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Koopmans SJ, Binnendijk G, Ledoux A, Choi YH, Mes JJ, Guan X, Molist F, Thị Minh TP, van der Wielen N. Momordica charantia fruit reduces plasma fructosamine whereas stems and leaves increase plasma insulin in adult mildly diabetic obese Göttingen Minipigs. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298163. [PMID: 38498469 PMCID: PMC10947704 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditionally Momordica charantia (Bitter gourd) is known for its blood glucose lowering potential. This has been validated by many previous studies based on rodent models but human trials are less convincing and the physiological mechanisms underlying the bioactivity of Bitter gourd are still unclear. The present study compared the effects of whole fruit or stems-leaves from five different Bitter gourd cultivars on metabolic control in adult diabetic obese Göttingen Minipigs. METHODS Twenty streptozotocin-induced diabetic (D) obese Minipigs (body weight ~85 kg) were subdivided in mildly and overtly D pigs and fed 500 g of obesogenic diet per day for a period of three weeks, supplemented with 20 g dried powdered Bitter gourd or 20 g dried powdered grass as isoenergetic control in a cross-over, within-subject design. RESULTS Bitter gourd fruit from the cultivars "Palee" and "Good healthy" reduced plasma fructosamine concentrations in all pigs combined (from 450±48 to 423±53 and 490±50 to 404±48 μmol/L, both p<0.03, respectively) indicating improved glycemic control by 6% and 17%. These effects were statistically confirmed in mildly D pigs but not in overtly D pigs. In mildly D pigs, the other three cultivars of fruit showed consistent numerical but no significant improvements in glycemic control. The composition of Bitter gourd fruit was studied by metabolomics profiling and analysis identified three metabolites from the class of triterpenoids (Xuedanoside H, Acutoside A, Karaviloside IX) that were increased in the cultivars "Palee" (>3.9-fold) and "Good healthy" (>8.9-fold) compared to the mean of the other three cultivars. Bitter gourd stems and leaves from the cultivar "Bilai" increased plasma insulin concentrations in all pigs combined by 28% (from 53±6 to 67±9 pmol/L, p<0.03). The other two cultivars of stems and leaves showed consistent numerical but no significant increases in plasma insulin concentrations. The effects on plasma insulin concentrations were confirmed in mildly D pigs but not in overtly D pigs. CONCLUSIONS Fruits of Bitter gourd improve glycemic control and stems-leaves of Bitter gourd increase plasma insulin concentrations in an obese pig model for mild diabetes. The effects of Bitter gourd fruit on glycemic control seem consistent but relatively small and cultivar specific which may explain the varying results of human trials reported in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sietse Jan Koopmans
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gisabeth Binnendijk
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Allison Ledoux
- Natural Products Laboratory, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Young Hae Choi
- Natural Products Laboratory, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jurriaan J. Mes
- Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Xiaonan Guan
- Schothorst Feed Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | | | - Tâm Phạm Thị Minh
- Department of Food crops and Horticulture, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Nikkie van der Wielen
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Zhang Y, Feng D, Zeng Y, Zhang H, Du X, Fu Y, Wang X, Lian D, Wang R, Xiao H, Wei N, Zhai F, Liu H. Xuedan Sustained Release Pellets Ameliorate Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Rats by Targeting Gut Microbiota and MAPK Signaling Pathways. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:833972. [PMID: 35652042 PMCID: PMC9149600 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.833972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cucurbitacins have a variety of bioactivities, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant-like, and antiviral effects, but their pharmacological effect in ulcerative colitis (UC) has not been reported until now. Thus, this study aims to investigate the preventive effects of Xuedan sustained release pellets (XSPs) on UC rats and the underlying mechanisms. XSPs were prepared by extracting cucurbitacins from Hemsleya. Experimental UC rats were induced by the intake of 4% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for a week and treated with different doses of XSP (0.95, 1.90, and 3.8 mg/kg). The body weight, colon length, disease activity index (DAI), and histological changes of colonic tissue were measured. In addition, the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pathways involved in the intestinal inflammation were targeted by RNA-sequencing. Moreover, the changes of gut microbial diversity and composition were analyzed by the 16SrNA analysis and the contents of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were detected by GC-MS. The results revealed that XSP intervention greatly restored the weight loss and colonic shortening (p < 0.05) and reduced the raised DAI scores, myeloperoxidase, and nitric oxide activities in UC in rats (p < 0.05). XSP administration also downregulated the protein levels of pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Notably, it was found that XSP considerably suppressed the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, XSP treatment improved the balance of gut microbiota that was disturbed by DSS. The beneficial bacteria Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136 group and Lactobacillus at the genus level significantly increased in the XSP group, which had decreased with the use of DSS (p < 0.05). Pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia-Shigella and Bacteroides in UC in rats were reduced by XSP intervention. Furthermore, XSP significantly elevated the production of SCFAs in UC in rats (p < 0.05). These alterations in inflammatory status were accompanied with changes in gut microbiota diversity and SCFA production. In conclusion, XSP exhibited protective effects against DSS-induced UC in rats. XSP treatment decreased inflammation via modulation of gut microbiota composition and SCFA production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingchun Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dan Feng
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yue Zeng
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hanyu Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaohong Du
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yang Fu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinhui Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dingyue Lian
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ruikang Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongyu Xiao
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ning Wei
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fuqiang Zhai
- Research Institute for New Materials and Technology, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing, China
| | - Hanru Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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