Jellyfish skin polysaccharides enhance intestinal barrier function and modulate the gut microbiota in mice with DSS-induced colitis

Alginate oligosaccharide improves 5-fluorouracil-induced intestinal mucositis by enhancing intestinal barrier and modulating intestinal levels of butyrate and isovalerate

Chemotherapy-induced mucositis (CIM) is the typical side effect of chemotherapy. This study investigates the potential of alginate oligosaccharide (AOS) in ameliorating CIM induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in a murine model and its underlying mechanisms. AOS effectively mitigated body weight loss and histopathological damage, modulated inflammatory cytokines and attenuated the oxidative stress. AOS restored intestinal barrier integrity through enhancing expression of tight junction proteins via MLCK signaling pathway. AOS alleviated intestinal mucosal damage by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, downregulating the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and upregulating the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Moreover, AOS significantly enriched intestinal Akkermansiaceae and increased the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), most notably butyrate and isovalerate. Pre-treatment with butyrate and isovalerate also alleviated 5-FU-induced CIM. In conclusion, AOS effectively mitigated CIM through strenghthening intestinal barrier, attenuating inflammation, and modulating gut microbiota and intestianl levels of butyrate and isovalerate. These finding indicate that AOS could be potentially utilized as a supplemental strategy for prevention or mitigation of CIM.

Edible herbal source-derived polysaccharides as potential prebiotics: Composition, structure, gut microbiota regulation, and its related health effects

Recently, with changes in dietary patterns, there has been increased interest in the concept of food and medicine homology, which can help prevent disease development. This has led to a growing focus on the development of functional health foods derived from edible herbal sources. Polysaccharides, found in many edible herbal sources, are gaining popularity as natural ingredients in the production of functional food products. The gut microbiota can effectively utilize most edible herbal polysaccharides (EHPs) and produce beneficial metabolites; therefore, the prebiotic potential of EHPs is gradually being recognized. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the structural features and characterization of EHPs to promote gut microbiota regulation as well as the structure-activity relationship between EHPs and gut microbiota. As prebiotics, intestinal microbiota can use EHPs to indirectly produce metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids to promote overall health; on the other hand, different EHP structures possess some degree of selectivity on gut microbiota regulation. Moreover, we evaluate the functionality and mechanism underlying EHPs in terms of anticancer activity, antimetabolic diseases, anti-inflammatory activity, and anti-neuropsychiatric diseases.

Research progress in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease with natural polysaccharides and related structure-activity relationships

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises a group of highly prevalent and chronic inflammatory intestinal tract diseases caused by multiple factors. Despite extensive research into the causes of the disease, IBD's pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. Moreover, side effects of current IBD therapies restrict their long-term clinical use. In contrast, natural polysaccharides exert beneficial anti-IBD effects and offer advantages over current anti-IBD drugs, including enhanced safety and straightforward isolation from abundant and reliable sources, and thus may serve as components of functional foods and health products for use in IBD prevention and treatment. However, few reviews have explored natural polysaccharides with anti-IBD activities or the relationship between polysaccharide conformation and anti-IBD biological activity. Therefore, this review aims to summarize anti-IBD activities and potential clinical applications of polysaccharides isolated from plant, animal, microorganismal, and algal sources, while also exploring the relationship between polysaccharide conformation and anti-IBD bioactivity for the first time. Furthermore, potential mechanisms underlying polysaccharide anti-IBD effects are summarized, including intestinal microbiota modulation, intestinal inflammation alleviation, and intestinal barrier protection from IBD-induced damage. Ultimately, this review provides a theoretical foundation and valuable insights to guide the development of natural polysaccharide-containing functional foods and nutraceuticals for use as dietary IBD therapies.

Jellyfish protein hydrolysates: Multifunctional bioactivities unveiled in the battle against diabetes, inflammation, and bacterial pathogenesis

This study investigates the multifunctional bioactivities of pepsin-hydrolyzed jellyfish by-products (Rhopilema hispidum and Lobonema smithii), focusing on their anti-α-glucosidase activity, anti-inflammatory effects, anti-bacterial properties, and ability to inhibit biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus. Our findings revealed that jellyfish protein hydrolysates, particularly from Rhopilema hispidum, exhibit significant anti-α-glucosidase activity, surpassing the well-known α-glucosidase inhibitor Acarbose. Furthermore, we demonstrated the anti-inflammatory capabilities of these hydrolysates in suppressing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production in murine macrophage cells. This effect was dose-dependent and non-cytotoxic, highlighting the hydrolysate potential in treating inflammation-related conditions. Regarding anti-bacterial activity, pepsin-hydrolyzed jellyfish selectively exhibited a potent effect against S. aureus, including Methicillin-susceptible and Methicillin-resistant strains. This activity was evident at minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 25 μg/mL for S. aureus ATCC10832, while a modest effect was observed against other Gram-positive strains. The hydrolysates effectively delayed bacterial growth dose-dependently, suggesting their use as alternative agents against bacterial infections. Most notably, pepsin-hydrolyzed jellyfish showed significant anti-biofilm activity against S. aureus. The umbrella section hydrolysate of Rhopilema hispidum was particularly effective, reducing biofilm formation through downregulating the icaA gene, crucial for biofilm development. Furthermore, the hydrolysates modulated the expression of the agrA gene, a key regulator in the pathogenesis of S. aureus. In conclusion, pepsin-hydrolyzed jellyfish protein hydrolysates exhibit promising multifunctional bioactivities, including anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-biofilm properties. These findings suggest their potential application in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields, particularly in managing diabetic risks, inflammation, bacterial infections, and combating the biofilm-associated pathogenicity of S. aureus.

