Modulation Of Intestinal Microbiota Research Articles

Rheumatoid arthritis and the intestinal microbiome: probiotics as a potential therapy.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by swollen joints, discomfort, stiffness, osteoporosis, and reduced functionality. Genetics, smoking, dust inhalation, high BMI, and hormonal and gut microbiota dysbiosis are all likely causes of the onset or development of RA, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Compared to healthy controls, patients with RA have a significantly different composition of gut microbiota. It is well known that the human gut microbiota plays a key role in the initiation, maintenance, and operation of the host immune system. Gut microbiota dysbiosis has local or systematic adverse effects on the host immune system, resulting in host susceptibility to various diseases, including RA. Studies on the intestinal microbiota modulation and immunomodulatory properties of probiotics have been reported, in order to identify their potential possibility in prevention and disease activity control of RA. This review summarized current studies on the role and potential mechanisms of gut microbiota in the development and progression of RA, as well as the preventative and therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of probiotics on RA. Additionally, we proposed the challenges and difficulties in the application of probiotics in RA, providing the direction for the research and application of probiotics in the prevention of RA.

Effect of a multi-strain probiotic mixture consumption on anxiety and depression symptoms induced in adult mice by postnatal maternal separation

BackgroundIntestinal microbial composition not only affects the health of the gut but also influences centrally mediated systems involved in mood, through the “gut-brain” axis, a bidirectional communication between gut microbiota and the brain.In this context, the modulation of intestinal microbiota and its metabolites through the administration of probiotics seems to represent a very promising approach in the treatment of the central nervous system alterations.Early postnatal life is a critical period during which the brain undergoes profound and essential modulations in terms of maturation and plasticity. Maternal separation (MS), i.e., the disruption of the mother–pup interaction, represents a pivotal paradigm in the study of stress-related mood disorders, by inducing persistent changes in the immune system, inflammatory processes, and emotional behavior in adult mammals.ResultsWe conducted experiments to investigate whether sustained consumption of a multi-strain probiotic formulation by adult male mice could mitigate the effects of maternal separation. Our data demonstrated that the treatment with probiotics was able to totally reverse the anxiety- and depressive-like behavior; normalize the neuro-inflammatory state, by restoring the resting state of microglia; and finally induce a proneurogenic effect. Mice subjected to maternal separation showed changes in microbiota composition compared to the control group that resulted in permissive colonization by the administered multi-strain probiotic product. As a consequence, the probiotic treatment also significantly affected the production of SCFA and in particular the level of butyrate.ConclusionGut microbiota and its metabolites mediate the therapeutic action of the probiotic mix on MS-induced brain dysfunctions. Our findings extend the knowledge on the use of probiotics as a therapeutic tool in the presence of alterations of the emotional sphere that significantly impact on gut microbiota composition.AdianNxLDM2uLY8oFPQcaDVideo

Metabolic Insights into Caffeine's Anti-Adipogenic Effects: An Exploration through Intestinal Microbiota Modulation in Obesity.

Obesity, a chronic condition marked by the excessive accumulation of adipose tissue, not only affects individual well-being but also significantly inflates healthcare costs. The physiological excess of fat manifests as triglyceride (TG) deposition within adipose tissue, with white adipose tissue (WAT) expansion via adipocyte hyperplasia being a key adipogenesis mechanism. As efforts intensify to address this global health crisis, understanding the complex interplay of contributing factors becomes critical for effective public health interventions and improved patient outcomes. In this context, gut microbiota-derived metabolites play an important role in orchestrating obesity modulation. Microbial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), secondary bile acids (BA), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and trimethylamine (TMA) are the main intestinal metabolites in dyslipidemic states. Emerging evidence highlights the microbiota's substantial role in influencing host metabolism and subsequent health outcomes, presenting new avenues for therapeutic strategies, including polyphenol-based manipulations of these microbial populations. Among various agents, caffeine emerges as a potent modulator of metabolic pathways, exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and obesity-mitigating properties. Notably, caffeine's anti-adipogenic potential, attributed to the downregulation of key adipogenesis regulators, has been established. Recent findings further indicate that caffeine's influence on obesity may be mediated through alterations in the gut microbiota and its metabolic byproducts. Therefore, the present review summarizes the anti-adipogenic effect of caffeine in modulating obesity through the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites.

