Butyric Research Articles

Changes in the growth performance, serum biochemistry, rumen fermentation, rumen microbiota community, and intestinal development in weaned goats during rumen-protected methionine treatment

Rumen-protected methionine (RPM) such as coated methionine (CM) and 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid isopropyl ester (HMBi) was usually used in dairy cows, but how RPM affects meat goats remains unclear. In this study, thirty weaned male Jianzhou Da’er goats were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: fed basal diet or basal diet supplemented with 0.12% CM or 0.22% HMBi, with the aim of examining their impact on growth performance, serum biochemistry, rumen fermentation, rumen microbiota, and intestinal development in meat goats. The findings indicate that HMBi supplementation led to an increase in body weight, feed intake, and feed-to-gain ratio, whereas CM only resulted in an increase in feed intake (all p < 0.05). Both CM and HMBi resulted in an increase in serum total cholesterol (TC), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albeit with a decrease in serum triglycerides (TG) and β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB, all p < 0.05). Both CM and HMBi supplementation decreased the rumen butyric acid concentration (both p < 0.05). The 16S rRNA sequencing showed that HMBi supplementation significantly increased the total abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Both CM and HMBi supplements increased the abundance of Rikenella and Proteiniphilum but decreased the abundance of Eisenbergiella, Enterocloster, Massilioclostridium, Eubacterium, Angelakisella, Blastopirellula, Christensenella, and Pseudoruminococcus. CM supplementation specifically increased the abundance of Desulfobulbus, Sodaliphilus, and Coprococcus while decreasing the prevalence of Anaerocella, Mogibacterium, and Collinsella. The supplementation of HMBi significantly enhanced the abundance of Paraprevotella, Bacilliculturomica, Lachnoclostridium, Dysosmobacter, Barnesiella, and Paludibacter, while decreasing the abundance of Butyrivibrio and Pirellula. Moreover, the administration of both CM and HMBi supplementation resulted in an increase in the ammonia-producing and sulfate-reducing bacteria, whereas a decrease was observed in the ammonia-oxidating, health-associated, and disease-associated bacteria. Correlational analysis revealed that TG and BHB had a positive correlation with disease-associated and ammonia-oxidating bacteria, whereas they had a negative correlation with ammonia-producing bacteria. The serum BUN, ALP, and AST were positively correlated with ammonia-producing bacteria but were negatively correlated with ammonia-oxidating bacteria. Furthermore, both CM and HMBi supplementation improve the development of the small intestine, with HMBi having a better effect. In summary, this study indicates that both CM and HMBi supplementation improve lipid metabolism, nitrogen utilization, and intestinal development. The growth promotion effect of HMBi supplementation may be attributed to the increased abundance of volatile fatty acid-producing and nitrogen-utilizing bacteria and improved intestinal development.

β‐Hydroxy β‐Methyl Butyric Acid (HMB) and Its Potential Doping Relevance: A Pilot Study on Its Urinary Excretion Profile

ABSTRACTβ‐hydroxy β‐methyl butyric acid (HMB), either as the free acid or in the form of its calcium salt, is a component of several dietary supplements marketed to enhance sports performance, due to its role in protein synthesis. In this pilot study, we investigated the urinary excretion profile of HMB, an endogenous metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine. The endogenous reference ranges of HMB, in human urine samples, were monitored by collecting samples from 20 volunteers. Data obtained were compared with those from controlled excretion studies, following the intake of a 3‐g oral dose of HMB. Urine samples were analyzed through a targeted procedure employing a conventional GC‐MS system operating in SIM mode. Our results show that the excreted urinary concentration of HMB significantly exceeds the range of endogenous concentrations for at least 24 h, making possible to detect its exogenous origin.

