Effects of Hydroxy-Alpha-Sanshool on Intestinal Metabolism in Insulin-Resistant Mice

Mechanism investigation of anti-NAFLD of Shugan Yipi Granule based on network pharmacology analysis and experimental verification

As a classical traditional Chinese patent medicine, Shugan Yipi Granule is widely used in China to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) recently. Our previous study confirmed that Shugan Yipi Granule are effective in NAFLD. However, its underlying mechanism is still unknown. This study aims to investigate the mechanism of Shugan Yipi Granule on NAFLD based on network pharmacology prediction, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis and in vitro verification. We obtained the active ingredients and targets of Shugan Yipi Granule and NAFLD from 6 traditional Chinese medicine databases, and the crucial components and targets screened by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were used for molecular docking. Plasma metabolomics of NAFLD patients treated with Shugan Yipi Granule for one month was analyzed using LC-MS methods and MetaboAnalyst 4.0 to obtain significant differential metabolites and pathways. Finally, free fatty acid (FFA) induced HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of quercetin and kaempferol, then oil red o (ORO) and triglyceride (TG) level were tested to verify the lipid deposition of the cell. Network pharmacology analysis showed that the main active ingredients of Shugan Yipi Granule include quercetin, kaempferol and other 58 ones, as well as 188 potential targets. PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was found to be the most relevant pathway for the treatment of NAFLD. Non-targeted metabolomics showed that quercetin and kaempferol were significantly up-regulated differential metabolites and were involved in metabolic pathways such as thyroid hormone signaling. In vitro results showed that quercetin, kaempferol were effective in reducing lipid deposition and TG content by inhibiting cellular fatty acid uptake. Ultimately, with the network pharmacology and serum metabolomics analysis, quercetin and kaempferol were found to be the important active ingredients and significantly up-regulated differential metabolites of Shugan Yipi Granule against NAFLD, which we inferred that they may regulate NAFLD through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and thyroid hormone metabolism pathway. The in vitro experiment verification results showed that quercetin and kaempferol attenuated the lipid accumulation and TG content by inhibiting the fatty acid uptake in the FFA-induced HepG2 cell. Current study provides the necessary experimental basis for subsequent in-depth mechanism research.

Multiple effects of spicy flavors on neurological diseases through the intervention of TRPV1: a critical review

The spicy properties of foods are contributed by various spicy flavor substances (SFs) such as capsaicin, piperine, and allicin. Beyond their distinctive sensory characteristics, SFs also influence health conditions and numerous studies have associated spicy flavors with disease treatment. In this review, we enumerate different types of SFs and describe their role in food processing, with a specific emphasis on critically examining their influence on human wellness. Particularly, detailed insights into the mechanisms through which SFs enhance physiological balance and alleviate neurological diseases are provided, and a systematic analysis of the significance of transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) in regulating metabolism and nervous system homeostasis is presented. Moreover, enhancing the accessibility and utilization of SFs can potentially amplify the physiological effects. This review aims to provide compelling evidence for the integration of food flavor and human health.

Lacticaseibacillus chiayiensis mediate intestinal microbiome and microbiota-derived metabolites regulating the growth and immunity of chicks

Emerging evidence confirms beneficial properties of probiotics in promoting growth and immunity of farmed chicken. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the host-microbiome interactions mediated by probiotics are not fully understood. In this study, the internal mechanisms of Lacticaseibacillus chiayiensis-mediated host-microbiome interactions and to elucidate how it promotes host growth were investigated by additional supplementation with L. chiayiensis. We conducted experiments, including intestinal cytokines, digestive enzymes test, intestinal microbiome, metabolome and transcriptome analysis. The results showed that chickens fed L. chiayiensis exhibited higher body weight gain and digestive enzyme activity, and lower pro-inflammatory cytokines, compared to controls. Microbiota sequencing analysis showed that the gut microbiota structure was reshaped with L. chiayiensis supplementation. Specifically, Lactobacillus and Escherichia increased in abundance and Enterococcus, Lactococcus, Corynebacterium, Weissella and Gallicola decreased. In addition, the bacterial community diversity was significantly increased compared to controls. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that higher bile acids and N-acyl amides concentrations and lower carbohydrates concentrations in L. chiayiensis-fed chickens. Meanwhile, the expression of genes related to nutrient transport and absorption in the intestine was upregulated, which reflected the enhanced digestion and absorption of nutrients in chickens supplemented with L. chiayiensis. Moreover, supplementation of L. chiayiensis down-regulated genes involved in inflammation-related, mainly involved in NF-κB signaling pathway and MHC-II mediated antigen presentation process. Cumulatively, these findings highlight that host-microbiota crosstalk enhances the host growth phenotype in two ways: by enhancing bile acid metabolism and digestive enzyme activity, and reducing the occurrence of intestinal inflammation to promote nutrient absorption and maintain intestinal health. This provides a basis for the application of LAB as an alternative to antibiotics in animal husbandry.

