Effects of Caulis Spatholobi Polysaccharide on Immunity, Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Function, and Intestinal Microbiota in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppressive Chickens

Mulberry leaf polysaccharide improves cyclophosphamide-induced growth inhibition and intestinal damage in chicks by modulating intestinal flora, enhancing immune regulation and antioxidant capacity

Polysaccharides are generally considered to have immune enhancing functions, and mulberry leaf polysaccharide is the main active substance in mulberry leaves, while there are few studies on whether mulberry leaf polysaccharide (MLP) has an effect on immunosuppression and intestinal damage caused by cyclophosphamide (CTX), we investigated whether MLP has an ameliorative effect on intestinal damage caused by CTX. A total of 210 1-day-old Mahuang cocks were selected for this experiment. Were equally divided into six groups and used to evaluate the immune effect of MLP. Our results showed that MLP significantly enhanced the growth performance of chicks and significantly elevated the secretion of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-10, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), immunoglobulins and antioxidant enzymes in the serum of immunosuppressed chicks. It attenuated jejunal damage and elevated the expression of jejunal tight junction proteins Claudin1, Zo-1 and MUC2, which protected intestinal health. MLP activated TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB pathway and enhanced the expression of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB, which served to protect the intestine. 16S rDNA gene high-throughput sequencing showed that MLP increased species richness, restored CTX-induced gut microbiome imbalance, and enhanced the abundance of probiotic bacteria in the gut. MLP improves cyclophosphamide-induced growth inhibition and intestinal damage in chicks by modulating intestinal flora and enhancing immune regulation and antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, this study provides a scientific basis for MLP as an immune enhancer to regulate chick intestinal flora and protect chick intestinal mucosal damage.

Preparation and activity study of Ruoqiang jujube polysaccharide copper chelate

Background: Polysaccharide metal chelate exhibit both immunoregulatory activity and metal element supplementation effects. Methods: In this study, Ruoqiang jujube polysaccharide copper chelate (RJP-Cu) was prepared and the preparation conditions were optimized using the response surface method. Subsequently, RJP-Cu was administered to lambs to evaluate its impact on growth performance, copper ion (Cu2+) supplementation, immune enhancement, and intestinal flora was evaluated. Results: The results indicated that optimal RJP-Cu chelation conditions included a sodium citrate content of 0.5 g, a reaction temperature of 50°C, and a solution pH of 8.0, resulting in a Cu2+ concentration of 583°mg/kg in RJP-Cu. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed significant structural changes in RJP before and after chelation. RJP-Cu displaying characteristic peaks of both polysaccharides and Cu2+ chelates. Blood routine indexes showed no significant differences among the RJP-Cu-High dose group (RJP-Cu-H), RJP-Cu-Medium dose group (RJP-Cu-M), RJP-Cu-low dose group (RJP-Cu-L) and the control group (p > 0.05). However, compared with the control group, the RJP-Cu-H, M, and L dose groups significantly enhanced lamb production performance (p < 0.05). Furthermore, RJP-Cu-H, M, and L dose groups significantly increased serum Cu2+ concentration, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) contents compared with control group (p < 0.05). The RJP-Cu-H group exhibited significant increases in serum IgA and IgG antibodies, as well as the secretion of cytokines IL-2, IL-4, and TNF-α compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, RJP-Cu-H group increased the species abundance of lamb intestinal microbiota, abundance and quantity of beneficial bacteria, and decrease the abundance and quantity of harmful bacteria. The RJP-Cu-H led to the promotion of the synthesis of various Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs), improvements in atrazine degradation and clavulanic acid biosynthesis in lambs, while reducing cell apoptosis and lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. Conclusion: Thus, these findings demonstrate that RJP-Cu, as a metal chelate, could effectively promote lamb growth performance, increase Cu2+ content, and potentially induce positive immunomodulatory effects by regulating antioxidant enzymes, antibodies, cytokines, intestinal flora, and related metabolic pathways.

