Comparisons of prebiotic activity of polysaccharides from shoot residues of bamboo (Chimonobambusa quadrangularis) via different ethanol concentrations

Paotianxiong polysaccharides potential prebiotics: Structural analysis and prebiotic properties

Paotianxiong (PTX) is a processing product of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx., often used as a tonic food daily. However, the structure and activity of the polysaccharide component that plays a major role still need to be determined. In our work, two new polysaccharides were purified from PTX and named PTXP-1 and PTXP-2. Structural analysis showed that PTXP-1 is a glucan with a molecular weight of 915 Da and a structure of 4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → as the main chain. PTXP-2 is a glucose arabinoglycan with 4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → as the main chain, containing 8 glycosidic bonds attached, and a molecular weight of 57.9KDa. In vitro probiotic experiments demonstrated that PTXP-1 could significantly promote probiotic growth and acid production. In vivo experiments demonstrated that both PTXP-1 and PTXP-2 exhibited significant effectiveness in promoting the growth of intestinal probiotics. These findings help expand the application of polysaccharide components extracted from tonic herbs as functional food ingredients.

Extraction, purification, structural characteristic, health benefit, and product application of the polysaccharides from bamboo shoot: A review

Bamboo shoot is a kind of widely distributed natural green vegetable, which has a long history of consumption and cultivation, and has edible, nutritional and economic value. Bamboo shoot is nutrient-rich food with carbohydrates, fats, proteins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, alkaloids and other chemical components, can meet the body's needs. Notably, bamboo shoot polysaccharides are the most attractive saccharides, most of which are water-soluble polysaccharides, and their various biological activities have been paid more attention by researchers. With the deepening of research on bamboo shoot polysaccharides, they have been found to have anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-complement activities, immunomodulatory, etc. Further research on bamboo shoot polysaccharides, their sources, molecular weights, chemical structures, monosaccharide compositions and structural characteristics are constantly explored. In order to better research and development of bamboo shoot polysaccharides, it is necessary to carry on a comprehensive arrangement. Here, the extraction and purification methods, structural characteristics, health benefits, structure-activity relationships and product applications of bamboo shoot polysaccharides were systematically reviewed. This article will deepen the understanding of bamboo shoot polysaccharides, provide knowledge base for further research on bamboo shoot polysaccharides, and expand the vision for developing related products.

Isolation of a New Polysaccharide from Dandelion Leaves and Evaluation of Its Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Anticancer Activities

Dandelion, in China, has a long history as a medicinal and edible plant, and possesses high nutritional and medical value. The present study aimed to isolate a new polysaccharide (DLP-3) from dandelion leaves and to evaluate its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activities. The structure of DLP-3 was analyzed using HPLC, FT-IR, SEM, GC-MS, and NMR spectroscopy. DLP-3 mainly consisted of Man, Rha, GlcA, Glc, Gal, and Ara with molar ratios of 2.32, 0.87, 1.21, 3.84, 1.00, and 1.05, respectively, with a molecular weight of 43.2 kDa. The main linkages of DLP-3 contained (1→4)-α-d-Glc, (1→4,6)-α-d-Glc, (1→6)-α-d-Gal, (1→2)-α-d-Man, (1→4)-α-d-Man, β-l-Ara-(1→, and α-l-Rha-(1→. DLP-3 exhibited a smooth surface, purely flake-like structure, and a triple helix conformation. Moreover, DLP-3 presented obvious antioxidant and antibacterial activities in a concentration-dependent manner. DLP-3 showed significant anticancer activities by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the application of DLP-3 as a natural functional active substance in functional foods.

Effects of different enzyme extraction methods on the properties and prebiotic activity of soybean hull polysaccharides

In this study, five different processes, including hot water (HW-ASP), single enzyme (cellulase, pectinase and papain; C-ASP, PE-ASP, and P-ASP), and compound-enzyme (cellulose: pectinase: papain = 3:3:1; CE-ASP) for the extraction of soybean hull polysaccharides (ASPs) were employed, and the characterization and prebiotics activity of five polysaccharides were analyzed. These polysaccharides possessed different primary structural characteristics, including molecular weight distribution, monosaccharide composition, chemical composition, surface morphology, potential particle size, etc., while similar functional groups. In vitro digestibility assay indicated that C-ASP had strong resistance to gastric juice hydrolysis and α-amylase as compared with HW-ASP. Furthermore, C-ASP elevated the acidifying activity and promoted the growth of probiotics (Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus acidophilus) during the fermentation (p < 0.05). C-ASP improved the levels of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and had better prebiotic activity than HW-ASP (p < 0.05). These findings denote that enzyme-assisted polysaccharides extracted from soybean hulls have the potential to be served as novel probiotics.

Immunomodulatory Effect of Sasa quelpaertensis Leaves Fermentation Products in Mice

The purpose of this study was to enhance the immune-enhancing activity of mushroom strains through fermentation to promote food use of leaf extracts of S. quelpaertensis containing β-glucan. We evaluated the immunomodulatory effect of extracts from fermented S. quelpaertensis leaves (SQGL, SQHE, SQPL). S. quelpaertensis leaves fermentation products were prepared by using mushroom mycelia (Ganoderma lucidum, Hericium erinaceum, Phellinus linteus). The content of β-glucan, a major substance in S. quelpaertensis leaves fermentation products, was 3.73 ± 0.50 mg/mL in the extract (SQ) of S. quelpaertensis leaves. The fermented mushrooms, SQGL, were the highest at 5.57 ± 0.86 mg/100 mL, followed by SQHE and SQPL, and the β-glucan content of all of the glucan was >75.3%. To test the immune activity, S. quelpaertensis leaf fermentation products were administered to mice at different doses (60, 160, and 360 mg/kg) for two weeks. Th cell and macrophage populations were found to increase significantly at all three doses compared to the negative control after two weeks. SQGL and SQHE were highest at 160 mg/kg, and SQPL showed the highest Th cell proliferation at 60 mg/kg. In addition, the production of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, and nitric oxide was significantly higher than that of the negative control after two weeks. In particular, an increase was seen at a low concentration of 60 mg/kg. Therefore, the S. quelpaertensis leaf fermentation product can be very useful as a functional ingredient for enhancing immunity.