The association between circulating short-chain fatty acids and blood pressure in Chinese elderly population

The gut microbiome primarily generates short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by fermenting dietary fibers. Though previous studies have linked SCFAs to blood pressure, there remains a lack of research on the relationship between SCFAs levels in the serum of elderly individuals and blood pressure. Based on this, we investigated the associations of serum SCFAs with blood pressure in Chinese older adults in a cross-sectional study. In this report, we recruited 1013 older adults over 60 years of age from June to September 2016 in Lu 'an City, China. Using Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole-Exactive-Orbitrap-Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-QE-Orbitrap MS), we measured the level of various SCFAs, including acetic acid (AA), propanoic acid (PA), butyric acid (BA), isobutyric acid (iso-BA), valeric acid (VA), isovaleric acid (iso-VA), and caproic acid (CA), in serum samples collected from Chinese elderly adults. The study recruited 1013 older adults in total. Multiple logistic regression analysis shows that AA (OR = 0.696, 95%CI: 0.501–0.966) and VA (OR = 0.713, 95%CI: 0.516–0.985) are negatively associated with hypertension. Linear regression analysis shows a negative correlation between AA (β = -3.89, 95% CI: -7.12 – -0.66) and the systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels, and a significant negative association between iso-VA (β = -2.11, 95% CI: -3.94 – -0.29) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels. Whether in unadjusted or adjusted linear regression models, we all observe significant positive associations between CA and blood pressure levels. In the Bayesian kernel-machine regression (BKMR) models, the trends between the mixture of SCFAs and hypertension, SBP are inverse, but not significant; we also observe a significant negative correlation between AA and SBP, and a significant negative association between iso-VA and DBP levels, while CA is significantly positively correlated with SBP and DBP. Collectively, our results advocate for considering SCFA as a potential intervention to lower blood pressure, and especially AA may be a possible target for research. This may provide new perspectives for understanding the role of SCFAs in hypertension.

Effects of moringa polysaccharides on growth performance, immune function, rumen morphology, and microbial community structure in early-weaned goat kids

The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of adding moringa polysaccharides (MOP) on the growth performance, immune function, rumen tissue morphology, and rumen microbial community in early-weaned goat kids. Twenty-one 7-day-old Leizhou male goat kids weighing (3.05 ± 0.63) kg, were randomly divided into a control group (CON group), a low-dose group (LOW group), and a high-dose group (HIG group). MOP was added to the goat kids’ milk replacer (MR) at 0, 0.15, and 0.3% (on dry matter basis),fed until 60 days of age, and four goat kids in each group with body weights close to the mean of each group were selected for slaughter. The results showed that, compared to the CON group, the MOP groups significantly improved final body weight, body measurements, daily weight gain, and feed intake of the early weaned goat kids; significantly reduced the content of propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, and ammoniacal nitrogen; and in addition, the addition of MOP could significantly increase the height of rumen nipple, the content of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the serum. The HIG group significantly increased rumen pH, rumen muscularis layer thickness, rumen wall thickness, and serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), and immunoglobulin M (IgM). In conclusion, the addition of MOP positively impacted the growth performance, serum immune function, and rumen tissue morphology in early-weaned goat kids.

Synbiotic Effects of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei K56 and Prebiotics on the Intestinal Microecology of Children with Obesity.

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei K56 (L. paracasei K56) is a probiotic with weight-loss effects. However, symbiosis research on the combined effects of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei K56 and prebiotics is lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of L. paracasei K56, xylooligosaccharide (XOS), galactooligosaccharide (GOS), polyglucose (PG), and their synbiotic combinations (XOS + K56, GOS + K56, and PG + K56) on metabolism and gut composition in children with obesity, using an in vitro fermentation model. Fecal samples were collected from 14 children with obesity for in vitro fermentation, and the effects of the various treatments in gas production and short chain fatty acid synthesis (SCFAs) were assessed. Treatment with probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics regulated gut microbiota and metabolites in children with obesity. GOS and XOS had higher degradation rates than PG + K56 synbiotics in the gut microbiota of children with obesity. Moreover, treatment with XOS, GOS, and their synbiotic combinations, (XOS + K56) and (GOS + K56), significantly reduced the production of gas, propionic acid, and butyric acid compared with PG + K56 treatment. Treatments with GOS + K56 and XOS + K56 altered the composition of the gut microbiota, improved the abundance of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, and reduced the abundance of Escherichia/Shigella. Overall, this study provides a theoretical foundation for the use of K56-based synbiotics.

