Granularity and Laxative Effect of Ultrafine Powder of Dendrobium officinale

Constituent analysis, laxative activity, and toxicological evaluation of methanol extract of noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia L., Rubiaceae)

Noni fruits have gained considerable popularity as dietary supplements. However, the major constituents, the laxative activity, and the toxicity of Noni fruit remains still unknown. The purpose of the present study was, therefore, to analyze the constituents of methanol extract of Noni fruit by UPLC-MS, and further evaluate laxative activity and safety aspects of this Noni fruit-derived products in mice. UPLC-MS analysis identified eleven major constituents from this Noni fruit extract. Administration of this extract obviously shortened the time of first fecal excrement, significantly increased the total number and the weight of stools, and remarkably restored the intestinal transit to normal level in the constipated mice, with low toxicity to liver and kidney, and meanwhile, the abundance, composition, and function of gut microbiota remained homeostasis. These results revealed the laxative activity of the methanol extract of Noni fruit with low toxicity and no influence on gut microbiota.

Dendrocandin U from Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo Inhibits M1 Polarization in Alveolar Macrophage by Suppressing NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo is a valuable and homologous medicine and food traditional Chinese medicine. Currently there are few studies on the anti-inflammatory activity of lipophilic components. The aim of this study was to explore the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of the lipophilic compounds in Dendrobium officinale. Six compounds were isolated and identified, including three bibenzyl compounds, dendrocandin U, dendronbibisline B, erianin, and three lignans, (-)-syringaresinol, (+)-syringaresinol-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, 5-methoxy-(+)-isolariciresinol. Among them, dendronbibisline B and 5-methoxy-(+)-isolariciresinol were isolated from Dendrobium officinale for the first time. Besides, we found dendrocandin U, dendronbibisline B and (-)-syringaresinol exhibited the anti-inflammation to inhibit nitric oxide secretion induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon (IFN-γ) in MH-S cells. Furthermore, dendrocandin U could inhibit the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Cluster of Differentiation 86 (CD86), and reduce inflammatory morphological changes of macrophages. Meanwhile, we confirmed that the anti-inflammation mechanism of dendrocandin U was to inhibit M1 polarization by suppressing toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/recombinant myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. In this paper, dendrocandin U with significant anti-inflammatory activity was found from Dendrobium officinale, which could provide a basis for the study of its anti-inflammatory drugs.

Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide-based carrier to enhance photodynamic immunotherapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) eradicates tumors via the generation of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) by activation of a photosensitizer (PS) with appropriate light. Local PDT toward tumors can trigger the immune response to inhibit distant tumors, but the immune response is usually insufficient. Herein, we used a biocompatible herb polysaccharide with immunomodulatory activity as the carrier of PS to enhance the immune inhibition of tumors after PDT. The Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) is modified with hydrophobic cholesterol to serve as an amphiphilic carrier. The DOP itself can promote dendritic cell (DC) maturation. Meanwhile, TPA-3BCP are designed to be cationic aggregation-induced emission PS. The structure of one electron-donor linking to three electron-acceptors endows TPA-3BCP with high efficiency to produce ROS upon light irradiation. And the nanoparticles are designed with positively charged surfaces to capture antigens released after PDT, which can protect the antigens from degradation and improve the antigen-uptake efficiency by DCs. The combination of DOP-induced DC maturation and antigen capture-increased antigen-uptake efficiency by DCs significantly improves the immune response after DOP-based carrier-mediated PDT. Since DOP is extracted from the medicinal and edible Dendrobium officinale, the DOP-based carrier we designed is promising to be developed for enhanced photodynamic immunotherapy in clinic.

