liver disorders. However, the WHO and drug discovery experts have always recommended that use of indigenous herbal remedies must go hand-in-hand with the requisite mechanistic elucidation so as to constitute a system of verification of efficacy within the ethnobotanical context of use. Although many CHM experts have advanced knowledge on CHM, nonetheless, more enlightenment is needed, particularly mechanisms of action of CHMs on fibro-hepato-carcinogenesis. We, herein, provide in-depth mechanisms of the action of CHMs which have demonstrated anti-fibro-hepatocarcinogenic effects, in pre-clinical and clinical studies as published in PubMed and other major scientific databases. Specifically, the review brings out the important signaling pathways, and their downstream targets which are modulated at multi-level by various anti-fibro-hepatocarcinogenic CHMs.

Antiaging effects of the mixture of Panax ginseng and Crataegus pinnatifida in human dermal fibroblasts and healthy human skin

BACKGROUND

Human skin undergoes distinct changes throughout the aging process, based on both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. In a process called photoaging, UVB irradiation leads to upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-1, which then causes collagen degradation and premature aging. Mixtures of medicinal plants have traditionally been used as drugs in oriental medicine. Based on the previously reported antioxidant properties of Panax ginseng Meyer and Crataegus pinnatifida, we hypothesized that the mixture of P. ginseng Meyer and C. pinnatifida (GC) would have protective effects against skin aging.

METHODS

Anti-aging activity was examined both in human dermal fibroblasts under UVB irradiation by using Western blot analysis and in healthy human skin by examining noninvasive measurements.

RESULTS

In vitro studies showed that GC improved procollagen type I expression and diminished matrix metalloproteinase-1 secretion. Based on noninvasive measurements, skin roughness values, including total roughness (R1), maximum roughness (R2), smoothness depth and average roughness (R3), and global photodamage scores were improved by GC application. Moreover, GC ameliorated the high values of smoothness depth (R4), which means that GC reduced loss of skin moisture.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that GC can prevent aging by inhibiting wrinkle formation and increasing moisture in the human skin.

Current Status of Herbal Medicines in Chronic Liver Disease Therapy: The Biological Effects, Molecular Targets and Future Prospects

Chronic liver dysfunction or injury is a serious health problem worldwide. Chronic liver disease involves a wide range of liver pathologies that include fatty liver, hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The efficiency of current synthetic agents in treating chronic liver disease is not satisfactory and they have undesirable side effects. Thereby, numerous medicinal herbs and phytochemicals have been investigated as complementary and alternative treatments for chronic liver diseases. Since some herbal products have already been used for the management of liver diseases in some countries or regions, a systematic review on these herbal medicines for chronic liver disease is urgently needed. Herein, we conducted a review describing the potential role, pharmacological studies and molecular mechanisms of several commonly used medicinal herbs and phytochemicals for chronic liver diseases treatment. Their potential toxicity and side effects were also discussed. Several herbal formulae and their biological effects in chronic liver disease treatment as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms are also summarized in this paper. This review article is a comprehensive and systematic analysis of our current knowledge of the conventional medicinal herbs and phytochemicals in treating chronic liver diseases and on the potential pitfalls which need to be addressed in future study.

Effects of yam dioscorin interventions on improvements of the metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet-induced obese rats

BACKGROUND

The metabolic syndrome (MS) is termed a cluster of multiple metabolic risk criteria which is positively correlated with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Yam dioscorins have been reported to exhibit biological activities, however, little is known their preventive effects on the MS. Therefore, a high-fat (HF) diet was used to induce Wistar rat obesity and then yam dioscorin (50 mg/kg, dio50) was intervened daily concurrent HF diet (HF diet + dio50) for five weeks to check the changes of weights of body and tissues, blood pressures, and impaired glucose tolerances. The in vitro peptic hydrolysates of dioscorin with molecular mass between 3 kDa and 10 kDa and less than 3 kDa were used to determine dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) inhibitory activities which DPP IV inhibitor has been reported to prevent and treat type 2 DM.

RESULTS

There were no significant difference in body weights, feed intakes, feed conversion, and weights of adipose tissues of obese rats in groups of HF and (HF diet + dio50). However, the systolic blood pressures in obese rats of 2-, 3- and 4-week dioscorin interventions were showed significantly lower (P < 0.05) compared to the HF group. The dioscorin intervention (HF+ dio50) was showed significantly different (P < 0.05) and improved the impaired glucose tolerances compared to HF group in obese rats by the oral glucose tolerance tests. It was also found that the fraction with different molecular mass of dioscorin peptic hydrolysates (5 mg/ml) showed inhibitory activities against DPP IV using sitagliptin phosphate as positive controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Yam dioscorins exhibit improved MS activities in obese rats which the related mechanisms may need further investigations.

Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana Extracts and Purified Compounds Ameliorate Obesity in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

The increasing prevalence of obesity continues to gain more attention worldwide. In this study, diet-induced obese mice were used to evaluate the antiobesity effects of extracts, fractions, and purified compounds from Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana (VTT). The C57BL/6J mice were fed a 5-week high-fat diet (HF) concurrently with ethanol extracts (Et-ext, 80 mg/kg) from roots (R), stems (S), and leaves (L) by oral gavage daily. Only R-Et-ext interventions showed significant weight reduction in mice compared with those in the HF group; however, mouse plasma contents of total cholesterols (TC), total triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) of all three Et-ext intervened groups showed significant reductions compared with those in the HF group. Furthermore, intervention with the ethyl acetate-partitioned fraction (EA-fra, 60 mg/kg) from R-Et-ext but not the n-butanol-partitioned fraction or water fraction from R-Et-ext showed significant weight reduction in mice compared with those in the HF group. The same molecular weights of three resveratrol tetramers, (+)-hopeaphenol, (+)-vitisin A, and (-)-vitisin B, were isolated from the EA-fra of VTT-R. The (+)-vitisin A and fenofibrate (25 mg/kg) but not the (+)-hopeaphenol and (-)-vitisin B interventions showed significant weight reduction in mice compared with those in the HF group. The total feed intake among the HF groups with or without interventions showed no significant differences. The mouse plasma contents of TC, TG, LDL, free fatty acid, and plasma lipase activity of the three resveratrol tetramer-intervened groups showed reductions in the mice compared with those in the HF group. It was proposed that the lipase inhibitory activities of VTT extracts and purified resveratrol tetramers might contribute in part to the antiobesity effect, and these results suggested that VTT may be developed as functional food for achieving antiobesity objectives and requires further investigation.

Phenolic contents and cellular antioxidant activity of Chinese hawthorn "Crataegus pinnatifida"

It is evident from various epidemiological studies that consumption of fruits and vegetables is essential to maintain health and in the disease prevention. Present study was designed to examine phenolic contents and antioxidant properties of three varieties of Crataegus pinnatifida (Chinese hawthorn). Shanlihong variety exhibited elevated levels of total phenolics and flavonoid contents, including free and bond phenolics. Procyanidin B2 was most abundant phenolic compound in all samples, followed by epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, and isoquercitrin. The free ORAC values, and free hydro-PSC values were 398.3-555.8 μmol TE/g DW, and 299.1-370.9 μmol VCE/g DW, respectively. Moreover, the free cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) values were 678-1200 μmol of QE/100 g DW in the no PBS wash protocol, and 345.9-532.9 μmol of QE/100 g DW in the PBS wash protocol. C. pinnatifida fruit could be valuable to promote consumer health.

Green tea changes serum and liver metabolomic profiles in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity

SCOPE

Green tea (GT) consumption helps to prevent and control obesity by stimulating hepatic lipid metabolism. However, GT-induced changes in serum and liver metabolomes associated with the anti-obesity effects are not clearly understood. The aim of this study was to identify and validate metabolomic profiles in the livers and sera of GT-fed obese mice to elucidate the relationship between GT consumption and obesity prevention.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Serum and liver metabolites were analyzed in mice fed normal diet, high-fat diet (HFD), HFD with GT, and HFD with crude catechins, using LC-quadrupole TOF MS. The addition of 1% GT to HFD reduced adipose tissue and the levels of blood triglycerides, glucose, insulin, and leptin elevated in HFD-fed mice. We proposed an HFD-induced obesity pathway and validated it by investigating the key regulatory enzymes of mitochondrial β-oxidation: carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 and -2, acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase, and acetyl-coenzyme A acyltransferase. The results showed that HFD-induced abnormal mitochondrial β-oxidation was moderated by the consumption of caffeine- and theanine-enriched GT.

CONCLUSION

Results of LC/MS-based metabolomic analysis of obese mice showed changes associated with abnormal lipid and energy metabolism, which were alleviated by GT intake, indicating the mechanism underlying the anti-obesity effects of GT.