Enhancing immune response, antioxidant capacity, and gut health in growing beagles through a chitooligosaccharide diet.

Chitooligosaccharides (COS) have attracted significant attention due to their unique biological activities, water solubility, and absorbable properties. The objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of COS-supplemented diets on the immune response, antioxidative capacity, hematology, serum biochemistry, and modulation of intestinal microbiota in growing beagles. Twelve weaning male beagles (6 weeks old; weighing 3.6 ± 0.6 kg) were fed either a control diet (food without COS, n = 6) or a COS-supplemented diet (n = 6) twice daily for 7 weeks. Blood samples collected at weeks 4 and 7 indicated that hematology and serum biochemistry remained unaffected by COS supplementation. Compared with the control group, the test group showed higher levels of serum antibodies against the canine distemper virus and parvovirus, higher levels of immunoglobulin A, G, and M, and increased activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. In addition, COS was observed to modulate the intestinal flora by enhancing the presence of probiotics, such as Muribaculaceae, Prevotellaceae_Ga6A1_group, Lactobacillus, Collinsella, Blautia, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group. In summary, a COS-supplemented diet could effectively improve dog health by regulating immune function and antioxidant responses and modulating intestinal microbiota. This study highlights the potentiality of using COS as a valuable nutraceutical for growing dogs.

Natural lipid nanoparticles extracted from Morus nigra L. leaves for targeted treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma via the oral route

The clinical application of conventional medications for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment has been severely restricted by their adverse effects and unsatisfactory therapeutic effectiveness. Inspired by the concept of ‘medicine food homology’, we extracted and purified natural exosome-like lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) from black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) leaves. The obtained MLNPs possessed a desirable hydrodynamic particle size (162.1 nm), a uniform size distribution (polydispersity index = 0.025), and a negative surface charge (-26.6 mv). These natural LNPs were rich in glycolipids, functional proteins, and active small molecules (e.g., rutin and quercetin 3-O-glucoside). In vitro experiments revealed that MLNPs were preferentially internalized by liver tumor cell lines via galactose receptor-mediated endocytosis, increased intracellular oxidative stress, and triggered mitochondrial damage, resulting in suppressing the viability, migration, and invasion of these cells. Importantly, in vivo investigations suggested that oral MLNPs entered into the circulatory system mainly through the jejunum and colon, and they exhibited negligible adverse effects and superior anti-liver tumor outcomes through direct tumor killing and intestinal microbiota modulation. These findings collectively demonstrate the potential of MLNPs as a natural, safe, and robust nanomedicine for oral treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.Graphic abstract

Dietary Milk or Isolated Legume Proteins Modulate Intestinal Microbiota Composition in Rats.

Shifts toward increased proteolytic fermentation, such as, for example, in athlete and high-protein weight loss diets, may alter the relative abundance of microbial species in the gut and generate bioactive, potentially deleterious metabolic products. In the current investigation, intestinal (caecal) microbiota composition was studied in rats fed diets differing only in their constituent proteins: milk (casein (CAS), lactalbumin (LA)) or legume (Cicer arietinum, Lupinus angustifolius) protein isolates (chickpea protein isolate (CPI), lupin protein isolate (LI)). ANOSIM and Discriminant Analysis showed significant (p < 0.05) differences at both family and genus levels in both microbiota composition and functionality as a consequence of feeding the different proteins. Differences were also significant (p < 0.05) for predicted functionality parameters as determined by PICRUSt analysis. LA induced a generally healthier microbiota composition than CAS, and higher amounts of Methanobrevibacter spp. and Methanogenic_PWY were found in the LI group. LEfSe analysis of bacterial composition and functional activities revealed a number of groups/functions able to explain the different effects found with milk and legume protein isolates. In conclusion, the mostly beneficial modulation of intestinal microbiota generally found with legume-based diets is likely to be due, at least in part, to their constituent proteins.