Study on Evaluation of Fruit Aroma of Plum Variety Resources Based on Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction Combined with Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

To explore the characteristics of and variations in aroma components across different plum varieties and maturity stages, this study employed headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). This method was used to systematically analyze the aroma components of 12 early-maturing, 15 medium-maturing, and 11 late-maturing plum varieties. The variations in volatile components among these three germplasm types were then compared using multivariate statistical methods. The examination revealed that 138 aromatic components were meticulously identified and quantified, such as 26 aldehydes, 63 esters, 13 ketones, 30 alcohols, and six other compounds. Thirteen main aroma compounds including acetic acid hexyl ester, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol acetate, hexanal, 1-hexanol, 3-hexenal, butanoic acid butyl ester, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, hexanoic acid butyl ester, propanoic acid butyl ester, (E)-2-hexenal, L-.alpha.-terpineol, (Z)-2-hexen-1-ol acetate, and 1-butanol were considered dominant. The orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) combined with variable importance projection (VIP) results showed that 24 differential aroma compounds were screened out from 38 varieties of plum fruits based on their differences in aroma components, which can be used to distinguish plum fruits at different ripening times. Twenty-four aroma-contributing compounds were identified based on their odor activity values (OAVs). Among these, 14 key aroma components with OAVs ≥ 10 were highlighted. In summary, the aroma compounds of early- and late-maturing plum germplasm exhibited rich diversity, with significant differences in aroma components between plums of varying maturity and germplasm. These differences can serve as indicators for identifying different plum germplasm.

Elevated levels of butyric acid in the jejunum of an animal model of broiler chickens: from early onset of Clostridium perfringens infection to clinical disease of necrotic enteritis

BackgroundNecrotic enteritis (NE) is an economically important disease of broiler chickens caused by Clostridium perfringens (CP). The pathogenesis, or disease process, of NE is still not clear. This study aimed to identify the alterations of metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with subclinical or clinical NE in CP infected birds and to investigate the possible variations in the metabolic profile of birds infected with different isolates of CP.MethodologyUsing a well-established NE model, the protein content of feed was changed abruptly before exposing birds to CP isolates with different toxin genes combinations (cpa, cpb2, netB, tpeL; cpa, cpb2, netB; or cpa, cpb2). Metabolomics analysis of jejunal contents was performed by a targeted, fully quantitative LC-MS/MS based assay.ResultsThis study detected statistically significant differential expression of 34 metabolites including organic acids, amino acids, fatty acids, and biogenic amines, including elevation of butyric acid at onset of NE in broiler chickens. Subsequent analysis of broilers infected with CP isolates with different toxin gene combinations confirmed an elevation of butyric acid consistently among 21 differentially expressed metabolites including organic acids, amino acids, and biogenic amines, underscoring its potential role during the development of NE. Furthermore, protein-metabolite network analysis revealed significant alterations in butyric acid and arginine-proline metabolisms.ConclusionThis study indicates a significant metabolic difference between CP-infected and non-infected broiler chickens. Among all the metabolites, butyric acid increased significantly in CP-infected birds compared to non-infected healthy broilers. Logistic regression analysis revealed a positive association between butyric acid (coefficient: 1.23, P < 0.01) and CP infection, while showing a negative association with amino acid metabolism. These findings suggest that butyric acid could be a crucial metabolite linked to the occurrence of NE in broiler chickens and may serve as an early indicator of the disease at the farm level. Further metabolomic experiments using different NE animal models and field studies are needed to determine the specificity and to validate metabolites associated with NE, regardless of predisposing factors.

Impact of corn shredlage and crabtree-negative yeast on silage quality and rumen fermentation characteristics

The physical attributes of corn silage are enhanced by shredlage (SHR), while there is a rising interest in boosting its biological performance. This study aimed to assess and compare the impact of both the chopping method and different yeast strains on ensilage quality including the in vitro evaluation of corn silage. Both types of corn, including chopped and shredded, were harvested on the same day from the same field where the same corn hybrid (Suwan 5) was grown. Subsequently, whole-corn plants were fermented with additives. A 2 × 5 Factorial completely randomized design was employed, where factor A represents corn chopped (CON) and corn shredded (SHR), and factor B represents the additives: no additives, molasses + urea (M + U), M + U + Candida tropicalis KKU20, M + U + Pichia kudriavzevii KKU20, and M + U + saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results demonstrated that SHR fermentation with M + U and yeast significantly increased in vitro dry matter degradability (IVDMD) and organic matter degradability (IVOMD). Specifically, at 4 h post-incubation, the addition of Crabtree-negative yeast led to a 5.8% increase in total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) compared to the Crabtree-positive yeast group (P < 0.01). The C2 (acetic acid) + C4 (normal butyric acid and isobutyric acid): C3 (propionic acid) ratio showed a significant decrease without additives, but P. kudriavzevii KKU20 led to the highest ratio and methane production (P < 0.01). Based on this study, it could be concluded that SHR harvesting led to higher digestion efficiency in the rumen. The use of M + U + yeast also demonstrated uncertain effects on rumen fermentation efficiency, and the inclusion of P. kudriazevii KKU20 may potentially reduce rumen fermentation efficiency when used with corn silage.