Effects of the Addition of Dendrobium officinale on Beer Yeast Fermentation

Dendrobium officinale is a precious Chinese medicinal plant that is rich in polysaccharides, flavonoids, polyphenols, and other bioactive ingredients, and has a variety of biological activities. To explore the effects of D. officinale on the growth and metabolism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, different concentrations (0, 10, 30, 50, and 100 g/L) of fresh D. officinale were added to the wort during the fermentation. The amount of yeast, alcohol content, reducing sugars, total acidity, pH, CO2 loss, and foam height were analyzed. Meanwhile, the glucose uptake, cell viability, key enzyme activity of yeast, total phenolics, antioxidant activity, volatile compounds, and consumer acceptance of brewed samples were also analyzed. The results showed that the growth and metabolism of yeast could be promoted by a suitable dosage of D. officinale but were inhibited at high dosage (100 g/L). The addition of D. officinale increased the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase, while the highest concentration of D. officinale (100 g/L) decreased the glucose uptake and cell activity of the yeast. The contents of total phenolics and esters, along with the scavenging activity against ABTS radicals, were increased, indicating that the antioxidant activity and aromatic characteristics of beer would be improved by the addition of D. officinale.

Bioactivities and Mechanism of Actions of Dendrobium officinale: A Comprehensive Review

Dendrobium officinale has a long history of being consumed as a functional food and medicinal herb for preventing and managing diseases. The phytochemical studies revealed that Dendrobium officinale contained abundant bioactive compounds, such as bibenzyls, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The experimental studies showed that Dendrobium officinale and its bioactive compounds exerted multiple biological properties like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-regulatory activities and showed various health benefits like anticancer, antidiabetes, cardiovascular protective, gastrointestinal modulatory, hepatoprotective, lung protective, and neuroprotective effects. In this review, we summarize the phytochemical studies, bioactivities, and the mechanism of actions of Dendrobium officinale, and the safety and current challenges are also discussed, which might provide new perspectives for its development of drug and functional food as well as clinical applications.

Anti-colon Cancer Effects of Dendrobium officinale Kimura & Migo Revealed by Network Pharmacology Integrated With Molecular Docking and Metabolomics Studies

Objective

The present study aimed to investigate the potential mechanism of Dendrobium officinale (D. officinale) on colorectal cancer and the relevant targets in the pathway using a network pharmacological approach.

Methods

(1) We identified the major bioactive components of D. officinale by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS and established the in-house library by using the literature mining method. (2) Target prediction was performed by SwissADME and SwissTargetPrediction. (3) A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and component–target–pathway network (C-T-P network) were constructed. (4) The GO pathways and the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were carried out by the Metascape database. (5) Molecular docking was performed by AutoDock software. (6) A series of experimental assays including cell proliferation, cell invasion and migration, and TUNEL staining in CRC were performed in CRC cell lines (HT-29, Lovo, SW-620, and HCT-116) to confirm the inhibitory effects of D. officinale.

Results

(1) In total, 396 candidate active components of D. officinale were identified by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS and selected from the database. (2) From OMIM, GeneCards, DrugBank, and TTD databases, 1,666 gene symbols related to CRC were gathered, and (3) 34 overlapping gene symbols related to CRC and drugs were obtained. (4) These results suggested that the anti-CRC components of D. officinale were mainly apigenin, naringenin, caffeic acid, γ-linolenic acid, α-linolenic acid, cis-10-heptadecenoic acid, etc., and the core targets of action were mainly ESR1, EGFR, PTGS2, MMP9, MMP2, PPARG, etc. (5) The proliferation of muscle cells, the regulation of inflammatory response, the response of cells to organic cyclic compounds, and the apoptotic signaling pathway might serve as principal pathways for CRC treatment. (6) The reliability of some important active components and targets was further validated by molecular docking. The molecular docking analysis suggested an important role of apigenin, naringenin, PTGS2, and MMP9 in delivering the pharmacological activity of D. officinale against CRC. (7) These results of the evaluation experiment in vitro suggested that D. officinale had a strong inhibitory effect on CRC cell lines, and it exerted anti-CRC activity by activating CRC cell apoptosis and inhibiting CRC cell migration and invasion.

Conclusion

This study may provide valuable insights into exploring the mechanism of action of D. officinale against CRC.

