Lyciumbarbarum Polysaccharide (LBP): A Novel Prebiotics Candidate for Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus

Polysaccharides in fruits: Biological activities, structures, and structure-activity relationships and influencing factors-A review

Fruits are a rich source of polysaccharides, and an increasing number of studies have shown that polysaccharides from fruits have a wide range of biological functions. Here, we thoroughly review recent advances in the study of the bioactivities, structures, and structure-activity relationships of fruit polysaccharides, especially highlighting the structure-activity influencing factors such as extraction methods and chemical modifications. Different extraction methods cause differences in the primary structures of polysaccharides, which in turn lead to different polysaccharide biological activities. Differences in the degree of modification, molecular weight, substitution position, and chain conformation caused by chemical modification can all affect the biological activities of fruit polysaccharides. Furthermore, we summarize the applications of fruit polysaccharides in the fields of pharmacy and medicine, foods, cosmetics, and materials. The challenges and perspectives for fruit polysaccharide research are also discussed.

Effect of Goji Berry extract on cell viability of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum M5 microcapsules during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum M5 and Goji Berry extract were co-microencapsulated to maintain the activity of cells during gastrointestinal digestion, and the mechanism by which they could maintain high activity was investigated. The results showed that the microcapsules with 3% Goji Berry extract(A-GE-3) had the largest encapsulation efficiency(EE) of 92.41 ± 0.58%. SEM showed that the structure of A-GE-3 microcapsules were smoother and denser. Cell viability in A-GE-3 microcapsules remained at 7.17 log10 CFU/g after gastrointestinal digestion. Meanwhile, during the gastrointestinal digestion with 3% Goji Berry extract, cell membrane damage detected by fluorescent probes propidium iodide(PI) and 1.1-N-phenylnaphthylamine(NPN) was significantly reduced; the contents of arginine, glutamic acid and oleic acid in cell membrane were increased, which helped to maintain the dynamic balance of intracellular pH and regulated cell membrane fluidity in response to gastrointestinal environment. This study demonstrated the potential of Goji Berry extract as a probiotic protector in gastrointestinal digestion.

Screening the Protective Agents Able to Improve the Survival of Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains Subjected to Spray Drying Using Several Key Enzymes Responsible for Carbohydrate Utilization

The aim of this study was to identify the most effective protectants for enhancing the viability of specific lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CICC 6097, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CICC 21839, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM) by assessing their enzymatic activity when exposed to spray drying (inlet/outlet temperature: 135 °C/90 °C). Firstly, it was found that the live cell counts of the selected LAB cells from the 10% (w/v) recovered skim milk (RSM) group remained above 107 CFU/g after spray drying. Among all the three groups (1% w/v RSM group, 10% w/v RSM group, and control group), the two enzymes pyruvate kinase (PK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were more sensitive to spray drying than hexokinase (HK) and β-galactosidase (β-GAL). Next, transcriptome data of Lb. acidophilus NCFM showed that 10% (w/v) RSM improved the down-regulated expressions of genes encoding PK (pyk) and LDH (ldh) after spray drying compared to 1% (w/v) RSM. Finally, four composite protectants were created, each consisting of 10% (w/v) RSM plus a different additive-sodium glutamate (CP-A group), sucrose (CP-B group), trehalose (CP-C group), or a combination of sodium glutamate, sucrose, and trehalose (CP-D group)-to encapsulate Lb. acidophilus NCFM. It was observed that the viable counts of strain NCFM (8.56 log CFU/g) and enzymatic activity of PK and LDH in the CP-D group were best preserved compared to the other three groups. Therefore, our study suggested that measuring the LDH and PK activity could be used as a promising tool to screen the effective spray-dried protective agent for LAB cells.

Highly active probiotic hydrogels matrixed on bacterial EPS accelerate wound healing via maintaining stable skin microbiota and reducing inflammation

Skin microbiota plays an important role in wound healing, but skin injuries are highly susceptible to wound infections, leading to disruption of the skin microbiota. However, conventional antibacterial hydrogels eliminate both probiotics and pathogenic bacteria, disrupting the balance of the skin microbiota. Therefore, it is important to develop a wound dressing that can fend off foreign pathogenic bacteria while preserving skin microbiota stability. Inspired by live bacteria therapy, we designed a probiotic hydrogel (HAEPS@L.sei gel) with high viability for promoting wound healing. Lactobacillus paracasei TYM202 encapsulated in the hydrogel has the activity of promoting wound healing, and the hydrogel matrix EPS-M76 has the prebiotic activity that promotes the proliferation and metabolism of Lactobacillus paracasei TYM202. During the wound healing process, HAEPS@L.sei gel releases lactic acid and acetic acid to resist the growth of pathogenic bacteria while maintaining Firmicutes and Proteobacteria balance at the phylum level, thus preserving skin microbiota stability. Our results showed that live probiotic hydrogels reduce the incidence of inflammation during wound healing while promoting angiogenesis and increasing collagen deposition. This study provides new ideas for developing wound dressings predicated on live bacterial hydrogels.