Recovery of bio-based volatile fatty acids from anaerobically treated winery wastewater using a closed-loop liquid-liquid hydrophobic membrane contactor system

This research evaluated a closed-loop hydrophobic liquid–liquid membrane contactor (MC) for the recovery of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from the effluent of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) bioreactor treating winery wastewater. Sodium bicarbonate was used as a stripping solution for its operational flexibility and compatibility with downstream bioprocesses. An electrochemical acidification cell (EAC) was tested to continuously adjust of pH of the feed solution to avoid the use of inorganic acids. VFA recovery was optimized under different flow rates and feed pH conditions using a synthetic VFA solution and validated with actual UASB effluent. Lower feed pH resulted in higher VFA recovery due to increased protonation of the acids. This effect was more pronounced when using synthetic VFA solutions compared to real UASB effluent. Specifically, the MC system recovered 16 ± 5 % of acetic acid at 0.3 ± 0.1 gCOD/m2h flux and 34 ± 4 % of butyric acid at 0.5 ± 0.1 gCOD/m2h flux at an unadjusted UASB effluent feed pH of 4.9, compared to 22 ± 3 % at 0.5 ± 0.1 gCOD/m2h flux and 46 ± 5 % at 0.7 ± 0.1 gCOD/m2h flux, respectively, at pH 2. The EAC effectively lowered the feed pH of UASB effluent to 3.9, achieving acetic acid recovery of 22 ± 3 % at a mass flux of 0.2 ± 0.1 gCOD/m2h, and butyric acid recovery of 45 ± 1 % at a mass flux of 0.6 ± 0.1 gCOD/m2h. These moderate recovery efficiencies are likely influenced by the lower pH gradient resulting from the use of sodium bicarbonate. However, the compatibility of sodium bicarbonate with bioprocesses offers the advantage that the proposed UASB-MC system can be seamlessly integrated with downstream bioprocesses to produce valuable end products for other markets, such as PHA for plastics and microbial proteins for animal feed.

Ambient PMs Pollution, Blood Pressure, Potential Mediation by Short-Chain Fatty Acids: A Prospective Panel Study of Young Adults in China

BackgroundThe concurrent effects of particulate matter (PM) on both blood pressure (BP) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are insufficiently explored, with limited research on the potential mediating roles of SCFAs. MethodsIn this prospective panel study with 4 follow-ups, we recruited 40 college students in Hefei, China, to assess the impacts of short-term exposure to PM (aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm (PM10), ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), and ≤1 μm (PM1)) on BP and SCFAs, along with potential mechanisms. Real-time PM data, urinary SCFAs levels, and BP indicators were systematically collected. Linear mixed-effects models assessed the relationships between PM, SCFAs, and BP. Mediation analyses explored SCFAs’ mediating role in the PM-BP association. ResultsPM exposure was positively linked to BP and negatively associated with SCFAs. For a 10μg/m3 rise in PM10 at lag 0-72h, there were notable reductions of 0.0019% (95%CI: -0.0028, -0.0010) in Acetic acid, 0.0262% (-0.0369, -0.0155) in Propionic acid, and 0.0702% (-0.1025, -0.0378) in Butyric acid. Systolic BP, diastolic BP, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) increased by 2.60mmHg (0.96, 4.25), 2.24mmHg (1.18, 3.31), and 2.36mmHg (1.20, 3.53), respectively, per 10-μg/m3 rise in PM1 at lag 0-24h. Decreased SCFAs levels explained significant portions (24.69% to 31.80%) of the elevated MAP due to PM10. Stronger associations were found in females and individuals with abnormal BMI. ConclusionsOur study shows that PM exposure decreases urinary SCFAs levels, which partially mediate the impact of PM on elevated BP. These findings enhance our comprehension of the pathways linking PM exposure to BP changes.

