Structural elucidation and bioactivities of a novel arabinogalactan from Coreopsis tinctoria

A Comparative Study on Physicochemical Properties and Biological Activities of Polysaccharides from Coreopsis tinctoria Buds Obtained by Different Methods

In this study, the polysaccharides of Coreopsis tinctoria buds (CTBPs) were extracted by hot water, ultrasound, alkali solution, and acid solution, and the four kinds of extracted polysaccharides were denoted Hw, Ultra, Al, and Ac. Then, the Hw were degraded by ultrasound, an alkali solution, and an acid solution, and the three resultant kinds of polysaccharides were denoted Ultra-Post-proc, Al-Post-proc, and Ac-Post-proc. The study comprehensively compared and analyzed the physical and chemical characteristics, structural properties, and in vitro activities of each polysaccharide. The extraction and treatment methods significantly affected the chemical composition, molecular weight (Mw) and potential of the CTBPs. The contents of carbohydrates, total phenol, and protein in Al were the highest, at 78.79 ± 0.62%, 81.69 ± 0.70 mg GAE/g and 4.82 ± 0.10%, respectively. The different methods did not change the monosaccharide composition of CTBPs, but affected the monosaccharide proportion and reduced the Mw of CTBPs. The absolute zeta potential value of Al was the highest, indicating that the solution was the most stable. CTBPs had the characteristic structure of polysaccharides, and Al-Post-proc had a triple helix structure. Additionally, CTBPs also had good water and oil holding abilities, as well as bile acid binding ability. CTBPs displayed good activity in vitro, among which Al possessed the best α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and the strongest free radical scavenging ability, and also well inhibited the generation of glycosylation products and protein oxidation products in the bovine serum albumin (BSA)-fructose model. These findings provide support for a theoretical basis for the application of polysaccharide from Coreopsis tinctoria bud in pharmaceutical and functional foods.

Gradient ethanol extracts of Coreopsis tinctoria buds: Chemical and in vitro fermentation characteristics

Coreopsis tinctoria buds grow at high altitudes and have unique medicinal and health effects. This study focused on the chemical components of gradient ethanol extracts of Coreopsis tinctoria buds and their impact on the gut microbiota and its metabolites. UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS results disclosed the presence of 24 distinct chemicals in the extracts, marein, and quercetin-3-β-D-glucoside as the predominant antioxidants. Furthermore, the anhydrous ethanol extract (EtOH-EX) and 80 % (w/w) ethanol extract (80 % EtOH-EX) showed the highest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging capacity, and the water extract (Water-Ex) showed excellent bile acid binding capacity. Besides, simulated fermentation of the extracts increased short-chain fatty acids and the abundance of gut-friendly bacteria like Bifidobacteria, especially in the Water-EX group. Correlation analysis revealed that the key microbiota on metabolites production. In conclusion, the extracts derived from Coreopsis tinctoria buds exhibit a spectrum of bioactivities, viewing them as flexible options for applications across food and pharmaceutical products.

Structural analysis, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and immunoregulatory activity of two acidic polysaccharides from Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. Gongju

The structural characteristics, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, and immune effects of two purified acid polysaccharides from Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. Gongju were investigated. GJP-1 and GJP-2 were isolated and purified using DEAE-sepharose and Sephadex G-100 chromatography. GJP-1 consisted of Man, Rha, Ara, Glc, Gal, and GalA, with a ratio of 1.99:3.98:81.2:2.65:7.03:3.15, while GJP-2 comprised of Man, Rha, Ara, Glc, Gal, and GalA in a ratio of 0.27:2.36:8.03:38.44:2.38:48.52. GJP-2 is a kind of pectin-type polysaccharide. GJP-1 and GJP-2 differed in average molecular weight of 5.86 kDa and 4.92 kDa. The results indicated that GJP-1 and GJP-2 significantly inhibited the activity of acetylcholinesterase and had good immunomodulatory activities. GJP-1 and GJP-2 are bioactive polysaccharides with the potential to improve cognitive function. GJP-2 promoted more proliferation, as well as the release of tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon γ. Clarifying the structures and bioactivities of polysaccharides could lay a foundation for the application of Gongju in functional foods and medicines production.

