Anti-Inflammatory Properties In Vitro and Hypoglycaemic Effects of Phenolics from Cultivated Fruit Body of Phellinus baumii in Type 2 Diabetic Mice

Multi-target anti-diabetic styrylpyrones from Phellinus igniarius: Inhibition of α-glucosidase, protein glycation, and oxidative stress

Bioactivity screening revealed that the EtOAc extract from the culture broth of Phellinus igniarius SY489 exhibited remarkable α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 1.92 μg/mL. Activity- and ultraviolet (UV) profile-guided isolation led to the discovery of four anti-diabetic styrylpyrones (1-4), including two novel compounds, phelignidins A (1) and B (2). Compounds 1 and 2 represent a rare structural type of styrylpyrone dimer, in which one of the pyrone moieties exists in an open-ring state. The absolute configurations of the new compounds 1 and 2, as well as the previously unresolved compound 3, were established. Compounds 1-4 were effective in α-glucosidase inhibition, anti-glycation, and antioxidant assays, surpassing or being comparable to the positive control drugs, with minimal cytotoxicity. Furthermore, studies on α-glucosidase inhibition mechanisms suggested that these compounds interact with α-glucosidase at a single binding site, causing secondary structure unfolding and exerting inhibitory activity via a mixed-type mechanism. These results provide an important basis for developing novel, low-toxicity, multi-target anti-diabetic drugs from edible and medicinal fungi.

Review on the Role of Polyphenols in Preventing and Treating Type 2 Diabetes: Evidence from In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the leading causes of death globally. There was a 70% increase in diabetes-related deaths between 2000 and 2020, particularly among males. This non-communicable disease is characterized by increased insulin resistance, leading to elevated blood sugar levels and, if untreated, resulting in complications such as nerve damage, kidney disease, blindness, and poor wound healing. T2D management includes dietary intervention, physical exercise, and the administration of blood sugar-lowering medication. However, these medications often have side effects related to intestinal discomfort. Therefore, natural alternatives to standard diabetes medications are being sought to improve the quality of life for individuals with this condition. Polyphenols, which are naturally occurring plant metabolites, have emerged as strong candidates for T2D control. Various phenolic acids (e.g., chlorogenic acid), flavonoids (e.g., quercetin), proanthocyanidins (e.g., procyanidin B2), gallotannins (e.g., monogalloyl hexoside), and ellagitannins (e.g., ellagic acid hexoside) can enhance insulin sensitivity in tissues, reduce chronic inflammation, scavenge free radicals, improve insulin secretion, inhibit enzymes involved in carbohydrate digestion, regulate glucose transport across cell membranes, and modulate gut microbiota. This contribution compiles up-to-date evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies on the role of polyphenols in the prevention and management of T2D, emphasizing the mechanisms of action underlying these effects.

Simiao Wan and its ingredients alleviate type 2 diabetes mellitus via IRS1/AKT2/FOXO1/GLUT2 signaling

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease. Simiao Wan (SMW) is a commonly used clinical drug for hyperuricemia treatment. SMW has been confirmed to improve insulin resistance and is expected to be a novel hypoglycemic agent. However, the hypoglycemic bioactive ingredients and mechanisms of action of SMW are unclear.

Objective

To explore the hypoglycemic effects and reveal the mechanisms of SMW and bioactive ingredients (SMW-BI).

Study design and methods

The hypoglycemic effects of SMW and SMW-BI were verified in a mouse model of T2DM induced by streptozotocin (STZ) and a high-fat and high-sugar diet (HFSD). Network pharmacology was used to predict the mechanisms of SMW and SMW-BI. Histological analysis and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) verified network pharmacology results. RT-qPCR results were further verified by immunofluorescence (IFC) and molecular docking. The correlation between proteins and biochemical indicators was analyzed by Spearman's correlation.