Improved Hydrothermal Conversion of Pea Pod Biomass for Production of Platform Chemicals with Organic Acid Catalysts

Agro-industries produce over 2 billion tons of agricultural waste annually, including by-products like bagasse, molasses, seeds, stems, leaves, straw, and shells. The use of agro-industrial waste is a way to reduce the impact of industrial processes on the environment. The pea pod is a biomass with a high concentration of cellulose, hemicellulose and some lignin; therefore, it can be used to produce platform chemicals by means of a hydrothermal process. There is limited research on the hydrolysis of pea biomass, but it has been shown to obtain high yields. This study analyzed the effectiveness and selectivity of the hydrothermal process using pea pod biomass with a particle size of 0.5 mm at 180 °C for one hour. A 500 mL reactor was used, with a biomass-to-acid solution ratio of 1:20. The concentration of the acid solution was 0.02 M. The concentrations of sugar, formic acid, levulinic acid, HMF, and furfural produced were measured. Among the catalysts studied, adipic acid catalysis showed the highest yield of 65.16%, with 37.09% of sugar, 16.37% of formic acid, and 11.71% of levulinic acid. On the other hand, the catalysts with chloroacetic acid, butyric acid, anthranilic acid, and phthalic acid were less effective but demonstrated selectivity for sugar production, proving that the liquid phase obtained using the catalyst with those acids can be used as carbon sources for a fermentation process. In general, when comparing the process with or without the use of a catalyst, it is observed that with a catalyst in the reaction, the amount of HMF and furfural produced is reduced and the selectivity with respect to sugar production is increased.

Integrative analysis of whole genome bisulfite and transcriptome sequencing reveals the effect of sodium butyrate on DNA methylation in the differentiation of bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells

Butyric acid as a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) is one of the key microbial metabolites of ruminants. Numerous studies indicate that butyrate is crucial in muscle growth and development, and plays an important molecular regulatory role mainly by inhibiting histone deacetylation. DNA methylation, a major epigenetic modification, is involved in cell differentiation. Butyrate, in addition to its role in acetylation modifications, can alter the DNA methylation status of cells. However, the impact of butyrate on the DNA methylation of bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells (SMSCs) remains unclear. In this study, we developed a differentiation model of SMSCs and employed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) alongside whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) to explore the effects of butyrate treatment on DNA methylation status and its relationship with gene expression. Treatment of SMSCs with sodium butyrate (NaB) at 1.0 mM for 2 days significantly inhibited the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3A) at the mRNA and protein levels while promoting the expression of demethylases (TET1, TET2, TET3) at mRNA levels. WGBS identified 4292 differentially methylated regions (DMRs), comprising 2294 hypermethylated and 1998 hypomethylated regions. These DMRs were significantly enriched in the MAPK, cAMP, and Wnt signaling pathways, all of which are implicated in myogenesis and development. Combining RNA-seq and WGBS data revealed a total of 130 overlapping genes, including MDFIC, CREBBP, DMD, LTBP2 and KLF4. These genes are predominantly involved in regulating the FoxO, MAPK, PI3K-Akt, and Wnt signaling pathways. This study provides new insights into the effects of butyrate-mediated DNA methylation on SMSC development and enhances our understanding of butyrate as an epigenetic modifier beyond its role in acetylation.

Gut microbiome metabolites, molecular mimicry, and species-level variation drive long-term efficacy and adverse event outcomes in lung cancer survivors

