Edible Herb Research Articles

Chemical Composition and Antiulcer Effects of Filipendula palmata in Mice.

Filipendula palmata (Pall) Maxim, is a wild edible herb in Northeast China. However, little is known about its constituents and bioactivities. In this study, the gastroprotective effect of the n-butanol fraction of F. palmata in mice induced by ethanol was investigated. The chemical research was performed using multiple chromatographic approaches. In addition, the active component and mechanism of action were researched. The results showed that F. palmata significantly alleviated ulcer damage in mice, prevented gastric mucosa from the lesion induced by absolute ethanol, increased superoxide dismutase and catalase levels, and decreased malondialdehyde content. Further study revealed that F. palmata downregulated the production of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum and the expression in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. The chemical study led to the isolation of thirteen compounds, one of which exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activities by facilitating the polarization of macrophages. Our work revealed that F. palmata possessed gastroprotective efficacy, and anti-inflammation and antioxidation were involved in the mechanisms. The main components in the n-butanol fraction of F. palmata, flavonoids, having an anti-inflammatory effect in RAW 264.7 cells, might be related to the antiulcer activity.

Varietal Screening and Maturity Stage Evaluation of Corn (Zea mays L.) Microgreens Through Sensory and Acceptability Study as Potential Food in Southern Philippines

Background: Microgreens is defined as young seedlings of edible vegetables and herbs which are used to add spiciness and sweetness to foods. In the market it is usually products of certain herb and vegetable species; but there were limited published research study that corn is grown as Microgreens especially in the Philippines. This significantly aims to test the acceptability of corn varieties of University of Southern Mindanao Philippines as potential food for microgreens. Methods: A study was conducted to explore the potential of corn microgreens as culinary ingredient, to assess consumers’ acceptability on different varieties of corn to be prepared as microgreens and to evaluate specific harvesting stage and light response which are ideal in microgreen production. In study 1, response of six corn varieties produced in Southern Philippines were tested, namely: ‘Sweet’ corn and glutinous corn as the commercial checks and four USM varieties (USM vars 6, 10 and 24 and USMARC NCH-33). For study 2, different harvesting stages of “Sweet Corn” seed subjected to light and without light responses were evaluated at 6 and 8 days after sowing (DAS). Result: Results of the sensory evaluation revealed high consumers’ acceptability on the three USM varieties, namely: USM Vars 6, 10 and 24 and Sweet Corn which were harvested at 6 DAS with or without light exposure. With these, it can be concluded that corn seeds can also be grown and produced as microgreen products aside from its benefit as staple crop.

Development of colloidal carbon-based immunoassay for the determination of thiamethoxam in medicinal and edible Lonicerae Japonicae Flos.

Thiamethoxam is one of the top three neonicotinoids found in the environment and in food. The widespread use of thiamethoxam in medicinal and edible herbs threatens their safe use. Therefore, it is particularly important to develop a rapid and simple approach to detect thiamethoxam residues in herbal medicines. In this study, colloidal carbon-based immunochromatographic strip (CNP-ICS) and colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic test strip (GNP-ICS) methods were respectively developed for the determination of thiamethoxam. The cutoff value of CNP-ICS was 0.1ngmL-1, which is six times more sensitive than that of the GNP-ICS method (0.6ngmL-1). The CNP-ICS method was applied to detect thiamethoxam in medicinal and edible Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (LJF) for the first time, with a limit of detection of 10ngg-1. The detection results of thiamethoxam in 26 batches of LJF samples by the CNP-ICS were consistent with those of the LC-MS/MS method. High residue levels (10.16-530.40ngg-1) and high detection rates (69.23%) of thiamethoxam in LJF were observed. The CNP-ICS prepared in this study has the merits of low cost, simple preparation, non-toxicity, and high sensitivity, which can be utilized for rapid field screening of thiamethoxam residues in complex matrices such as herbal medicines.