Ameliorative effect of an acidic polysaccharide from Phellinus linteus on ulcerative colitis in a DSS-induced mouse model

Phellinus linteus, a rare medicinal fungus, displays strong antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities because of its active metabolites, particularly polysaccharides. We investigated effects of P. linteus acidic polysaccharide (PLAP) on amelioration of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in a mouse model, and associated mechanisms. PLAP treatment alleviated major UC symptoms (weight loss, reduced food intake, increased disease activity index), and ameliorated histopathological colon tissue damage, reduced levels of pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), enhanced anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 level, reduced levels of oxidative stress-related enzymes iNOS and MPO, and enhanced expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin, claudin-1). qPCR analysis revealed that PLAP downregulated phosphorylation levels of p65 and p38 and transcriptional level of TLR-4. High-throughput sequencing showed that PLAP restored gut microbiota diversity and species abundances in the UC model, and gas chromatographic analysis showed that it increased levels of beneficial short-chain fatty acids. Our findings indicate that PLAP has strong potential for development as an anti-UC agent based on its reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress levels, modulation of gut microbiota composition, and promotion of normal intestinal barrier function.

Bi-functional astaxanthin macromolecular nanocarriers to alleviate dextran sodium sulfate-induced inflammatory bowel disease

Dextran sulfate sodium is one of the important members in the field of polysaccharide biotechnology, which can induce inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the gastrointestinal tract. Nevertheless, the application of astaxanthin (AST) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), known for their pronounced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is encumbered by limited stability and bioavailability. To surmount this challenge, dual nutritional macromolecular nanoparticles were provided for alleviating IBD. The forementioned strategy entailed the utilization of EGCG as a wall material via the Mannich reaction, resulting in the creation of specialized nanocarriers capable of mitochondrial targeting and glutathione-responsive AST delivery. In vitro investigations, these nanocarriers demonstrated an enhanced propensity for mitochondrial accumulation, leading to proficient elimination of reactive oxygen species and preservation of optimal mitochondrial membrane potential about 1.5 times stronger than free AST and EGCG. Crucially, in vivo experiments showed that the colon length of IBD mice treated with these nanocarriers increased by 51.29 % and facilitated the polarization of M2 macrophages. Moreover, the assimilation of these nanocarriers exerted a favorable impact on the composition of gut microbiota. These findings underscore the immense potential of dual nutrition nanocarriers in contemporaneously delivering hydrophobic biological activators through oral absorption, thereby presenting a highly promising avenue for combating IBD.

The Influence of Polysaccharides on Lipid Metabolism: Insights from Gut Microbiota

SCOPE

Polysaccharides are complex molecules of more than ten monosaccharide residues interconnected through glycosidic linkages formed via condensation reactions. Polysaccharides are widely distributed in various food resources and have gained considerable attention due to their diverse biological activities. This review presented a critical analysis of the existing research literature on anti-obesity polysaccharides and investigates the complex interplay between their lipid-lowering activity and the gut microbiota, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the lipid-lowering properties of polysaccharides and the underlying mechanisms of action.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this review, the study summarized the roles of polysaccharides in improving lipid metabolism via gut microbiota, including the remodeling of the intestinal barrier, reduction of inflammation, inhibition of pathogenic bacteria, reduction of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) production, and regulation of the metabolism of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bile acids (BAs).

CONCLUSION

These mechanisms collectively contributed to the beneficial effects of polysaccharides on lipid metabolism and overall metabolic health. Furthermore, polysaccharide-based nanocarriers combined with gut microbiota have broad prospects for developing targeted and personalized therapies for hyperlipidemia and obesity.

Scytosiphon lomentaria fucoidan ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in dietary fiber-deficient mice via modulating the gut microbiota and inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB/MLCK pathway

The prevalence of ulcerative colitis (UC) poses a serious threat to human health. This study showed that fiber-deficient diet (FD) increased the susceptibility of mice to low dosage of DSS-induced UC, and a UC model was established by feeding mice with DSS and FD to evaluate the effect of Scytosiphon lomentaria fucoidan (SLF) on UC. SLF ameliorated the symptoms of UC, as evidenced by increases in colon length, goblet cells and glycoprotein and reduction in inflammatory cell infiltration and intestinal epithelial injury. SLF alleviated oxidative stress and inhibited colonic inflammation by reducing the levels of lipopolysaccharides and pro-inflammatory cytokines and suppressing the activation of nuclear factor kappa B pathway. SLF protected tight junction integrity by reducing the level of myosin light chain kinase and increasing the levels of claudin, zonula occludens-1 and occludin. SLF improved serum metabolites profile and affected multiple metabolic pathways that are crucial to human health, e.g. butanoate metabolism. The underlying mechanism can be associated with modulation of the gut microbiota and metabolites, including increases in short chain fatty acids and reduction in Proteobacteria, Bacteroides and Romboutsia. It suggests that SLF could be developed as a prebiotic polysaccharide to benefit human health by improving intestinal microecology.