Beneficial effects of Dendrobium officinale on metabolic hypertensive rats by triggering the enteric-origin SCFA-GPCR43/41 pathway

Given the increasing global trend toward unhealthy lifestyles and dietary decisions, such as "over-consumption of alcohol, and high sugar and fat diets" (ACHSFDs), it is not surprising that metabolic hypertension (MH) is now the most common type of hypertension. There is an urgent, global need for effective measures for the prevention and treatment of MH. Improper diet leads to decreased short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in the gut, leading to decreased gastrointestinal function, metabolism, and blood pressure as a result of signaling through G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), ultimately causing MH. Previous studies have suggested that Dendrobium officinale (DO) may improve gastrointestinal function, lower blood pressure, and regulate metabolic abnormalities, but it is not clear whether it acts on MH by increasing SCFA and, if so, how. In this research, it was observed that Dendrobium officinale ultrafine powder (DOFP) could lower blood pressure and improve lipid abnormalities in ACHSFD-induced MH model rats. Moreover, DOFP was found to improve the intestinal flora and increased the SCFA level in feces and serum, as well as increased the expressions of GPCR43/41 and eNOS and the nitric oxide (NO) level. An experiment on isolated aorta rings revealed that DOFP improved the vascular endothelial relaxation function in MH rats, and this effect could be blocked by the eNOS inhibitor l-NAME. These experimental results suggest that DOFP improved the intestinal flora and increased the production, transportation, and utilization of SCFA, activated the intestinal-vascular axis SCFA-GPCR43/41 pathway, improved vascular endothelial function, and finally lowered blood pressure in MH model rats. This research provides a new focus for the mechanism of the effect of DOFP against MH by triggering the enteric-origin SCFA-GPCR43/41 pathway.

Dendrobium officinale Regulates Fatty Acid Metabolism to Ameliorate Liver Lipid Accumulation in NAFLD Mice

Dendrobium officinale (DOF) is a traditional Chinese edible and officinal plant. Ultrafine DOF powder (DOFP) can regulate lipids and histopathology in the liver, but the underlying mechanisms of hepatic fatty acid (FA) metabolism, which is generally correlated with the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), remain unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether DOFP treatment alters hepatic FA metabolism in NAFLD mice by using multidimensional mass spectrometry-based shotgun lipidomics (MDMS-SL) and analyse the underlying mechanisms. A 3-week DOFP treatment prevented lipid deposition and improved hepatic histopathology in NAFLD mice after withdrawal from the high-sucrose, high-fat (HSHF) diet, and it decreased triglyceride and FA content in the liver. Furthermore, the C16 : 0/C14 : 0 and C18 : 1/18 : 0 ratios in FAs were significantly decreased in the DOFP treatment group, and the C20 : 4/C20 : 3 and C22 : 4/C22 : 3 ratios were increased, and saturated FA was inhibited. Additionally, DOFP treatment significantly increased the content of two FA β-oxidation-related proteins (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1-α and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1). It also decreased the content of a FA synthesis-related protein (fatty acid synthase), a FA desaturation-related protein (stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1), and a FA uptake-related protein (fatty acid transport protein 2). Moreover, DOFP treatment improved dysregulated levels of major phospholipids in the livers of model mice. The results of this study confirm that DOFP treatment in NAFLD mice has liver recovery effects by regulating FA metabolism.

Overexpression of DoUGP Enhanced Biomass and Stress Tolerance by Promoting Polysaccharide Accumulation in Dendrobium officinale

Uridine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, UGPase), as one of the key enzymes in polysaccharide synthesis, plays important roles in the growth and development of plants. In this study, the DoUGP gene of Dendrobium officinale was overexpressed. The expression of DoUGP and genes playing roles in the same and other saccharide synthesis pathways was determined, and the total soluble polysaccharide was also tested in wild-type and transgenic seedlings. We also performed freezing and osmotic stress treatments to determine whether overexpression of DoUGP could influence stress resistance in transgenic seedlings. Results showed that mRNA expression levels of DoUGP and its metabolic upstream and downstream genes in the transgenic seedlings were increased compared to the expression of these genes in wild-type seedlings. Additionally, most CSLA genes involved in the biosynthesis of mannan polysaccharides were significantly upregulated. The total polysaccharide and mannose content of transgenic seedlings were increased compared to the content of wild type, and enhanced stress tolerance was found in the overexpressed seedlings compared to the wild type.