Protective Effect of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (Jackfruit) Polysaccharides on Liver Injury Induced by Cyclophosphamide in Mice

In recent years, Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (jackfruit) polysaccharides (namely JFP-Ps) have attracted much attention due to their multiple biological activities. This study aimed to explore the protective effects and the underlying mechanisms of JFP-Ps on cyclophosphamide (Cp)-induced liver damage. The protective effect of JFP-Ps was evaluated using HE staining, antioxidant testing, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot and ultra-performance liquid chromatography equipped with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) metabolomics analysis. The results showed that Cp caused pathological liver damage, activated oxidative stress and downregulated cytokine expression, while JFP-Ps treatment was found to exert antioxidant effects and play immune regulatory roles through mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor-κB (MAPK/NF-κB) related inflammation and cell apoptosis pathways to protect the Cp-induced liver injury. Metabolomic results showed that the liver-protective effects of JFP-Ps were mainly related to aminoacyl transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) biosynthesis, sphingolipid metabolism, purine metabolism and the citrate cycle. These results indicate that JFP-Ps have great potential application in alleviating liver injury.

Spatholobi caulis: A systematic review of its traditional uses, chemical constituents, biological activities and clinical applications

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Spatholobi caulis (SC), the dried vine stem of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn, is known as Ji Xue Teng in China, and has long been used as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat anaemia, menstrual abnormalities, rheumatoid arthritis, purpura, etc. AIM OF THE REVIEW: The aim of this review is to provide a systematic and updated summary of the traditional uses, chemical constituents, biological activities and clinical applications of SC. In addition, several suggestions for future research on SC are also proposed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Extensive information and data on SC were obtained from electronic databases (ScienceDirect, Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, SpringerLink and Wiley Online). Additional information was collected from Ph.D. and MSc dissertations, published books, and classic material medica.

RESULTS

To date, phytochemical studies have revealed that approximately 243 chemical ingredients have been isolated from SC and identified, including flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic acids, phenylpropanoids, volatile oils, sesquiterpenoids and other compounds. Many studies have indicated that extracts and pure constituents from SC possess a wide spectrum of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effects, such as anti-tumour, haematopoietic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiviral and antibacterial effects, as well as other activities. SC could be applied to the treatment of leukopenia, aplastic anemic, endometriosis, etc. according to the clinical reports. The traditional efficacies of SC is due to the biological functions of its chemical compounds, especially flavonoids. However, research investigating the toxicological effects of SC is relatively limited.

CONCLUSIONS

SC is widely used in TCM formulae and its some traditional efficacies has been confirmed by extensive recent pharmacological and clinical studies. Most the biological activities of the SC may be attributed to flavonoids. However, in-depth studies on the molecular mechanisms of the effective ingredients and extracts of SC are limited. Further systematic studies focusing on pharmacokinetics, toxicology and quality control are needed to ensure the effective and safe application of SC.

Ameliorating role of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum polysaccharides in antibiotic-induced intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction in mice based on microbiome and metabolome analyses

The intestinal mucosal barrier is one of the important barriers to prevent harmful substances and pathogens from entering the body environment and to maintain intestinal homeostasis. This study investigated the reparative effect and possible mechanism of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum polysaccharides (THP) on ceftriaxone-induced intestinal mucosal damage. Our results suggested that THP repaired the mechanical barrier damage of intestinal mucosa by enhancing the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins, reducing intestinal mucosal permeability and improving the pathological state of intestinal epithelial cells. Intestinal immune and chemical barrier was further restored by THP via the increment of the body's cytokine levels, intestinal SIgA levels, intestinal goblet cell number, intestinal mucin-2 levels, and short-chain fatty acid levels. In addition, THP increased the abundance of probiotic bacteria (such as Lactobacillus), reduced the abundance of harmful bacteria (such as Enterococcus) to repair the intestinal biological barrier, restored intestinal mucosal barrier function, and maintains intestinal homeostasis. The possible mechanisms were related to sphingolipid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, and d-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism. Our results demonstrated the potential therapeutic effect of THP against intestinal flora disorders and intestinal barrier function impairment caused by antibiotics.