The Anti-Diabetic Effect of Non-Starch Polysaccharides Extracted from Wheat Beer on Diet/STZ-Induced Diabetic Mice

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a major cause of mortality, is characterized by insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. The increasing prevalence of DM is linked to lifestyle changes and there is a need for alternative approaches to conventional oral hypoglycemic agents. Polysaccharides, particularly non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs), have been identified as promising hypoglycemic agents. Cereals, especially wheat, are key sources of dietary polysaccharides, with NSPs derived from wheat beer attracting significant interest. This study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of NSPs extracted from wheat beer in STZ-induced diabetic C57BL/6J male mice. The results showed that NSPs extract positively influenced blood glucose regulation, lipid profiles, and liver and kidney functions, by attenuating liver AST and kidney CRE levels in a dose-dependent manner. The NSPs demonstrated anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, potentially providing significant benefits in managing diabetes and its complications. Moreover, the study revealed the histoprotective effects of NSPs on the liver and pancreas, reducing lipid deposition, necrosis, and inflammation. These findings highlight the multifaceted advantages of NSPs and suggest their potential as effective agents in diabetes management. This study supports the need for further research into the therapeutic potential of NSPs and their application in developing innovative treatments for diabetes and its associated complications.

Coreopsis tinctoria improves energy metabolism in obese hyperglycemic mice

Coreopsis tinctoria (CT) improves energy metabolism. However, the role of CT in alleviating obesity-induced hyperglycemia by targeting the liver remains unknown. Therefore, this article aims to explore the mechanism by which CT improves energy metabolism and resists hyperglycemia. The water and ethanol extracts of CT were administered to high-fat diet-induced (HFD) obese C57BL/6J mice at a dose of 4 g/kg.bw (low-dose water extract, WL; low-dose ethanol extract, EL) or 10 g/kg.bw (high-dose water extract, WH; high-dose ethanol extract, EH). Mice that consumed a maintenance diet (LFD) were included as blank controls. Network pharmacology, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), L02 cell cultivation, and liver transcriptomics were used to examine the mechanism and functional components of CT against obesity-induced hyperglycemia. The results indicated that WL significantly (p < 0.05) alleviated glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in obesity-induced hyperglycemia. Kaempferol is the main active compound of CT, which demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) anti-hyperglycemic effects in obese mice and L02 cells. Finally, kaempferol significantly (p < 0.05; fold change >1.2) shifted the genes involved in carbon metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways toward the trend of LFD, indicating that it exerts an anti-hyperglycemic effect through these molecular mechanisms. Overall, oral intake of CT lowers blood glucose and improves insulin sensitivity in mice with obesity-induced hyperglycemia. Kaempferol is the primary functional component of CT.

Structural Characterization and Anticomplement Activity of an Acidic Heteropolysaccharide from Lysimachia christinae Hance

A novel acidic heteropolysaccharide (LCP-90-1) was isolated and purified from a traditional "heat-clearing" Chinese medicine, Lysimachia christinae Hance. LCP-90-1 (Mw, 20.65 kDa) was composed of Man, Rha, GlcA, Glc, Gal, and Ara, with relative molar ratios of 1.00: 3.00: 11.62: 1.31: 1.64: 5.24. The backbone consisted of 1,4-α-D-GlcpA, 1,4-α-D-Glcp, 1,4-β-L-Rhap, and 1,3,5-α-L-Araf, with three branches of β-D-Galp-(1 → 4)-β-L-Rhap-(1→, α-L-Araf-(1→ and α-D-Manp-(1→ attached to the C-5 position of 1,3,5-α-L-Araf. LCP-90-1 exhibited potent anticomplement activity (CH50: 135.01 ± 0.68 µg/mL) in vitro, which was significantly enhanced with increased glucuronic acid (GlcA) content in its degradation production (LCP-90-1-A, CH50: 28.26 ± 0.39 µg/mL). However, both LCP-90-1 and LCP90-1-A were inactivated after reduction or complete acid hydrolysis. These observations indicated the important role of GlcA in LCP-90-1 and associated derivatives with respect to anticomplement activity. Similarly, compared with LCP-90-1, the antioxidant activity of LCP-90-1-A was also enhanced. Thus, polysaccharides with a high content of GlcA might be important and effective substances of L. christinae.