Isolation, In Vitro Antioxidant Capacity, Hypoglycemic Activity and Immunoactivity Evaluation of Polysaccharides from Coriandrum sativum L.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is a classical medicinal and edible herb as well as a spice, but the physicochemical and biological properties of its polysaccharides have not been fully studied. In this study, the polysaccharides were extracted using an ultrasonic-assisted method and purified from fresh coriander, and then the coriander polysaccharide (CSP) fraction was separated using an agarose gel Q-Sepharose Fast Flow column. The total sugar content, protein content and monosaccharides composition of CSPs were determined using a phenol–sulfuric acid method, Coomassie Brilliant Blue method and HPLC. The structural characterization was detected using ultraviolet spectrophotometry and FT-IR spectroscopy. DPPH and ABTS free radicals were used to explore their antioxidant activities, while the inhibitory abilities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase were used to evaluate their hypoglycemic activity. After that, the immunomodulatory and antitumor activities were investigated using macrophage RAW264.7 and HepG2 cells as the targets. The results showed that the total sugar and protein contents of CSPs were 66.90 ± 1.44% and 1.06 ± 0.32%, respectively. CSPs were mainly composed of fucose, rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, glucose, galacturonic acid and glucuronic acid, with a molar ratio of 1.13:15.11:9.60:25.98:1.55:44.33:2.29, and may be an acidic heteropolysaccharide containing pyran rings, α- and β-glycosidic bonds and glucuronic acid. Results from in vitro experiments of biological activities showed that the IC50 of CSPs for scavenging DPPH and ABTS free radicals were 0.759 mg/mL and 1.758 mg/mL, respectively; the IC50 values for inhibiting the activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase were 0.634 mg/mL and 2.178 mg/mL, respectively; the CSPs with a concentration of 25~200 μg/mL showed no obvious toxicity to macrophage RAW264.7, and when treated with 100 μg/mL of CSPs, the relative cell phagocytosis capacity and secreted nitric oxide amount of RAW264.7 were 153.75 ± 12.01% and 133.56 ± 5.37%, respectively; CSPs showed a concentration-dependent ability to inhibit the growth of HepG2 cells within the test concentration of 0.25–2.0 mg/mL. Summarizing the results, due to their excellent antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activities, the coriander acid polysaccharides were expected to show good potential in comprehensive development of food and medicine.

Phytochemical analysis of dried ginger extract and its inhibitory effect and mechanism on Helicobacter pylori and associated ureases.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), one of the most common infectious pathogens in the world, can cause gastritis, digestive ulcers, and even gastric cancer. H. pylori urease (HPU) is a distinctive virulence factor of H. pylori that allows it to be distinguished from other pathogens. Dried ginger is a famous edible and medicinal herb that is commonly used to prevent and treat gastrointestinal tract-related diseases. In this study, phytochemical analysis of the aqueous extract of dried ginger (DGE) and the inhibition of DGE on H. pylori was investigated. Subsequently, we evaluated the inhibitory activity of DGE against enzymes including HPU and jack bean urease (JBU) and determined its potential mechanism of action. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis indicated that a total of 63 compounds including seven glycosides, nine terpenoids, two esters, seven phenols, eight lignans, five phenylpropanoids, and four phenolic acids were identified in DGE. DGE was observed to inhibit the growth of four H. pylori strains (ATCC 43504, NCTC 26695, SS1, and ICDC 111001) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values spanning the range of 0.05 to 1.50 mg mL-1. Moreover, DGE has higher enzyme inhibitory activity on HPU (IC50 = 0.49 ± 0.01 mg mL-1) than on JBU (IC50 = 0.54 ± 0.01 mg mL-1). Enzyme inhibitory kinetic analysis revealed that the inhibition type of DGE against HPU was slow-binding and anti-competitive, whereas it was slow-binding and mixed type on JBU. A further mechanism study indicated that the protective effect of sulfhydryl-containing compounds on enzyme activity was significantly better than that of inorganic compounds, indicating that the action site of DGE inhibition of enzyme was the sulfhydryl residue. The results of DTT reactivation experiments showed that the DGE-urease complex was reversible. Furthermore, molecular docking investigation showed that the main components of DGE interacted with sulfhydryl groups and Ni2+. In conclusion, DGE effectively inhibited the growth of H. pylori and the activity of its key virulence factor urease. And the in-depth study of the kinetic characteristics and the mechanism of action showed that the active site sulfhydryl group and Ni2+ might be the targets of urease inhibition by DGE. Our study may provide experimental evidence for the traditional application of dried ginger in the treatment of H. pylori-associated gastric diseases.

Gastrointestinal motility modulation efficacy-related chemical marker findings and QAMS-based quality control of Agastache rugosa.