The influence of the gut microbiota on long-term immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) is poorly understood, as are the underlying mechanisms. We performed gut metagenome and metabolome sequencing of gut microbiotas from patients with lung cancer initially treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy and explored the underlying mechanisms mediating long-term (median follow-up 1167 days) ICI responses and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Results were validated in external, publicly-available datasets (Routy, Lee, and McCulloch cohorts). The ICI benefit group was enriched for propionate (P=0.01) and butyrate/isobutyrate (P=0.12) compared with the resistance group, which was validated in the McCulloch cohort (propionate P<0.001, butyrate/isobutyrate P=0.002). The acetyl-CoA pathway (P=0.02) in beneficial species mainly mediated butyrate production. Microbiota sequences from irAE patients aligned with antigenic epitopes found in autoimmune diseases. Microbiotas of responsive patients contained more lung cancer-related antigens (P=0.07), which was validated in the Routy cohort (P=0.02). Escherichia coli and SGB15342 of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii showed strain-level variations corresponding to clinical phenotypes. Metabolome validation reviewed more abundant acetic acid (P=0.03), propionic acid (P=0.09), and butyric acid (P=0.02) in the benefit group than the resistance group, and patients with higher acetic, propionic, and butyric acid levels had a longer progression-free survival and lower risk of tumor progression after adjusting for histopathological subtype and stage (P<0.05). Long-term ICI survivors have coevolved a compact microbial community with high butyrate production, and molecular mimicry of autoimmune and tumor antigens by microbiota contribute to outcomes. These results not only characterize the gut microbiotas of patients who benefit long term from ICIs but pave the way for "smart" fecal microbiota transplantation. Registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000032088). This work was supported by Beijing Natural Science Foundation (7232110), National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding (2022-PUMCH-A-072, 2023-PUMCH-C-054), CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (CIFMS) (2022-I2M-C&T-B-010).

Differentiation of Indonesian Specialty Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) Varieties and Origins Using Phenolic Contents, Antioxidant Activities, and Spectrometric Fingerprints for Traceability

This study investigated the influence of geographical origin and genetic variety in differentiating specialty cocoa (Theobroma cocoa) from various regions across Indonesia. By leveraging intrinsic markers such as antioxidant activity, total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC), infrared (IR), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) fingerprints, and sensory profiles, we successfully distinguished cocoa origins and varieties through principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Among 27 samples from five provinces, the West Papua beans exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, TPC, and TFC. In addition, the PCA analysis reduced 63 intrinsic quality markers into two principal components (PC1 and PC2), explaining 84.8% of the variance, while HCA categorized samples into three distinct groups. The primary discriminating intrinsic markers included volatile compounds like 2- and 3-methyl butanoic acids, 2-methyl propanoic acid, 2,3-butanediol, 5-butyl nonane, phenylethyl alcohol, 2-nonanol, and 4,6-dimethyl dodecane, alongside with sensory attributes (acidity, floral notes) and total phenolic content. These results highlighted the importance of incorporating intrinsic markers into grading systems to enhance the traceability and classification of Indonesian specialty cocoa.

To explore pharmacodynamic substances and mechanism of Xuanfei Baidu Decoction on LPS-induced ALI / ARDS by pharmacochemistry and metabolomics

Ethnopharmacological relevanceXuanfei Baidu Decoction (XFBD) is made up of five classic prescriptions, which is composed of 13 traditional Chinese medicines, which have the effects of dispersing lung and resolving dampness, clearing heat and evil, purging lung and detoxification. It is used for epidemic diseases caused by damp toxin obstructing lung. In this paper, the endogenous and exogenous metabolites of ALI / ARDS rats after oral administration of XFBD were studied and the material basis and metabolic pathway of XFBD in relieving ALI / ARDS were explained. Materials and MethodsIn this study, UPLC-Q-TOF / MS qualitative analysis method was established, and plasma-urine-faeces pharmacochemistry was used to identify metabolites in plasma, urine and feces after oral administration of XFBD in rats. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to study the expression of CYP protein in XFBD and monomeric compounds. In addition, the functional mechanism of XFBD in ALI / ARDS rats was elucidated by non-targeted metabolomics. ResultsA total of 77 prototype components and 389 metabolites in plasma, urine and feces were identified by exogenous components, mainly including oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, glucuronidation, sulfation and other reactions. The results of RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry showed that the activity of CYP was inhibited under the pathological state of ALI/ARDS. At the same time, XFBD and its monomeric compounds can change the metabolic process of drugs in vivo by inducing or inhibiting the activity of CYPs. The metabolic process of drugs in vivo is the result of the combined action of different CYPs. In addition, a total of 33 differential metabolites were identified in plasma, 45 in urine and 14 in feces, which were mainly related to the synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, phenylalanine metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, histidine metabolism, butyric acid metabolism and other metabolic pathways. ConclusionsThis study conducted a relatively scientific and systematic analysis of XFBD. A UPLC-Q-TOF / MS qualitative analysis method was established to identify 77 prototype components and 389 metabolites in plasma, urine and feces of rats after oral administration of XFBD.An ARDS rat model was established to analyze the pharmacokinetic differences of XFBD in normal and ARDS model rats and its regulation effect on CYPs.Non-targeted metabolomics was used to identify the pattern recognition of ARDS pathological model, the diagnosis of disease and the intervention effect of XFBD on ARDS. Preliminary discussion was conducted to provide a theoretical basis for clinical rational drug use.