Evaluation of antifatigue and antioxidant activities of the marine microalgae Isochrysis galbana in mice

The present work aimed to estimate the possible anti-fatigue effect and potential mechanism of Isochrysis galbana (IG) in mice. The anti-fatigue activity of IG (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) was elucidated by a weight-loaded forced swimming test, and the potential mechanism was explored by determination of fatigue-related biochemical parameters. The results showed that pretreatment with IG significantly extended the exhaustive swimming time and increased the levels of liver glycogen, muscle glycogen and blood glucose in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, the increased levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood lactic acid, lactic dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and blood urea nitrogen by exhausted swimming, were dramatically attenuated by pretreatment with IG. Furthermore, supplementation with IG significantly enhanced the glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels, while attenuated the level of malonaldehyde. Taken together, IG possessed appreciable efficacy to alleviate fatigue, and the mechanism might be associated with favorably modulating the process of energy consumption, metabolism, and attenuating oxidative stress injury.

Physicochemical properties and laxative effects of polysaccharides from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. in loperamide-induced rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

As a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. possesses the effects of nourishing yin, moistening dryness, clearing lungs and relieving fire. Simultaneously, it has been used to treat constipation for more than one thousand years in China. However, modern medical studies are limited and lacking on its therapeutic mechanism.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This current study was aimed to investigate the laxative activities and explore the potential mechanism of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. polysaccharides (AABP) in loperamide-induced constipation rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The structure of AABP was determined by using infrared spectrum, high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), multitudinous methods were adopted to explore the underlining therapeutic mechanism of AABP in treating constipation, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), histopathological, immunohistochemistry and western blotting.

RESULTS

In the present study, the average molecular weight of AABP was determined as 1.11 × 10³ kDa. The primary monosaccharide compositions were analyzed including D-mannose, L-rhamnose, D-galacturonic acid, D-glucose, D-galactose and L-arabinose (1, 0.04, 0.53, 0.11, 0.33, 0.25, respectively) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). AABP significantly increased the levels of gastrin (Gas), motilin (MTL), substance P (SP), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and decreased the NO content of loperamide-induced rats to ameliorate constipation in the rats. Whilst, AABP repaired the damaged colons by regulating PCNA and ICAM-1 protein expressions. Additionally, AABP up-regulated the levels of SCF, c-Kit, AQP3 and VIP as well as down-regulated the expressions of AQP8, AQP4 and PGE2.

CONCLUSION

The present findings suggested that AABP were the laxative active ingredients isolated from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge., which could treat constipation through regulating the gastrointestinal hormones and neurotransmitters to improve the intestinal motility and water metabolism.

Roles of Chinese Medicine and Gut Microbiota in Chronic Constipation

Chronic constipation is a common gastrointestinal dysfunction, but its aetiology and pathogenesis are still unclear. Interestingly, the compositions of the gut microbiota in constipation patients and healthy controls are different. Various studies reported the different gut microbiota alterations in constipation patients, but most studies indicated that constipation patients showed the decreased beneficial bacteria and the reduced species richness of gut bacteria. Besides, the alterations in the gut microbiota may lead to constipation and constipation-related symptoms and the regulation of gut microbiota has a positive effect on gut functional diseases such as constipation. Microbial treatment methods, such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, can be used to regulate gut microbiota. Increasing evidences have suggested that Chinese medicine (CM) has a good therapeutic effect on chronic constipation. Chinese medicine is well known for its multitarget and multimode effects on diseases as well as less side effects. In previous studies, after the treatment of constipation with CM, the gut microbiota was restored, indicating that the gut microbiota might be the target or important way for CM to exert its efficacy. In this review, we summarized the effects of microbial treatment and CM on the gut microbiota of constipation patients and discussed the relationship between CM and gut microbiota.