Agastache rugosa (AR), a traditional edible and medicinal herb, is often used for treating gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorder. But little effort has been done on its gastrointestinal motility modulation (GMM) efficacy-related components and quality control of AR. In this study, a novel strategy was proposed to find GMM efficacy-related chemical markers for the quality control of AR. Firstly, network pharmacology and serum pharmacochemistry were applied to predict potential GMM efficacy-related marker components. Secondly, the GMM efficacy-related marker components were verified through literature matching, target isolation/identification and activity evaluation. Lastly, a quantitative analysis of multiple components by a single marker (QAMS)-based method for simultaneous quantification of marker components was established and validated by HPLC-DAD. The results showed that nine components in AR were screened as potential GMM related components, five of which (rosmarinic acid, tilianin, apigenin, acacetin, and cirsimaritin) were matched by literatures, and four (acacetin-7-O-(6''-O-malonyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside, agastachoside, acacetin-7-O-(2''-O-acetyl-6''-O-malonyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside, and isoagastachoside) were chemically identified and newly evaluated on zebrafish model. The nine components were used as marker compounds to develop an effective QAMS-based method for the quantitative evaluation of 26 batches of commercial AR samples.

Dimeric guaianolide sesquiterpenoids from the flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum ameliorate hepatic steatosis through mitigating SIRT1-mediated lipid accumulation and ferroptosis.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) acts as the primary contributor to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and potentially hepatocellular carcinoma. The flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum, a traditional edible medicinal herb, have been widely used in China for more than 2000 years. However, the function of C. indicum in managing NAFLD has seldom been investigated. To reveal the novel active components and underlying mechanisms of C. indicum in treating NAFLD. An MS/MS-based molecular networking-guided strategy was used for the chemical investigation. The structure identification of the new compounds involved high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS), 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and X-ray crystallographic analysis. The biological evaluation was performed using Nile Red staining, flow cytometry, commercial kits, western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation, isothermal titration calorimetry, cellular thermal shift assay, drug affinity responsive target stability assay, molecular docking, and confocal immunofluorescence. A total of 27 new dimeric sesquiterpenoids, chryindicolides A-Z (1-26) and chrysanthemolide C (27), together with seven known compounds, were isolated from the flowers of C. indicum under the guide of MS/MS-based molecular networking. Among them, compounds 1-7 were rare chlorine-containing guaianolide dimers. Chryindicolide O (15) directly bound and activated the deacetylase Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) to reduce de novo lipogenesis, enhance fatty acid β-oxidation, and inhibit ferroptosis in palmitic acid and oleic acid (P/O)-induced AML12 hepatocytes. In addition, chryindicolide O significantly ameliorated liver steatosis in high-fat diet-fed zebrafish. Novel guaianolide dimers from C. indicum alleviated hepatic steatosis through mitigating SIRT1-mediated lipid accumulation and ferroptosis, suggesting that they could be further developed as candidates against NAFLD.

Edible wild herbs and mushrooms of Tusheti (the eastern Greater Caucasus), Georgia

Edible wild herbs and mushrooms of Tusheti (the eastern Greater Caucasus), Georgia

Underutilized edible Himalayan herb, Viola canescens Wall.; chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity against respiratory tract pathogens

Understanding the intricacies of herbs and foods against bacterial infections is paramount for informed therapeutic choices. Delving into this domain, current study was focused to assess antimicrobial properties of Viola canescens organ specific extracts against prevalent respiratory tract pathogens (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumonia). Our methodology entailed proximate composition, TPC, TFC, Total condensed tannins and comprehensive chemical profiling by GC-MS, UPLC-PDA, and UPLC-MS/MS. Further, in-vitro, antioxidant potential through ABTS ֹ+ and DPPH ֹ radical scavenging assays was assessed. The root showed higher amount of proximate composition than its counterparts. Further, ethanol extract showed highest TPC (32.15±0.92mg GAE/g), TFC (125.61±2.28mg RE/g), and comparable TCT with methanol extract (34±0.19mg CE/g). UPLC analysis showed that p-coumaric acid was most predominant followed by rutin and luteolin among the V. canescens parts. In GC/MS analysis, methyl linoleate emerged as a major component as 10.70%, 17.62%, and 35.90% in flowers, leaves, and roots, respectively. Further, UHPLC- MS/MS data-based METLIN search revealed the presence of flavonoids, coumarins, terpenoids, and fatty acid derivatives etc. Chemo-metric analysis also showed variations of metabolites in different parts. All samples showed significant antioxidant activity with highest in methanol and ethanol flower extracts (0.037±0.001, 0.071±0.001 DPPHֹ and ABTS ֹ + IC50 mg/mL). The study suggested aerial parts can be a promising source of antioxidant and antimicrobial agents that may protect against respiratory tract pathogens similar to azithromycin. This substantiates the potential of V. canescens as a foundational ingredient for novel therapeutics.