Periodontal disease in down syndrome: Predisposing factors and potential non-surgical therapeutic approaches

BACKGROUND

Periodontal diseases (PDs) have been documented to be significantly more prevalent and severe in patients with Down syndrome (DS). Different immunological and microbiological factors contributed to predisposing these patients to progressive and recurrent PDs.

AIM

The aim of this review was to investigate the altered immunological responses and oral microbiota disorders as well as focus on adjunctive non-surgical methods for the treatment of PDs and its applicability in patients with DS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A literature review was conducted addressing the following topics: (1) the altered immunological responses, (2) orofacial disorders related to DS patients, (3) oral microbiota changing, and (4) adjunctive non-surgical treatment and its efficacy in patients with DS.

RESULTS

Due to the early onset of PDs in children with DS, the need for prompt and effective treatment in these patients is essential.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

So, investigating underlying factors may open a new window to better understand the pathology of PDs in DS people and thus, find better strategies for treatment in such group. Although non-surgical treatments such as photodynamic therapy and probiotic consumption represented acceptable outcomes in different examined patients without DS, data about the application of these convenience and no need for local anesthesia methods in patients with DS is limited.

Physicochemical characterization, digestion profile and gut microbiota regulation activity of intracellular polysaccharides from Chlorella zofingiensis

A number of studies have shown that the polysaccharides from microalgae exhibit diverse biological activities, however, little is known about their digestibility and impact on human gut microbiota. In this study, a simulating digestion and fermentation system were established to investigate the digestibility and fermentation of intracellular polysaccharides from Chlorella zofingiensis (CZIP-S3). The results indicated that CZIP-S3 is a macromolecular polysaccharide composed of mannose, glucose, galactose and rhamnose, consisting of a main chain and two branched repeating units. CZIP-S3 could not be digested in the upper gastrointestinal tract. However, CZIP-S3 could be metabolized into smaller molecules by the gut microbiota. The pH values continuously decrease during fermentation, whereas, the amount of short-chain fatty acids steadily increase. Furthermore, CZIP-S3 could modulate the composition of gut microbiota, via lowering the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes and increasing the relative abundance of Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia. The data suggested that CZIP-S3 could potentially be used as an ingredient for functional foods or prebiotics to improve human health by promoting the relative abundances of beneficial bacteria.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide alleviates DSS-induced chronic ulcerative colitis by restoring intestinal barrier function and modulating gut microbiota

PURPOSE

This study examined the protective effects and mechanism of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) in the context of intestinal barrier function and intestinal microbiota in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced chronic ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS

C57BL/6J male mice were assigned to a standard normal diet without DSS (control group), a normal diet with DSS (DSS group, 2% DSS given discontinuously for 3 weeks) or a normal diet supplemented with LBP (1% dry feed weight, LBP group, 2% DSS given discontinuously for 3 weeks) for a total of 8 weeks, at which point colonic tissues and caecal contents were collected.

RESULTS

LBP exerted a significant effect against colitis by increasing body weight, colon length, DAI and histopathological scores. LBP inhibited proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS and TNF-α) expression, improved anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) expression, promoted the expression of tight junction proteins (Occludin and ZO-1) via nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation and decreased Claudin-2 expression to maintain the intestinal mucosal barrier. In addition, the abundances of some probiotics (Ruminococcaceae, Lactobacillus, Butyricicoccus, and Akkermansia) were decreased with DSS treatment but increased obviously with LBP treatment. And LBP reduced the abundance of conditional pathogens associated with UC (Mucispirillum and Sutterella). Furthermore, LBP improved the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and isobutyric acid.

CONCLUSION

LBP can alleviate DSS-induced UC by regulating inflammatory cytokines and tight junction proteins. Moreover, LBP promotes probiotics, suppresses conditional pathogens and increases SCFAs production, showing a strong prebiotic effect.

Goji Ferment Ameliorated Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury in vitro and in vivo

This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of lyophilized powder of goji ferment (LPGF) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatic damage in Hep3B cells and in mice. Eleven strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were selected and their hepatoprotection against APAP-induced cellular damage in Hep3B cell line was evaluated. Four strains of LAB, including BCRC11652 (Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides), BCRC14619 (Lactobacillus gasseri), KODA-1 (Pediococcus acidilactici), and KODA-2 (Limosilactobacillus fermentum), have hepatoprotective potential against APAP in vitro. Goji significantly stimulated the growth of individual and combined strains of LAB and the optimal fermented condition was the treatment of goji at 10% (w/w) for 24 h. The prepared lyophilized powder of goji ferment (LPGF) containing fifteen combinations of LAB strains was used to explore their hepatoprotection in vitro. LPGF containing all combinations of LAB strains, except for KODA-2, significantly restored APAP-reduced cell viability and improved APAP-increased cellular levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In mice model, LPGF containing BCRC11652, BCRC14619, and KODA-2 was chosen to evaluate its hepatoprotection against APAP-induced liver injury. LPGF at diverse doses have a tendency but no significant improvement on APAP-reduced body weight gain and liver weight. LPGF significantly decreased APAP-increased serum ALT and AST levels in a dose-dependent manner. At the end of experiment, LPGF significantly and dose-dependently reversed APAP-reduced activities of GSH and antioxidant enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in hepatic tissue. Overall, LPGF was demonstrated to exhibit hepatoprotection against APAP-induced liver injury in vitro and in vivo.

Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome during Fruit Development Reveal Metabolic Differences and Molecular Basis between Lycium barbarum and Lycium ruthenicum

Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) is a traditional cash crop in China and is well-known worldwide for its outstanding nutritional and medicinal value. Lycium ruthenicum is a close relative of Lycium barbarum but differs significantly in size, color, flavor and nutritional composition. To date, the metabolic differences between the fruits of the two wolfberry varieties and the genetic basis behind them are unclear. Here, we compared metabolome and transcriptome data of two kinds of wolfberry fruits at five stages of development. Metabolome results show that amino acids, vitamins and flavonoids had the same accumulation pattern in various developmental stages of fruit but that Lycium ruthenicum accumulated more metabolites than Lycium barbarum during the same developmental stage, including L-glutamate, L-proline, L-serine, abscisic acid (ABA), sucrose, thiamine, naringenin and quercetin. Based on the metabolite and gene networks, many key genes that may be involved in the flavonoid synthesis pathway in wolfberry were identified, including PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHS, CHI, F3H, F3'H and FLS. The expression of these genes was significantly higher in Lycium ruthenicum than in Lycium barbarum, indicating that the difference in the expression of these genes was the main reason for the variation in flavonoid accumulation between Lycium barbarum and Lycium ruthenicum. Taken together, our results reveal the genetic basis of the difference in metabolomics between Lycium barbarum and Lycium ruthenicum and provide new insights into the flavonoid synthesis of wolfberry.

Microbial Diversity and Bioactive Compounds in Dried Lycium barbarum Fruits (Goji): A Comparative Study

This study compares the microbial diversity and content of bioactive compounds in dried goji berries available on the Polish market to those of the most highly valued goji berries from the Ningxia region in China. The content of phenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids were determined, as well as the antioxidant capacities of the fruits. The quantitative and qualitative composition of the microbiota inhabiting the fruits was assessed using metagenomics by high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina platform. The highest quality was demonstrated by naturally dried fruits from the Ningxia region. These berries were characterized by a high content of polyphenols and high antioxidant activity, as well as high microbial quality. The lowest antioxidant capacity was shown by goji berries cultivated in Poland. However, they contained a high amount of carotenoids. The highest microbial contamination was found in the goji berries available in Poland (>10⁶ CFU/g), which is important in terms of consumer safety. Despite the widely accepted benefits of consuming goji berries, both the country of cultivation and the preservation method may influence their composition, bioactivity, and microbial quality.

The Roles of Polysaccharides in Carp Farming: A Review

Carp is an important aquaculture species globally, and the production is expected to increase with the growing market demands. Despite that, disease outbreaks remain a major challenge, impeding the development of sustainable carp farming. Moreover, the application of antibiotics, a common prophylactic agent, can adversely impact public health and the environment. Therefore, polysaccharide has been recognized as a novel prophylactic agent in the health management of carp farming, as well as gaining consumers' confidence in carp farming products. In this review, the definition, sources, and main roles of polysaccharides in improving growth performance, stimulating the immune system, enhancing disease resistance, and alleviating abiotic stresses in carp farming are discussed and summarized. In addition, the use of polysaccharides in combination with other prophylactic agents to improve carp farming production is also highlighted. This review aims to highlight the roles of polysaccharides and provide valuable information on the benefits of polysaccharides in carp farming.

Biotherapeutic microbial supplementation for ameliorating fish health: developing trends in probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics use in finfish aquaculture

Nutrition demands in aquaculture can be realized through quality aquafeeds as compounded diets that contribute to the growth and health of aquaculture species. Functional additives in feed, notably probiotics, prebiotics, and their admixture synbiotics, have been recently recognized for their biotherapeutic role as immunostimulants capable of conferring disease resistance, stress tolerance, and gastrointestinal health; counteracting the negative effects of anti-nutrients, pathogenic prevalence, and antimicrobials in finfish aquaculture. Formulated diets based on probiotics, prebiotics, and as a supplemental combination for synbiotics can significantly influence fish gut microbiomes, establishing the modalities of microbial dynamics to maximize host-associated benefits. These microbial functional-feed supplements are acclaimed to be biocompatible, biodegradable, and safe for dietary consumption as well as the environment. In fed fish aquaculture, prebiotic appended probiotic diet 'synbiotic' has propounded larger attention for its additional health and nutritional benefits. Synbiotic, prebiotic, and probiotic usage as functional feeds for finfish aquaculture thus provides promising prospects. Developing trends in their intended application are reviewed here forth.

