Regulation Of Intestinal Flora Research Articles

Effects of the Tibetan medicine Byur dMar Nyer lNga Ril Bu on Alzheimer's disease in mice models

Ethnopharmacological relevanceByur dMar Nyer lNga Ril Bu (BdNlRB) is a classic Tibetan medicine prescription for treating " white vein disease". Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system, characterized by distinct "white vein disease". In the absence of effective drugs for AD, BdNlRB may be a possible treatment for AD. Aim of the studyTo verify the therapeutic effect and possible mechanism of the proved Tibetan medicine BdNlRB on Alzheimer's disease. Materials and methods60 APP/PS1 double transgenic AD mice (Mt) and 60 Aß1-40 protein-induced AD mice (Mi) were divided into 3 groups according to the dose of BdNlRB: BdNlRB-100, BdNlRB-200 and BdNlRB-400, with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg*weight, respectively. The mice were administrated by gavage for 8 weeks. The cognitive ability of mice was detected by Morris Water Maze, the expression of Aß protein, p-tau and microglia was detected by immunofluorescent staining, the protein expression in the hippocampus was detected by proteomics, and the abundance of fecal intestinal flora was detected by 16S RNA. ResultsThe learning ability and memory ability of Mi mice were significantly improved after BdNlRB administration. The learning ability of Mt mice was significantly improved, while the memory ability was not improved after BdNlRB administration. After the treatment with low and medium doses of BdNlRB, the expression of p-tau decreased significantly (the rate of decrease in BdNlRB-100 and BdNlRB-200 groups was 8.05% and 12.7%, respectively), and the number of microglia increased (39.3% and 31.6%, respectively). BdNlRB significantly affected the protein expression in the hippocampus of Mt mice. 382 proteins in different expression in all three groups mainly involved in amino acid synthesis, fatty acid degradation, glutamine metabolism, synaptic vesicular cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, PPAR signaling pathway and Fc gamma-mediated phagocytosis were activated. Meanwhile, the administration of BdNlRB can regulate the intestinal flora of Mt mice, which reduces the abundance of Muribaculum and uncultured bacteroidales bacterium, and improves the abundance of Ruminococcus-1 and Ruminiclostridium-9. ConclusionThe oral administration of BdNlRB significantly improved the cognitive ability of AD mice, and neuroinflammation and intestinal flora regulation were the possible mechanisms.

A recent update on the use of Chinese medicine in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

BackgroundInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic idiopathic disease that is characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Proper management of IBD requires both early diagnosis and novel therapies and management programs. Many reports have suggested that Chinese medicine has unique properties favorable to the treatment of IBD. However, there are no systematic analyses on this topic. PurposeThis review summarizes recent studies that assessed the effects and mechanisms of Chinese medicine in the treatment of IBD in order to fully understand the advantages of Chinese medicine in the management of IBD. MethodsA literature search was conducted using peer-reviewed and clinical databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Springer LINK, Wan-fang database, the Chinese Biomedicine Database, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Keywords used were inflammatory bowel disease (including Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease) and Chinese medicine. All selected articles were from 1997 to 2021, and each were assessed critically for our exclusion criteria. Studies describing the pathogenesis of IBD, the effects and mechanisms of Chinese medicine in the treatment of IBD, in particular their roles in immune regulation, intestinal flora regulation, and improvement of intestinal barrier function, were included. ConclusionThis review highlights recent progress in the use of Chinese medicine in the treatment of IBD. It also provides a reference for further evaluation and exploration of the potential of classical multi-herbal Chinese medicine in the treatment of IBD.