Research Update on the Therapeutic Potential of Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum Linn.) with Threatened Status.

Garden cress (Lepidium sativum) has been used in India for medicinal purposes since the Vedic era. Garden cress, a native of Egypt and southwest Asia, is a small perennial edible herb that has been used to treat many diseases for centuries. The seeds, leaves as well as roots have medicinal properties. The seeds are rich in protein, fat, calcium, and iron and have high nutritional value. They are considered to be galactagogue, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, antiasthmatic and antidiarrheal. Leaves, seeds, and aerial parts extracts are found to have alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, polypeptides, vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Lepidium sativum is known for its pungent odor due to the several volatile oils and has been used to treat various conditions, including respiratory disorders, muscle pain, inflammation, and bone fractures in the past. Lepidium sativum is a fast-growing annual herb; in India, it is commonly known as Chandrasoor. Whole fruits or seeds are used, fresh or dried, as a seasoning with a peppery flavor. Boiled seeds are consumed in drinks by Arabs, either ground in honey or as an infusion in hot milk. The seed oil can be used for illumination and soap making. Additionally, limited awareness and conservation efforts have further contributed to its threatened status. Recognizing the importance of preserving this valuable plant species is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring its availability for future generations. Furthermore, this review explores the potential benefits of Lepidium sativum in different domains. Its nutritional value and health benefits make it a promising candidate for addressing malnutrition and improving overall well-being. The presence of bioactive compounds suggests its potential use in functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and natural medicines for various ailments. Moreover, Lepidium sativum exhibits antimicrobial and insecticidal properties, offering potential applications in agriculture and pest control. The current review discussed the nutritional, potential benefits and pharmacological effects of Lepidium sativum.

Determination Some of Macro, Trace and Heavy Elements in Medicinal Fruits and Herb Consumed as a Functional Food in Turkey

In this study was conducted to determine the macro, trace elements and some heavy metal contents growing and cultivated some edible medicinal fruits and herbs in the Eastern Black Sea Region, Turkey. The plant materials included in this study contained macro (N, P, K, Ca, Mg), trace elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, B) and heavy metals (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se) amounts were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). According to the elemental analyses, it was determined that there were statistically significant differences in mineral and heavy metal contents depending on the plant species, parts and growing conditions. This work may contribute to knowledge of the macro, trace and heavy elements contents of plants which are of some medicinal fruit and herb.

New Perspectives on the Old Uses of Traditional Medicinal and Edible Herbs: Extract and Spent Material of Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Delarbre

Background/Objectives:Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Delarbre, commonly known as water pepper, possesses multifunctional potential. Our research focuses on its complex phenolic composition, bioactivity, safety evaluation and utilization in a sustainable manner. Moreover, a survey was conducted among the Serbian population to gain insight into the attitude towards traditional wild-growing herbs (i.e., P. hydropiper), the level of familiarity with their zero-waste culture, and to assess eating behaviors. Methods: A survey was conducted with 168 participants to assess attitudes towards traditional herbs, zero-waste culture, and eating behaviors, while cytotoxicity, in vivo toxicity, chemical analysis of secondary metabolites, and probiotic viability assays were performed to evaluate the effects of the PH extract. Results: Notably, P. hydropiper extract (PH) exhibits a diverse phenolic profile, including quinic acid (3.68 ± 0.37 mg/g DW), gallic acid (1.16 ± 0.10 mg/g DW), quercetin (2.34 ± 0.70 mg/g DW) and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (4.18 ± 0.17 mg/g DW). These bioactive compounds have been linked to anticancer effects. The tested extract demonstrated a cytotoxic effect on the human neuroblastoma cell line, opening questions for the further exploration of its mechanisms for potential therapeutic applications. Based on the toxicity assessment in the Artemia salina model, the PH could be characterized with good safety, especially for the lower concentrations (LC50 = 0.83 mg/mL, 24 h). The utilization of the spent PH material supports the viability of psychobiotic strains (up to 9.26 ± 0.54 log CFU/mL). Based on the conducted survey, 63.7% (n = 107) of respondents mainly prefer traditional instead of imported herbs. The respondents were skeptical about zero-waste edibles; 51.2% (n = 86) would not try them, and a bit more than half were not familiar with zero-waste culture (57.7%; n = 97). Only 8.3% (n = 14) followed a flexitarian diet as a dietary pattern. Conclusions: The use of underutilized traditional plants and their spent material could potentially contribute to the acceptance of a zero-waste culture in Serbia. Reinventing the use of neglected traditional plants and addressing ways for spent material valorization could contribute to the acceptance of a zero-waste strategy and encourage healthier eating behavior.