Regulatory effect of β-glucan secreted by Rhizobium pusense on triglyceride metabolism and their relationships with the modulation of intestinal microbiota in mice fed a high-fat diet.

The present study investigated the regulatory effects of β-glucan secreted by Rhizobium pusense (RPG) on triglyceride metabolism and gut microbiota in mice fed a high-fat diet. The results indicated that supplementation with RPG significantly reduced body weight gain, blood glucose levels, and the tissue index of epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Conversely, it increased the tissue index of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Furthermore, RPG supplementation effectively decreased the levels of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the serum. Regarding its influence on the triglyceride (TG) mechanism, RPG decreased TG levels in both serum and liver, while elevating TG levels in feces. Moreover, it moderated the composition of gut microbiota in mice fed a high-fat diet, particularly altering functionally relevant intestinal microbial phylotypes, leading to enhanced levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in feces. Additionally, RPG treatment regulated the mRNA and protein levels of genes responsible for TG metabolism in the AMPK pathway, indicating an impact on TG synthesis and excretion in the liver. Pearson's correlation network analysis demonstrated strong correlations between key microbial phylotypes responsive to RPG intervention and parameters associated with TG metabolic disorders. SCFA levels were also found to correlate with the mRNA expression levels of genes involved in TG metabolism. Finally, lipidomics analyses were performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of RPG intervention (glycerophospholipid metabolic pathway) and to identify potential lipid biomarkers, such as TG (18:2/20:4/22:6), TG (18:1/20:4/22:6), TG (20:1/18:1/22:4), PC (17:0/20:4), TG (18:1/20:4/22:5), PC (22:4/22:6), PC (20:0/22:6), PC (20:0e/20:4), DG (18:3e/18:2), DG (10:0/18:2), DG (18:2/14:2), TG (10:0/18:2/20:4), TG (16:1/14:3/18:2) and TG (16:0/14:2/22:6). Overall, our results suggest that RPG could activate the hepatic AMPK signaling pathway by regulating gut microbiota and metabolites through gut-liver crosstalk to exert a lipid-lowering effect in mice fed a high-fat diet and improve obesity.

Research progress in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease with natural polysaccharides and related structure-activity relationships.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises a group of highly prevalent and chronic inflammatory intestinal tract diseases caused by multiple factors. Despite extensive research into the causes of the disease, IBD's pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. Moreover, side effects of current IBD therapies restrict their long-term clinical use. In contrast, natural polysaccharides exert beneficial anti-IBD effects and offer advantages over current anti-IBD drugs, including enhanced safety and straightforward isolation from abundant and reliable sources, and thus may serve as components of functional foods and health products for use in IBD prevention and treatment. However, few reviews have explored natural polysaccharides with anti-IBD activities or the relationship between polysaccharide conformation and anti-IBD biological activity. Therefore, this review aims to summarize anti-IBD activities and potential clinical applications of polysaccharides isolated from plant, animal, microorganismal, and algal sources, while also exploring the relationship between polysaccharide conformation and anti-IBD bioactivity for the first time. Furthermore, potential mechanisms underlying polysaccharide anti-IBD effects are summarized, including intestinal microbiota modulation, intestinal inflammation alleviation, and intestinal barrier protection from IBD-induced damage. Ultimately, this review provides a theoretical foundation and valuable insights to guide the development of natural polysaccharide-containing functional foods and nutraceuticals for use as dietary IBD therapies.