In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Structural Characteristics of Polysaccharides Extracted from Lobonema smithii Jellyfish

Crude polysaccharides were extracted from the white jellyfish (Lobonema smithii) using water extraction and fractionated using ion-exchange chromatography to obtain three different fractions (JF1, JF2, and JF3). The chemical characteristics of four polysaccharides were investigated, along with their anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. All samples mainly consisted of neutral sugars with minor contents of proteins and sulphates in various proportions. Glucose, galactose, and mannose were the main constituents of the monosaccharides. The molecular weights of the crude polysaccharides and the JF1, JF2, and JF3 fractions were 865.0, 477.6, 524.1, and 293.0 kDa, respectively. All polysaccharides were able to decrease NO production, especially JF3, which showed inhibitory activity. JF3 effectively suppressed iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α expression, while IL-10 expression was induced. JF3 could inhibit phosphorylated ERK, JNK, p38, and NF-κB p65. Furthermore, flow cytometry showed the impact of JF3 on inhibiting CD11b and CD40 expression. These results suggest that JF3 could inhibit NF-κB and MAPK-related inflammatory pathways. The structural characterisation revealed that (1→3)-linked glucopyranosyl, (1→3,6)-linked galactopyranosyl, and (1→3,6)-linked glucopyranosyl residues comprised the main backbone of JF3. Therefore, L. smithii polysaccharides exhibit good anti-inflammatory activity and could thus be applied as an alternative therapeutic agent against inflammation.

Inhibition of IEC-6 Cell Proliferation and the Mechanism of Ulcerative Colitis in C57BL/6 Mice by Dandelion Root Polysaccharides

An exploration was conducted on the potential therapeutic properties of dandelion polysaccharide (DP) in addressing 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in murine models. Subsequent assessments focused on DP's influence on inflammation, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis in IEC-6 cells damaged by H2O2. Results highlighted the efficacy of DP in mitigating weight loss, improving disease activity index scores, normalizing colon length, and alleviating histological abnormalities in the affected mice. DP repaired colonic mitochondrial damage by enhancing iron transport and inhibited iron death in colonic cells. Moreover, DP played a pivotal role in enhancing the antioxidant potential. This was evident from the increased expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, NQO-1, and GSH, coupled with a decrease in MDA and 4-HNE markers in the UC-afflicted mice. Concurrently, DP manifested inhibitory effects on MPO activation and transcription levels of inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and iNOS. An upsurge in the expression of occludin and ZO-1 was also observed. Restoration of intestinal tightness resulted in decreased serum LPS and LDH levels. Thereafter, administration of DP by gavage increased fecal flora diversity and relative abundance of probiotics in UC mice. Analysis of metabolites indicated that DP counteracted metabolic disturbances and augmented the levels of short-chain fatty acids in ulcerative colitis-affected mice. In vitro studies underscored the role of DP in triggering Nrf2 activation, which in turn exhibited anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-ferroptotic properties. Summarily, DP's capacity to activate Nrf2 contributes to the suppression of ferroptotic processes in intestinal epithelial cells of UC-affected mice, enhancing the intestinal barrier's integrity. Beyond that, DP possesses the ability to modulate the gut microbiome, rectify metabolic imbalances, rejuvenate short-chain fatty acid levels, and bolster the intestinal barrier as a therapeutic approach to UC.

Egg yolk phosphatidylcholine alleviates DSS-induced colitis in BALB/c mice

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common inflammatory bowel disease, whose incidence is on the rise worldwide. The drugs commonly used for UC are often associated with a number of side effects. Therefore, the development of effective, food-borne substances for UC is in line with the current needs. Egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EYPC) is one of the abundant lipids in egg yolk and possesses various biological activities. However, its protective effect against UC has not been clarified. In this study, the anti-UC activity of EYPC was investigated using a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis model of BALB/c mice. The results showed that EYPC supplementation inhibited DSS-induced colon shortening, the spleen index and disease activity index increase and intestinal structural damage. EYPC could down-regulate the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and MPO in the colon and restore the number of goblet cells and the level of tight junction (TJ) proteins. Besides, EYPC modulated the composition of the gut microbiota, lowered the relative abundance of the pathogenic bacterium Parabacteroides and upregulated the abundance of the beneficial bacteria Alistipes and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group. These results evidenced that EYPC could attenuate DSS-induced colitis in mice and had the potential to prevent and treat UC.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Bioactive Compounds from Seaweeds, Bryozoans, Jellyfish, Shellfish and Peanut Worms