Construction of in vitro fermentation model using gut microbiota relating to glucose and lipid metabolism: a supplementary method for initial screening of polysaccharides with hypoglycemic potentials

BACKGROUND

Besides in vitro fecal fermentation model, a few supplementary methods have been constructed for high-throughput screening of polysaccharides with hypoglycemic potentials. The purpose of this study was to establish a co-culture fermentation model constructed by gut microbiota relating to glucose and lipid metabolism as a supplementary method for comparatively evaluating the proliferative effects and hypoglycemic potentials of typical plant polysaccharides, e.g. konjac glucomannan, Lycium barbarum L. polysaccharide, oat glucan and alga-derived fucoidan.

RESULTS

The results showed that the mixing culture medium of butyrate-producing bacteria, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus at a ratio of 50:40:9:1 was optimal. This testing model in line with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and metabolite analysis multi-dimensionally differentiated four polysaccharides possessing different behaviors on proliferation of total bacteria and specific genus or strain and accumulation of short chain fatty acids.

CONCLUSION

Our study provided crucial data for establishing an initial screening method for proliferative effect/specific structure-oriented extraction of polysaccharide with hypoglycemic potential. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides on Immunity and Metabolic Syndrome Associated with the Modulation of Gut Microbiota: A Review

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) have attracted increasing attention due to their multiple pharmacological activities and physiological functions. Recently, both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that the biological effects of dietary LBPs are related to the regulation of gut microbiota. Supplementation with LBPs could modulate the composition of microbial communities, and simultaneously influence the levels of active metabolites, thus exerting their beneficial effects on host health. Interestingly, LBPs with diverse chemical structures may enrich or reduce certain specific intestinal microbes. The present review summarizes the extraction, purification, and structural types of LBPs and the regulation effects of LBPs on the gut microbiome and their derived metabolites. Furthermore, the health promoting effects of LBPs on host bidirectional immunity (e.g., immune enhancement and immune inflammation suppression) and metabolic syndrome (e.g., obesity, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) by targeting gut microbiota are also discussed based on their structural types. The contents presented in this review might help to better understand the health benefits of LBPs targeting gut microbiota and provide a scientific basis to further clarify the structure–function relationship of LBPs.

Biofilm-based delivery approaches and specific enrichment strategies of probiotics in the human gut

The use of probiotics has been one of the effective strategies to restructure perturbed human gut microbiota following a disease or metabolic disorder. One of the biggest challenges associated with the use of probiotic-based gut modulation strategies is to keep the probiotic cells viable and stable during the gastrointestinal transit. Biofilm-based probiotics delivery approaches have emerged as fascinating modes of probiotic delivery in which probiotics show significantly greater tolerance and biotherapeutic potential, and interestingly probiotic biofilms can be developed on food-grade surfaces too, which is ideal for the growth and proliferation of bacterial cells for incorporation into food matrices. In addition, biofilms can be further encapsulated with food-grade materials or with bacterial self-produced biofilms. This review presents a newly emerging and unprecedently discussed techniques for the safe delivery of probiotics based on biofilms and further discusses newly emerging prebiotic materials which target specific gut microbiota groups for growth and proliferation.

Insights into the Metabolic Response of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CCFM1287 upon Patulin Exposure

Patulin (PAT) is a common mycotoxin in the food industry, and is found in apple products in particular. Consumption of food or feed contaminated with PAT can cause acute or chronic toxicity in humans and animals. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CCFM1287 is a probiotic strain that effectively degrades PAT in PBS and food systems. In this study, it was found that the concentration of PAT (50 mg/L) in MRS medium decreased by 85.09% during the first stages of CCFM1287 growth, and this change was consistent with the first-order degradation kinetic model. Meanwhile, the regulation of oxidative stress by L. plantarum CCFM1287 in response to PAT exposure and metabolic changes that occur during PAT degradation were investigated. The degree of intracellular damage was attenuated after 16 h of exposure compared to 8 h. Meanwhile, metabolomic data showed that 30 and 29 significantly different metabolites were screened intracellularly in the strain after 8 h and 16 h of PAT stress at 50 mg/L, respectively. The results of pathway enrichment analysis suggested that the purine metabolic pathway was significantly enriched at both 8 h and 16 h. However, as is consistent with the performance of the antioxidant system, the changes in Lactiplantibacillus diminished with increasing time of PAT exposure. Therefore, this study helps to further explain the mechanism of PAT degradation by L. plantarum CCFM1287.