Potential of Lactobacillus plantarum A56 in relieving food allergy through immunoregulation, antioxidation, and reshaping intestinal microbiota

Food allergy is an abnormal immune reaction triggered by food protein antigens. Relevant studies have suggested that probiotic supplementation was with the potential to alleviate food allergy. This study aimed to explore the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum A56 on the alleviation of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced food allergy via immunomodulatory function, antioxidation, and modification of intestinal microbiota. Balb/c mice were sensitized with OVA (20 µg/mouse) by intraperitoneal injection for 3 weeks and accompanied by oral administration of L. plantarum A56 (109 CFU/mL), subsequently with orally challenged twice by OVA at 50 mg/mL for 1 week. The results showed that oral supplementation of L. plantarum A56 could effectively relieve allergic symptoms of mice, and decreased OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 concentrations. It also declined interleukin (IL)-4 level, raised interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in serum, and splenocyte supernatant, and the qPCR results were consistent with above results. Moreover, L. plantarum A56 treatment also fortified superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) level in serum. The increased nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and forkhead box O1 (Foxo1) expression indicated that L. plantarum A56 exerted antioxidation through Nrf2-Foxo1 pathway. In addition, L. plantarum A56 treatment elevated Bacteroidetes richness, ASV/OTU number, species diversity, etc. Notably, Spearman correlation analysis indicated that Bacteroidetes displayed obviously negative correlation with IgE and IgG1, but Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria exhibited significantly positive correlation with IgG1 and IgE. Collectively, these results suggested that L. plantarum A56 could alleviate OVA-induced food allergy by regulating Th1/Th2 imbalance, antioxidation, and modulating intestinal microbiota.

Essential oils improve nursery pigs' performance and appetite via modulation of intestinal health and microbiota

Optimal intestinal health and functionality are essential for animal health and performance, and simultaneously intestinal nutrient transporters and intestinal peptides are also involved in appetite and feed intake control mechanisms. Given the potential of essential oil (EO) in improving animal performance and improving feed palatability, we hypothesized that dietary supplementation of cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol could improve performance and appetite of nursery pigs by modulating intestinal health and microbiota. Cinnamaldehyde (100 mg/kg), carvacrol (100 mg/kg), and their mixtures (including 50 mg/kg cinnamaldehyde and 50 mg/kg carvacrol) were supplemented into the diets of 240 nursery pigs for 42 d, and data related to performance were measured. Thereafter, the influence of EO on intestinal health, appetite and gut microbiota and their correlations were explored. EO supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the body weight, average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of piglets, and reduced (P < 0.05) diarrhea rates in nursery pigs. Furthermore, EO increased (P < 0.05) the intestinal absorption area and the abundance of tight junction proteins, and decreased (P < 0.05) intestinal permeability and local inflammation. In terms of intestinal development and the mucus barrier, EO promoted intestinal development and increased (P < 0.05) the number of goblet cells. Additionally, we found that piglets in the EO-supplemented group had upregulated (P < 0.05) levels of transporters and digestive enzymes in the intestine, which were significantly associated with daily gain and feed utilization. In addition, EO supplementation somewhat improved appetite in nursery pigs, increased the diversity of the gut microbiome and the abundance of beneficial bacteria, and there was a correlation between altered bacterial structure and appetite-related hormones. These findings indicate that EO is effective in promoting growth performance and nutrient absorption as well as in regulating appetite by improving intestinal health and bacterial structure.

The growth-promoting and lipid-lowering effects of berberine are associated with the regulation of intestinal bacteria and bile acid profiles in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)