Results

Chlorogenic acid, phellodendrine, magnoflorine, jateorhizine, palmatine, berberine, and atractydin were identified as SMW-BI. After 8 weeks of treatment, SMW and SMW-BI decreased the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerols (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), increased the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), alleviated weight loss, and increased serum insulin levels in T2DM mice. In addition, SMW and SMW-BI improved hepatocyte morphology in T2DM mice, decreased the number of adipocytes, and increased liver glycogen. Network pharmacological analysis indicated that SMW and SMW-BI may exert hypoglycemic by regulating insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1)/RAC-beta serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT2)/forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1)/glucose transporter type 2 (GLUT2) signaling. Moreover, correlation analysis showed that SMW and SMW-BI were associated with activation of IRS1, AKT2, and GLUT2, and inhibiting FOXO1. RT-qPCR revealed that SMW and SMW-BI could increase levels of IRS1, AKT2, and GLUT2 in the livers of T2DM mice and lower the level of FOXO1. Furthermore, immunofluorescence analysis showed that FOXO1 expression in the livers of T2DM mice decreased after oral administration of SMW and SMW-BI. Furthermore, molecular docking showed that SMW-BI could bind directly to IRS1 and AKT2.

Conclusion

SMW and SMW-BI are potential hypoglycemic drugs that alleviate T2DM by regulating IRS1/AKT2/FOXO1 signaling. Our study provides a research idea for screening the bioactive ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Effects of Cultivation Methods on the Nutritional Content, Active Component Content, and Antioxidant Activity of Fruiting Bodies of Sanghuangporus baumii (Agaricomycetes)

To provide a scientific reference for improving the sawdust cultivation of Sanghuangporus baumii, comparative studies were conducted on the contents of nutritional components and active components and the antioxidant activity of the fruiting bodies of S. baumii cultivated with sawdust and cut logs. The results indicate that, first, cultivation methods had little effect on the contents of crude fat and the measured 16 kinds of amino acids [including total essential amino acids (EAA), total nonessential amino acids (NEAA), EAA/NEAA, and EAA/total amino acid (TAA)], but had a great influence on the contents of crude protein, crude fiber and TAA. These results suggest that the nutritional content under sawdust cultivation was significantly higher than that under cut-log cultivation. Second, the cultivation methods had little effect on the content of triterpenoids but had a great effect on the contents of polysaccharides, total flavonoids and total phenols, which showed that cut-log cultivation was significantly higher than sawdust cultivation. Third, the cultivation methods had a great effect on the antioxidant activities (ABTS and FRAP), which showed that cut-log cultivation was significantly higher than sawdust cultivation. The contents of polysaccharides, total flavonoids, and total phenols and the ABTS and FRAP activities using sawdust cultivation were lower than those using cut-log cultivation, which may be related to the mushroom strains, cultivation medium formula and cultivation technology. The results provide a solid basis for the improvement and promotion of new cultivation technologies for S. baumii.

Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Mushrooms

Research progress of active compounds and biological activities of medicinal mushroom-Ganoderma spp., Hericium spp., Phellinus spp., and Cordyceps spp. were summarized systematically. The main active compounds of medicinal mushrooms included are polysaccharides, proteins, triterpenes, meroterpenoids, polyphenols and nitrogen-containing compounds. The biological activities of the compounds cover immunomodulatory activity, antitumor activity, hypoglycemic activity, hepatoprotective activity, and activity of regulation of intellectual flora.

Phellinus baumii Polyphenol: A Potential Therapeutic Candidate against Lung Cancer Cells

Phellinus baumii, a fungus that grows on mulberry trees and is used in traditional Chinese medicine, exerts therapeutic effects against various diseases, including cancer. Polyphenols, generally considered to be antioxidants, have antitumor and proapoptotic effects. In this study, we identified the composition of Phellinus baumii polyphenol (PBP) and characterized its 17 chemical components by UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS. Furthermore, to clarify the potential mechanism of PBP against Lung Cancer Cells, network pharmacology and experimental verification were combined. Molecular docking elucidated the binding conformation and mechanism of the primary active components (Osmundacetone and hispidin) to the core targets CASP3, PARP1 and TP53. In addition, potential molecular mechanisms of PBP predicted by network pharmacology analysis were validated in vitro. PBP significantly inhibited the human lung cancer A549 cells and showed typical apoptotic characteristics, without significant cytotoxicity to normal human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. Analysis using flow cytometry and western blot indicated that PBP caused apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) depression in A549 cells to exercise its antitumor effects. These results reveal that PBP has great potential for use as an active ingredient for antitumor therapy.

