Monotropein induces autophagy through activation of the NRF2/PINK axis, thereby alleviating sepsis-induced colonic injury

Herbal Immunostimulants and Their Phytochemicals: Exploring Morinda citrifolia, Echinacea purpurea, and Phyllanthus niruri

The rising prevalence of infectious diseases and immune-related disorders underscores the need for effective and accessible therapeutic solutions. Herbal immunostimulants derived from medicinal plants offer promising alternatives, enhancing immune responses with lower toxicity and fewer side effects than synthetic drugs. This review explores the immunostimulatory potential of Morinda citrifolia, Echinacea purpurea, and Phyllanthus niruri, focusing on their bioactive compounds, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic relevance. These plants modulate innate and adaptive immune responses by activating macrophages, dendritic cells, and lymphocytes while regulating cytokine production to maintain immune homeostasis. Their immunomodulatory effects are linked to key signaling pathways, including NF-κB, MAPK, and JAK/STAT. In vitro and in vivo studies highlight their potential to strengthen immune responses and control inflammation, making them promising candidates for managing infectious and immune-related diseases. However, further research is needed to standardize formulations, determine optimal dosages, and validate safety and efficacy in clinical settings. Addressing these gaps will support the integration of herbal immunostimulants into evidence-based healthcare as sustainable and accessible immune-enhancing strategies.

Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis of Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermented Acanthopanax senticosus with Regard to Regulated Gut Microbiota in Mice

Previous studies have shown that Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) has a beneficial preventive and therapeutic effect on colitis. The fermentation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can alter the efficacy of AS by modifying or producing new compounds with potential bioactive properties. However, the specific components and mechanisms that enhance the efficacy are still unclear. In the present experiment, untargeted metabolomics was used to analyze the changes in active components before and after LAB fermentation of AS. The aim was to explain the mechanism of AS fermentation in treating colitis using a colitis model in mice. The results indicated that the fermentation of LAB could enhance the levels of total flavonoids and total polyphenols in FAS. Additionally, the beneficial components such as Delphinidin chloride, Diosmetin, Psoralidin, and Catechol significantly increased (p < 0.05). The colitis treatment experiment demonstrated that fermented AS could alleviate symptoms and improve the morphology of colitis in mice by enhancing antioxidant enzymes like CAT, T-SOD, and T-AOC. It also regulated the composition and abundance of intestinal flora species, such as Lactobacillus and Pseudogracilibacillus. The effectiveness of fermented AS was significantly superior to that of unfermented AS (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study contributes to the application of lactic acid bacteria in AS fermentation and reveals the mechanism of fermentation AS for colitis.

Polydatin: a potential NAFLD therapeutic drug that regulates mitochondrial autophagy through SIRT3-FOXO3-BNIP3 and PINK1-PRKN mechanisms - a network pharmacology and experimental investigation

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent chronic liver disorder that is linked to metabolic syndrome, mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired autophagy. Polydatin (PD), a natural polyphenol from Polygonum cuspidatum, exhibits various pharmacological effects and protects against NAFLD. The aim of this study was to reveal the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of PD for NAFLD, with a focus on the role of mitochondrial autophagy mediated by sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), fork-head box O3 (FOXO3) and BCL2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa protein-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3), and by PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and parkin (PRKN). We combined network pharmacology analysis, animal models and cell culture experiments to show that PD could regulate the mitochondrial autophagy pathway by modulating several key genes related to mitochondrial function, and ameliorate the liver function, histopathology and mitochondrial biogenesis of NAFLD mice and hepatocytes by activating the SIRT3-FOXO3-BNIP3 axis and the PINK1-PRKN-dependent mechanism of mitochondrial autophagy. We also identified the core targets of PD, including SIRT3, FOXO3A, CASP3, PARKIN, EGFR, STAT3, MMP9 and PINK, and confirmed that silencing SIRT3 could significantly attenuate the beneficial effect of PD. This study provided novel theoretical and experimental support for PD as a promising candidate for NAFLD treatment, and also suggested new avenues and methods for investigating the role of mitochondrial autophagy in the pathogenesis and intervention of NAFLD.

Gypenoside XLIX alleviates intestinal injury by inhibiting sepsis-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy

Intestinal barrier dysfunction is a significant complication induced by sepsis, yet therapeutic strategies targeting such dysfunction remain inadequate. This study investigates the protective effects of Gypenoside XLIX (Gyp XLIX) against intestinal damage induced by sepsis. Septic intestinal injury in mice was induced by cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery. The biological activity and potential mechanisms of Gyp XLIX were explored through intraperitoneal injection of Gyp XLIX (40 mg/kg). The study demonstrates that Gyp XLIX improves the pathological structural damage of the intestine and increases tight junction protein expression as well as the number of cup cells. Through activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 - Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Nrf2-Keap1) pathway, Gyp XLIX enhances antioxidant enzyme levels while reducing the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, Gyp XLIX effectively alleviates sepsis-induced intestinal inflammation by inhibiting the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Moreover, Gyp XLIX inhibits cell death through modifying phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway, further enhancing its ability to shield the intestinal barrier. The combined action of these molecular mechanisms promotes the restoration of immune balance and reduces excessive autophagy activity induced under septic conditions. In summary, Gyp XLIX exhibits a significant preventive action against intestinal damage brought on by sepsis, with its mechanisms involving the improvement of intestinal barrier function, antioxidative stress, inhibition of inflammatory response, and cell apoptosis. This research offers a potential strategy for addressing intestinal barrier impairment brought on by sepsis.

Attenuation effect of a polysaccharide from large leaf yellow tea by activating autophagy

Chemotherapy, the most common class of anticancer drugs, is considerably limited owing to its adverse side effects. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the protective effect and mechanism of action of large-leaf yellow tea polysaccharides (ULYTP-1, 1.29 × 104 Da) against chemotherapeutic 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu). Structural characterisation revealed that ULYTP-1 was a β-galactopyranouronic acid. Furthermore, ULYTP-1 promoted autolysosome formation, activating autophagy and reducing the oxidative stress and inflammation caused by 5-Fu. Our in vivo study of 4 T1 tumour-bearing mice revealed that ULYTP-1 also attenuated 5-Fu toxicity through modulation of the gut microbiota. Moreover, ULYTP-1 effectively protected immune organs and the liver from 5-Fu toxicity, while promoting its tumour-inhibitory properties. The current findings provide a new strategy for optimising chemotherapy regimens in the clinic.