Neuroprotective effect against amyloidogenic transthyretin aggregates - Induced cytotoxicity on human neuroblastoma cell by phenolic-rich Centella asiatica extract

Transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis is a progressive and life-threatening neurodegenerative disease caused by aggregation of the plasma transport protein, transthyretin, for which treatment is rare and cure unavailable. Centella asiatica is a small edible herb with a long history of neurological application in ethnomedicine. This work investigated whether hydrophilic extract of C. asiatica (CAB) could suppress the toxic effects of transthyretin amyloid aggregate (TTRa) in cell model derived from the same in vivo target. TTRa was prepared via thermal-induced aggregation. Chemical cross-linking and Tricine-SDS-PAGE, Thioflavin-T fluorescence, and TEM analyses confirmed that TTRa matched the profile of TTRL55P nonfibrillar amyloid aggregates. PrestoBlue cell viability assay revealed that exposure of IMR-32 human neuroblastoma cells to TTRa (2–8 μM) resulted in significant cytotoxicity. Conversely, exposure of IMR-32 cells to CAB did not adversely affect their viability. In addition, when IMR-32 cells were co-treated with TTRa and varied concentrations of CAB, the toxic effect of TTRa was significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited dose-dependently. The extract was found to possess potent radical scavenging effects, and quantitative RP-HPLC analysis showed that asiaticoside and phenolics were its main components. The cytoprotective effect against TTRa, antioxidant property, and good safety profile collectively suggest that CAB could be applied in the development of nutraceuticals or therapeutics against transthyretin amyloidosis.

Integrating larval zebrafish model and network pharmacology for screening and identification of edible herbs with therapeutic potential for MAFLD: A promising drug Smilax glabra Roxb.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is becoming a prevalent chronic liver disease. Many medicinal and edible herbs exhibit remarkable biological activities in ameliorating MAFLD but lack a comprehensive assessment of their therapeutic efficacy. This study determined total phenolic and flavonoid contents and in vitro antioxidant properties of 34 edible herbs. Smilax glabra Roxb. (SGR), Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt., and Smilax china L. were obtained with the best bioactivity and antioxidant capacity. The high-cholesterol diet-induced larval zebrafish model was established to compare the anti-MAFLD activity of the three herb extracts mentioned above. In vivo experiments revealed that SGR intervention significantly decreased lipid accumulation, alleviated oxidative stress, and modulated intestinal microbiota composition in zebrafish. Furthermore, three potential active components in SGR and their possible mechanisms were explored through network pharmacology and molecular docking. Our study suggested that SGR is a potential candidate for developing new drugs or dietary supplements for MAFLD therapy.

Effects of rosmarinic acid covalent conjugation on the allergenicity and functional properties of egg white protein