Effect of Acupoint Catgut Embedding on Intestinal Flora in Rats with Ovariectomized Osteoporosis

Objectives: By observing the effect of acupoint catgut embedding on the intestinal flora of ovariectomized osteoporotic rats, the correlation between the regulation of intestinal flora and the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis was discussed preliminarily.Methods: By observing the effect of acupoint catgut embedding on the intestinal flora of ovariectomized osteoporotic rats, the correlation between the regulation of intestinal flora and the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis was discussed preliminarily.Result:Compared with Group A and Group B, bone mineral density (BMD) of femur and tibia in Group C decreased significantly (p<0.05), indicating successful modeling. Compared with Group C, BMD of femur and tibia in Group D was significantly increased (p<0.05). Compared with Group A and Group B, content of serum estrogens, calcium, and PTHrP in Group C were significantly decreased (p<0.05 or p<0.01). Content of serum estrogen, calcium, and PTHrP in Group D were significantly higher than those in Group C (p<0.05 or p<0.01). Compared with Group A and Group B, the abundance of mollicutes, actinobacteria, acidobacteria, chloroflexi and fusobacteria in group C was significantly increased. The abundance of probiotics in Group D such as lactobacillales, (lactobacillaceae, lactobacillus), bacillales, and streptococcus was significantly higher than that in Group C (p<0.05). The content of SCFAs such as acetic acid, butyric acid, iso-valeric acid, valeric acid and caproic acid in Group D were significantly higher than those in Group C, with statistical significance (p<0.05).Conclusions: Acupoint catgut embedding can effectively improve BMD, increase content of estrogen, calcium, PTHrP and SCFAs. Furthermore, embedding can also improve the abundance of probiotics and reduce the abundance of pathogenic bacteria. The changes of intestinal flora were correlated with the changes of estrogen and calcium, which may be one of the mechanisms of acupoint catgut embedding in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Theory of the exterior–interior relationship between the lungs and the large intestine to explore the mechanism of Eriobotrya japonica leaf water extract in the treatment of cough variant asthma

Ethnopharmacological relevanceEriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl leaf (EJL) is used as a traditional Chinese medicine. E. japonica is a member of the Rosaceae family. EJL suppresses cough and relieves asthma and is widely used to treat lung diseases. In the present study, guided by the traditional Chinese medicine theory of the exterior–interior relationship between the lungs and the large intestine, the pathogenesis of cough variant asthma (CVA) and the treatment mechanism of EJL on CVA were explored. Aim of the studyThis study aimed to explore the airway remodeling effects of EJL in CVA from the perspective of the intestinal flora and the matrix metallopeptidase 9/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (MMP-9/TIMP-1) pathway. Materials and methodsThe oleanolic acid and ursolic acid contents in EJL were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to ensure the quality of EJL. BALB/c mice were used to establish a CVA model through ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and atomization. EJL (at 5, 10, or 20 g/kg/day) was intragastrically administered. The body weight, ratio of total bronchial wall area (WAt) to bronchial basement membrane perimeter (Pbm) (WAt/Pbm), the number of coughs, and cough latency were measured. The pathological changes of the lung tissue were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The expressions of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were detected in the lung tissue by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. Additionally, an Illumina Hiseq platform was used for 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) high-throughput sequencing to detect the intestinal flora in feces samples. ResultsThe results confirmed the positive effects of EJL on CVA. After administration of EJL, the number of coughs and the WAt/Pbm ratio decreased, the cough latency was prolonged, body weight was increased, and the general status was better than that of the CVA model mice. HE staining revealed that EJL decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and improved the histopathological structure of the lung tissue. EJL also showed significant inhibitory effects on the expression of α-SMA, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 and normalized the intestinal flora to a certain extent. ConclusionsThe results demonstrated that EJL alleviated airway remodeling of CVA mice, which might be related to the inhibition of the MMP-P/TIMP-1 pathway and the regulation of intestinal flora.

Pan-Cancer Analysis of Prognostic and Immune Infiltrates for CXCs.