Inflammation is a defense mechanism of the body in response to harmful stimuli such as pathogens, damaged cells, toxic compounds or radiation. However, chronic inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases. Multiple anti-inflammatory drugs are currently available for the treatment of inflammation, but all exhibit less efficacy. This drives the search for new anti-inflammatory compounds focusing on natural resources. Marine organisms produce a broad spectrum of bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory activities. Several are considered as lead compounds for development into drugs. Anti-inflammatory compounds have been extracted from algae, corals, seaweeds and other marine organisms. We previously reviewed anti-inflammatory compounds, as well as crude extracts isolated from echinoderms such as sea cucumbers, sea urchins and starfish. In the present review, we evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of compounds from other marine organisms, including macroalgae (seaweeds), marine angiosperms (seagrasses), medusozoa (jellyfish), bryozoans (moss animals), mollusks (shellfish) and peanut worms. We also present a review of the molecular mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds. Our objective in this review is to provide an overview of the current state of research on anti-inflammatory compounds from marine sources and the prospects for their translation into novel anti-inflammatory drugs.

Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan ameliorates dietary fiber deficiency-induced inflammation and lipid abnormality by modulating mucosal microbiota and protecting intestinal barrier integrity

Dietary fiber deficiency (FD) is a new public health concern, with limited understanding of its impact on host energy requirements and health. In this study, the effect of fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida (UPF) on FD-induced alterations of host physiological status was analyzed in mice. UPF increased colon length and cecum weight, reduced liver index, and modulated serum lipid metabolism primarily involving glycerophospholipid and linoleic acid metabolism in FD-treated mice. UPF protected against FD-induced destruction of intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating the expression levels of tight junction proteins and mucin-related genes. UPF alleviated FD-induced intestinal inflammation by reducing the levels of inflammation-related factors, such as interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and lipopolysaccharides, and relieving oxidative stress. The underlying mechanism can be closely associated with modulation of gut microbiota and metabolites, such as a reduction of Proteobacteria and an increase in short chain fatty acids. The in vitro model showed that UPF mitigated H2O2-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in IEC-6 cells, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel disorders. This study suggests that UPF can be developed as a fiber supplement to benefit host health by modulating gut microbiota and metabolites and protecting intestinal barrier functions.

Multi-dimensional visualization of ingestion, biological effects and interactions of microplastics and a representative POP in edible jellyfish

Due to their ubiquity and potential risks, microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are concerning environmental issues. Yet there are still significant knowledge gaps in understanding the tissue-specific accumulation and dynamic change of MPs and NPs in the aquatic organism and how these micro/nano-scale emerging contaminants interact with other environmental pollutants such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Here, in vivo imaging systems (IVIS), radioisotope tracing, and histological staining were innovatively used to reveal the fate and toxicity of fluorescently-labeled MPs/NPs and 14C-labeled 2,4,4'-trichlorobiphenyl (PCB28) in edible jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum. These contaminants' ingestion, biological effects, and interactions were visualized at cellular, tissue, and whole-body multidimensional levels. Both MPs and NPs were shown to be preferentially accumulated in the mouthlets of oral arms, and most ingested MPs/NPs were present in the extracellular environment instead of being internalized into the mesoglea. Moreover, the presence of MPs or NPs in the seawater significantly inhibited the bioaccumulation of PCB28 in the jellyfish tissue, thus alleviating physiological alteration, gastric damage, and apoptosis caused by PCB28. This study provides a multi-dimensional visualization strategy to display the distribution and biological effects of typical pollutants in marine organisms and offers new insights for understanding the impacts of MPs/NPs and POPs on marine ecosystems.

Anti-Inflammatory and Gut Microbiota Modulation Potentials of Flavonoids Extracted from Passiflora foetida Fruits

This study aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory and gut microbiota modulation potentials of flavonoid-rich fraction (PFF) extracted from Passiflora foetida fruits. The results showed that PFF markedly reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Meanwhile, PFF treatment also effectively decreased the phosphorylation levels of MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB signaling-pathway-related proteins (ERK, JNK, p38, Akt, and p65). Moreover, PFF had an impact on microbial composition and metabolites in a four-stage dynamic simulator of human gut microbiota (BFBL gut model). Specifically, PFF exhibited the growth-promoting ability of several beneficial bacteria, including Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, and Roseburia, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) generation ability in gut microbiota. In addition, spectroscopic data revealed that PFF mainly contained five flavonoid compounds, which may be bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and gut microbiota modulation potentials. Therefore, PFF could be utilized as a natural anti-inflammatory agent or supplement to health products.

