Recent progress in plant-derived polysaccharides with prebiotic potential for intestinal health by targeting gut microbiota: a review

New biological strategies for preventing and controlling food contaminants in the supply chain: Smart use of common plant-derived substances

Traditional means of contaminant management that rely on chemical additives and high-temperature processing have raised concerns about long-term safety and environmental issues in the modern food supply chain. Therefore, sustainable, safe, and innovative strategies are urgently needed. Plant-derived substances are known for their biological activity and antifouling potential as natural alternatives for contamination control. This review examines the sources of various contaminants, the categories of plant-derived substances, the action mechanisms, and their feasibility in the food supply chain. The smart use of plant-derived substances to improve microbial, chemical, and metal contamination in the food blockchain is not only a profound fusion of nature and technology, but also a mutual combination of ecological preservation and food safety. However, the realization of its commercialization is subject to multiple sanctions, but as the thorny issues are gradually resolved, the consolidation and market for the new strategies will thrive.

Konjac glucomannan-based films and coatings for food packaging: Advances, applications, and future perspectives

BACKGROUND

Conventional petroleum-derived plastic food packaging poses risks to human health and environmental sustainability, while underperforming in preserving freshness and extending shelf life. This has spurred interest in biopolymers as sustainable alternatives. Konjac glucomannan (KGM), a natural biopolymer, stands out for its non-toxicity, film-forming ability, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, offering a sustainable solution to overcome conventional plastics' limitations.

SCOPE AND APPROACH

This review explores KGM's sources, production technologies, properties, and applications in food packaging. A literature search (2020-2025) using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus focused on peer-reviewed studies relevant to KGM-based films. Results show that KGM films enhance shelf life of perishable foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables, meats) by improving moisture retention, gas barriers, and antimicrobial activity.

CONCLUSION

Despite advantages, KGM films face challenges like mechanical strength limitations and humidity sensitivity. Strategies such as blending with biopolymers and incorporating nanoparticles improve performance. KGM-based packaging is emerging as an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum plastics, aligning with sustainability goals. Future research should optimize production processes and commercial scalability.

Rapid Identification of Medicinal Polygonatum Species and Predictive of Polysaccharides Using ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy Combined With Multivariate Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Medicinal Polygonatum species is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine with high nutritional value, known for its anti-fatigue properties, enhancement of immunity, delays aging, improves sleep, and other health benefits. However, the efficacy of different species varies, making the quality control of medicinal Polygonatum species increasingly important. Polysaccharides are important in medicinal Polygonatum species because of their potential functional properties, such as antioxidation, hypoglycemia, protection of intestinal health, and minimal toxicological effects on human health, as well as high polysaccharide levels.

OBJECTIVE

This study developed a qualitative medicinal Polygonatum species model and a polysaccharides predictive model based on attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) combined with a multivariate analysis approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

ATR-FTIR spectral information of 334 medicinal Polygonatum species samples was collected and the spectral information of different modes was analyzed. The ATR-FTIR spectral differences of three medicinal Polygonatum species were studied by multivariate analysis combined with four spectral preprocessing and three variable selection methods. For the prediction of polysaccharides in Polygonatum kingianum Collett & Hemsl. (PK), we initially determined the actual content of 110 PK polysaccharide samples using the anthrone-sulfuric acid method, then established partial least squares regression (PLSR) and kernel PLSR models in conjunction with attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy.

RESULTS

In the visualization analysis, the orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model based on second-order derivative (SD) preprocessing was most suitable for medicinal Polygonatum species species binary classification, spectral differences between Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (PC) and other species are evident; in the hard modeling, SD preprocessing improves the accuracy of non-deep learning models for the classification of three medicinal Polygonatum species. In contrast, residual neural network (ResNet) models were the best choice for species identification without preprocessing and variable selection. In addition, the partial least squares regression (PLSR) model and Kernel-PLSR model can quickly predict PK polysaccharides content, among them, the Kernel-PLSR model with SD pretreatment has the best prediction performance, residual prediction deviation (RPD) = 7.2870, Rp = 0.9905.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we employed ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and various treatments to discern different medicinal Polygonatum species. We also evaluated the effects of preprocessing methods and variable selection on the prediction of PK polysaccharides by PLSR and Kernel-PLSR models. Among them, the ResNet model can achieve 100% correct classification of medicinal Polygonatum species without complex spectral preprocessing. Furthermore, the Kernel-PLSR model based on SD-ATR-FTIR spectra had the best performance in polysaccharides prediction. In summary, by integrating ATR-FTIR spectroscopy with multivariate analysis, this research accomplished the classification of medicinal Polygonatum species and the prediction of polysaccharides. The methodology offers the benefits of speed, environmental sustainability, and precision, highlighting its significant potential for practical applications. In future research, on the one hand, it can be further investigated using a portable infrared spectrometer, and on the other hand, infrared spectroscopy can also be applied to the prediction of other chemical components of medicinal Polygonatum species.