Structural characterization and anti-inflammatory effects of an arabinan isolated from Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch

Considering that natural polysaccharides are potential anti-inflammatory agents, in this study, an arabinan (RGP70-2) was isolated and purified from Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. (R. glutinosa) and its structure was characterized. RGP70-2 was a homogeneous polysaccharide with a molecular weight of 6.7 kDa, with the main backbone comprising →5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, →3)-α-L-Araf-(1→, →2,3,5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, and →2,5)-α-L-Araf-(1 → linkages and the side chain comprising an α-L-Araf-(1 → linkage. In vivo experiments showed that RGP70-2 inhibited ROS production and downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6). In vitro experiments showed that RGP70-2 decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, inhibited ROS production, and attenuated NF-κB-p65 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Our results showed that RGP70-2 may delay inflammation by regulating the ROS-NF-κB pathway. Thus, RGP70-2 has potential applications as an anti-inflammatory agent in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Aromatase inhibitors isolated from a flowering tea, snow Chrysanthemum (the capitula of Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt.)

Methanol extract from the capitula of Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. (Asteraceae), which is also known as a flowering tea or blooming tea "Snow Chrysanthemum," was found to inhibit the enzymatic activity of aromatase. A total of 24 known isolates (1-24) were identified from the extract, including three chalcones (1-3), an aurone (4), five flavanones (5-9), four flavanols (10-13), a flavonol (14), and two biflavanones (15, 16). Among them, okanin (1, Ki = 1.6 μM), (2S)-naringenin (5, 0.90 μM), isookanin (6, 0.81 μM), (2S)-7,3',5'-trihydroxyflavaone (7, 0.13 μM), and (2S)-5,7,3',5'-tetrahydroxyflavanone (8, 0.32 μM) exhibited relatively potent competitive inhibition. Specifically, the isolates 7 and 8, having a common 3',5'-resorcinol moiety at the B ring in their flavanone skeleton, exhibited potent inhibitory activities compared to those of a clinically applied aminoglutethimide (0.84 μM) and naturally occurring flavone, chrysin (0.23 μM), which is a common non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor. Importantly, the active flavonoid constituents (1 and 5-8) did not inhibit the activity of 5α-reductase enzyme, which normally reacts with the same substrate "testosterone," thus, these compounds were suggested to be specific to aromatase.

Structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity of an arabinogalactan from Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton tea processing waste

An arabinogalactan named JSP-1a was isolated from Jasmine tea processing waste by DEAE Sepharose FF and Sephacryl S-200 HR chromatography. Polysaccharide JSP-1a, with an average molecular weight of 87.5 kDa, was composed of galactose (59.60 %), arabinose (33.89 %), mannose (4.81 %), and rhamnose (1.70 %). JSP-1a was found to be a type II arabinogalactan comprising the main backbone of 1, 6-linked Galp residues, and the side chain containing α-T-Araf, α-1,5-Araf, β-T-Galp, β-1,3-Galp, and β-1,4-Manp residues was attached to the O-3 position of β-1,3,6-Galp residues. Evidence from bioactivity assays indicated that JSP-1a possessed potent immunomodulatory effects on RAW264.7 macrophages: treatment with JSP-1a increased phagocytosis, activated NF-κB p65 translocation, and promoted the production of NO, reactive oxygen species (ROS), the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6. Furthermore, inhibition of Toll-like receptor 4 caused the suppression of NO release and cytokines secretion, which indicated that TLR-4/NF-κB pathway might play a significant role in JSP-1a-induced macrophages' immune response. The results of this study could provide a theoretical basis of JSP-1a as a safe immunostimulatory functional foods or a treatment for immunological diseases.