Recent progress of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on intestinal microbiota, microbial metabolites and health: a review

Intestinal microbiota is symbiotically associated with host health, learning about the characteristics of microbiota and the factors that modulate it could assist in developing strategies to promote human health and prevent diseases. Polysaccharides from Lycium barbarum (LBPs) are found beneficial for enhancing the activity of gut microbiota, as a potential prebiotic, which not only participates in improving body immunity, obesity, hyperlipidemia and systemic inflammation induced by oxidative stress, but also plays a magnificent role in regulating intestinal microenvironment and improving host health and target intestinal effects via its biological activities, as well as gut microbiota and metabolites. To highlight the internal relationship between intestinal microbiota and LBPs, this review focuses on the latest advances in LBPs on the intestinal microbiota, metabolites, immune regulation, intestinal barrier protection, microbiota-gut-brain axis and host health. Moreover, the preparation, structure, bioactivity and modification of LBPs were also discussed. This review may offer new perspective on LBPs improving health of gut and host via intestinal microbiota, and provide useful guidelines for the application of LBPs in the food industry.

Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide Regulates the Lipid Metabolism and Alters Gut Microbiota in High-Fat Diet Induced Obese Mice

Bioactive compounds provide new insights into the prevention and treatment of obesity. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), a biological macromolecule extracted from Goji berry, has displayed potential for regulating lipid metabolism. However, the relationship between gut microbiota regulation and lipid metabolism is not entirely clear. In the present study, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg LBP were intragastrically administered to C57BL/6J male mice fed with a high-fat diet simultaneously lasting for twelve weeks. The results showed that 150 mg/kg LBP showed significant results and all doses of LBP feeding (50, 100, 150 mg/kg) remarkably decreased both serum and liver total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels. Treatment of 150 mg/kg LBP seems to be more effective in weight loss, lowering free fatty acid (FFA) levels in serum and liver tissues of mice. LBP feeding increased the gene expression of adiponectin and decreased the gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, Cluster of Differentiation 36, acetyl-coA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the 16s rDNA Sequencing analysis showed that 150 mg/kg LBP feeding may significantly increase the richness of gut microbiota by up-regulation of the ACE and Chao1 index and altered β-diversity among groups. Treatment of 150 mg/kg LBP feeding significantly regulated the microbial distribution by decreasing the relative abundance of Firmicutes and increasing the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes at the phylum level. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Faecalibaculum, Pantoea, and uncultured_bacterium_f_Muribaculaceae at the genus level was significantly affected by LBP feeding. A significant correlation was observed between body weight, TC, TG, FFA and bile acid and phyla at the genus level. The above results indicate that LBP plays a vital role in preventing obesity by co-regulating lipid metabolism and gut microbiota, but its effects vary with the dose.

Lycium Genus Polysaccharide: An Overview of its Extraction, Structures, Pharmacological Activities and Biological Applications

Polysaccharide is considered to be the main active ingredient of the genus Lycium L., which is taken from the dried fruit of the famous Chinese herbal medicine and precious tonic known as wolfberry. Traditional uses include nourishing the liver and kidney and improving eyesight, with widespread use in the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine. Many studies have focused on the isolation and identification of the genus Lycium L. polysaccharide and its biological activities. However, the variety of raw materials and the mechanisms of polysaccharides differ. After extraction, the structure and biological activity of the obtained polysaccharides also differ. To date, approximately 58 kinds of polysaccharides have been isolated and purified from the Lycium genus, including water-soluble polysaccharides; homogeneous polysaccharides; pectin polysaccharides; acidic heteropolysaccharides; and arabinogalactans, which are composed of arabinose, glucosamine, galactose, glucose, xylose, mannose, fructose, ribose, galacturonic acid, and glucuronic acid. Pharmacological studies have shown that LBPs exhibit a variety of important biological activities, such as protection of nerves; promotion of reproduction; and anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, and eyesight-improving activities. The aim this paper is to summarize previous and current references to the isolation process, structural characteristics, and biological activities of the genus Lycium L. polysaccharide. This review will provide a useful reference for further research and application of the genus Lycium L. polysaccharide in the field of functional food and medicine.

Widely-Targeted Metabolic Profiling in Lycium barbarum Fruits under Salt-Alkaline Stress Uncovers Mechanism of Salinity Tolerance

Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) is an important economic crop widely grown in China. The effects of salt-alkaline stress on metabolites accumulation in the salt-tolerant Ningqi1 wolfberry fruits were evaluated across 12 salt-alkaline stress gradients. The soil pH, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3− contents decreased at a gradient across the salt-alkaline stress gradients. Based on the widely-targeted metabolomics approach, we identified 457 diverse metabolites, 53% of which were affected by salt-alkaline stress. Remarkably, soil salt-alkaline stress enhanced metabolites accumulation in wolfberry fruits. Amino acids, alkaloids, organic acids, and polyphenols contents increased proportionally across the salt-alkaline stress gradients. In contrast, nucleic acids, lipids, hydroxycinnamoyl derivatives, organic acids and derivatives and vitamins were significantly reduced by high salt-alkaline stress. A total of 13 salt-responsive metabolites represent potential biomarkers for salt-alkaline stress tolerance in wolfberry. Specifically, we found that constant reductions of lipids and chlorogenic acids; up-regulation of abscisic acid and accumulation of polyamines are essential mechanisms for salt-alkaline stress tolerance in Ningqi1. Overall, we provide for the first time some extensive metabolic insights into salt-alkaline stress tolerance and key metabolite biomarkers which may be useful for improving wolfberry tolerance to salt-alkaline stress.