Progress of Studies on Plant-Derived Polysaccharides Affecting Intestinal Barrier Function in Poultry

As natural bioactive components, plant-derived polysaccharides have many biological functions, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticoccidial, and immunity regulation, and have been widely used in poultry production. In this review paper, firstly, the sources and structures of plant-derived polysaccharides are reviewed; secondly, the effects of plant-derived polysaccharides on the intestinal microbiome, permeability, morphology and immune function of poultry are summarized; thirdly, the potential molecular regulation mechanism of plant-derived polysaccharides on the intestinal barrier function of poultry was preliminarily analyzed. The review paper will bring a basis for the scientific utilization of plant-derived polysaccharides in the poultry industry.

Supplementation with honeysuckle extract improves growth performance, immune performance, gut morphology, and cecal microbes in geese

The study aimed to investigate the effects of honeysuckle extract (HE) on growth performance, serum biochemical indexes, immune organ indexes, gut morphology, and gut microbes in geese. A total of 180 28-day-old Holdobaki geese were randomly divided into three groups. Each group contained 6 replicates (10 geese, with 5 males and 5 females). The BD group was fed the basal diet, the HE1 group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 1 g/kg of HE, and the HE2 group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 2 g/kg of HE. The experiment lasted for 42 days. The results showed that, compared with the BD group, the average daily gain (ADG) of the HE1 and HE2 groups tended to increase (0.05 < P < 0.10), but the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and final body weight (BW) did not differ significantly, and the feed/gain ratio (F/G) was significantly lower (P < 0.01). The bursa index and the thymus index tended to increase (0.05 < P < 0.10), and serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels increased significantly (P < 0.05). In the HE1 and HE2 groups, the crypt depth (CD) in the jejunum tended to decrease (0.05 < P < 0.10), and the villus height/crypt depth ratio (V/C) increased significantly in the jejunum and the ileum (P < 0.05). According to 16sRNA microbial community diversity analysis, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla. The abundance of Firmicutes was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), while that of Bacteroidetes was significantly increased (P < 0.01), in the HE1 and HE2 groups compared with the BD group. Bacteroides barnesiae, Subdoligranulum variabile, Bacteroides plebeius, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii were the dominant species, and the abundance of B. plebeius and F. prausnitzii was significantly increased (P < 0.05). According to the LEfSe analysis, BD enriched g_Dorea and g_Dehalobacterium; HE1 enriched g_Faecalibacterium, g_Dialister, g_Prevotella, g_Megamonas, g_Phascolarctobacterium, g_Paraprevotella, g_Anaerostipes, g_Staphylococcus, g_Odoribacter, g_Succinivibrio, and g_Sutterella; and HE2 enriched g_Parabacteroides, g_Olsenella, g_human, and g_Rikenella. According to the Spearman correlation analysis, Bacteroides plebeius was positively correlated with final BW, ADG, IgA, IgG, VH (ileum), and V/C (ileum) and was negatively correlated with F/G and CD (ileum); Ruminococcus gnavus was negatively correlated with final BW, ADG, IgA, and IgG. HE supplementation at 1 g/kg improved growth performance, immune performance, gut morphology, and cecal microbes.

Effects of intramuscular fat on meat quality and its regulation mechanism in Tan sheep

Intramuscular fat (IMF) contributes importantly to various aspects of meat quality, and genetic regulation is an effective pathway to improve IMF deposition in sheep. In this study, we systematically explored the effect of IMF content on meat quality in Tan sheep and investigated the regulatory mechanism of flavor precursors metabolism and IMF deposition. The results revealed that IMF significantly affected meat color, total muscle fiber numbers, and muscle fiber types in Tan sheep. Widely-targeted metabolomic analysis showed that amino acids were the main differential flavor precursors between lambs with different IMF content. Importantly, the comparison of fatty acid profiles revealed that saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids are beneficial for IMF deposition. Furthermore, integrated analysis between metabolome and transcriptome indicated that MME is a key gene resulting in the reduction of amino acids in lambs with high IMF content; and the joint analysis between fatty acid profiles and transcript profiles showed that ADIPOQ, FABP4, PLIN1, PPARGC1A, SLC2A1 accelerated IMF deposition through positive regulation of saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids metabolism. These results revealed key changes in meat quality affected by IMF content and the corresponding genetic mechanism, which may provide a new insight for understanding the IMF differential deposition and for improving meat quality in Tan sheep.