Berberine has growth-promoting and lipid-lowering effects potentially through the regulation of intestinal microbiota and bile acid profiles. This experiment aimed to investigate the effect of dietary berberine on the intestinal microbiota-bile acid-farnesoid X receptor (FXR) axis in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco). Fish (initial weight: 1.32 ± 0.26 g) were fed a control diet or a diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg (BBR100) or 400 mg/kg berberine (BBR400) for 60 days. The BBR400 group showed significant improvements in growth performance, hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities, intestinal lysozyme activity, cholic acid, ethylchenodeoxycholic acid, and hydroguinone carboxylic acid contents, along with significantly lower intestinal immunoglobulin M, complement 3, complement 4, serum total cholesterol (TCH), and triglyceride (TG) contents, compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, both levels of berberine resulted in significant reductions in viscerosomatic index, hepatosomatic index, condition factor, hepatic TCH, TG, and malondialdehyde contents, as well as serum alanine aminotransferase activity and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol content. Berberine supplementation also significantly upregulated the expression of intestinal fxr and fibroblast growth factor 19, as well as hepatic fxr, short heterodimeric partners, and lipolysis genes, while inhibiting the expression of lipogenesis genes. Furthermore, berberine treatment improved intestinal histological parameters and increased the abundance of probiotic bacteria such as Ruegeria and Bifidobacterium, while reducing potential pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas, Psychrobacter, Vibrio, and Pseudonocardia. Overall, this study suggests that berberine’s growth-promoting and lipid-lowering effects might be attributed to its modulation of intestinal microbiota, bile acid profile, and hepatic and intestinal FXR signaling.

Certain Fermented Foods and Their Possible Health Effects with a Focus on Bioactive Compounds and Microorganisms

Fermented foods refer to beverages or foods made by carefully regulated microbial growth and the enzymatic conversion of dietary components. Fermented foods have recently become more popular. Studies on fermented foods suggest the types of bacteria and bioactive peptides involved in this process, revealing linkages that may have impacts on human health. By identifying the bacteria and bioactive peptides involved in this process, studies on fermented foods suggest relationships that may have impressions on human health. Fermented foods have been associated with obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. In this article, fermented dairy products, vegetables and fruits, legumes, meats, and grains are included. Two elements in particular are emphasized when discussing the fermentation of all of these foods: bioactive chemicals generated during fermentation and microorganisms involved during fermentation. Organic acids, bioactive peptides, conjugated linoleic acid, biogenic amines, isoflavones, phytoestrogens, and nattokinase are a few of the bioactive compounds included in this review. Also, certain bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, and Bacillus species, which are utilized in the fermentation process are mentioned. The effects of both substances including anti-fungal and antioxidant properties; the modulation of intestinal microbiota; anti-inflammatory, antidiabetes, anti-obesity, anticancer, and antihypertension properties; and the protection of cognitive function are explained in this review.

Intestinal microbiota modulation at the strain level by the olive oil polyphenols in the diet.

Previously we have reported a r16S gene next generation sequencing study on the effect of high fat diets in the intestinal microbiota using a murine model. However, many important microbial traits occur at strain level and, in order to detect these population changes, culture-dependent approaches need to be applied. With this goal, we decided to study a very well-known commensal genus, Enterococcus, and therefore, intestinal enterococci methodically isolated during the above-mentioned experiment were analyzed. A collection of 75 distinct enterococcal strains isolated from feces of mice fed a standard diet or high-fat diets enriched with butter, refined olive oil, or extra virgin olive oil and after 0, 6 or 12 weeks of diet, were genetically and phenotypically characterized in search of virulence factors, biogenic amine production and antibiotic resistance. All strains were tested for the susceptibility in vitro to two virgin olive oil polyphenols, oleuropein (the bitter principle of olives) and hydroxytyrosol (derived from oleuropein by enzymatic hydrolysis and responsible for the high stability of olive oil). No drastic polyphenol effect was found except at high concentrations. However, when carrying out a comparative statistical study in the 75 strains of the collection according to the different diets, we have detected significant differences between the strains isolated from mice fed with a diet enriched with virgin olive oil and the rest of the diets. EVOO strains also presented less resistance to antibiotics and a more beneficial profile overall. These results support the prebiotic role of polyphenols, showing how they are able to modulate the set of strains that comprises a genus in the gut, allowing them to adapt to a changing environment in the host's intestine and possibly exerting effects on its physiology.

Evidence for the Beneficial Effects of Brazilian Native Fruits and Their By-Products on Human Intestinal Microbiota and Repercussions on Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases-A Review.

Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) are the most widespread cause of mortality worldwide. Intestinal microbiota balance can be altered by changes in the abundance and/or diversity of intestinal microbiota, indicating a role of intestinal microbiota in NCD development. This review discusses the findings of in vitro studies, pre-clinical studies and clinical trials on the effects of Brazilian native fruits, their by-products, as well as their bioactive compounds on human intestinal microbiota and NCD. The major bioactive compounds in Brazilian native fruits and their by-products, and the impacts of their administration on outcomes linked to intestinal microbiota modulation are discussed. Mechanisms of intestinal microbiota affecting NCD could be linked to the modulation of absorption and energy balance, immune and endocrine systems, and inflammatory response. Brazilian native fruits, such as acerola, açaí, baru, buriti, guava, jabuticaba, juçara, and passion fruit, have several bioactive compounds, soluble and insoluble fibers, and a variety of phenolic compounds, which are capable of changing these key mechanisms. Brazilian native fruits and their by-products can help to promote positive intestinal and systemic health benefits by driving alterations in the composition of the human intestinal microbiota, and increasing the production of distinct short-chain fatty acids and phenolic metabolites, thereby enhancing intestinal integrity and homeostasis. Evidence from available literature shows that the modulatory impacts of Brazilian native fruits and their by-products on the composition and metabolic activity of the intestinal microbiota could improve several clinical repercussions associated with NCD, reinforcing the influence of intestinal microbiota in extra-intestinal outcomes.

Solid-state fermentation with Rhizopus oryzae HC-1 improves the metabolites profiling, antioxidant activity and gut microbiota modulation effect of soybeans

In this study, Rhizopus oryzae HC-1, a food-grade fungal isolated from sufu, was utilized for solid-state fermentation (SSF) of soybeans, to investigate its effect on metabolites composition and antioxidant activity. Results revealed that SSF notably enhanced the total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC), aglycone isoflavones, and antioxidant capacity of soybeans. The increase in aglycone isoflavones was attributed to the action of secreted β-glucosidase. The fermented soybean (FSB) with strongest antioxidant activity was further investigated by UPLC-MS/MS-based untargeted metabolomics analysis and in vitro human gut microbiota modulation effect by colonic fermentation. A total of 176 and 114 metabolites differed significantly between non-fermented soybean (NSB) and FSB in positive- and negative-ion modes, respectively. FSB and NSB had a beneficial modulation effect on the microbiota community structure. Additionally, colonic fermentation of both FSB and NSB for 24 h resulted in a higher relative abundance of beneficial bacteria Bacteroides compared to the control group, and FSB showed a greater modulation effect. Thus, SSF with R. oryzae HC-1 was found to significantly improve the metabolite profile, antioxidant activity and human intestinal microbiota modulation effect of soybeans, potentially offering novel functional or nutraceutical ingredients for the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Anti-inflammatory and intestinal microbiota modulation properties of Ganoderma lucidum β-d-glucans with different molecular weight in an ulcerative colitis model

This study systematically investigated the therapeutic effects and the corresponding mechanisms of β-D-glucans from Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) with different molecular weights (Mws) on ulcerative colitis (UC). Results showed that three β-d-glucans (GLPS, GLPN and GLPW) from G. lucidum with different Mws exhibited the significant activities on the reduction of typical symptoms of UC by regulating inflammatory cytokine levels, modulating intestinal immunity, improving intestinal microbiota and metabolism of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mice model. Among them, the effects of the microwave assisted degraded fraction (GLPW) mainly containing two fractions with smaller Mw (1.33 × 104 and 3.51 × 103 g/mol) on the regulation of inflammatory factors and SCFAs metabolism were found to be comparable to those of GLPN with medium Mw (3.49 × 104 g/mol), and superior to those of GLPS with large Mw (2.42 × 106 g/mol). The effect of GLPW on regulation of intestinal microbiota was even better than that of GLPN. These findings suggested that lowering Mw by means of physical degradation could improve the anti-inflammatory activities of G. lucidum β-d-glucans. The analysis of anti-inflammatory mechanism also provided a feasible and theoretical basis for potential use of degraded β-d-glucans in the prevention and treatment of UC.