The bioavailability of soybean polysaccharides and their metabolites on gut microbiota in the simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem (SHIME)

The present study aimed to investigate the bioavailability of soybean polysaccharides and their metabolites on gut microbiota in the simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem (SHIME). The effects of soybean polysaccharides on probiotics and pathogenic bacteria were investigated in vitro. Our results showed that soybean polysaccharides were only partially degraded in the oral, gastric, and small intestinal compartments of the SHIME. Moreover, the polysaccharides could be mainly broken down and utilized by the gut microbiota in the colon of the SHIME. Soybean polysaccharides could significantly reduce the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes at the phylum level. Therefore, the number of beneficial bacteria were noticeably enhanced, and the pathogenic bacteria were inhibited. Furthermore, soybean polysaccharides promoted the growth of probiotics and improved the ability of these probiotics to inhibit pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, soybean polysaccharides could potentially be functional food to prevent disease by promoting gut health.

Natural immunomodulating substances used for alleviating food allergy

Food allergy is a serious health problem affecting more than 10% of the human population worldwide. Medical treatments for food allergy remain limited because immune therapy is risky and costly, and anti-allergic drugs have many harmful side effects and can cause drug dependence. In this paper, we review natural bioactive substances capable of alleviating food allergy. The sources of the anti-allergic substances reviewed include plants, animals, and microbes, and the types of substances include polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, polyphenols, phycocyanin, polyunsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, quinones, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, and probiotics. We describe five mechanisms involved in anti-allergic activities, including binding with epitopes located in allergens, affecting the gut microbiota, influencing intestinal epithelial cells, altering antigen presentation and T cell differentiation, and inhibiting the degranulation of effector cells. In the discussion, we present the limitations of existing researches as well as promising advances in the development of anti-allergic foods and/or immunomodulating food ingredients that can effectively prevent or alleviate food allergy. This review provides a reference for further research on anti-allergic materials and their hyposensitizing mechanisms.

Effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide supplementation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the world, with a high incidence and no effective treatment. At present, the targeted therapy of intestinal microbes for NAFLD is highly valued. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), as the main active ingredient of Lycium barbarum, is considered to be a new type of prebiotic substance, which can improve NAFLD by regulating the gut microbiota. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LBP supplementation in modulating gut microbiota for NAFLD patients.

Methods

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-control study will be conducted in the physical examination center of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region People’s Hospital. A total of 50 patients with NAFLD confirmed by abdominal ultrasound, laboratory tests, and questionnaire surveys will be recruited and randomly assigned into the control group (maltodextrin placebo capsules) and the intervention group (LBP supplementation capsules) for 3 months. Neither patients, nor investigators, nor data collectors will know the contents in each capsule and the randomization list. The primary outcome measure is the level of ALT concentration relief after the intervention. Secondary outcomes include gut microbiota abundance and diversity, intestinal permeability, patient’s characteristic demographic data and body composition, adverse effects, and compliance from patients.

Discussion

LBPs are potential prebiotics with the property of regulating host gut microbiota. Our previous studies have documented that LBP supplement can improve the liver damage and the gut microflora dysbiosis in NAFLD rats. This treatment would provide a more in-depth understanding of the effect of this LBP supplementation.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Register, ChiCTR2000034740. Registered on 17 July 2020.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-021-05529-6.

Effects of Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides on Immunity and the Gut Microbiota in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppressed Mice

The mechanism of immunoregulation by Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) was assessed by studying the effect of LBP on the immunity and the gut microbiota. LBP isolated and purified in this study was composed of nine monosaccharides, with an Mw 1,207 kDa. LBP showed immunomodulatory activity in cyclophosphamide (Cy)-treated mice by restoring the damaged immune organs and adjusting the T lymphocyte subsets. We also found that LBP increased the diversity of the gut microbiota and the relative abundances of bacteria, such as Rickenellaceae, Prevotellaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, and so on, which were positively associated with immune traits. In addition, Caco2 cells model was used to explore the intestinal absorption of LBP. Results showed that LBP was hardly absorbed in the intestine, which suggesting that most LBP may interact with gut microbiota. These findings suggest that the immune response induced by LBP is associated with the regulation of the gut microbiota.

Immune activities of polysaccharides isolated from Lycium barbarum L. What do we know so far?

