Ethanol extract of Pycnoporus sanguineus relieves the dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis by suppressing helper T cell-mediated inflammation via apoptosis induction

Maslinic Acid Ameliorates DSS-Induced Experimental Colitis by Suppressing Th Cell-Mediated Inflammation via AICD Induction

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a nonspecific chronic inflammatory disease that occurs in the gastrointestinal tract and is characterized by the breakdown of mucosal immunity. T helper (Th) cells paradigm disequilibrium is a critical for pathogenesis. Maslinic acid (MA), a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpene isolated from olive pomace and Fructus crataegi, has a variety of applications in both medicine and food. This study investigated the molecular mechanism of the anti-inflammatory potential of MA in a colitis model and activated Th cells. A dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis model was established. Clinical symptoms were evaluated, and biological samples were collected to examine intestinal mucosal function, inflammation levels, and Th cell-mediated immune responses. The mechanism of the activation-induced cell death (AICD) effect regulated by MA was investigated in the anti-CD3ε/CD28-stimulated Th cell activation model using molecular biotechnology and transcriptome analysis. Key results:MA treatment protected intestinal mucosa, which manifested as reduced inflammatory cytokines, Th cell infiltration, and subset differentiation. Additionally, it was found to suppress Th cell proliferation and differentiation of subsets, regulate cell cycle distribution, and promote AICD by regulating the mitochondria-mediated intrinsic pathway in vitro. JAK-STAT and FcεRI pathways were probable essential pathways, and MAF might be a crucial potential targeting molecule in activated Th cells with MA treatment. This finding demonstrated that MA induced remission of the colitis-related inflammation, which may depend on the resolution of acute inflammation by reducing Th cell-mediated inflammation via AICD induction, emphasizing its promising potential in the treatment of UC.

Antiproliferative and Antibacterial Activity of Polyporoid Fungi from Veracruz, Mexico

Polyporoid fungi represent a vast source of bioactive compounds with potential pharmacological applications. The importance of polyporoid fungi in traditional Chinese medicine has led to an extensive use of some species of Ganoderma for promoting health and longevity because their consumption is associated with several bioactivities. Nevertheless, bioactivity of some other members of the Polyporaceae family has also been reported. This work reports the antiproliferative and antibacterial activity of crude extracts obtained from fruiting bodies of polypore fungi collected from the central region of Veracruz, Mexico, aimed at understanding the diversity of polypore species with potential pharmacological applications. 29 collections were identified macro- and microscopically in 19 species of polyporoid fungi, belonging to 13 genera. The antiproliferative activity screening of extracts against solid tumor cell lines (A549, SW1573, HeLa, HBL-100, T-47D, WiDr) allow us to identify four extracts with strong bioactivity [half-maximal growth inhibition (GI50) ≤ 50 μg/mL]. After this, a phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from the ITS region obtained from bioactive specimens allowed us to identify three extracts as Pycnoporus sanguineus (GI50 = ≤ 10 μg/mL) and the fourth bioactive extract as Ganoderma oerstedii (GI50 = < 50 μg/mL. Likewise, extracts from P. sanguineus showed mild or moderate antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Xanthomonas albilineas. Bioprospecting studies of polyporoid fungi add to the knowledge of the diversity of macrofungi in Mexico and allow us to select one of the bioactive P. sanguineus to continue the pursuit of bioactive compounds through mycochemical studies.

Anti-inflammatory natural products modulate interleukins and their related signaling markers in inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review

This review aims to identify in vivo studies investigating the potential of plant substances and their natural molecules in managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Specifically, the objective is to examine the impact of these substances on interleukins and other key inflammatory signaling markers. Relevant articles published up to December 2022 were identified through a search of the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases. The search used keywords including "inflammatory bowel disease", "medicinal plants", "natural molecules", "anti-inflammatory", and "ulcerative colitis", and identified 1,878 potentially relevant articles, of which 89 were included in this review after completion of the selection process. This study provides preclinical data on natural products (NPs) that can potentially treat IBD, including ulcerative colitis. The main actions of these NPs relate to their effects on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway, the regulation of T helper 17/regulatory T cells balance, and oxidative stress. The ability of these NPs to inhibit intestinal inflammation appears to be dependent on lowering levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-17, via the Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)1, NF-κβ-p65, and STAT3 pathways. In addition, NPs were shown to reduce oxidative stress and the severity of ulcerative colitis, as well as increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes. These actions suggest that NPs represent a promising treatment for IBD, and potentially have greater efficacy and safety than current treatments.