Simple SummaryCXCs are important genes that regulate inflammation and tumor metastasis. While there are many studies with a focus on individual CXCs, few present a pan-cancer analysis of the whole CXC family. Our results indicate that CXCs are a potential therapeutic target in a variety of tumors and a potential prognostic marker that could improve the survival of cancer patients and the accuracy of prognosis. Meanwhile, we found that CXCs may be involved in diseases caused by intestinal flora.Background: CXCs are important genes that regulate inflammation and tumor metastasis. However, the expression level, prognosis value, and immune infiltration of CXCs in cancers are not clear. Methods: Multiple online datasets were used to analyze the expression, prognosis, and immune regulation of CXCs in this study. Network analysis of the Amadis database and GEO dataset was used to analyze the regulation of intestinal flora on the expression of CXCs. A mouse model was used to verify the fact that intestinal bacterial dysregulation can affect the expression of CXCs. Results: In the three cancers, multiple datasets verified the fact that the mRNA expression of this family was significantly different; the mRNA levels of CXCL3, 8, 9, 10, 14, and 17 were significantly correlated with the prognosis of three cancers. CXCs were correlated with six types of immuno-infiltrating cells in three cancers. Immunohistochemistry of clinical samples confirmed that the expression of CXCL8 and 10 was higher in three cancer tissues. Animal experiments have shown that intestinal flora dysregulation can affect CXCL8 and 10 expressions. Conclusion: Our results further elucidate the function of CXCs in cancers and provide new insights into the prognosis and immune infiltration of breast, colon, and pancreatic cancers, and they suggest that intestinal flora may influence disease progression through CXCs.

Potential Application of Lonicera japonica Extracts in Animal Production: From the Perspective of Intestinal Health.

Lonicera japonica (L. japonica) extract is rich in active substances, such as phenolic acids, essential oils, flavones, saponins, and iridoids, which have a broad spectrum of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial effect. Previous studies have demonstrated that L. japonica has a good regulatory effect on animal intestinal health, which can be used as a potential antibiotic substitute product. However, previous studies about intestinal health regulation mainly focus on experimental animals or cells, like mice, rats, HMC-1 Cells, and RAW 264.7 cells. In this review, the intestinal health benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity, and its potential application in animal production were summarized. Through this review, we can see that the effects and mechanism of L. japonica extract on intestinal health regulation of farm and aquatic animals are still rare and unclear. Further studies could focus on the regulatory mechanism of L. japonica extract on intestinal health especially the protective effects of L. japonica extract on oxidative injury, inflammation, and regulation of intestinal flora in farm animals and aquatic animals, thereby providing references for the rational utilization and application of L. japonica and its extracts in animal production.

Multi-omics: Opportunities for research on mechanism of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a burdensome global disease. In-depth understanding of its mechanism will help to optimize diagnosis and treatment, which reduces the burden. Multi-omics research has unparalleled advantages in contributing to the overall understanding of the mechanism of this chronic metabolic disease. In the past two decades, the study of multi-omics on T2DM-related intestinal flora perturbation and plasma dyslipidemia has shown tremendous potential and is expected to achieve major breakthroughs. The regulation of intestinal flora in diabetic patients has been confirmed by multiple studies. The use of metagenomics, 16S RNA sequencing, and metabolomics has comprehensively identified the overall changes in the intestinal flora and the metabolic disturbances that could directly or indirectly participate in the intestinal flora-host interactions. Lipidomics combined with other “omics” has characterized lipid metabolism disorders in T2DM. The combined application and cross-validation of multi-omics can screen for dysregulation in T2DM, which will provide immense opportunities to understand the mechanisms behind T2DM.

Herbal Medicine, Gut Microbiota, and COVID-19.

Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has grown to a worldwide pandemic with substantial mortality. The symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild flu-like symptoms, including cough and fever, to life threatening complications. There are still quite a number of patients with COVID-19 showed enteric symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The gastrointestinal tract may be one of the target organs of SARS-CoV-2. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the main receptor of SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is significantly expressed in intestinal cells. ACE2 links amino acid malnutrition to microbial ecology and intestinal inflammation. Intestinal flora imbalance and endotoxemia may accelerate the progression of COVID-19. Many herbs have demonstrated properties relevant to the treatment of COVID-19, by supporting organs and systems of the body affected by the virus. Herbs can restore the structure of the intestinal flora, which may further modulate the immune function after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Regulation of intestinal flora by herbal medicine may be helpful for the treatment and recovery of the disease. Understanding the role of herbs that regulate intestinal flora in fighting respiratory virus infections and maintaining intestinal flora balance can provide new ideas for preventing and treating COVID-19.