Lycium barbarum is widely used as a functional food and medicinal herb to promote health and longevity in China and in some other Asian countries. In modern pharmacological and chemical studies, the most valuable and well-researched component of L. barbarum is a group of unique water-soluble glycoconjugates that are collectively termed Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs). Numerous modern pharmacological studies have revealed that LBPs possess antiaging, antidiabetic, antifibrotic, neuroprotective, and immunomodulation properties, while the immunomodulatory effect is primary and is involved in other activities. However, due to their structural heterogeneity and lack of chromophores, it has long been unclear how LBPs work on the immune system. A few studies have recently provided some insights into the proposed mode of action of LBPs, such as structure-activity relationships, receptor recognition, and gut microbiota modulation of LBPs. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the immunoregulating properties of LBPs and their related mechanisms of action.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide combined with aerobic exercise ameliorated nonalcoholic fatty liver disease through restoring gut microbiota, intestinal barrier and inhibiting hepatic inflammation

Gut microbiota and intestinal permeability have been demonstrated to be the key players in the gut-liver cross talk in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs), which seem to be a potential prebiotic, and aerobic exercise (AE) have shown protective effects on NAFLD. However, their combined effects on intestinal microecology remain unclear. This study evaluated the effects of LBP, AE, and its combination (LBP + AE) on gut microbiota composition, intestinal barrier, and hepatic inflammation in NAFLD. LBP + AE showed high abundance and diversity of gut microbiota, restored the gut microbiota composition, increased some Bacteroidetes, short chain fatty acids, but decreased Proteobacteria and the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes. Simultaneously, LBP, AE, and LBP + AE could restore the colonic and ileum tight junctions by increasing the expression of zonula occludens-1 and occludin. They also downregulated gut-derived lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), hepatic LPS-binding proteins, inflammatory factors, and related indicators of the LPS/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway for the liver. Our results implied that LBP could be considered a prebiotic agent, and LBP + AE might be a promising treatment for NAFLD because it could maintain gut microbiota balance, thereby restoring intestinal barrier and exerting hepatic benefits.

Comparison of the structures and prebiotic-like effects in vitro of polysaccharides from Coprinus comatus fruit body and mycelium

Many effects of Coprinus comatus are attributed to its polysaccharide components. Therefore, the aim of this article is to take Coprinus comatus polysaccharides as the research topic to estimate the difference between the polysaccharides of Coprinus comatus fruiting bodies (CBPs) and the intracellular polysaccharides of liquid fermentation (ICPs). The total carbohydrate contents, monosaccharide compositions, molecular weights, functional groups, microstructures and functional properties of the two prepared polysaccharides were evaluated. At the same time, the influences of the two polysaccharides on the proliferation of lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in vitro were compared. The structural analysis exhibited that there were slight differences in the two prepared polysaccharides. However, both ICPs and CBPs could be utilized by these two strains. Furthermore, the effects of the two prepared polysaccharides on the proliferation of the selected probiotics were dose-dependent manners within the scope of the experiment, and the ICPs group and CBPs group had no significant difference (P > 0.05). Therefore, this work demonstrates that ICPs could be an equivalent replacer for CBPs.

Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide Suppresses Expression of Fibrotic Proteins in Primary Human Corneal Fibroblasts

(1) Objective: To study the anti-fibrotic effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) on corneal stromal fibroblasts and assess LBP’s effect on cell viability. (2) Methods: Primary human corneal keratocytes of passage 3 to 6 were used for all experiments. Cells are pretreated with LBP solution for 24 h and then transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) for 48 h and collected for experiments. Fibrotic protein analysis was performed using immunofluorescence and Western blot. The effect of LBP on cell viability was assessed using the MTS assay. (3) Results: LBP significantly reduced the expression of fibrotic proteins, including α-SMA and extracellular matrix proteins (collagen type I and III). LBP significantly decreased the viability of myofibroblasts but not the fibroblasts. Conclusions: In this study, LBP was effective in the prevention of fibrosis gene expression. Further studies to assess the underlying mechanism and pharmacological properties will facilitate the formation of a topical LBP solution for in vivo studies.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide attenuates myocardial injury in high-fat diet-fed mice through manipulating the gut microbiome and fecal metabolome

High-fat diets (HFDs) can induce health problems including gut microbiota dysbiosis and cardiac dysfunction. In this study, we modulated the gut microbiota in mice to investigate whether Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), a potential prebiotic fiber, could alleviate HFD-induced myocardial injury. Mice fed a HFD were given LBP (HFPD group) by gavage once/day for 2 months. Left ventricular function and serum trimethylamine N-oxide were significantly improved in HFPD mice compared with HFD mice. HFD increased the abundances of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Romboutsia, while LBP increased the abundances of Gordonibacter, Parabacteroides, and Anaerostipes. Fecal metabolic profiling revealed significant increases in metabolites involved in nicotinate, nicotinamide and purine metabolism pathways, as well as indole derivatives of tryptophan metabolites in the HFPD group. LBP reduced intestinal permeability and inflammatory cytokine levels, maintained a healthy intestinal microenvironment, and alleviated myocardial injury. Modulating the gut microbiota is a potential treatment for cardiovascular diseases.