A Review Concerning the Polysaccharides Found in Edible and Medicinal Plants in Xinjiang

Approximately 110 types of medicinal materials are listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, both for medicinal purposes and for use as food. There are several domestic scholars who have carried out research on edible plant medicine in China and the results are satisfactory. Though these related articles have appeared in domestic magazines and journals, many of them are yet to be translated into English. Most of the research stays in the extraction and quantitative testing stage, and there are a few medicinal and edible plants that are still under in-depth study. A majority of these edible and herbal plants are also highly enriched in polysaccharides, and this has an effect on immune systems for the prevention of cancer, inflammation, and infection. Comparing the polysaccharide composition of medicinal and edible plants, the monosaccharide and polysaccharide species were identified. It is found that different polysaccharides of different sizes have different pharmacological properties, with some polysaccharides containing special monosaccharides. The pharmacological properties of polysaccharides can be summarized as immunomodulatory, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive and anti-hyperlipemic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. There have been no poisonous effects found in studies of plant polysaccharides, probably because the substances have a long history of use and are safe. In this paper, the application potential of polysaccharides in medicinal and edible plants in Xinjiang was reviewed, and the research progress in the extraction, separation, identification, and pharmacology of these plant polysaccharides was reviewed. At present, the research progress of plant polysaccharides in medicines and food in Xinjiang has not been reported. This paper will provide a data summary for the development and utilization of medical and food plant resources in Xinjiang.

Critical Assessment of In Vitro Screening of α-Glucosidase Inhibitors from Plants with Acarbose as a Reference Standard

Postprandial hyperglycemia is treated with the oral antidiabetic drug acarbose, an intestinal α-glucosidase inhibitor. Side effects of acarbose motivated a growing number of screening studies to identify novel α-glucosidase inhibitors derived from plant extracts and other natural sources. As "gold standard", acarbose is frequently included as the reference standard to assess the potency of these candidate α-glucosidase inhibitors, with many outperforming acarbose by several orders of magnitude. The results are subsequently used to identify suitable compounds/products with strong potential for in vivo efficacy. However, most α-glucosidase inhibitor screening studies use enzyme preparations obtained from nonmammalian sources (typically Saccharomyces cerevisiae), despite strong evidence that inhibition data obtained using nonmammalian α-glucosidase may hold limited value in terms of identifying α-glucosidase inhibitors with actual in vivo hypoglycemic potential. The aim was to critically discuss the screening of novel α-glucosidase inhibitors from plant sources, emphasizing inconsistencies and pitfalls, specifically where acarbose was included as the reference standard. An assessment of the available literature emphasized the cruciality of stating the biological source of α-glucosidase in such screening studies to allow for unambiguous and rational interpretation of the data. The review also highlights the lack of a universally adopted screening assay for novel α-glucosidase inhibitors and the commercial availability of a standardized preparation of mammalian α-glucosidase.

Structure of a new glycyrrhiza polysaccharide and its immunomodulatory activity

A component of licorice polysaccharide (GPS-1) was extracted from licorice, its primary structure was identified and characterized for the first time, and its immunomodulatory activity was studied. Crude licorice polysaccharide was isolated and purified by DEAE sepharose FF ion-exchange column chromatography and Chromdex 200 PG gel filtration column chromatography to obtain a purified Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide named GPS-1. NMR and methylation analysis revealed that GPS-1 is composed of homogalacturonan (HG)-type pectin with 4)-D-GalpA-(1 as the backbone. This study of GPS-1 also examined its significant role in regulating immune activity in vitro and in vivo. As a result, GPS-1 promoted the secretion of IFN-γ and IL-4 in mice and increased the proportion of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes in their spleens. Dendritic cells (DCs) treated with GPS-1 showed promotion of DC maturation, antigen presentation, and phagocytic capacity. The results suggest that GPS-1 is a potential immunomodulator that stimulates the immune system by regulating multiple signaling pathways. Combined with our characterization of the primary structure of GPS-1, the present investigation provides the basis for future study of the form-function relationship of polysaccharides.