Fermented Sargassum fusiforme Mitigates Ulcerative Colitis in Mice by Regulating the Intestinal Barrier, Oxidative Stress, and the NF-κB Pathway

In recent years, Sargassum fusiforme has gained increasing attention for its ability to improve human health and reduce the risk of disease. Nevertheless, there have been few reports on the beneficial functions of fermented Sargassum fusiforme. In this study, the role of fermented Sargassum fusiforme in the mitigation of ulcerative colitis was investigated. Both fermented and unfermented Sargassum fusiforme demonstrated significant improvement in weight loss, diarrhea, bloody stools, and colon shortening in mice with acute colitis. Fermented Sargassum fusiforme further protected against goblet cell loss, decreased intestinal epithelium permeability, and enhanced the expression of tight junction proteins. Fermented Sargassum fusiforme reduced oxidative stress, which was demonstrated by a decrease in nitric oxide (NO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in the colon of mice and an increase in total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity in the colon. Meanwhile, catalase (CAT) concentrations in both the colon and serum of mice were significantly increased. Fermented Sargassum fusiforme also attenuated the inflammatory response, which was evidenced by the decreased level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the colon. Moreover, fermented Sargassum fusiforme inhibited the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway and increased the production of short-chain fatty acids in the intestine. These findings indicate that fermented Sargassum fusiforme may have the potential to be developed as an alternative strategy for alleviating colitis.

Rhopilema esculentum polysaccharides enhance epithelial cell barrier in vitro and alleviate chronic colitis in mice

The purposes of this study were to characterize polysaccharides from Rhopilema esculentum and to explore their impacts on gut barrier function and inflammation in vitro and in mice with chronic colitis triggered by long-term administration of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Two polysaccharides were isolated and purified from Rhopilema esculentum, named REP-1 and REP-2. REP-1 with a molecular weight of 8.21 kDa was composed of mannose, glucosamine, galactosamine, glucose, galactose, and arabinose with a molar ratio of 0.04:0.03:0.38:1:1.36:0.06, and REP-2 with a molecular weight of 10.11 kDa mainly consisted of mannose, glucuronic acid, galactosamine, glucose, galactose, and arabinose with a molar ratio of 0.04:0.12:0.41:1:1.2:0.06. Compared to REP-1, REP-2 displayed better ability to up-regulate the expression of genes related to tight junctions and mucus in LPS-stimulated Caco-2 cells and better immunomodulatory activities in RAW264.7 macrophages. Then mice experiments showed that REP-2 efficiently attenuated the symptoms of colitis, decreased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and restored intestinal barrier function in mice with chronic colitis. These results demonstrate that REP-2 might be a promising agent for protecting intestinal and mucus barrier and mitigating inflammation-associated intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis.

Engineering fucoxanthin-loaded probiotics' membrane vesicles for the dietary intervention of colitis

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are very attractive as carriers of active components due to their good immunological and their ability to penetrate the physiological barrier that synthetic delivery carriers cannot penetrate. However, the low secretion capacity of EVs limited its widespread adoption, let alone the lower yield of EVs loaded with active components. Here, we report a large-scale engineering preparation strategy of synthetic probiotic membrane vesicles for encapsulating fucoxanthin (FX-MVs), an intervention for colitis. Compared with the EVs naturally secreted by probiotics, the engineering membrane vesicles showed a 150-fold yield and richer protein. Moreover, FX-MVs improved the gastrointestinal stability of fucoxanthin and inhibited H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage by scavenging free radicals effectively (p < 0.05). The in vivo results showed that FX-MVs could promote the polarization of macrophages to M2 type, prevent the injury and shortening of colon tissue (p < 0.05), and improve the colonic inflammatory response. Consistently, proinflammatory cytokines were effectively suppressed after FX-MVs treatment (p < 0.05). Unexpectedly, such engineering FX-MVs could also reshape the gut microbiota communities and improve the abundance of short-chain fatty acids in the colon. This study lays a foundation for developing dietary interventions using natural foods to treat intestinal-related diseases.

Jellyfishes—Significant Marine Resources with Potential in the Wound-Healing Process: A Review

The wound-healing process is a significant area of interest in the medical field, and it is influenced by both external and patient-specific factors. The aim of this review paper is to highlight the proven wound-healing potential of the biocompounds found in jellyfish (such as polysaccharide compounds, collagen, collagen peptides and amino acids). There are aspects of the wound-healing process that can benefit from polysaccharides (JSPs) and collagen-based materials, as these materials have been shown to limit exposure to bacteria and promote tissue regeneration. A second demonstrated benefit of jellyfish-derived biocompounds is their immunostimulatory effects on growth factors such as (TNF-α), (IFN-γ) and (TGF), which are involved in wound healing. A third benefit of collagens and polysaccharides (JSP) is their antioxidant action. Aspects related to chronic wound care are specifically addressed, and within this general theme, molecular pathways related to tissue regeneration are explored in depth. Only distinct varieties of jellyfish that are specifically enriched in the biocompounds involved in these pathways and live in European marine habitats are presented. The advantages of jellyfish collagens over mammalian collagens are highlighted by the fact that jellyfish collagens are not considered transmitters of diseases (spongiform encephalopathy) or various allergic reactions. Jellyfish collagen extracts stimulate an immune response in vivo without inducing allergic complications. More studies are needed to explore more varieties of jellyfish that can be exploited for their biocomponents, which may be useful in wound healing.

