The Anti-Inflammatory Mechanism of Flaxseed Linusorbs on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced RAW 264.7 Macrophages by Modulating TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK Pathway

Improved solubility and bioavailability of cyclolinopeptides by diacylglycerol in the β-cyclodextrin Pickering emulsions

Cyclolinopeptides (CLs) have anti-inflammatory, anti-osteoporosis, and anti-tumor effects, however, low water and oil solubility greatly limit their application. Herein, CLs-loaded β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) emulsions were prepared with different oil phases. The in vitro digestibility, cellular absorption, and anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated. Camellia oil diacylglycerol (CO DAG) showed enhanced dissolving ability for CLs due to high polarity. β-CD formed inclusion complexes with DAG through hydrogen bond and the emulsions showed smaller size and higher physical stability with 50 % (w/w) oil. The in vitro digestibility of the DAG emulsion was increased and the CLs' bioavailability was 13.6-fold higher than CLs in oil. The CLs-loaded Pickering emulsion digesta exhibited a higher nitric oxides (NO) inhibition rate (58.62 %) and Caco-2 cell penetration (3.09 × 10-6 cm/s). Therefore, emulsion formulated with β-cyclodextrin and DAG can effectively improve the solubility and bioavailability of CLs, which has significant potential for application in functional foods and pharmaceutical industry.

Anti-Oxidant and Anti-Cancer Properties of Flaxseed

Bioactive molecules present in plant products determine their very valuable health-promoting properties. Among the plants, due to these properties, particular attention is paid to the seeds of common flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), which have been used for over 6000 years and are known for their benefits. A review of 117 scientific articles indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Wiley Online Library, published between 1997 and 2024, was conducted. These seeds are characterized by a high content of valuable nutrients, such as essential omega-3 fatty acids, including α-linolenic acid (ALA), lignans, isoflavones, phytoestrogens, flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals that influence the digestive system function and have anti-cancer properties. The presence of these bioactive compounds in flaxseeds provide anti-cancer properties.

Flaxseed Linusorb Alleviates Collagen-Induced Rheumatoid Arthritis in Rats via Inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κb/MAPK Signal Pathway and Modulating Gut Microbiota

Flaxseed linusorb (FL) has gradually garnered widespread attention in recent years because of its intriguing bioactivities like anti-inflammation, antimelanogenesis, and even anticancer effects. Based on its proven in vitro anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism, it is supposed that FL may also exhibit an in vivo effect in treating and preventing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat models were established to investigate the potential therapeutic effect of FL, which were intervened with FL via gavage (50 and 100 mg/kg B.W.) and intraperitoneal injection (10 and 20 mg/kg B.W.). After FL treatment, RA clinical symptoms were significantly alleviated, including reduced toe swelling volume and mitigated bone damage in CIA rats. Moreover, a decline in the expression of pro-inflammatory factors (i.e., TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and RA-related proteins (i.e., MMP-3, COX-2, and 5-LOX) was observed to effectively block the TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, FL was discovered to modulate the diversity and composition of intestinal microbiota in CIA rats, where the level of g_Parvibacte, g_Allobaculum, g_Enterococcus, and unclassified_o_Lactobacillales could be significantly increased, whereas the level of Gram-negative bacteria g_Parabacteroides, g_Parasutterella, and g_Paludicola was notably reduced. In conclusion, FL shows promise in RA treatment by inhibiting inflammatory pathways and regulating the gut microbiota.

Establishment of a workflow for high-throughput identification of anti-inflammatory peptides from sea cucumbers

Developing an effective workflow for screening anti-inflammatory peptides is crucial for discovering novel food-derived anti-inflammatory peptides and optimizing the screening and identification process of bioactive peptides. Virtual screening identified three major yolk proteins as target precursor proteins for anti-inflammatory peptides in sea cucumbers. A portfolio of 170 peptides was identified from hydrolysates after 9 h of alcalase treatment by combining antioxidant activity determination and peptidomics analysis. Among these, 12 high-confidence anti-inflammatory peptides were identified through virtual screening. Three of these peptides were shown to effectively inhibit the production of NO and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in RAW264.7 cells. Molecular docking demonstrated that these three peptides exerted their anti-inflammatory effects primarily by binding to the active sites of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase through hydrophobic interactions. This study provided a reference workflow for screening anti-inflammatory peptides, facilitating the discovery of novel anti-inflammatory peptides and the high-value utilization of sea cucumber cooking liquid.

Protective effects of nodosin against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute kidney injury through regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and ferroptosis in rats

This research aimed to explore the impact of nodosin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in rats. The study involved administering nodosin orally at doses of 2 and 4 mg/kg body weight orally to rats for 7 days before induction of AKI. Toward the end of the study, urine, blood, and kidneys were gathered from the rats to undergo biochemical and molecular examination after sacrificing them. Serum Scr, BUN, urine NGAL, and KIM-1 levels were significantly decreased in nodosin-treated AKI rats. Besides, nodosin administration resulted in a significant reduction in kidney MDA and 4-HNE levels. In contrast, antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, GPx, and GST levels increased, as well as Nrf2, NQO1, and HO-1 levels increased, while Keap-1 mRNA levels decreased in AKI rats. In addition, AKI rats treated with nodosin reversed excessive ferroptosis in the kidneys of LPS-induced AKI rats, as evidenced by increased mRNA and protein levels of GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH-1. The administration of nodosin significantly reduced levels of inflammatory markers including TLR4, MYD88, NF-κB p65, IkKβ, and IL-1β, while IL-10 levels increased in the AKI-induced rats. Besides, histopathological changes were reduced in AKI-induced rats treated with nodosin. Nodosin proves highly beneficial in safeguarding the kidney from AKI by regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and ferroptosis. The treatment of AKI could greatly benefit from this option.

Structural Characterization and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Polysaccharides from Tremella fuciformis on Monosodium Urate-Stimulated RAW264.7 Macrophages

The structural characteristics and anti-inflammatory activity of Tremella fuciformis polysaccharides (TFPs) were investigated. The study showed that TFPs were mainly composed of mannose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, glucose, galactose, xylose, and fucose. TFPs significantly inhibited monosodium urate (MSU)-induced inflammation of RAW264.7 cells, as well as the secretion levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-18 cytokines. The concentrations of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species in RAW264.7 macrophages were reduced, but superoxide dismutase activity was increased. RNA-Seq technology was applied to explore the mechanisms of TFPs ameliorating MSU-induced inflammation of RAW264.7 macrophages. Results revealed that TFPs significantly reduce MSU-stimulated inflammatory damage in RAW 264.7 cells by inhibiting signaling pathways like the hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) signaling pathway and erythroblastic oncogene B (ErbB) signaling pathway. This study provides a foundation for TFPs to be developed as novel anti-inflammatory drugs.