Therapeutic potential of non-starch polysaccharides on type 2 diabetes: from hypoglycemic mechanism to clinical trials

Non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) have been reported to exert therapeutic potential on managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Various mechanisms have been proposed; however, several studies have not considered the correlations between the anti-T2DM activity of NSPs and their molecular structure. Moreover, the current understanding of the role of NSPs in T2DM treatment is mainly based on in vitro and in vivo data, and more human clinical trials are required to verify the actual efficacy in treating T2DM. The related anti-T2DM mechanisms of NSPs, including regulating insulin action, promoting glucose metabolism and regulating postprandial blood glucose level, anti-inflammatory and regulating gut microbiota (GM), are reviewed. The structure-function relationships are summarized, and the relationships between NSPs structure and anti-T2DM activity from clinical trials are highlighted. The development of anti-T2DM medication or dietary supplements of NSPs could be promoted with an in-depth understanding of the multiple regulatory effects in the treatment/intervention of T2DM.

Physicochemical characteristics and immunoregulatory activities of polysaccharides from five cultivars of Chrysanthemi Flos

This study compared the physicochemical characteristics and immunomodulatory activities of chrysanthemums' polysaccharides (JPs) from five cultivars. Significant differences were found in the molecular weights, the ratios of monosaccharide compositions, and morphological properties. Polysaccharides of Gongju (GJP) had the lowest molecular weight populations and polysaccharides of Boju (BJP) had the highest. SEM showed that GJP and polysaccharides of Qiju had looser and uniform surface structures, which are beneficial for being developed into instant products. Immunoregulatory assay revealed that JPs enhanced the phagocytosis and proliferation of RAW264.7 cells without obvious cytotoxicity, and upregulated the release level of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and NO. Immune-enhancing activity correlated with their molecular weights, the contents of glucuronic acid and arabinose, and microstructure, which performed differently according to different cultivars. The results suggested that BJP and polysaccharides of Hangbaiju are more suitable to be developed as new functional foods for enhancing immunity, and provided a reference for selection based on the immunization requirements.

The Neuroprotective Effects of Coreopsis tinctoria and Its Mechanism: Interpretation of Network Pharmacological and Experimental Data

Background:Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. (CT), an annual herb in the genus Coreopsis, is an important traditional medicine to be used for antidiabetes and antioxidation.

Objective: The antioxidant compounds from CT may affect mitochondrial function and apoptosis, which in turn may affect related diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the potential molecular mechanism and new therapeutic opportunities of CT based on network pharmacology.

Methods: A network pharmacology-based method, which combined data collection, drug-likeness filtering, target prediction, disease prediction, and network analysis, was used to decipher the potential targets and new therapeutic opportunities of CT. The potential molecular mechanism and pathway were explored through Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG analyses. Then MPTP-induced SH-SY5Y cell model was applied to evaluate the neuroprotective effects and key targets.

Results: There were 1,011 targets predicted for 110 compounds. Most targets were regulated by flavones, phenylpropanoids, and phenols and had synergistic effects on memory impairment, pancreatic neoplasm, fatty liver disease, and so on. The compounds–targets–diseases network identified TNF, PTGS2, VEGFA, BCL2, HIF1A, MMP9, PIK3CG, ALDH2, AKT1, and EGFR as key targets. The GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the cell death pathway, mitochondrial energy metabolism, and PI3K-AKT signal pathway were the main pathways. CT showed neuroprotective effects via regulating gene and protein expression levels of key targets in an in vitro model.

Conclusion: CT had potential neuroprotective effects by targeting multiple targets related with apoptosis, which were affected by the BCL-2 and AKT signaling pathways. This study provided a theoretical basis for the research of neuroprotective effects of CT.