The gut mycobiome in health, disease, and clinical applications in association with the gut bacterial microbiome assembly

The gut mycobiome (fungi) is a small but crucial component of the gut microbiome in humans. Intestinal fungi regulate host homoeostasis, pathophysiological and physiological processes, and the assembly of the co-residing gut bacterial microbiome. Over the past decade, accumulating studies have characterised the gut mycobiome in health and several pathological conditions. We review the compositional and functional diversity of the gut mycobiome in healthy populations from birth to adulthood. We describe factors influencing the gut mycobiome and the roles of intestinal fungi-especially Candida and Saccharomyces spp-in diseases and therapies with a particular focus on their synergism with the gut bacterial microbiome and host immunity. Finally, we discuss the underappreciated effects of gut fungi in clinical implications, and highlight future microbiome-based therapies that harness the tripartite relationship among the gut mycobiome, bacterial microbiome, and host immunity, aiming to restore a core gut mycobiome and microbiome and to improve clinical efficacy.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of an aminoglycan-rich exopolysaccharide from the submerged fermentation of Bacillus thuringiensis

Proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis are widely used as biopesticides but little is known about its exopolysaccharides. The exopolysaccharide BPS-2 was extracted from B. thuringiensis IX-01 after high-cell-density fermentation. BPS-2 is a heteropolysaccharide (molecular weight 29.36 kDa) composed of D-galactosamine, arabinose, glucosamine, glucose, and mannose in molar ratios 5.53: 1.77:4.74:3.24:1. In vitro upper gastrointestinal simulations showed that BPS-2 has strong anti-digestive capacity, with scavenging of DPPH, hydroxyl, ABTS, and superoxide anions radicals of 31.34 ± 1.67 %, 32.43 ± 3.01 %, 34.31 ± 2.12 %, and 48.53 ± 3.55 %, respectively, after BPS-2 entered the colon. It significantly inhibited production of lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide and multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines and had proliferative effects on RAW 264.7 cells. BPS-2 inhibited malondialdehyde secretion and elevated activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidants, significantly improving the antioxidant status of inflammation model cells. This first report of the in vitro anti-inflammation and antioxidant properties of BPS-2 from B. thuringiensis provides a basis for biopharmaceutical applications.

Structural diversity and bioactivity of polysaccharides from medicinal mushroom Phellinus spp.: A review

Phellinus spp., an important medicinal fungus mushroom extensively cultivated and consumed in East Asia for over 2000 years, is traditionally considered a precious food supplement and medicinal ingredient. Published studies showed that the polysaccharides are major bioactive macromolecules from Phellinus spp. (PPs) with multiple health-promoting effects, including immunomodulatory, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and other bioactivities. Although the polysaccharides extracted from the fruiting body, mycelium, and fermentation broth of Phellinus spp. have been extensively studied for the extraction and purification methods, structural characteristics, and pharmacological activities, the knowledge for their structures and bioactivity relationship, toxicologic effects, and pharmacokinetic profile is limited. This review systematically summarizes the recent progress in the isolation and purification, chemical structures, bioactivities, and the underlying mechanisms of PPs. Information from this review provides insights into the further development of polysaccharides from PPs as therapeutic agents and functional foods.

IGF-1 ameliorates streptozotocin-induced pancreatic β cell dysfunction and apoptosis via activating IRS1/PI3K/Akt/FOXO1 pathway

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an endocrine disorder with pancreatic β cell dysfunction and/or reduced insulin sensitivity. IGF-1 is critically involved in pancreatic β cell growth, differentiation, and insulin secretion. Insulin-mediated IRS1/PI3K/Akt/FOXO1 signaling has been proved to be closely associated with pancreatic β cell function, hepatic glucose metabolism, and the development of T2DM. This present work was designed to demonstrate the protective role of IGF-1 against pancreatic β cell dysfunction and to probe into the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

Herein, cell viability, cell apoptosis, insulin secretion, oxidative stress, and glycolysis in STZ-treated INS-1 cells were measured, so as to determine the biological function of IGF-1 against pancreatic β cell dysfunction in T2DM. Additionally, whether IGF-1 could activate IRS1/PI3K/Akt/FOXO1 signaling pathway to manipulate the progression of T2DM was also investigated.