Polysaccharide-rich hydrogel formulation combined with photobiomodulation repairs UV-induced photodamage in mice skin

Prolonged skin exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) induces premature aging in both the epidermis and the dermis. Chronic exposure to UVR induces the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, activating c-Jun, c-Fos expression, and transcription factor of AP-1 activating protein. AP-1 activation results in the positive induction of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) synthesis, which degrade skin collagen fibers. Polysaccharides from the fruit of Lycium barbarum (LBP fraction) have a range of activities and have been demonstrate to repair the photodamage. In different approaches, laser application aims to recover the aged skin without destroying the epidermis, promoting a modulation, called photobiomodulation (PBM), which leads to protein synthesis and cell proliferation, favoring tissue repair. Here we developed a topical hydrogel formulation from a polysaccharide-rich fraction of Lycium barbarum fruits (LBP). This formulation was associated with PBM (red laser) to evaluate whether the isolated and combined treatments would reduce the UVR-mediated photodamage in mice skin. Hairless mice were photoaged for 6 weeks and then treated singly or in combination with LBP and PBM. Histological, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence analyses were used to investigate the levels of c-Fos, c-Jun, MMP-1, -2, and -9, collagen I, III, and FGF2. The combined regimen inhibited UVR-induced skin thickening, decreased the expression of c-Fos and c-Jun, as well as MMP-1, -2, and -9 and concomitantly increased the levels of collagen I, III, and FGF2. The PBM in combination with LBP treatment is a promising strategy for the repair of photodamaged skin, presenting potential clinical application in skin rejuvenation.

Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide Extracted from Lycium barbarum Leaves Ameliorates Asthma in Mice by Reducing Inflammation and Modulating Gut Microbiota

This study was designed to explore the impact of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on inflammation and gut microbiota in mice with allergic asthma. Mice were divided into four groups: control group, OVA (ovalbumin) group, Con+LBP group, OVA+LBP group. After 28 days of LBP intervention, mice were euthanized and associated indications were investigated. Histopathological examination demonstrated that LBP reduced lung injury. The results of our current study provide evidence that supplementation with LBP in asthmatic mice decreases TNF, IL-4, IL-6, MCP-1, and IL-17A in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Sequencing and analysis of gut microbiota indicated that compared with the OVA group, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were increased, but Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Alistipes, and Clostridiales were decreased in the OVA+LBP group. We also found that gut microbiota were related to inflammation-related factors. Therefore, we speculate that LBP may improve allergic asthma by altering gut microbiota and inhibiting inflammation in mice.

Changes in Metabolome and Nutritional Quality of Lycium barbarum Fruits from Three Typical Growing Areas of China as Revealed by Widely Targeted Metabolomics

This study aimed at assessing the climatic factors influencing the wolfberry fruit morphology, and the composition of its nutritious metabolites. The cultivar Ningqi1, widely grown in Northwest China was collected from three typical ecological growing counties with contrasting climatic conditions: Ningxia Zhongning (NF), Xinjiang Jinghe (XF) and Qinghai Nomuhong (QF). During the ripening period, 45 fruits from different plantations at each location were sampled. A total of 393 metabolites were detected in all samples through the widely targeted metabolomics approach and grouped into 19 known classes. Fruits from QF were the biggest followed by those from XF and NF. The altitude, relative humidity and light intensity had negative and strong correlations with most of the metabolites, suggesting that growing wolfberry in very high altitudes and under high light intensity is detrimental for the fruit nutritional quality. Soil moisture content is highly and negatively correlated with vitamins, organic acids and carbohydrates while moderately and positively correlated with other classes of metabolites. In contrast, air and soil temperatures exhibited positive correlation with majority of the metabolites. Overall, our results suggest high soil and air temperatures, low altitude and light intensity and moderate soil moisture, as the suitable conditions to produce Lycium fruits with high content of nutritious metabolites.

The Effect of Encapsulated Powder of Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum) on Growth and Survival of Probiotic Bacteria

The aim of the present work was to investigate the potential prebiotic action of Goji berry powder on selected probiotic bacteria grown in a nutritive synthetic substrate and in simulated gastric and intestinal juices. Different probiotic strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were grown in these substrates with or without the addition of encapsulated goji berry extracts of different polysaccharide and polyphenol contents. The results proved that the addition of the extracts promoted the proliferation of probiotic strains and, in particular, increased the number of bacterial colonies of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (Bb12), Bifidobacterium longum (Bb46), and Lactobacillus casei by 2, 0.26, and 1.34 (log cfu/mL), respectively. Furthermore, the prebiotic effect seems to be correlated to Goji berry polysaccharides and/or polyphenols, higher contents of which (under the tested concentrations) could increase the stress tolerance of B. lactis and B. longum in a simulated gastrointestinal environment. According to the findings of the present research, it can be suggested that the Goji berry encapsulated extracts could be used as prebiotic additives in food or nutraceuticals, in order to stimulate growth or protect the viability of probiotic strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.