The Neuroprotective Effect of Tea Polyphenols on the Regulation of Intestinal Flora.

Tea polyphenols (TPs) are the general compounds of natural polyhydroxyphenols extracted in tea. Although a large number of studies have shown that TPs have obvious neuroprotective and neuro repair effects, they are limited due to the low bioavailability in vivo. However, TPs can act indirectly on the central nervous system by affecting the “microflora–gut–brain axis”, in which the microbiota and its composition represent a factor that determines brain health. Bidirectional communication between the intestinal microflora and the brain (microbe–gut–brain axis) occurs through a variety of pathways, including the vagus nerve, immune system, neuroendocrine pathways, and bacteria-derived metabolites. This axis has been shown to influence neurotransmission and behavior, which is usually associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. In this review, we discuss that TPs and their metabolites may provide benefits by restoring the imbalance of intestinal microbiota and that TPs are metabolized by intestinal flora, to provide a new idea for TPs to play a neuroprotective role by regulating intestinal flora.

Promotion of pellet-feed feeding in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) by Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus is influenced by immune and intestinal flora

The feeding preference of the mandarin fish, Siniperca chuatsi, for live bait fish over pellet feed increases the costs and risks of breeding. Animal feeding behavior is directly or indirectly influenced by intestinal flora and innate immunity. Probiotics have been shown to regulate intestinal flora and stimulate innate immunity in a variety of species. In this study, during the pellet-feed feeding process of mandarin fish, Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus at a concentration of 108 PFU (plaque forming unit)/mL was added to the water body for 6 weeks, and the effects on the survival, growth, appetite, intestinal flora, innate immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal histology of mandarin fish were studied. The results showed that addition of B. bacteriovorus at a concentration of 108 PFU/mL to aquaculture water could significantly promote mandarin fish pellet-feed feeding, improve the survival rate and growth performance of mandarin fish that were fed pellet feed. Compared with the control group, addition of B. bacteriovorus promoted the expression of appetite-regulating genes nerve peptide Y (Npy) and agouti gene-related protein (Agrp). Intestinal microflora analysis and intestinal histological analysis results revealed that B. bacteriovorus reduce the abundance of pathogenic bacteria Aeromonas in the intestinal flora, reduce damage to the intestinal mucosa and epithelial cells, and increase the thickness of the intestinal basement membrane and height of intestinal villi. Similarly, an increase in the serum lysozyme and immunoglobulin M (IgM) contents was observed after B. bacteriovorus administration. Moreover, B. bacteriovorus improved the activity of antioxidant enzymes, reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT). In general, addition of B. bacteriovorus at a concentration of 108 PFU/mL to aquaculture water could significantly promote pellet-feed feeding of mandarin fish and improve the growth performance and survival rates of mandarin fish under pellet-feed feeding conditions. This promoting effect may be achieved by B. bacteriovorus stimulation of innate immunity and regulation of intestinal flora.

Nucleotides as optimal candidates for essential nutrients in living organisms: A review

Abstract Nucleotides (NTs) are the basic units of nucleic acid macromolecules, which are the basis of life. NTs have many important physiological and biochemical functions in organisms. NTs were thought to be synthesized by the body itself without the need for exogenous supplementation. Recent studies have found that exogenous NTs are indispensable nutrients for specific physiological conditions, including immune challenge, starvation, rapid growth, and aging. Exogenous NTs can enter various tissues and be absorbed and utilized, reducing the body’s need for de novo synthesis or salvage synthesis. With concerted effort on the research on NT nutrition, an increasing number of biological functions of exogenous NTs have been reported, including enhancement of immune function and regulation of intestinal flora. This review addresses the digestion, transportation, metabolites, and bio-function of NTs and the sources of NTs in food. The potential applications, future development, and challenges of NTs obtained from food are also explored.

