The transported active mulberry leaf phenolics inhibited adipogenesis through PPAR-γ and Leptin signaling pathway

Inhibition of pancreatic lipase by coffee leaves-derived polyphenols: A mechanistic study

The suppression of pancreatic lipase has been employed to mitigate obesity. This study explored the mechanism of coffee leaf extracts to inhibit pancreatic lipase. The ethyl acetate fraction derived from coffee leaves (EAC) exhibited the highest inhibitory capacity with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.469 mg/mL and an inhibitor constant (Ki) of 0.185 mg/mL. This fraction was enriched with 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-diCQA, 146.50 mg/g), epicatechin (87.51 mg/g), and isoquercetin (48.29 mg/g). EAC inhibited lipase in a reversible and competitive manner, and quenched its intrinsic fluorescence through a static mechanism. Molecular docking revealed that bioactive compounds in EAC bind to key amino acid residues (HIS-263, PHE-77, and SER-152) located within the active cavity of lipase. Catechin derivatives play a key role in the lipase inhibitory activity within EAC. Overall, our findings highlight the promising potential of coffee leaf extract as a functional ingredient for alleviating obesity through inhibition of lipase.

Mulberry Leaf Dietary Supplementation Can Improve the Lipo-Nutritional Quality of Pork and Regulate Gut Microbiota in Pigs: A Comprehensive Multi-Omics Analysis

Mulberry leaves, a common traditional Chinese medicine, represent a potential nutritional strategy to improve the fat profile, also known as the lipo-nutrition, of pork. However, the effects of mulberry leaves on pork lipo-nutrition and the microorganisms and metabolites in the porcine gut remain unclear. In this study, multi-omics analysis was employed in a Yuxi black pig animal model to explore the possible regulatory mechanism of mulberry leaves on pork quality. Sixty Yuxi black pigs were divided into two groups: the control group (n = 15) was fed a standard diet, and the experimental group (n = 45) was fed a diet supplemented with 8% mulberry leaves. Experiments were performed in three replicates (n = 15 per replicate); the two diets were ensured to be nutritionally balanced, and the feeding period was 120 days. The results showed that pigs receiving the diet supplemented with mulberry leaves had significantly reduced backfat thickness (p < 0.05) and increased intramuscular fat (IMF) content (p < 0.05) compared with pigs receiving the standard diet. Lipidomics analysis showed that mulberry leaves improved the lipid profile composition and increased the proportion of triglycerides (TGs). Interestingly, the IMF content was positively correlated with acyl C18:2 and negatively correlated with C18:1 of differential TGs. In addition, the cecal microbiological analysis showed that mulberry leaves could increase the abundance of bacteria such as UCG-005, Muribaculaceae_norank, Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, and Limosilactobacillus. Simultaneously, the relative levels of L-tyrosine-ethyl ester, oleic acid methyl ester, 21-deoxycortisol, N-acetyldihydrosphingosine, and mulberrin were increased. Furthermore, we found that mulberry leaf supplementation significantly increased the mRNA expression of lipoprotein lipase, fatty acid-binding protein 4, and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ in muscle (p < 0.01). Mulberry leaf supplementation significantly increased the mRNA expression of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (p < 0.05) while significantly decreasing the expression of acetyl CoA carboxylase in backfat (p < 0.05). Furthermore, mulberry leaf supplementation significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of hormone-sensitive triglyceride lipase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (p < 0.05) in backfat. In addition, mulberry leaf supplementation led to increased serum leptin and adiponectin (p < 0.01). Collectively, this omic profile is consistent with an increased ratio of IMF to backfat in the pig model.

Effect of mulberry leaf or mulberry leaf extract on glycemic traits: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Mulberry leaf (ML) and mulberry leaf extract (MLE) have numerous biological properties, such as regulating sugar and lipid metabolism, reducing blood glucose, and increasing insulin secretion. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials to examine the effect of ML/MLE supplementation on glycemic traits in adults, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and fasting plasma insulin (FPI). Twelve clinical trials (615 participants) fulfilled the eligibility criteria for the present meta-analysis, which included sensitivity analysis and GRADE (grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation) certainty. Based on the heterogeneity between included studies, a random effects model was applied in the meta-analysis, and the results are expressed as WMD (weighted mean differences) with 95% CI (confidence intervals). Meta-analysis showed that ML/MLE supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in FBG by -0.47 mmol L^-1, HbA1c by -2.92 mmol mol^-1, and FPI by -0.58 μIU mL^-1. In addition, subgroup analysis indicated that long-term supplementation of ML/MLE (≥8 weeks) was more effective for regulation of the glycemic traits in the non-healthy and baseline FPG >6.1 mmol L^-1 subgroups. Glycemic regulation by ML/MLE may be attributed to the phytochemicals they contain, which are mainly 1-deoxynojirimycin, flavonoids, phenolics, and polysaccharides.

The Enteric Glia and Its Modulation by the Endocannabinoid System, a New Target for Cannabinoid-Based Nutraceuticals?

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a part of the autonomic nervous system that intrinsically innervates the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Whereas enteric neurons have been deeply studied, the enteric glial cells (EGCs) have received less attention. However, these are immune-competent cells that contribute to the maintenance of the GI tract homeostasis through supporting epithelial integrity, providing neuroprotection, and influencing the GI motor function and sensation. The endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) includes endogenous classical cannabinoids (anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol), cannabinoid-like ligands (oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)), enzymes involved in their metabolism (FAAH, MAGL, COX-2) and classical (CB1 and CB2) and non-classical (TRPV1, GPR55, PPAR) receptors. The ECS participates in many processes crucial for the proper functioning of the GI tract, in which the EGCs are involved. Thus, the modulation of the EGCs through the ECS might be beneficial to treat some dysfunctions of the GI tract. This review explores the role of EGCs and ECS on the GI tract functions and dysfunctions, and the current knowledge about how EGCs may be modulated by the ECS components, as possible new targets for cannabinoids and cannabinoid-like molecules, particularly those with potential nutraceutical use.

Therapeutic mechanisms of mulberry leaves in type 2 diabetes based on metabolomics

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is considered as one of the most significant metabolic syndromes worldwide, and the long-term use of the drugs already on the market for T2D often gives rise to some side effects. The mulberry leaf (ML), Morus alba L., has advantages in terms of its comprehensive therapeutic efficacy, which are characterized as multicomponent, multitarget, multipathway, and matching with the complex pathological mechanisms of diabetes.

Methods: T2D rats were established by a high-fat diet combined with an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin; an evaluation of the hypoglycemic effects of the ML in combination with fasting blood glucose and other indicators, in addition to the utilization of metabolomics technology, was performed to analysis the metabolite changes in serum of rats.

Results: MLs significantly reduced the fasting blood glucose of T2D rats, while improving the symptoms of polyphagia and polyuria. ML treatment altered the levels of various metabolites in the serum of T2D rats, which are involved in multiple metabolic pathways (amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and lipid metabolism), played a role in antioxidative stress and anti-inflammation, modulated immune and gluconeogenesis processes, and improved obesity as well as insulin resistance (IR).

Conclusion: The ML contains a variety of chemical components, and metabolomic results have shown that MLs regulate multiple metabolic pathways to exert hypoglycemic effects, suggesting that MLs may have great promise in the development of new hypoglycemic drugs.