Mucoadhesive Hydrogel with Anti-gastric Acid and Sustained-Release Functions for Amelioration of DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis

Mucoadhesive hydrogels with multifunctional properties such as gastric acid resistance and sustained drug release in the intestinal tract are highly desirable for the oral treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Polyphenols are proven to have great efficacies compared with the first-line drugs for IBD treatments. We recently reported that gallic acid (GA) was capable of forming a hydrogel. However, this hydrogel is prone to easy degradation and poor adhesion in vivo. To tackle this problem, the current study introduced sodium alginate (SA) to form a gallic acid/sodium alginate hybrid hydrogel (GAS). As expected, the GAS hydrogel showed excellent antiacid, mucoadhesive, and sustained degradation properties in the intestinal tract. In vitro studies demonstrated that the GAS hydrogel significantly alleviated ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice. The colonic length of the GAS group (7.75 ± 0.38 cm) was significantly longer than that of the UC group (6.12 ± 0.25 cm). The disease activity index (DAI) value of the UC group was (5.5 ± 0.57), which was markedly higher than that of the GAS group (2.5 ± 0.65). The GAS hydrogel also could inhibit the expression of inflammatory cytokines, regulating macrophage polarization and improving the intestinal mucosal barrier functions. All these results indicated that the GAS hydrogel was an ideal candidate for oral treatment of UC.

Gut microbiota mediates the anti-colitis effects of polysaccharides derived from Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye in mice

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is closely associated with the disturbance of gut microbiota. Crude polysaccharide-rich extract from Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye has been proven to alleviate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-triggered colitis. However, it remains unclear whether the polysaccharides from Rhopilema esculentum (REP) in the extract play a predominant role in ameliorating colitis and whether gut microbiota mediates the beneficial effect of REP. Herein, we aimed to investigate the anti-colitis effects of REP and its mechanisms and to explore the role of REP-modulated gut microbiota in alleviating colitis in mice. Oral REP supplementation ameliorated the symptoms, inflammatory responses, colonic damage and gut microbial dysbiosis in colitic mice. REP significantly enriched SCFA-producing bacteria such as Roseburia and probiotics such as Bifidobacterium and restored the level of SCFAs especially butyric acid and propionic acid. Next, we found that transplantation of microbiota from REP-treated mice alleviated DSS-induced acute colitis, evidenced by improved gut barrier integrity and lower inflammation compared with mice receiving microbiota from control mice. Notably, dramatically enriched Bifidobacterium, Faecalibaculum and SCFA-producing bacteria including Butyricicoccus and Roseburia were found in mice receiving microbiota from the REP-treated donor mice. Lastly, the protective effect of REP supplementation on colitis was abolished in the antibiotic-treated mice. Overall, our findings suggest that REP could alleviate DSS-induced colitis in mice by regulating the imbalance of the microbiome. The polysaccharides of Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye have the potential to be developed into promising prebiotic agents for rectifying dysbiosis of gut microbiota and preventing UC.

Harnessing polymer-derived drug delivery systems for combating inflammatory bowel disease

The inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is incurable, chronic, recrudescent disorders in the inflamed intestines. Current clinic treatments are challenged by systemic exposure-induced severe side effects, inefficiency after long-term treatment, and increased risks of infection and malignancy due to immunosuppression. Fortunately, naturally bioactive small molecules, reactive oxygen species scavengers (or antioxidants), and gut microbiota modulators have emerged as promising candidates for the IBD treatment. Polymeric systems have been engineered as a delivery vehicle to improve the bioavailability and efficacy of these therapeutic agents through targeting the mucosa and enhancing intestinal adhesion and retention, and reduce their systemic toxicity. Herein we survey polymer-derived drug delivery systems for combating the IBD. Advanced delivery technologies, therapeutic intervention strategies, and the principles for the construction of hierarchical, mucosa-targeting, and bioresponsive systems are elaborated, providing insights into design and development of from-bench-to-bedside drug delivery polymeric systems for the IBD treatment.

Orally deliverable sequence-targeted astaxanthin nanoparticles for colitis alleviation

Orally targeted strategy of anti-inflammatory agents has attracted tremendous attention for reducing highly health-care costs and enhancing the intervention efficiency of ulcerative colitis (UC). Herein, we developed a new kind of sequence-targeted astaxanthin nanoparticles for UC treatment. Astaxanthin nanoparticles were firstly designed by self-assembly method using (3-carboxypentyl) (triphenyl) phosphonium bromide (TPP)-modified whey protein isolate (WPI)-dextran (DX) conjugates. Subsequently, lipoic acid (LA) modified hyaluronic acid (HA) was coated on the surface of the nanoparticles by double emulsion evaporation method. Exhilaratingly, the constructed sequence-targeted astaxanthin nanoparticle exhibited excellent macrophages and mitochondria targeting ability, with a Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.84 adstnd 0.92, respectively. In vivo imaging elucidated an obvious accumulation of the sequence-targeted nanoparticles in colon tissues in UC mice. Meanwhile, the reduction stimulus release features of astaxanthin were observed in the presence of 10 mM of glutathione (GSH) at pH 7.4. Most importantly, in vivo experiments indicated that sequence-targeted astaxanthin nanoparticles could markedly alleviate inflammation by moderating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. What's more, the composition of gut microbiota and the production of short chain fatty acid were also improved upon the uptake of sequence-targeted astaxanthin nanoparticles. Our results suggested this novel astaxanthin nanoparticles, which showed sequence-targeted ability and reduction response feature, could be exploited as a promising strategy for effective UC treatment.