Structure characterization and lipid-lowering activity of a homogeneous heteropolysaccharide from sweet tea (Rubus Suavissmus S. Lee)

Sweet tea (Rubus Suavissmus S. Lee) is consumed as herbal tea in southwestern China, which has multiple functions such as relieving cough, alleviating allergic responses, and clearing away heat. Here we report the structure and lipid-lowering activity of a sweet tea polysaccharide (STP-60a). STP-60a is a homogeneous heteropolysaccharide with a molecular weight of 9.16 × 10⁴ Da, and composed of rhamnose, arabinose, glucose, galactose and glucuronic acid. The main backbone of STP-60a consists of β-L-Rhap-(1→, →3)-β-D-Galp-(1→, →4)-β-D-Glcp-UA-(1→, →3,6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, →6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, →3)-4-OAc-β-L-Arap-(1→, →3)-α-L-Araf-(1→ and the side chain are α-L-Araf-(1→ and →3)-α-D-Glcp-(1→. Using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in a high-sugar diet as a model, we found that STP-60a significantly reduced the fat accumulation in the intestine of C. elegans, and extensively affected lipolysis, fatty acid synthesis and β-oxidation processes. In addition, sbp-1 and nhr-49 were essential for STP-60a to exert a lipid-lowering effect.

Structural characterization and in vitro osteogenic activity of ABPB-4, a heteropolysaccharide from the rhizome of Achyranthes bidentata

Achyranthes bidentata is a species of flowering plant that is mainly distributed in China. The A. bidentata rhizome is a famous traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely used to treat lumbago, arthritis, and bone hyperplasia. In this work, A. bidentata rhizome was isolated and purified to obtain a pectic polysaccharide (ABPB-4). Chemical and spectral analyses showed that ABPB-4 had a main chain of →4)-α-d-GalpA-(1→ and →2,4)-α-l-Rhap-(1→, and the branch chains included →4)-β-d-Galp-(1→, →6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, →3,6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, →5)-α-l-Araf-(1→ and →3,5)-α-l-Araf-(1→, and it was terminated with α-l-Araf-(1→ and β-d-Galp-(1→. At concentrations of 0.01, 0.02, and 0.04 μmol/L, ABPB-4 significantly promotes the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro, and it appreciably enhances the mRNA expression levels of osteogenic-related genes in these cells. Overall, the results reported herein indicate that ABPB-4 has outstanding osteogenic activity, and that it may be used as an anti-osteoporosis agent in the future.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt.: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. (family Asteraceae) is an important traditional medicine in North America, Europe, and Asia for quite a long historical period, which has received great attention due to its health-benefiting activities, including disinfection, treatment sexual infection, diarrhoea, acute and chronic dysentery, red-eye swelling as well as pain, heat, thirst, hypertension, palpitation, gastrointestinal discomfort, and loss of appetite.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to give an overview of the current phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of C. tinctoria, and reveals the correlation among its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological profile, and potential toxicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This review is based on published studies and books from electronic sources and library, including the online ethnobotanical database, ethnobotanical monographs, Scopus, SciFinder, Baidu Scholar, CNKI, and PubMed. These reports are related to the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of C. tinctoria.

RESULTS

Coreopsis tinctoria is traditionally used in diarrhoea, infection, and chronic metabolic diseases. From 1954 to now, more than 120 chemical constituents have been identified from C. tinctoria, such as flavonoids, polyacetylenes, polysaccharides, phenylpropanoids, and volatile oils. Flavonoids are the major bioactive components in C. tinctoria. Current research has shown that its extracts and compounds possess diverse biological and pharmacological activities such as antidiabetes, anti-cardiovascular diseases, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, protective effects on organs, neuroprotective effects, antimicrobial, and antineoplastic. Studies in animal models, including acute toxicity, long-term toxicity, and genotoxicity have demonstrated that Snow Chrysanthemum is a non-toxic herb, especially for its water-soluble parts.

CONCLUSIONS

Recent findings regarding the main phytochemical and pharmacological properties of C. tinctorial have confirmed its traditional uses in anti-infection and treatment of chronic metabolic disease and, more importantly, have revealed the plant as a valuable medicinal plant resource for the treatment of a wide range of diseases. The available reports indicated that most of the bioactivities in C. tinctorial could be attributed to flavonoids. However, higher quality studies on animals and humans studies are required to explore the efficacy and mechanism of action of C. tinctoria in future.