RESULTS

It was discovered that IGF-1 treatment enhanced the viability and suppressed the apoptosis of STZ-treated INS-1 cells. Besides, IGF-1 treatment augmented insulin secretion of INS-1 cells in response to STZ. Moreover, IGF-1 exerted protective role against oxidative damage and displayed inhibitory effect on glycolysis in STZ-treated INS-1 cells. Mechanistically, IGF-1 treatment markedly boosted the activation of IRS1/PI3K/Akt/FOXO1 pathway. Furthermore, treatment with AG1024 (an inhibitor of IGF-1R) partially abolished the actions of IGF-1 on cell viability, cell apoptosis, insulin secretion, oxidative stress, and glycolysis in STZ-treated INS-1 cells.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, IGF-1 could improve the viability and inhibit the apoptosis of STZ-treated pancreatic β cells, induce insulin secretion, alleviate oxidative damage, as well as arrest glycolysis by activating IRS1/PI3K/Akt/FOXO1 pathway.

Coix seed polysaccharides alleviate type 2 diabetes mellitus via gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids activation of IGF1/PI3K/AKT signaling

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become a worldwide concern in recent years. Coix seed (CS) as a homologous substance of traditional Chinese medicine and food, its polysaccharides can improve the symptoms of patients with metabolic disorders. Since most plant polysaccharides are difficult to digest and absorb, we hypothesized that Coix seed polysaccharides (CSP) exert hypoglycemic effects through the gut. In this study, the underlying mechanisms regulating hypoglycemic effects of CSP on a T2DM mouse model were investigated. After treatment with CSP, serum insulin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased, while total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were decreased in T2DM mice. In addition, CSP treatment helped repair the intestinal barrier and modulated the gut microbial composition in T2DM mice, mainly facilitating the growth of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, Spearman's analysis revealed these bacteria were positively related with the hypoglycemic efficacy of CSP. Colonic transcriptome analysis indicated the hypoglycemic effect of CSP was associated with the activation of the IGF1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Correlative analysis revealed that this activation may result from the increase of SCFAs-producing bacteria by CSP. GC-MS detection verified that CSP treatment increased fecal SCFAs levels. Molecular docking revealed that SCFAs could bind with IGF1, PI3K, and AKT. Our findings demonstrated that CSP treatment modulates gut microbial composition, especially of the SCFAs-producing bacteria, activates the IGF1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, and exhibits hypoglycemic efficacy.

Inhibitory Effect of Phellinus baumii Extract on CFA-Induced Inflammation in MH-S Cells through Nuclear Factor-κB and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathways

Phellinus baumii is a mushroom utilized as a traditional medicine for a wide range of human ailments, including diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and cancer, in Asia. The purpose of this study was to find out whether Phellinus baumii extract (PBE) could reduce inflammation caused by coal fly ash (CFA) in alveolar macrophages (MH-S). The anti-inflammatory effect of PBE was evaluated by measuring the nitric oxide (NO) concentration after the onset of CFA-stimulated inflammation in MH-S cells. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to examine inflammatory gene expression. Western blotting and immunofluorescence (IF) studies were used to investigate the inflammatory mechanism in MH-S cells. According to our results, the PBE suppressed CFA-induced NO generation in the MH-S cells dose-dependently. Furthermore, PBE inhibited the proinflammatory mediators and cytokines generated by exposure to CFA, including cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Real-time PCR was also used to determine the inhibiting effect of the PBE on proinflammatory factors such as COX-2, iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Moreover, Western blot was used to assess the effects of the PBE on the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in the CFA-stimulated MH-S cells. The suppressive effect of the PBE on phosphorylated (p)-NF-κB translocation was also investigated using IF analysis. This study showed that the PBE suppressed the CFA-induced inflammation in the MH-S cells by suppressing the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, which suggests its potential usefulness in reducing lung inflammation.