Yeast culture enhances long-term fermentation of corn straw by ruminal microbes for volatile fatty acid production: Performance and mechanism

Ruminal microbes can efficiently ferment biomass waste to produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs). However, keeping long-term efficient VFA production efficiency has become a bottleneck. In this study, yeast culture (YC) was used to enhance the VFA production in long-term fermentation. Results showed that YC group improved the volatile solid removal and VFA concentration to 47.8% and 7.82 g/L, respectively, 18.6% and 16.1% higher than the control, mainly enhancing the acetic, propionic, and butyric acid production. YC addition reduced the bacterial diversity, changed the bacterial composition, and improved interactions among bacteria. The regulation mechanism of YC was to increase the abundance and activity of hydrolytic and acidogenic bacteria such as Prevotella and Treponema, improve bacterial interactions, and further promote expression of functional genes. Ultimately, a long-term efficient ruminal fermentation of corn straw into VFAs was achieved.

The effects of compound probiotics on production performance, rumen fermentation and microbiota of Hu sheep

Fungal probiotics have the potential as feed additives, but less has been explored in ruminant feed up to date. This study aimed to determine the effect of compound probiotics (CPs) with Aspergillus oryzae 1, Aspergillus oryzae 2 and Candida utilis on Hu sheep’s growth performance, rumen fermentation and microbiota. A total of 120 male Hu sheep, aged 2 months and with the body weight of 16.95 ± 0.65 kg were divided into 4 groups. Each group consisted of 5 replicates, with 6 sheep per replicate. Group A was the control group fed with the basal diet. Group B, C and D was supplemented with the basal diet by adding 400, 800 and 1,200 grams per ton (g/t) CPs, respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 60 days after a 10-day adaptation period. The results showed that the average daily gain (ADG) of sheep in the CPs groups were significantly higher, the feed/gain were significantly lower than those in group A in the later stage and the overall period. The addition of CPs increased the economic benefit. The levels of CD4+ and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the CPs groups were higher than those in Group A. The levels of GSH, IgG, IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ in group C were significantly elevated compared with group A. Group B showed a significant increase in rumen NH3-N and cellulase activity. There was no difference in VFAs content between group A and group B, however, with the increasing addition of CPs, the butyric acid and isobutyric acid content tended to decrease. The rumen microbiota analysis indicated that the CPs addition increased the Firmicutes and Proteobacteria abundances, decreased the Bacteroidetes abundance. The correlation analysis showed that Prevotella was negatively correlated with ADG, and the addition of 400 CPs in group B reduced Prevotella’s relative abundance, indicating CPs increased sheep growth by decreasing Prevotella abundance. The CPs addition reduced caspase-3, NF-κB and TNF-α expression in liver, jejunum and rumen tissues. In conclusion, the addition of CPs increased the sheep production performance, reduced inflammation, improved rumen and intestinal health. Considering the above points and economic benefits, the optimal addition of CPs as an additive for Hu sheep is 800 g/t.

Optimization of Volatile Fatty Acids Production Through Anaerobic Digestion for the Valorisation of Chicken Manure

The short-chain, volatile nature of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) distinguishes them as organic molecules. They are essential in organic chemistry, environmental science, microbiology, and many other natural processes. Here are some key details regarding VFAs: they are organic acids that typically have a carbon backbone with functional groups called carboxyl's (COOH). The three most prevalent VFAs are butyric acid (C4), acetic acid (C2), and propionic acid (C3). VFAs are produced when organic matter, especially complex chemical compounds and carbohydrates, is fermented by microorganisms.