Isolation, purification and structural characterization of two pectin-type polysaccharides from Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. and their proliferation activities on RAW264.7 cells

Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. (C.tinctoria) is an annual herb of the Compositae family with many health benefits, such as clearing heat, antioxidant and anticancer activity. In this paper, two polysaccharides were isolated from C.tinctoria, named CTAP-1 and CTAP-2, respectively. Structure of CTAP-1and CTAP-2 were elucidated by high-performance gel permeation chromatography, chemical derivative analyses, GC-MS and NMR techniques. Results reveal that they both CTAP-1 and CTAP-2 consisted of predominant amounts of galacturonic acid residues along with small amounts of arabinose, rhamnose and galactose.Both them contain homogalacturonan and rhammnogalcturan I regions in different ratio, suggesting their pectin-type features. The proliferation activities of CTAP-1 and CTAP-2 on RAW264.7 cells in vitro were detected. Results show both them have the significant proliferation effect on RAW264.7 cells when the concentration from 40 to 200 µg/mL. Given their structural characteristics and proliferation activities, the pectins are expected to be potential natural immune modulators, which need further study.

Dynamic changes of structural characteristics of snow chrysanthemum polysaccharides during in vitro digestion and fecal fermentation and related impacts on gut microbiota

The in vitro simulated saliva-gastrointestinal digestion and human fecal fermentation of snow chrysanthemum polysaccharides (JHP) were investigated. Results showed that reducing sugar contents of JHP increased during the gastrointestinal digestion, and glucose released with the decrease of its molecular weight, suggesting that JHP could be partially degraded under the gastrointestinal digestion. Furthermore, after in vitro fecal fermentation, the molecular weight and molar ratio of constituent monosaccharides (galactose and galacturonic acid) of the indigestible JHP (JHP-I) significantly decreased, and both monosaccharides and oligosaccharides released, suggesting that JHP-I could be further degraded and consumed by gut microbiota. Some beneficial bacteria, such as genera Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Megamonas, and Megasphaera, significantly increased, suggesting that JHP-I could change the composition and abundance of gut microbiota. These results suggest that JHP is a potential source of prebiotics, and can be helpful for better understanding of the potential digestion and fermentation mechanism of JHP.

The structure, conformation, and hypoglycemic activity of a novel heteropolysaccharide from the blackberry fruit

A novel heteropolysaccharide fraction (BBP-24-3) with a relative molecular weight of 145.1 kDa was isolated from blackberry fruits. The BBP-24-3 was mainly composed of arabinose, glucose, and galacturonic acid with a ratio of 5.30 : 3.60 : 91.10 mol%. Structural analysis showed that BBP-24-3 possessed a 1,6-linked β-d-Glcp, 1, 2, 3, 5 linked α-l-Araf, and 1, 4 linked α-d-GalpA backbone with branches substituted at the C-2 and C-5 positions of arabinose units, which included 1, 2, 3, 4 linked β-d-Glcp and T-linked β-d-GalpA. The conformation analysis indicated that BBP-24-3 exhibited a solid spherical structure with a uniform distribution in 0.1 M NaCl solution. The BBP-24-3 exhibited excellent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 3.70 mg mL-1, which was due to the structural change, including α-helix and random coil of α-glucosidase caused by BBP-24-3. The current work suggests the potential utilization of BBP-24-3 as an α-glucosidase inhibitor in healthy food for reducing the postprandial blood glucose level.

Polysaccharides catabolism by the human gut bacterium -Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron: advances and perspectives

In recent years, the degradation processes of polysaccharides by human gut microbiota are receiving considerable attention due to the discoveries of the powerful function of gut microbiota. Gut microbiota has developed a sensitive, accurate, and complex system for sensing, capturing, and degrading different polysaccharides. Among the gut microbiota, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, a representative species of Bacteroides, is considered as the best degrader of polysaccharides and a potential probiotic in pharmaceutical and food industries. Here, we summarize the degradation system of B. thetaiotaomicron and the degradation pathways of different polysaccharides by B. thetaiotaomicron. We also describe a technical route for investigating a specific polysaccharide degradation pathway by human gut bacteria. In addition, we also provide the future perspectives in the development of novel polysaccharides or oligosaccharides drugs, precision microbiology medicine, and personalized nutrition.