Regulation of gastrointestinal hormones during laxative activity of gallotannin-enriched extract isolated from Galla Rhois in loperamide-induced constipation of SD rats

Regulation of gastrointestinal hormones have been reported in animal models for constipation undergoing laxative therapy when administered herbal products. We undertook to investigate whether the laxative activity of gallotannin-enriched extracts isolated from Galla Rhois (GEGR) affects the regulation of gastrointestinal hormones, by examining the concentration of four hormones and the activation of their receptors in the loperamide (Lop)-induced constipation model. Stool parameters, including number, weight and water content, were significantly recovered in the Lop+GEGR treated group, relative to the Lop+vehicle treated group; however, food intake and water consumption were maintained at a constant level. Also, a similar recovery was detected for thickness of mucosa, muscle and flat luminal surface in the Lop+GEGR treated group. Furthermore, concentration of the four gastrointestinal hormones evaluated, namely, cholecystokinin (CCK), gastrin (GAS), somatostatin (SS) and motilin (MTL), were lower in the Lop+vehicle treated group than the No treated group, but were remarkably enhanced in the Lop+GEGR treated group. Moreover, the downstream signaling pathway of MTL and SS receptors were recovered after GEGR administration. Results of the present study therefore indicate that the laxative effects of GEGR treatment may be tightly related with the regulation of gastrointestinal hormones in the Lop-induced constipation model.

Polyphenol-rich Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Ameliorate Functional Constipation Symptoms in Humans beyond Equivalent Amount of Fiber

SCOPE

Chronic constipation is a common gastrointestinal condition associated with intestinal inflammation and considerably impaired quality of life, affecting about 20% of Americans. Dietary fiber and laxatives aid in its treatment but do not fully address all symptoms, such as intestinal inflammation. Mango (Mangifera indica L.), a fiber- and polyphenol-rich fruit may provide anti-inflammatory effects in constipation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The 4 week consumption of mango fruit (300 g) or the equivalent amount of fiber is investigated in otherwise healthy human volunteers with chronic constipation who are randomly assigned to either group. Blood and fecal samples and digestive wellness questionnaires are collected at the beginning and end of the study. Results show that mango consumption significantly improve constipation status (stool frequency, consistency, and shape) and increase gastrin levels and fecal concentrations of short chain fatty acid (valeric acid) while lowering endotoxin and interleukin 6 concentrations in plasma.

CONCLUSION

In this pilot study, the consumption of mango improves symptoms and associated biomarkers of constipation beyond an equivalent amount of fiber. Larger follow-up studies would need to investigate biomarkers for intestinal inflammation in more detail.

Therapeutic roles of polysaccharides from Dendrobium Officinaleon colitis and its underlying mechanisms

Polysaccharide, as a promising candidate to meet the medication requirement of ulcerative colitis (UC), is increasingly attracting extensive interest. Dendrobium officinale has been widely used to treat gastrointestinal sickness in the clinical treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine. However, it remains largely unknown whether polysaccharides (DOPS) from Dendrobium officinale can treat UC. The purpose of this paper is to confirm therapeutic action of DOPS to UC and explored its underlying mechanisms. We noted that DOPS could dramatically improve clinical signs and symptoms, decrease mortality, alleviate colonic pathological damage, and reestablish the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in DSS-induced acute UC mice. Moreover, DOPS treatment could also markedly suppress the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and β-arrestin1 in vivo and in vitro. This study showed that DOPS possesses appreciable therapeutic effect to treat experimental acute UC mice. Its mechanism could be related to inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome and β-arrestin1 signaling pathways.