Functional Foods with Modulating Action on Metabolic Risk Factors

Health-related metabolic risk factors, such as elevated blood pressure, hyperglycemia, obesity, and dyslipidemia, can lead to metabolic syndrome and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and death [...].

Protective effect of heat-processed Gynostemma pentaphyllum on high fat diet-induced glucose metabolic disorders mice

Glucose metabolic disorders (GMD) can promote insulin resistance (IR) and diabetes, and damage liver and kidney. Gynostemma pentaphyllum is commonly used in the clinical treatment of diabetes, but the research on its main active constituents and GMD has not been reported yet. This study explores the therapeutic potential of gypenosides of heat-processed Gynostemma pentaphyllum (HGyp) on high-fat diet-induced GMD in mice. HGyp was administered at different doses for 12 weeks. The investigation encompassed an array of parameters, including body weight, blood lipids, blood glucose, and liver tissue components. Metabolomic and network analyses were conducted to uncover potential targets and pathways associated with HGyp treatment. The results revealed that HGyp alleviated GMD by reducing body weight, blood glucose, and improving blood lipids levels, while increasing liver glycogen and antioxidant enzyme levels. Additionally, HGyp exhibited protective effects on liver and kidney health by reducing tissue damage. Fourteen blood components were detected by LC-MS. Metabolomic and network analyses indicated the potential engagement of the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in the therapeutic effects of HGyp.Furthermore, Western blot and ELISA assays confirmed that HGyp upregulated GLO1 and GLUT4 while down-regulating AGEs and RAGE expression in liver tissue. In light of these findings, HGyp demonstrates promise as a potential therapeutic candidate for combating GMD, warranting further exploration in the development of therapeutic strategies or functional products.

Stabilization of Hydroxy-α-Sanshool by Antioxidants Present in the Genus Zanthoxylum

Japanese pepper (sansho, Zanthoxylum piperitum) contains several types of sanshools belonging to N-alkylamides. Because of the long-chain unsaturated fatty acids present in their structure, sanshools are prone to oxidative deterioration, which poses problems in processing. In this paper, we evaluated the effects of antioxidants from the genus Zanthoxylum in preventing sanshool degradation using accelerated tests. An ethanolic extract of segment membranes of the sansho fruit pericarp was incubated at 70 °C for 7 days with different antioxidants to determine the residual amount of hydroxy-α-sanshool (HαS) in the extract. α-Tocopherol (α-Toc) showed excellent HαS-stabilizing activity at low concentrations. Among phenolic acids, we noted that the HαS-stabilizing activity increased with the number of hydroxy groups per molecule. For example, gallic acid and its derivatives exhibited excellent sanshool-stabilizing activity. Quercetin was found to be a superior HαS stabilizer compared with hesperetin and naringenin. However, the effective concentration was much higher for phenolic compounds than for α-Toc. These substances are believed to play a role in preventing the decomposition of sanshools in the pericarp of sansho. These sanshool stabilizers should be useful in the development of new beverages, foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals that take advantage of the taste and flavor of sansho.

Hydroxy-α-sanshool isolated from Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. has antidiabetic effects on high-fat-fed and streptozotocin-treated mice via increasing glycogen synthesis by regulation of PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β/GS signaling

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia. The fruits of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. is a common spice and herbal medicine in China, and hydroxy-α-sanshool (HAS) is the most abundant amide in Z. bungeanum and reported to have significant hypoglycemic effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ameliorative effects of HAS on T2DM and the potential mechanisms responsible for those effects. An acute toxicity test revealed the median lethal dose (LD50) of HAS is 73 mg/kg. C57BL/6 J mice were fed a high-fat diet and given an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) to induce T2DM in mice to evaluate the hypoglycemic effects of HAS. The results showed that HAS significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, reduced pathological changes in the liver and pancreas, and increased liver glycogen content. In addition, glucosamine (GlcN)-induced HepG2 cells were used to establish an insulin resistance cell model and explore the molecular mechanisms of HAS activity. The results demonstrated that HAS significantly increases glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in HepG2 cells and activates the PI3K/Akt pathway in GlcN-induced cells, as well as increases GSK-3β phosphorylation, suppresses phosphorylation of glycogen synthase (GS) and increases glycogen synthesis in liver cells. Furthermore, these effects of HAS were blocked by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. The results of our study suggest that HAS reduces hepatic insulin resistance and increases hepatic glycogen synthesis by activating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β/GS signaling pathway.