Short-chain fatty acids enhance muscle mass and function through the activation of mTOR signalling pathways in sarcopenic mice.

Sarcopenia is a prevalent muscle disorder in old people leading to higher fracture rate, mortality, and other adverse clinical outcomes. Evidence indicates that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are beneficial gut microbial metabolites, were reduced in old people with sarcopenia. This study aimed to determine whether the use of SCFAs as a supplement can be a therapeutic strategy of sarcopenia in a pre-clinical model. Seven-month-old pre-sarcopenic senescent accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice received daily SCFAs cocktail (acetate, butyrate, and propionate) for 3months. Age-matched senescence accelerated mouse resistant 1 (SAMR1) and SAMP8 mice receiving sodium-matched drinking water were control groups. The gut microbiota composition analysis of aged mice with or without sarcopenia was conducted by 16S rDNA sequencing. Gut barrier-related proteins and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration were biomarkers of gut permeability. Colon inflammation levels, circulatory SCFAs concentration, muscle quality, function, and underlying pathways were detected by cell number counting, RT-qPCR, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, measurements of muscle wet weight and grip strength, ex vivo functional test, treadmill endurance test, transcriptomic sequencing, morphological and immunofluorescent staining, as well as western blot. To investigate the role of mTOR signalling pathways in SCFAs treatment, C2C12 myotubes were treated with rapamycin. Aged SAMP8 mice had different microbiota composition, and lower serum butyric acid compared with SAMR1 mice (P<0.05). SCFAs treatment reversed the increment of colon inflammation (2.8-fold lower of il-1β) and gut barrier permeability (1.7-fold lower of LPS) in SAMP8 mice. Increased muscle mass, myofibre cross-sectional area, grip strength, twitch and tetanic force were found in SCFAs-treated mice compared with control SAMP8 mice (P<0.05). Anti-fatigue capacity (1.6-fold) and muscle glycogen (2-fold) also improved after SCFAs treatment (P<0.05). Transcriptomic analysis showed that AMPK, insulin, and mTOR pathways were involved in SCFAs treatment (P<0.05). Regulation of AKT/mTOR/S6K1 and AMPK/PGC1α pathways were found. SCFAs attenuated fat infiltration and improved mitochondria biogenesis of atrophic muscle. In vitro studies indicated that SCFAs inhibited FoxO3a/Atrogin1 and activated mTOR pathways to improve myotube growth (P<0.05), and rapamycin attenuated the effect of SCFAs through the inhibition of mTOR pathways. This study demonstrated that bacterial metabolites SCFAs could attenuate age-related muscle loss and dysfunction, and protein synthesis-related mTOR signalling pathways were involved both in vivo and in vitro.

Mechanism of action of exercise regulating intestinal microflora to improve spontaneous hypertension in rats.

Hypertension is a prevalent cardiovascular disease. Exercise is widely recognized as an effective treatment for hypertension, and it may also influence the composition of the intestinal microflora. However, it remains unclear whether exercise can specifically regulate the intestinal microflora in the context of hypertension treatment. In this study, tail blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was measured using a blood pressure meter after exercise intervention and fecal bacteria transplantation following exercise. Blood lipid levels were assessed using an automatic biochemical analyzer, and 16S rRNA sequencing was employed to analyze the intestinal microflora. Histological examinations of ileal tissue were conducted using HE and Masson staining. Intestinal permeability, inflammatory status, and sympathetic activity were evaluated by measuring the levels of diamine oxidase, D-lactic acid, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, lipopolysaccharide, norepinephrine, angiotensin II, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, and cyclic guanosine monophosphate. Exercise was found to reduce blood pressure and blood lipid levels in SHR. It also improved the composition of the intestinal microflora, as evidenced by a reduced Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, an increase in bacteria that produce acetic and butyric acid, and higher Chao 1 and Shannon diversity indices. Furthermore, exercise reduced the thickness of the fibrotic and muscular layers in the ileum, increased the goblet cell/villus ratio and villus length, and decreased intestinal permeability, inflammatory markers, and sympathetic nerve activity. The intestinal microbial flora regulated by exercise demonstrated similar effects on hypertension. In conclusion, exercise appears to regulate the intestinal microflora, and this exercise-induced change in flora may contribute to improvements in hypertension in rats.