Study of the therapeutic effect of raw and processed Vladimiriae Radix on ulcerative colitis based on intestinal flora, metabolomics and tissue distribution analysis

BackgroundThe intestinal flora imbalance and metabolic disorders are closely related to the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). As a commonly used herb for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, Vladimiriae Radix (VR) has been used for hundreds of years, and its main active ingredients are costunolide (COS) and dehydrocostus lactone (DEH). Clinical usage habits and previous studies have shown that the processed Vladimiriae Radix (pVR) seems to be more suitable for treating bowel disease than the raw Vladimiriae Radix (rVR), but there is still no relevant comparative study. PurposeTo investigate the therapeutic effect of rVR and pVR on UC by analyzing the intestinal flora, metabolomics and tissue distribution. MethodsUC rat models were established to investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of rVR and pVR by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and to study their regulation of intestinal flora and metabolism by 16s rRNA gene analysis and Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Moreover, the distribution of COS and DEH in UC mouse tissues were also observed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS). ResultsrVR and pVR reduced tissue damage and the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, TGF-β and MPO, especially pVR. 16s rRNA gene analysis showed that rVR superior in ameliorating species evenness and restoring the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, while pVR is better at increasing the richness and the abundance of Prevotellaceae. Metabolomics analysis suggested that rVR regulates the β-alanine, pantothenic acid and coenzyme A biosynthesis, but pVR regulates more abundant metabolic pathways. The tissue distribution data indicated the accumulation of COS and DEH in the gastrointestinal tract. ConclusionrVR and pVR had obvious therapeutic effect on UC. The potential mechanisms might be regulating abnormal metabolism, affecting the diversity and structure of intestinal flora, and accumulation of COS and DEH in colon.

Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) restores intestinal dysbacteriosis to alleviate upregulated inflammatory cytokines triggered by femoral diaphyseal fracture in adolescent rodent model.

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of femoral shaft fracture on systemic inflammation and gut microbiome in adolescent rats and evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and its regulation of intestinal flora, as well as illustrate the mechanism by which LGG ameliorates the inflammatory response and restores intestinal dysbacteriosis. Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats of 5 to 6 weeks of age were subjected to a standard femoral shaft fracture and internally fixed with LGG supplementation in advance or on the same day of injury or with saline solution for 1 week. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and CRP were assessed using standard protocols. Furthermore, gut microbiota composition was analyzed in the fecal samples using 16S rDNA gene sequencing, and the relationship between gut microbiota variation and inflammatory response was tested. The serum indices of the above-mentioned inflammatory cytokines were significantly increased, and the gut microbial balance was significantly disturbed in adolescent rats by diaphyseal fractures of the femur and surgery. Moreover, L. rhamnosus strains manipulated the gut microbiota by decreasing the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and increasing that of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes, which in turn increased the levels of IL-10 and alleviated the levels of IL-6, CRP, and TNF-α. LGG exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by alleviating the inflammatory response and regulating the gut microbiota in adolescent rats who underwent skeletal fracture and surgery. Our results suggested that the L. rhamnosus strains could be considered as an alternative dietary supplement for the prevention or treatment of skeletal injury and its associated complications.

Will intestinal flora therapy become a new target in type-2 diabetes mellitus? A review based on 13 clinical trials.

Background: diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease and its pathogenesis is still inconclusive. Current evidence suggests an association between intestinal flora and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this paper, we summarized the current research, determining whether intestinal flora may become a new method to treat T2DM, and providing a theoretical basis and literature references for the prevention of T2DM based on the regulation of intestinal flora. Method: we carried out a review based on 13 published clinical trials to determine the correlation between T2DM and intestinal flora, and between changes in clinical outcomes and in intestinal flora in the development of T2DM; to assess the pathological mechanisms; and to discuss the treatment of diabetes based on intestinal flora. Results: we found that intestinal flora is involved in the occurrence and development of T2DM. Several pathological mechanisms may be involved in the process, including improving the gut barrier, alleviating inflammation, increasing glucagon-like peptide (GLP) 1 and GLP 2, increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and so on. Several measures based on intestinal flora, including exercise, food, specific diets, drugs and probiotics, would be used to treat and even prevent T2DM. Conclusions: high-quality studies are required to better understand the clinical effects of intestinal flora in T2DM.