Innovative encapsulation of Dysphania ambrosioides essential oil and α-terpinene with gum arabic and inulin: Enhancing antibacterial activity, stability, and bioavailability

Dysphania ambrosioides essential oil (EO) possesses significant antibacterial and antioxidant properties. However, its application as a food preservation agent is limited due to high volatility and instability. Given the industrial relevance of this EO, developing new products that incorporate microencapsulated D. ambrosioides EO is recommended. This study addresses these challenges by encapsulating the EO using inulin and gum arabic (IN/GA) biopolymers, known for their biocompatibility and biodegradability. We systematically evaluated the encapsulation efficiency and structural properties of the resulting microcapsules. Advanced characterization techniques, including FT-IR, SEM, and EDX, were used to analyze the chemical interactions and morphological characteristics of the microcapsules. The thermal stability of the microcapsules was assessed using TGA, while their stability and bioaccessibility were evaluated under simulated in vitro digestion conditions. The formulation (C1) used in this study demonstrated a high encapsulation efficiency (88 %). The IN/GA formulations successfully microencapsulated EO and α-terpinene, producing microcapsules with high stability (>80 %) and bioaccessibility (>40 %). These microcapsules showed controlled release during digestion and exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These findings suggest that inulin and gum arabic are effective macromolecules for stabilizing this EO, offering valuable potential applications in the food industry.

Sedanolide alleviates DSS-induced colitis by modulating the intestinal FXR-SMPD3 pathway in mice

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a global disease with limited therapy. It is reported that sedanolide exerts anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects as a natural phthalide, but its effects on IBD remain unclear.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we investigated the impacts of sedanolide on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice.

METHODS

The mice were administered sedanolide or vehicle followed by DSS administration, after which colitis symptoms, inflammation levels, and intestinal barrier function were evaluated. Transcriptome analysis, 16S rRNA sequencing, and targeted metabolomics analysis of bile acids and lipids were performed.

RESULTS

Sedanolide protected mice from DSS-induced colitis, suppressed the inflammation, restored the weakened epithelial barrier, and modified the gut microbiota by decreasing bile salt hydrolase (BSH)-expressing bacteria. The downregulation of BSH activity by sedanolide increased the ratio of conjugated/unconjugated bile acids (BAs), thereby inhibiting the intestinal farnesoid X receptor (FXR) pathway. The roles of the FXR pathway and gut microbiota were verified using an intestinal FXR-specific agonist (fexaramine) and germ-free mice, respectively. Furthermore, we identified the key effector ceramide, which is regulated by sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 3 (SMPD3). The protective effects of ceramide (d18:1/16:0) against inflammation and the gut barrier were demonstrated in vitro using the human cell line Caco-2.

CONCLUSION

Sedanolide could reshape the intestinal flora and influence BA composition, thus inhibiting the FXR-SMPD3 pathway to stimulate the synthesis of ceramide, which ultimately alleviated DSS-induced colitis in mice. Overall, our research revealed the protective effects of sedanolide against DSS-induced colitis in mice, which indicated that sedanolide may be a clinical treatment for colitis. Additionally, the key lipid ceramide (d18:1/16:0) was shown to mediate the protective effects of sedanolide, providing new insight into the associations between colitis and lipid metabolites.

Interactions of non-starch polysaccharides with the gut microbiota and the effect of non-starch polysaccharides with different structures on the metabolism of the gut microbiota: A review

Humans consume large amounts of non-starch polysaccharides(NPs) daily. Some NPs, not absorbed by the body, proceed to the intestines. An increasing number of studies reveal a close relationship between NPs and gut microbiota(GM) that impact the human body. This review not only describes in detail the structures of several common NPs and their effects on GM, but also elucidates the degradation mechanisms of NPs in the intestine. The purpose of this review is to elucidate how NPs interact with GM in the intestine, which can provide valuable information for further studies of NPs.

Formation Mechanisms of Protein Coronas on Food-Related Nanoparticles: Their Impact on Digestive System and Bioactive Compound Delivery

The rapid development of nanotechnology provides new approaches to manufacturing food-related nanoparticles in various food industries, including food formulation, functional foods, food packaging, and food quality control. Once ingested, nanoparticles will immediately adsorb proteins in the biological fluids, forming a corona around them. Protein coronas alter the properties of nanoparticles, including their toxicity, cellular uptake, and targeting characteristics, by altering the aggregation state. In addition, the conformation and function of proteins and enzymes are also influenced by the formation of protein coronas, affecting the digestion of food products. Since the inevitable application of nanoparticles in food industries and their subsequent digestion, a comprehensive understanding of protein coronas is essential. This systematic review introduces nanoparticles in food and explains the formation of protein coronas, with interactions between proteins and nanoparticles. Furthermore, the potential origin of nanoparticles in food that migrate from packaging materials and their fates in the gastrointestinal tract has been reviewed. Finally, this review explores the possible effects of protein coronas on bioactive compounds, including probiotics and prebiotics. Understanding the formation mechanisms of protein coronas is crucial, as it enables the design of tailored delivery systems to optimize the bioavailability of bioactive compounds.