Polysaccharides from the seeds of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. attenuate DSS-induced colitis in mice via improving gut barrier homeostasis and alleviating gut microbiota dybiosis

The seeds from Gleditsia sinensis Lam., a common ecologically and economically useful tree, have high economic and nutritional value. The protective effect of polysaccharides from Gleditsia sinensis Lam. seeds (ZJMP) against dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice was investigated in this study. ZJMP alleviated weight loss, reduced the disease activity index, prevented colon shortening, alleviated colonic tissue damage, and restored goblet cell secretion in colitic mice. Dietary ZJMP reduced proinflammatory cytokine overproduction in the colonic mucosa and serum, which was accompanied by suppression of NO levels and MPO and SOD activities. The addition of ZJMP increased the expression of Muc2 and tight junction proteins. Furthermore, dietary ZJMP partially reversed the alteration of gut microbiota in colitic mice by boosting the abundance of beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, and Christensenella while lowering the abundance of harmful bacteria like Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Mucispirillum. Additionally, the decreased production of short-chain fatty acids in the colitic mice was recovered by ZJMP administration. The findings demonstrated the anti-inflammatory properties and mechanism of dietary ZJMP in the colon, which is essential for the sensible application of ZJMP in the prevention and amelioration of inflammation-related diseases as a nutritional supplement.

Jellyfish Polysaccharides for Wound Healing Applications

Jellyfishes are considered a new potential resource in food, pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. In these latter cases, they are studied as source of active principles but are also exploited to produce marine collagen. In the present work, jellyfish skin polysaccharides (JSP) with glycosaminoglycan (GAG) features were extracted from Rhizostoma pulmo, a main blooming species of Mediterranean Sea, massively augmented by climate leaded “jellyfishication” of the sea. Two main fractions of R. pulmo JSP (RP-JSPs) were isolated and characterized, namely a neutral fraction (RP-JSP1) and a sulphate rich, negatively charged fraction (RP-JSP2). The two fractions have average molecular weights of 121 kDa and 590 kDa, respectively. Their sugar composition was evaluated through LC-MS analysis and the result confirmed the presence of typical GAG saccharides, such as glucose, galactose, glucosamine and galactosamine. Their use as promoters of wound healing was evaluated through in vitro scratch assay on murine fibroblast cell line (BALB/3T3 clone A31) and human keratinocytes (HaCaT). Both RP-JSPs demonstrated an effective confluency rate activity leading to 80% of scratch repair in two days, promoting both cell migration and proliferation. Additionally, RP-JSPs exerted a substantial protection from oxidative stress, resulting in improved viability of treated fibroblasts exposed to H₂O₂. The isolated GAG-like polysaccharides appear promising as functional component for biomedical skin treatments, as well as for future exploitation as pharmaceutical excipients.

Mo3Se4 nanoparticle with ROS scavenging and multi-enzyme activity for the treatment of DSS-induced colitis in mice

Ulcerative colitis (UC), as a most common inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), has become a global public health concern. Exploring novel method of treating UC is urgent and necessary. Recently, nanozyme with excellent antioxidant properties may be one useful therapeutic strategy. In this study, a two-dimensional transition metal chalcogenide (TMCs) nano flake and polyethylene glycol (PEG) modified Mo₃Se₄ nano flakes (PMNFs) was synthesized, which had multi-enzyme activity, including peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). The inhibition effect of PMNFs on sodium dextran sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis was explored. UC was effectively inhibited by PMNFs in this work. PMNFs significantly reduced disease activity index (DAI) score, including weight loss, colon shorten and histopathological abnormalities. The possible mechanism of PMNFs-attenuated colitis was investigated. The results showed that PMNFs reversed DSS-induced oxidative damage, and the antioxidant pathway Nrf2-keap1 signal was activated by PMNFs. Moreover, PMNFs suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory factors including IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-β and IL-6 via the inactivation of TLR4/NF-κB pathway in DSS-induced colitis and LPS-treated macrophage. Furthermore, PMNFs treatment prevented the reduction of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1) and mucin-2 (MUC-2) as well as the up-regulation of epithelial apoptosis caused by DSS. These findings demonstrate that the PMNFs against DSS-induced colitis due to its prevention on oxidative damage, inflammation, and intestine barrier breakdown. Thus, PMNFs have a potential application in the treatment of various oxidative stress or inflammation-related diseases.