The improvement of carboxymethyl β-glucan on the antibacterial activity and intestinal flora regulation ability of lotus seedpod procyanidins

• CMP could reverse the growth enhancement effect of procyanidins on E. coli . • CMP could delay and prolong the effective antibacterial time of procyanidins. • CMP-procyanidins induced structure broken and oxidative stress of E. coli cell. • CMP-procyanidins regulated gut microbiota in vivo .

High-throughput sequencing analysis of the regulation of intestinal flora in giant pandas with indigestion using a probiotic agent LyPB

This study aimed to investigate the effect of LyPB on the intestinal microflora of giant pandas with indigestion, using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology. The species distribution and microfloral density and diversity before and after administration of the LyPB probiotic agent were analyzed. LyPB evidently has the ability to adjust the floral imbalance in the panda’s intestine. To test the effects of LyPB on the microflora of the panda gut, fecal samples were taken from a healthy giant panda (Anan) without administration of LyPB and from a dyspeptic giant panda Yangyang before and after LyPB administration. Compared with the sample obtained from healthy Anan (anan-c) and that obtained from dyspeptic Yangyang before LyPB administration (yangyang1), the sample taken from Yangyang (yangyang2) after LyPB administration displayed a significant increase in the operational taxonomic unit index. An increase in the Chao index indicated an increase in the microfloral richness, while an increase in the Shannon index indicated an increase in microfloral diversity. At phylum and genus levels, a significant increase was observed in the density of probiotic bacteria of phylum firmicutes, genus Streptococcus, while a drastic reduction in the density of Escherichia coli/Escherichia coli Shigella/bacteria of genus Shigella was observed. Data obtained in this study shows that LyPB preparations successfully improve the microbial structure within the panda’s intestinal canal by significantly increasing the effective microbial community and decreasing the number of pathogenic microbes.

Administration of a mixture of triterpenoids from yeyachun and phenolic acids from danshen ameliorates carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice by the regulation of intestinal flora

yeyachun and danshen exist as Chinese patent medicine, Xuemai Tong, and are clearly effective at alleviating liver fibrosis (LF). Previous studies have indicated that triterpenoids from yeyachun (EFT), and phenolic acids from danshen (SMP) are effective in the treatment of LF. The regulation of intestinal flora is an effective method for treating LF. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a mixture of EFT and SMP on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced LF. Our results showed the mixture significantly decreased liver damage and fibrosis index, and maintained liver tissue composition, compared to the model group. Moreover, the imbalance of symptoms of intestinal flora was improved. The mixture also caused changes to metabolites of gut flora. Furthermore, the expression of CD68 in liver tissues from the treated groups was significantly decreased when compared to the model group. However, no significant difference was observed from microstructure of gut tissues and LPS concentrations in the serum between mixture treated mice and model mice. This study suggests that the mixture of EFT and SMP had a significant effect on CCl4 induced LF, and the mechanism of this action, at least in part, involved the regulation of intestinal flora and their metabolites.