Pycnoporus sanguineus Polysaccharides as Reducing Agents: Self-Assembled Composite Nanoparticles for Integrative Diabetic Wound Therapy

Purpose

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are severe complications of diabetes, posing significant health and societal challenges. Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the ulcer site hinder wound healing in most patients, while individuals with diabetes are also more susceptible to bacterial infections. This study aims to synthesize a comprehensive therapeutic material using polysaccharides from Pycnoporus sanguineus to promote DFU wound healing, reduce ROS levels, and minimize bacterial infections.

Methods

Polysaccharides from P.sanguineus were employed as reducing and stabilizing agents to fabricate polysaccharide-based composite particles (PCPs) utilizing silver ions as templates. PCPs were characterized via UV-Vis, TEM, FTIR, XRD, and DLS. The antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties of PCPs were assessed through in vitro and cellular experiments. The effects and mechanisms of PCPs on wound healing were evaluated using a diabetic ulcer mouse model.

Results

PCPs exhibited spherical particles with an average size of 57.29±22.41 nm and effectively combined polysaccharides' antioxidant capacity with silver nanoparticles' antimicrobial function, showcasing synergistic therapeutic effects. In vitro and cellular experiments demonstrated that PCPs reduced cellular ROS levels by 54% at a concentration of 31.25 μg/mL and displayed potent antibacterial activity at 8 μg/mL. In vivo experiments revealed that PCPs enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), promoting wound healing in DFUs and lowering the risk of bacterial infections.

Conclusion

The synthesized PCPs offer a novel strategy for the comprehensive treatment of DFU. By integrating antioxidant and antimicrobial functions, PCPs effectively promote wound healing and alleviate patient suffering. The present study demonstrates a new strategy for the integrated treatment of diabetic wounds and expands the way for developing and applying the polysaccharide properties of P. sanguineus.

Prebiotic properties of jiaogulan in the context of gut microbiome

Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that has been widely used in food and supplemental products. In the last 20 years, extensive research has been conducted to investigate the medicinal prospects of jiaogulan, and in this regard, more than 200 compounds have been isolated with various medicinal properties such as anticancer, anti-obesity, anti-inflammation, and antioxidation. In respect of potential benefits, jiaogulan market is likely growing, and various food items comprised of jiaogulan (beverage, sport drinks, cola, beer, tea, bread, and noodles) have been commercialized in the United States of America, China, and other Asian countries. More recently, there has been growing interest in the prebiotic potential of jiaogulan, especially at the interface of the gut microbiota. This review focuses on the prebiotic and therapeutic aspects of saponins and polysaccharides of jiaogulan tea by summarizing the literature on cancer, obesity, antioxidant activity, and immune-modulatory properties.

Extracts of Waste from Poplar Wood Processing Alleviate Experimental Dextran Sulfate-Induced Colitis by Ameliorating Oxidative Stress, Inhibiting the Th1/Th17 Response and Inducing Apoptosis in Inflammatory Lymphocytes

As a fast-growing tree, poplar is widely planted and typically used for wood processing in China. During poplar wood processing, a large amount of poplar sawdust (PS) and poplar leaves (PL) are produced and abandoned. To make full use of poplar resources and clarify the use of poplar as a feed additive, the active ingredients in PS and PL were extracted and isolated, and the anti-inflammatory effects of the extracts on mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis were investigated. In vitro anti-inflammatory experiments showed that the ethyl acetate extract of PS and PL (PSE and PLE, respectively) could significantly inhibit the proliferation of concanavalin A (Con A)-activated lymphocytes. Salicortin, tremulacin and salireposide were identified in both PSE and PLE. Oral administration of PSE and PLE rescued DSS-induced colonic shortening, repaired tissue damage, and decreased the disease activity index (DAI). The antioxidant capacity, including the increased activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD and catalase (CAT) and decreased activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), in the colons of mice with colitis was enhanced through the activation of ERK after treatment with PSE and PLE. The ratio of Th1 to Th17 cells, which can lead to inflammation in the spleen, was significantly decreased by the administration of PSE and PLE, while the phosphorylation of related transcription factors (p65, STAT1, and STAT3) was inhibited. Furthermore, PSE and PLE could induce apoptosis in Con A-activated lymphocytes, which may be associated with the increase in p-TBK1, as the molecular docking results also indicated that salireposide in PSE and PLE could interact with the TBK1 protein. Overall, our study provides a promising feed additive for improving intestinal inflammation in animals and a method for the full utilization of poplar resources.