Protective effect of water extracts of Veronicastrum latifolium (Hemsl.) Yamazaki on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice and its effect on intestinal flora

Liver fibrosis refers to a reversible event of repair and reconstruction following injury due to various etiologies, and its continuous development will lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Abnormal alterations in intestinal microbiota can hasten the development of hepatic fibrosis and damage. Veronicastrum latifolium (Hemsl.) Yamazaki (VLY) is a classic drug applied extensively for managing acute and chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and ascites in ethnic minority areas of Guizhou Province, China, which possesses broad-spectrum pharmacological activities. In view of the crucial role of intestinal microbiota in the development of liver fibrosis, the present study attempted to investigate the effects of VLY aqueous extract on ameliorating CCl4-elicited liver fibrosis in mice and on intestinal microbiota and to explore its possible mechanism. Phytochemical analysis showed that VLY water extract contained a variety of components, particularly rich in organic acids and their derivatives, flavonoids, phenolic acids, nucleotides and their derivatives, carbohydrates and other compounds. VLY water extract remarkably alleviated CCl4-induced liver damage and fibrosis in mice, improved liver histology, and improved liver function abnormalities. VLY water extract also inhibited the activation of hepatic stellate cells and invasion of intrahepatic inflammatory cells. Additionally, sequencing the 16 s rDNA gene revealed that VLY water extract changed the intestinal microbiota composition in liver fibrotic mice. It elevated the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and enriched the relative Lactobacillus richness, which is capable of mitigating fibrosis and inflammation in impaired liver. In summary, through modulation of inflammation and intestinal microbiota, VLY water extract can reduce the CCl4-elicited liver fibrosis.

Pingwei San Ameliorates Spleen Deficiency-Induced Diarrhea through Intestinal Barrier Protection and Gut Microbiota Modulation.

Pingwei San (PWS) has been used for more than a thousand years as a traditional Chinese medicine prescription for treating spleen-deficiency diarrhea (SDD). Nevertheless, the exact mechanism by which it exerts its antidiarrheal effects remains unclear. The objective of this investigation was to explore the antidiarrheal efficacy of PWS and its mechanism of action in SDD induced by Rhubarb. To this end, UHPLC-MS/MS was used to identify the chemical composition of PWS, while the body weight, fecal moisture content, and colon pathological alterations were used to evaluate the effects of PWS on the Rhubarb-induced rat model of SDD. Additionally, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry were employed to assess the expression of inflammatory factors, aquaporins (AQPs), and tight junction markers in the colon tissues. Furthermore, 16S rRNA was utilized to determine the impact of PWS on the intestinal flora of SDD rats. The findings revealed that PWS increased body weight, reduced fecal water content, and decreased inflammatory cell infiltration in the colon. It also promoted the expression of AQPs and tight junction markers and prevented the loss of colonic cup cells in SDD rats. In addition, PWS significantly increased the abundance of Prevotellaceae, Eubacterium_ruminantium_group, and Tuzzerella, while decreasing the abundance of Ruminococcus and Frisingicoccus in the feces of SDD rats. The LEfSe analysis revealed that Prevotella, Eubacterium_ruminantium_group, and Pantoea were relatively enriched in the PWS group. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that PWS exerted a therapeutic effect on Rhubarb-induced SDD in rats by both protecting the intestinal barrier and modulating the imbalanced intestinal microbiota.