Polyphenols can form complexes with proteins, potentially enhancing the properties of egg white protein (EWP) by altering its structure. This study aimed to explore the effect of covalent conjugating with rosmarinic acid (RA), a bioactive polyphenol found in various edible Lamiaceae herbs, on the structure, allergenicity, and functional properties of EWP. The successful preparation of EWP-RA conjugates was confirmed through RA binding equivalent analysis. Fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), and ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectroscopy collectively indicated that the covalent conjugation with RA led to significant structural alterations in EWP. Furthermore, the conjugation of RA markedly enhanced the antioxidant capacity of EWP, as evidenced by its improved ability to scavenge DPPH and ABTS+ radicals. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results indicated a substantial reduction in the binding capacity of EWP-RA conjugates to IgG and IgE, indicating a decrease in the allergenic potential of EWP. Moreover, the incorporation of RA was associated with an increase in the absolute zeta potential, protein flexibility, and free sulfhydryl content of EWP, alongside a reduction in surface hydrophobicity. The findings also revealed that RA enhanced the emulsifying activity, emulsion stability, foaming ability and foaming stability of EWP. Furthermore, the storage performance of EWP improved after conjugation with RA. In conclusion, the covalent conjugation of EWP with RA not only diminished its allergenic potential but also improved its functional properties through structural modification. This study posits that such an approach could be an effective strategy for enhancing the functional properties of EWP while concurrently mitigating its allergenic potential, thereby offering promising applications in the formulation of future food products.

Chemical composition's effect on Solanum nigrum Linn.'s antioxidant capacity and erythrocyte protection: Bioactive components and molecular docking analysis.

Oxidative stress has been widely believed to be the mechanism responsible for developing diseases such as arthritis, asthma, dementia, and aging. Solanum nigrum Linn. is a common edible medicinal herb that belongs to the family Solanaceae which has more than 180 chemical components that have so far been discovered. The main bioactive components of these are steroidal saponins, alkaloids, phenols, and polysaccharides. This article presents comparative phytochemical profiling including total phenolic, total flavonoid, alkaloid, proanthocyanidins, tannin, and vitamin C contents of three Algerian S. nigrum samples collected from three different locations in the Algerian desert. Additionally, the potential antioxidant activity of the three samples was assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and oxidative hemolysis inhibition assay. Moreover, the correlation between the major phenolic phytoconstituents previously reported and isolated from the plant and antioxidant activity has also been done by in silico molecular docking. Ten bioactive compounds were docked with selected proteins, arachidonate-5-lipoxygenase (PDB: 6n2w) and cytochrome c peroxidase (PDB: 2x08), to check their affinity with binding sites of these proteins for the possible mechanism of action. The docking scores suggest that S. nigrum's quercetin and kaempferol may play a significant role in its antioxidant action.

Mechanisms of action and applications of Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide at the intestinal mucosa barrier: a review.

As a medicinal and edible homologous Chinese herb, Polygonatum sibiricum has been used as a primary ingredient in various functional and medicinal products. Damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier can lead to or worsen conditions such as type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Traditional Chinese medicine and its bioactive components can help prevent and manage these conditions by restoring the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier. This review delves into the mode of action of P. sibiricum polysaccharide in disease prevention and management through the restoration of the intestinal barrier. Polysaccharide from P. sibiricum effectively treats conditions by repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier, offering insights for treating complex diseases and supporting the application of P. sibiricum in clinical settings.

Transcriptomics and gut microbiome analysis of the edible herb Bidens pilosa as a functional feed additive to promote growth and metabolism in tilapia (Oreochromis spp.)

To reduce the use of antibiotics and chemicals in aquaculture, an edible herb, Bidens pilosa, has been selected as a multifunctional feed additive. Although there has been considerable research into the effects of B. pilosa on poultry, the wider effects of B. pilosa, particularly on the growth and gut microbiota of fish, remain largely unexplored. We aimed to investigate the interactive effects between the host on growth and the gut microbiota using transcriptomics and the gut microbiota in B. pilosa-fed tilapia. In this study, we added 0.5% and 1% B. pilosa to the diet and observed that the growth performance of tilapia significantly increased over 8 weeks of feeding. Comparative transcriptome analysis was performed on RNA sequence profiles obtained from liver and muscle tissues. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that B. pilosa regulates several pathways and genes involved in amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, endocrine system, signal transduction, and metabolism of other amino acids. The expression of the selected growth-associated genes was validated by qRT–PCR. The qRT–PCR results indicated that B. pilosa may enhance growth performance by activating the expression of the liver igf1 and muscle igf1rb genes and inhibiting the expression of the muscle negative regulator mstnb. Both the enhancement of liver endocrine IGF1/IGF1Rb signaling and the suppression of muscle autocrine/paracrine MSTN signaling induced the expression of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), myod1, myog and mrf4 in muscle to promote muscle growth in tilapia. The predicted function of the gut microbiota showed several significantly different pathways that overlapped with the KEGG enrichment results of differentially expressed genes in the liver transcriptomes. This finding suggested that the gut microbiota may influence liver metabolism through the gut–liver axis in B. pilosa-fed tilapia. In conclusion, dietary B. pilosa can regulate endocrine IGF1 signaling and autocrine/paracrine MSTN signaling to activate the expression of MRFs to promote muscle growth and alter the composition of gut bacteria, which can then affect liver amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, endocrine system, lipid metabolism, metabolism of other amino acids, and signal transduction in the host, ultimately enhancing growth performance. Our results suggest that B. pilosa has the potential to be a functional additive that can be used as an alternative to reduce antibiotic use as a growth promoter in aquaculture.