Polysaccharides from Yupingfeng granules ameliorated cyclophosphamide-induced immune injury by protecting intestinal barrier

Immune injury is the main side effect caused by cyclophosphamide and the disruption of the intestinal barrier may be an important cause. Yupingfeng granules have been reported to have immunomodulatory effects and polysaccharides are important components of them. This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of polysaccharides from Yupingfeng granules (YPFP) on cyclophosphamide induced immune injury and reveal their potential mechanisms based on its protective effect on the intestine. YPFP were isolated and preliminarily characterized. Pharmacodynamic evaluation revealed that YPFP treatment could effectively mitigate lesions of immune organs, ameliorate white blood cells and downregulate IL-10 level. Further, the protective effect of intestinal barrier on the basis of intestinal tight junctions, MUC-2, microflora, endogenous metabolites, pathways and immune cells was discussed to outline mechanisms. The results showed that YPFP repaired the integrity of intestinal epithelium, enhanced the abundance of Muribaculaceae_unclassified, Bacteroide and Muribaculum, downgraded the abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, improved the excretion of lipids and bile acids especially 3-oxo-LCA, increased the content of SCFAs in feces and inhibited the expression of key proteins of PI3K-AKT and MAPK-JUN pathways. More importantly, Th17 and Treg balance was remodeled after YPFP administration, which might be related to certain differential metabolites and pathways enriched by metabolomics. This study provides a rich understanding of YPFP and lays a foundation for further development of Yupingfeng granules. It was shown for the first time that the immunomodulatory effect of YPFP might be involved in multiple mechanisms of intestinal homeostasis. YPFP could be regarded as an immunomodulator to alleviate immune damage caused by cyclophosphamide.

Anti-Inflammatory and Prebiotic Potential of Ethanol Extracts and Mucilage Polysaccharides from Korean Yams (Dioscorea polystachya and Dioscorea bulbifera)

Korean yams are abundant in bioactive compounds with significant health-promoting properties. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential of ethanol and water extracts from Dioscorea polystachya and Dioscorea bulbifera in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Among the extracts, the 95% ethanol extract exhibited the most potent inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production, warranting further exploration of its mechanisms of action. Further analysis revealed that the ethanol extract modulated key inflammatory signaling pathways, including MAPK and NF-κB, contributing to its anti-inflammatory activity. Additionally, mucilage polysaccharides, a key bioactive component of Korean yams, were extracted and characterized for their structural and functional properties. These polysaccharides demonstrated immune-enhancing effects by reducing ROS and NO production while increasing phagocytic activity in the RAW 264.7 cells. Their prebiotic potential was also assessed through microbial growth assays, which showed an enhanced proliferation of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Furthermore, the adhesion assays using Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells revealed that these polysaccharides promoted probiotic adhesion while inhibiting the adhesion of pathogenic bacteria. These findings highlight the bioactive potential of ethanol extracts and mucilage polysaccharides from Korean yams, emphasizing their promising applications as anti-inflammatory, immune-modulating, and prebiotic agents for functional food and nutraceutical development.

Exploring the Prebiotic Potential of Fermented Astragalus Polysaccharides on Gut Microbiota Regulation In Vitro

Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) are known for their prebiotic properties, and fermentation by probiotics is a promising strategy to enhance the prebiotic activity of polysaccharides. In this study, Lactobacillus rhamnosus was used to ferment APS, and response surface methodology was applied to optimize the fermentation parameters. The optimal conditions were determined as follows: 10.28% APS addition, 5.83% inoculum, 35.6 h of fermentation time, and a temperature of 34.6 °C. Additionally, the effects of Fermented Astragalus polysaccharides (FAPS) on human gut microbiota were investigated through in vitro anaerobic incubation. Fecal samples were obtained from 6 healthy volunteers, which were then individually incubated with FAPS. Results demonstrated that FAPS significantly regulated microbial composition and diversity, increasing the abundance of beneficial gut bacteria such as Lactobacillus, E. faecalis, and Brautobacterium, while inhibiting harmful species such as Shigella, Romboutsia, and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1. Furthermore, FAPS enhanced the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are increasingly recognized to play a role in intestinal homeostasis. These findings suggested that FAPS offers several advantages in terms of increasing beneficial metabolites and regulating gut microbial composition. This study provides valuable insights for expanding the use of plant-derived polysaccharides in the food industry and for developing functional dietary supplements.