Effect of purity of tea polysaccharides on its antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities

The effects of purity of tea polysaccharides (TPS) on its five antioxidant activities and hypoglycemic activities in vitro were studied. The results showed that the higher the purity of TPS, the lower the antioxidant capacity. The purity of FTPSI is the highest (sugar content 80.72%), but its antioxidant activities were lower than those of Fujian tea polysaccharides (FTPS) and FTPSII. The antioxidant activity of tea polysaccharide is related to its protein and polyphenol content (Pearson r > .90). The protective effect of Zhejiang tea polysaccharides and FTPS on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) was better than that of its purified fractions. The inhibition rates of FTPSII (5 and 2 mg/ml) on α-glucosidase (32.76%) and α-amylase (-11.93%) were higher than those of FTPS and FTPSII. Purification does not change the basic structure of TPS. This study has certain reference value for the study of the antioxidant activities of TPS. Meanwhile, TPS can be used as a potential resource with hypoglycemic function. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: A large number of studies have shown that TPS have antioxidant activity. However, several studies considered that the antioxidant activity of TPS mainly comes from the residues of tea polyphenols. Therefore, the in vitro and cell antioxidant activities of TPS were studied in this paper. We believe that both glycoprotein and tea polyphenol are antioxidants of tea, and tea polysaccharide perform preferable effect on hypoglycemic. HUVEC cell model and four in vitro antioxidant test methods were used to study the antioxidant activities of TPS, and two enzyme inhibition activities were used to study the hypoglycemic effect of TPS, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the study of biological activity of TPS.

Extraction, purification, hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) polysaccharides

Hot water extraction was applied to extract red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) polysaccharides (RCP) and the extraction conditions were optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM). An RCP yield of 12.72 ± 0.14% was achieved under the optimum extraction conditions: extracting time of 95 min, extracting temperature of 93 °C, and solvent-material ratio of 21 mL/g. A component named RCP-1.1 with the molecular weight of 7528.81 kDa was purified from RCP. RCP-1.1 was composed of glucose, galacturonic acid, arabinose, and galactose, with molar percentages of 52.54, 1.04, 16.31, and 30.11%, respectively. At the determination concentration of 10 mg/mL, the α-glucosidase inhibition ability of RCP-1.1 reached 86.72% of that of acarbose. The scavenging rates of RCP-1.1 (3.0 mg/mL) for DPPH and ABTS radicals reached 91.82% and 98.95% of that of ascorbic acid (3.0 mg/mL), respectively. Based on these results, RCP-1.1 possesses the potential to be used as a natural hypoglycemic agent or an antioxidant.

Anti-Diabetic Effects and Mechanisms of Dietary Polysaccharides

Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial, heterogeneous metabolic disorder, causing various health complications and economic issues, which apparently impacts the human's life. Currently, commercial diabetic drugs are clinically managed for diabetic treatment that has definite side effects. Dietary polysaccharides mainly derive from natural sources, including medicinal plants, grains, fruits, vegetables, edible mushroom, and medicinal foods, and possess anti-diabetic potential. Hence, this review summarizes the effects of dietary polysaccharides on diabetes and underlying molecular mechanisms related to inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, and diabetes in various animal models. The analysis of literature and appropriate data on anti-diabetic polysaccharide from electronic databases was conducted. In vivo and in vitro trials have revealed that treatment of these polysaccharides has hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, which enhance pancreatic β-cell mass and alleviates β-cell dysfunction. It enhances insulin signaling pathways through insulin receptors and activates the PI3K/Akt pathway, and eventually modulates ERK/JNK/MAPK pathway. In conclusion, dietary polysaccharides can effectively ameliorate hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, low-grade inflammation, and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and, thus, consumption of polysaccharides can be a valuable choice for diabetic control.