Effects of undescribed iridoids in Patrinia punctiflora on insulin resistance in HepG2 cells

Patrinia punctiflora is a medical and edible Chinese herb with high nutritional and medicinal value. The continuing study of its chemical constituents led to the isolation of six iridoids, which were previously unreported compounds, patriscabioins PU (1–6). Their structures were characterized and confirmed with NMR (1D & 2D), HRMS, IR and UV. Among them, compound 5 was screened to evaluate its insulin resistance activity on an IR-HepG-2 cell model. Compound 5 had no cytotoxicity compared with the control group and could promote glucose uptake in IR-HepG-2 cells. Through further mechanism studies, the undescribed compound 5 could increase the expression levels of PI-3 K, p-AKT, GLUT4 and p-GSK3β proteins. Moreover, the expression of PEPCK and G6Pase proteins, which are key gluconeogenic enzymes, was also inhibited. Thus, compound 5 promotes the transfer of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane by activating the PI-3 K/AKT signaling pathway, at the same time, promotes glycogen synthesis and inhibits the onset of gluconeogenesis, which in turn ameliorates insulin resistance.

Polysaccharides, the active component of Dendrobiumofficinale flower, ameliorates chronic pharyngitis in rats via TLR4/NF-κb pathway regulation

Ethnopharmacological relevanceChronic pharyngitis persistently afflicts a large population and accounts for approximately one-third of otolaryngology patients. Currently, the treatment of CP remains controversial because of the poor outcomes. Dendrobium officinale is a well-used “Yin-nourishing” traditional Chinese medicinal and edible herb used for thousands of years in China. The flowers of D. officinale are often used in folk of China to make tea for voice protection on and throat clearing. Aim of the studyThis study was to evaluate beneficial effects of polysaccharides from D. officinale flower (DOFP) on CP and its potential mechanisms. MethodsChemical characterization of DOFP, including polysaccharide content and monosaccharide composition, structural characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were performed. A CP model was established in rats by administering a mixture of Chinese Baijiu and chili pepper liquid, combined with low-concentration ammonia spraying. The general states, amount of oral secretion, and apparent state of the pharynx of CP rats were observed during the period of DOFP administration. Furthermore, hemorheological parameters were measured using an automatic hematology analyzer. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (1L-1β), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and D-lactate (D-LA) in the serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Morphological changes in the pharynx and colon were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The expression of nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65), p-NF-κB p65, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin 1β（IL-1β）and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) in the pharynx,Claudin-1, Occludin, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the colon was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western Blot. The mRNA expression of TLR4, COX-2, and IL-1β in the pharynx were determined using reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR. ResultsIn this study, DOFP with a total polysaccharide content of 71.44% and a composition of D-mannose, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose in a molar ratio of 3.95:2.19:1.00:0.74:1.30, was isolated from the flowers of D. officinale. DOFP improved the general state and exhibited significant effects on reducing oral secretion, alleviating pharyngeal injury, suppressing inflammatory cell infiltration in the pharynx, decreasing the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β, and reducing the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes in the model rats. Moreover, the expressions of TLR4, p-NF-κB p65, COX-2, IL-1β and MUC5AC in the pharynx of model rats were obviously inhibited. In addition, the levels of LPS, D-LA in the serum and the protein expression of IL-6 in the colon were downregulated when the protein expression of Occludin and Claudin-1 in the colon were upregulated. ConclusionsDOFP exerts significant ameliorating effects on CP and it likely acts by inhibiting LPS/TLR4-associated inflammatory mediator activation and reducing excessive secretion of mucus by repairing the intestinal barrier in CP rats.