Oral Astragalus polysaccharide alleviates adenine-induced kidney injury by regulating gut microbiota-short-chain fatty acids-kidney G protein-coupled receptors axis

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can cause gut microbiota dysbiosis and decreasing production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which aggravate the injury of kidney. It has been found that a variety of Chinese medicine polysaccharides can regulate gut microbiota, especially probiotics, and have beneficial effects on human health. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is a major component of Astragalus aceus. The aim of this study was to investigate whether APS can regulate gut microbiota-SCFAs to slow the progression of CKD. Adenine-induced CKD mice (Ade) were established and APS was treated. The renal protection of APS on CKD mice was evaluated by renal function and pathological staining of renal tissues. Feces samples were collected for 16SrRNA sequence and LC-MS/MS analysis. Kidney G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) levels were also detected in renal tissue. APS supplementation can reduce serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels in mice model (Ade) and attenuate renal tubular interstitial injury and renal fibrosis. Further application of 16SrRNA sequencing showed that the abundance of SCFA producing bacteria, such as Kineothrix, Faecalibaculum, Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, and Roseburia, was upregulated after APS treatment. Fecal LC-MS/MS detection showed that the levels of acetate, propionate and butyrate in Ade mice increased after APS supplementation. The detection of renal GPRs showed that APS supplementing could significantly increase the levels of renal GPR41 and GPR43, and also partially increase the levels of GPR109a in Ade mice. Our research confirms that APS supplementation can upregulate the abundance of SCFA producing bacteria and increase SCFA levels to attenuate renal tubular interstitial injury and fibrosis via GPRs.

Mechanisms of action and applications of Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide at the intestinal mucosa barrier: a review

As a medicinal and edible homologous Chinese herb, Polygonatum sibiricum has been used as a primary ingredient in various functional and medicinal products. Damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier can lead to or worsen conditions such as type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Traditional Chinese medicine and its bioactive components can help prevent and manage these conditions by restoring the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier. This review delves into the mode of action of P. sibiricum polysaccharide in disease prevention and management through the restoration of the intestinal barrier. Polysaccharide from P. sibiricum effectively treats conditions by repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier, offering insights for treating complex diseases and supporting the application of P. sibiricum in clinical settings.

Advances in Natural Polymers: Extraction Methods and Applications

Biomass-based alternatives for the manufacturing of bioplastic materials are important aspects of a more sustainable future; their physicochemical properties need to be able to compete with the existing market to establish them as a viable alternative [...].

Functional fractions of Astragalus polysaccharides as a potential prebiotic to alleviate ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine that is significantly influenced by an imbalance in the gut microbiota. Astragalus membranaceus, particularly its polysaccharide components, has shown therapeutic potential for the treatment of UC, although the specific active constituents and their mechanistic pathways remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated two molecular weight fractions of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), APS1 (Mw < 10 kDa) and APS2 (10 kDa < Mw < 50 kDa), isolated by ultrafiltration, focusing on their prebiotic effects, effects on UC, and the underlying mechanism. Our results showed that both APS1 and APS2 exhibit prebiotic properties, with APS1 significantly outperforming APS2 in ameliorating UC symptoms. APS1 significantly attenuated weight loss and UC manifestations, reduced colonic pathology, and improved intestinal mucosal barrier integrity. In addition, APS1 significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the serum and colonic tissue, and downregulated colonic chemokines. Furthermore, APS1 ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS)-induced intestinal dysbiosis by promoting the growth of beneficial microbes and inhibiting the proliferation of potential pathogens, leading to a significant increase in short-chain fatty acids. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of APS1 as a novel prebiotic for the prevention and treatment of UC.

Subcritical water extraction of polysaccharides from Gastrodiae Rhizoma: optimization, characterization and in vitro hepatoprotective activity

Subcritical water extraction (SWE) is an efficient and eco-friendly technology that rapidly extracts valuable compounds from natural materials. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to determine the optimal extraction conditions for Gastrodiae Rhizoma using SWE (GRP-S). The optimum conditions were found to be 161 °C extraction temperature, 41 min extraction time, and a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1.55 mg/mL. Under these optimal conditions, the experimental yield of GRP-S was 66.32% ± 0.10% (n = 3), demonstrating a significant increase compared to hot water reflux extraction (HWE) in the extraction yield of polysaccharides. Characterization studies employing SEM, FT-IR, and HPAEC-PAD confirmed the differences between GRP-S and GRP-H (GRP obtained by HWE). Furthermore, both GRP-S and GRP-H exhibited a significant ability to protect HepG2 cells from ethanol-induced damage, with GRP-S showcasing a superior effect. The widespread adoption of SWE technology can lead to high GRP content in extracts and promote the green and sustainable development of natural products extraction processes.