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Motrescu I, Lungoci C, Calistru AE, Luchian CE, Gocan TM, Rimbu CM, Bulgariu E, Ciolan MA, Jitareanu G. Non-Thermal Plasma (NTP) Treatment of Alfalfa Seeds in Different Voltage Conditions Leads to Both Positive and Inhibitory Outcomes Related to Sprout Growth and Nutraceutical Properties. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1140. [PMID: 38674549 PMCID: PMC11054222 DOI: 10.3390/plants13081140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Non-thermal plasma (NTP) has proven to be a green method in the agricultural field for the stimulation of germination, growth, and production of nutraceutical compounds in some cases. However, the process is far from being fully understood and depends on the targeted plant species and the NTP used. In this work, we focus on the production of alfalfa sprouts from NTP-treated seeds under different voltage conditions. A flexible electrode configuration was used to produce the NTP, which can also be placed on packages for in-package treatments. The surface of the seeds was analyzed, indicating that the microstructure was strongly affected by NTP treatment. Biometric measurements evidenced the possibility of stimulating the sprout growth in some conditions by up to 50% compared to the sprouts obtained from untreated seeds. Biochemical traits for the sprouts obtained in different processing conditions were also studied, such as the concentrations of chlorophyll pigments, flavonoids and polyphenols, and antioxidant activity. Most NTP treatments led to inhibitory effects, proving the strong dependence between NTP treatment and targeted plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iuliana Motrescu
- Department of Exact Sciences, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, Romania; (C.E.L.); (E.B.)
- Research Institute for Agriculture and Environment, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, Romania; (A.E.C.); (G.J.)
| | - Constantin Lungoci
- Department of Plant Sciences, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Anca Elena Calistru
- Research Institute for Agriculture and Environment, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, Romania; (A.E.C.); (G.J.)
- Department of Pedotechnics, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, Romania
| | - Camelia Elena Luchian
- Department of Exact Sciences, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, Romania; (C.E.L.); (E.B.)
| | - Tincuta Marta Gocan
- Faculty of Horticulture and Business in Rural Development, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Cristina Mihaela Rimbu
- Department of Public Health, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Emilian Bulgariu
- Department of Exact Sciences, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, Romania; (C.E.L.); (E.B.)
| | - Mihai Alexandru Ciolan
- Research Center on Advanced Materials and Technologies, Department of Exact and Natural Science, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Gerard Jitareanu
- Research Institute for Agriculture and Environment, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, Romania; (A.E.C.); (G.J.)
- Department of Pedotechnics, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 700490 Iasi, Romania
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Li Z, Sang R, Feng G, Feng Y, Zhang R, Yan X. Microbiological and metabolic pathways analysing the mechanisms of alfalfa polysaccharide and sulfated alfalfa polysaccharide in alleviating obesity. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 263:130334. [PMID: 38387635 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Alfalfa polysaccharide (AP) and sulfated alfalfa polysaccharide (SAP) exhibit potential for alleviating obesity. This study aimed to analyze the mechanism of action of AP and SAP in alleviating obesity through combined microbiomics and metabolomics. The research selected validated optimal AP and SAP concentration for experiment. The results showed that AP and SAP down-regulated colonic inflammatory gene expression, regulated intestinal pH to normal, and restored intestinal growth. Microbial sequencing showed that AP and SAP altered the microbial composition ratio. AP increased the relative abundance of Muribaculaceae and Romboutsia. SAP increased the relative abundance of Dubosiella, Fecalibaculum and Desulfovibrionaceae. Metabolomic analysis showed that AP regulated steroid hormone biosynthesis, neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions and bile secretion pathways. SAP focuses more on pathways related to amino acid metabolism. Meanwhile, AP and SAP down-regulated the mRNA expression of colonic COX-2, PepT-1 and HK2 and up-regulated the mRNA expression of TPH1. Correlation analysis showed a strong correlation between metabolites and gut bacteria. Dubosiella, Faecalibaculum may be the critical marker flora for polysaccharides to alleviate obesity. This study indicates that AP and SAP alleviate obesity through different pathways and that specific polysaccharide modifications affect characteristic microbial and metabolic pathways, providing new insights into polysaccharide modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, China
| | - Ruxue Sang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, China
| | - Guilan Feng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, China
| | - Yuxi Feng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, China
| | - Ran Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, China
| | - Xuebing Yan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, China.
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Yu S, Wang H, Cui L, Wang J, Zhang Z, Wu Z, Lin X, He N, Zou Y, Li S. Pectic oligosaccharides ameliorate high-fat diet-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis in association with modulating gut microbiota in mice. Food Funct 2023; 14:9892-9906. [PMID: 37853813 DOI: 10.1039/d3fo02168h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has shown that gut microbiota and its metabolites have important significance in the etiology of obesity and related disorders. Prebiotics prevent and alleviate obesity by modulating the gut microbiota. However, how pectin oligosaccharides (POS) derived from pectin degradation affect gut microbiota and obesity remains unclear. To investigate the potential anti-obesity effects of POS, mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks and a POS supplement with drinking water during the last 8 weeks. The outcomes demonstrated that POS supplementation in HFD-fed mice decreased body weight (P < 0.01), improved glucose tolerance (P < 0.001), reduced fat accumulation (P < 0.0001) and hepatic steatosis, protected intestinal barrier, and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. After fecal metagenomic sequencing, the POS corrected the gut microbiota dysbiosis caused by the HFD, as shown by the increased populations of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus taiwanensis, and Bifidobacterium animalis, and decreased populations of Alistipes and Erysipelatoclostridium, which were previously considered harmful bacteria. Notably, the changed gut microbiota was associated with the obesity prevention of POS. These findings demonstrate that POS regulates particular gut microbiota, which is essential owing to its ability to prevent disorders associated with obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengnan Yu
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Haoyu Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
- Qingdao-Europe Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao 266555, China
| | - Luwen Cui
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Jingyi Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Zixuan Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Zhinan Wu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | | | - Ningning He
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Yuanqiang Zou
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
- Qingdao-Europe Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao 266555, China
- Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory of Detection and Intervention of Human Intestinal Microbiome, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Shangyong Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
- Department of Abdominal Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
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