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Mo₃Se₄ nano flakes (PMNFs) can effective scavenge ROS in vivo and in vitro.

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PMNFs have multi-enzyme activity, including the peroxidase, GPx, SOD, and CAT.

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PMNFs can prevent symptoms of colitis induced by DSS in mice.

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PMNFs against DSS-induced colitis through prevention on oxidative damage, inflammation, and intestine barrier breakdown.

Intervention and potential mechanism of non-starch polysaccharides from natural resources on ulcerative colitis: A review

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown etiology that affects the colon and rectum. It has evolved into a global burden due to the high incidence in developed countries and the highly-increased incidence in developing countries. Non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) from natural resources, as a type of functional carbohydrates, have a significant therapeutic effect on UC because of their good anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. Based on the etiology and pathogenesis of UC, this review summarizes the intervention effects and mechanisms of NSPs in the prevention and treatment of UC. The results showed that NSPs can improve UC by protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier, regulating the immune response of the intestinal mucosa, and remodeling the intestinal flora and metabolites. These contents provide theoretical basis for the application of polysaccharides in the prevention and treatment of UC.

Prevention of Ulcerative Colitis in Mice by Sweet Tea (Lithocarpus litseifolius) via the Regulation of Gut Microbiota and Butyric-Acid-Mediated Anti-Inflammatory Signaling

Sweet tea (Lithocarpus litseifolius [Hance] Chun) is a new resource for food raw materials, with plenty of health functions. This study aimed to investigate the preventive effect and potential mechanism of sweet tea extract (STE) against ulcerative colitis (UC). Briefly, BABL/c mice were treated with STE (100 and 400 mg/kg) for 2 weeks to prevent 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC. It was found that STE supplementation significantly prevented DSS-induced UC symptoms; suppressed the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as myeloperoxidase and tumor necrosis factor-α; increased the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines; and up-regulated the expression of tight junction proteins (Zonula occludens-1 and Occludin). STE also altered the gut microbiota profile of UC mice by increasing Bacteroidetes, Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, and Alistipes and inhibiting Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Helicobacter, accompanied by a significant increase in the content of butyric acid. Moreover, STE increased the expression of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 43 and GPR109A and inhibited the expression of histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) and nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) in the colon. In conclusion, this study indicated that STE has a good preventive effect on UC by regulating gut microbiota to activate butyrate-GPR-mediated anti-inflammatory signaling and simultaneously inhibit HDAC3/NF-κB inflammatory signaling.

The underlying mechanism of A-type procyanidins from peanut skin on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis mice by regulating gut microbiota and metabolism

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a kind of inflammatory bowel disease. Procyanidins have been found to prevent UC. However, most research has been focused on the alleviation effect of B-type procyanidins on UC and ignored those of A-type procyanidins. Hence, this study aims to investigate the anti-UC effect and the potential mechanism of A-type procyanidins by combining gut microbiome and metabolic profile. UC was induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in Balb/c mice, and then the mice were administrated with peanut skin procyanidins (PSP; rich in A-type procyanidins) for 9 days. Administration of PSP can ameliorate DSS-induced UC by mediating the intestinal barrier, the expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-β, IL-6, and IL-10) and oxidative stress (MDA, T-SOD, NO, and iNOS) in mice. We observed that PSP affects the gut microbiota and colon metabolomic patterns of mice. The 16S rDNA sequencing showed increase in abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Oscillibacter and Roseburia and decrease of Bacteroides, Helicobacter, Parabacteroides, Escherichia-Shigella, and Enterobacter after PSP treatment. The colon tissue metabolome was significantly altered, as reflected by regulating taste transduction, mTOR signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and FoxO signaling pathway to improve the protection against UC. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: We investigated the anti-ulcerative colitis (UC) effect and its potential mechanism of peanut skin procyanidins (PSP). This suggests that PSP with abundant A-type procyanidins may be an effective candidate for dietary supplementation to alleviate the symptoms of UC by regulating gut microbiota and metabolism.

Current advances in the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of natural polysaccharides

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, multifactorial and inflammatory disease occurring in the colon tract. Bioactive polysaccharides from natural resources have attracted extensive attention due to their safety, accessibility and good bioactivities. In recent years, a variety of natural bioactive polysaccharides have been proven to possess anti-inflammatory effects on treating acute colitis. The objective of this review was to give an up-to-date review on the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of natural polysaccharides on acute colitis. The anti-inflammatory effects of natural polysaccharides on acute colitis concerning clinical symptoms amelioration, colon tissue repairment, anti-oxidative stress alleviation, anti-inflammation, immune regulation, and gut microbiota modulation were comprehensively summarized. In addition, inducible murine models for assessing the anti-inflammatory effects of natural polysaccharides on acute colitis were also concluded. This review will offer the comprehensive understanding of anti-inflammatory mechanisms of natural polysaccharides in acute colitis, and render theoretical basis for the development and application of natural polysaccharides in drug and functional food.