Effect of yeast species and processing on intestinal microbiota of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fed soybean meal-based diets in seawater

BackgroundYeasts are gaining attention as alternative ingredients in aquafeeds. However, the impact of yeast inclusion on modulation of intestinal microbiota of fish fed plant-based ingredients is limited. Thus, the present study investigates the effects of yeast and processing on composition, diversity and predicted metabolic capacity of gut microbiota of Atlantic salmon smolt fed soybean meal (SBM)-based diet. Two yeasts, Cyberlindnera jadinii (CJ) and Wickerhamomyces anomalus (WA), were produced in-house and processed by direct heat-inactivation with spray-drying (ICJ and IWA) or autolyzed at 50 °C for 16 h, followed by spray-drying (ACJ and AWA). In a 42-day feeding experiment, fish were fed one of six diets: a fishmeal (FM)-based diet, a challenging diet with 30% SBM and four other diets containing 30% SBM and 10% of each of the four yeast products (i.e., ICJ, ACJ, IWA and AWA). Microbial profiling of digesta samples was conducted using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the predicted metabolic capacities of gut microbiota were determined using genome-scale metabolic models.ResultsThe microbial composition and predicted metabolic capacity of gut microbiota differed between fish fed FM diet and those fed SBM diet. The digesta of fish fed SBM diet was dominated by members of lactic acid bacteria, which was similar to microbial composition in the digesta of fish fed the inactivated yeasts (ICJ and IWA diets). Inclusion of autolyzed yeasts (ACJ and AWA diets) reduced the richness and diversity of gut microbiota in fish. The gut microbiota of fish fed ACJ diet was dominated by the genus Pediococcus and showed a predicted increase in mucin O-glycan degradation compared with the other diets. The gut microbiota of fish fed AWA diet was highly dominated by the family Bacillaceae.ConclusionsThe present study showed that dietary inclusion of FM and SBM differentially modulate the composition and predicted metabolic capacity of gut microbiota of fish. The inclusion of inactivated yeasts did not alter the modulation caused by SBM-based diet. Fish fed ACJ diet increased relative abundance of Pediococcus, and mucin O-glycan degradation pathway compared with the other diets.

Penthorum chinense Pursh compound flavonoids supplementation alleviates Aflatoxin B1-induced liver injury via modulation of intestinal barrier and gut microbiota in broiler

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a commonly occurring toxicant in animal and human diets, leading to hazardous effects on health. AFB1 is known to be a hepato-toxicant, and the intestinal barrier may play a crucial role in reversing AFB1-induced liver injury. This study aimed to optimize the extraction conditions of Penthorum chinense Pursh Compound Flavonoids (PCPCF) by the response surface method with a Box-Behnken design and investigate the effects of PCPCF on AFB1-induced liver injury in broilers. A total of 164 one-day-old broilers were divided into seven groups, including Control, PCPCF (400 mg PCPCF/kg feed), AFB1 (3 mg AFB1/kg feed), and YCHT (Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang extract, 3 mg AFB1 +10 mL YCHT/kg feed) and low, medium, and high dose groups (PCPCF at 3 mg AFB1 +200, 400, 600 mg respectively). Samples of serum, liver, duodenum, and cecum contents were collected at 14th and 28th days for further analysis. The results showed that the maximum extraction rate of PCPCF was 8.15 %. PCPCF was rich in rutin, quercetin, liquiritin and kaempferol, and significantly inhibited the growth of Aspergillus flavus. The addition of PCPCF improved the growth performance of AFB1-injury broilers, modulated liver function, and increased serum immunoglobulin levels. PCPCF also alleviated liver pathological and oxidative stress damages caused by AFB1 and decreased AFB1-DNA and AFB1-lysine content in the liver. Furthermore, PCPCF supplementation ameliorated intestinal pathological damage, improved intestinal permeability of duodenum in the AFB1-induced broilers, and repaired the intestinal mucosal and mechanical barrier associated with the Notch signaling pathway. Meanwhile, PCPCF improved the intestinal flora structure of AFB1-damaged broilers and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria. In conclusion, PCPCF ameliorated the adverse effects of AFB1 on growth performance and alleviated liver damage by repairing the intestinal barrier and improving intestinal health of broiler chicken.