Galactooligosaccharides protects against DSS-induced murine colitis through regulating intestinal flora and inhibiting NF-κB pathway

Background/aimsPrevious studies have demonstrated that Galactooligosaccharides (GOS), known as “bifidus factor”, has anti-inflammatory effects. Colitis, a kind of colonic inflammatory damage could be induced by different chemicals. The pathogenesis and mechanism of colitis remains unclear, and may be related to intestinal microflora, genetic susceptibility or immune factors. The aim is to explore the effects of GOS on intestinal flora and its anti-inflammatory effects in Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) induced murine colitis and extrapolate the underlying mechanism. Main methodsInitially, 5% DSS was used to induced colitis by free access to drinking water for 5–7 days. Then the mice were treated with GOS 1 day after DSS treatment. Colon samples were evaluated grossly using a microscope. The percentage of Treg and Th17 cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The levels of cytokines secretion and mRNA expression were detected by ELISA and real-time PCR. The level of protein was detected by western blot. Key findingsGOS attenuated DSS induced body weight loss and also reduced the increase in disease index caused by DSS. GOS ameliorated DSS induced colonic histological damage. The protective effect of GOS on DSS induced colitis may be partly attributed to intestinal flora regulation and Th17/Treg imbalance. Furthermore, GOS markedly decreased cytokines (IL-6, IL-18, IL-13 and IL-33) secretion and mRNA expression in colon tissues, through inhibiting activation of NF-κB pathways. SignificanceGOS could prevent the DSS induced colitis through intestinal flora regulation and reduce the secretion of inflammation related cytokines relying on the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Physicochemical Characterization of a Polysaccharide from Green Microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Its Hypolipidemic Activity via Gut Microbiota Regulation in Rats.

A bioactive polysaccharide from microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa (CPP) was successively prepared via DEAE-52 and G-100 columns. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis showed that the main glycosidic bonds were composed of 1,2-linked-α-l-Fucp, 1,4-linked-α-l-Rhap, 1,4-linked-β-l-Araf, 1-linked-α-d-Glcp, 1,3-linked-β-d-GlcpA, 1,4-linked-β-d-Xylp, and 1,3,6-linked-β-d-Manp. Its molecular weight was 5.63 × 106 Da. The hypolipidemic effect and intestinal flora regulation of CPP on diet-induced rats were evaluated through histopathology and biochemistry analyses. CPP could improve plasma and liver lipid metabolism and accelerate the metabolism of the cecal total bile acids and short-chain fatty acids. CPP has also upregulated the adenosine-monophosphate-activated protein kinase α and downregulated the acetyl-CoA carboxylase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, and β-hydroxy β-methylglutaryl-CoA expressions. Moreover, with the 16S rRNA gene sequencing, it was revealed that the composition of intestinal flora changed drastically after treatment, such as the bloom of Coprococcus_1, Lactobacillus, and Turicibacter, whereas there was a strong reduction of the [Ruminococcus]_gauvreauii_group. The above results illustrated that CPP might be served as an effective ingredient to ameliorate lipid metabolism disorders and intestinal flora in hyperlipidemia rats.

Effect and mechanism of vitamin D on the development of colorectal cancer based on intestinal flora disorder.

To investigate the correlation between the level of circulating vitamin D and the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) and to clarify the effect and mechanism of vitamin D on the development of CRC. Serum samples from 63 patients with CRC (CRC group) and 61 healthy volunteers (normal group) were collected. Azoxymethane+dextran sodium sulfate-induced CRC mouse model and dietary models with different doses of vitamin D were established to verify whether vitamin D supplementation could reverse the occurrence and development of CRC at the overall animal level. Intestinal barrier integrity and microbial defense response were evaluated by detection of intestinal flora and expression of related genes. In the clinical serum samples, compared with the normal group, the level of 25 (OH) D3 in the CRC group was relatively low (P<0.01), which was consistent with the clinical situation in mice. Vitamin D deficiency aggravated the deterioration of enteritis and intestinal cancer in CRC mice, whereas the overall condition of CRC mice improved after vitamin D supplementation. Vitamin D has a significant regulatory effect on the homeostasis of the intestinal flora, particularly in the regulation of intestinal probiotics, Akkermansia muciniphila-mediated colon barrier integrity. Vitamin D deficiency is closely related to the high incidence of CRC, and vitamin D supplementation can inhibit the occurrence and development of CRC. Vitamin D plays a role in the reversal of CRC mainly through the regulation of intestinal flora, especially the regulation of A.muciniphila-mediated colon barrier integrity.