Aspirin eugenol ester regulates cecal contents metabolomic profile and microbiota in an animal model of hyperlipidemia

Dietary essential oil components: A systematic review of preclinical studies on the management of gastrointestinal diseases

BACKGROUND

The gut is responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients, immune regulation, and barrier function. However, factors like poor diet, stress, and infection, can disrupt the balance of the gut microbiota and lead to intestinal inflammation and dysfunction.

PURPOSE

This systematic review aims to evaluate the effects of dietary plants-derived essential oil components on gut health and intestinal functions in animal models.

METHODS

The literature was gathered from the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase databases by using related search terms, such as "dietary plants", "dietary sources", "essential oils", "gut health", "intestine", "anti-inflammatory", "antioxidant", and "gut microbiota".

RESULTS

The results indicate that plant-derived dietary essential oil components, such as butyrolactone-I, carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, citral, D-limonene, eugenol, farnesol, geraniol, indole, nerolidol, oleic acid, thymol, trans-anethole, vanillin, α-bisabolol, α-linolenic acid, α-pinene, α-terpineol, β-carotene, β-caryophyllene, and β-myrcene have been found to regulate gut health by influencing vital signalling pathways associated with inflammation. Dietary essential oil components modulate the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, toll-like receptor-4, matrix metalloproteinase, and interferon gamma in mitigating gut inflammation. The primary signalling molecules controlled by these molecules were AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), protein kinase B, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, myeloid differentiation primary response 88, nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). Moreover, these phytochemicals have been shown to improve glucose homeostasis by regulating glucose transporter 4, glucagon-like peptide-1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, nuclear factor kappa B, AMPK, PI3K, and uncoupling protein-1. They can also reduce thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, malondialdehyde, and oxidative stress and enhance superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase levels.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, dietary plants-derived essential oil components have the potential to mitigate inflammation and oxidative stress in the gut. However, additional clinical investigations are necessary to confirm their complete potential in improving human gut health functions.

Distribution of gut microbiota across intestinal segments and their impact on human physiological and pathological processes

In recent years, advancements in metagenomics, metabolomics, and single-cell sequencing have enhanced our understanding of the intricate relationships between gut microbiota and their hosts. Gut microbiota colonize humans from birth, with their initial composition significantly influenced by the mode of delivery and feeding method. During the transition from infancy to early childhood, exposure to a diverse diet and the maturation of the immune system lead to the gradual stabilization of gut microbiota's composition and distribution. Numerous studies have demonstrated that gut microbiota can influence a wide range of physiological functions and pathological processes by interacting with various tissues and organs through the gut-organ axis. Different intestinal segments exhibit unique physical and chemical conditions, which leads to the formation of vertical gradients along the intestinal tract: aerobes and facultative aerobes mainly live in the small intestine and anaerobic bacteria mainly live in the large intestine, and horizontal gradients: mucosa-associated microbiota and lumen-associated microbiota. In this review, we systematically summarize the distribution characteristics of gut microbiota across six intestinal segments: duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon, and rectum. We also draw a conclusion that gut microbiota distributed in different intestinal segments affect the progression of different diseases. We hope to elucidate the role of microbiota at specific anatomic sites within the gut in precisely regulating the processes of particular diseases, thereby providing a solid foundation for developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for related diseases.

C3G improves lipid droplet accumulation in the proximal tubules of high-fat diet-induced ORG mice

Obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) represents an escalating public health with no effective treatments currently available. Abnormal lipid metabolism and lipid droplet deposition in the kidneys are key contributors to ORG. Cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) has shown potential in regulating lipid metabolism and may offer reno-protective effects; however, its therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanisms in ORG remain unclear. An ORG mouse model was established, followed by an 8-week C3G intervention. The mice were divided into three groups: normal control (CT) group, ORG group, and C3G treatment group. Fecal 16S rRNA sequencing, metabolomics of feces-serum-kidney, and kidney single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) were performed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of C3G. Compared to CT mice, ORG mice exhibited elevated serum CHO, TG, Cys-C, UACR, urinary Kim-1, and NAG levels, along with glomerular hypertrophy and tubular injury. These biochemical and pathological indicators improved following C3G treatment. Fecal 16S analysis revealed reduced gut microbiota diversity in ORG mice compared to CT mice, while C3G intervention increased gut microbiota diversity. Metabolic profiling of feces, serum, and kidney indicated reprogramming of glycerophospholipid metabolism in ORG mice, ameliorated by C3G treatment. Further analysis demonstrated that abnormal glycerophospholipid metabolites correlated with blood lipids, urinary protein, urinary tubular injury markers, and gut microbiota, specifically Lachnospiraceae and Blautia. Additionally, scRNA-seq analysis identified activation of the PPARγ/CD36 pathway in proximal tubule cells (PTCs) of ORG mice. C3G improved abnormal glycerophospholipid metabolism and alleviated injury in PTCs by inhibiting the PPARγ/CD36 pathway. C3G reduces lipid droplet accumulation in the PTCs of ORG mice by modulating the gut microbiota and inhibiting the PPARγ/CD36 pathway. These findings offer new insights and therapeutic targets for ORG.

Dietary bamboo charcoal powder ameliorates high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia by enhancing fecal lipid excretions in Sprague-Dawley rats

Introduction

Bamboo charcoal powder (BCP) is increasingly used as a food colorant. This study aims to evaluate the effects of BCP consumption on improving high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia.

Methods

Fifty male SD rats were randomly assigned into five groups, with 10 rats in each group: the control group was fed a low-fat diet (LFD); the model control group was fed a high-fat diet (HFD); the low-BCP dose group was fed a HFD and given 2.81 g of BCP/kg of body weight (BCP-L) by gavage; the medium-BCP dose group was fed a HFD and given 5.62 g of BCP/kg of body weight (BCP-M) by gavage; the high-BCP dose group was fed a HFD and given 11.24 g of BCP/kg of body weight (BCP-H) by gavage.

Results

After 90 days, the consumption of BCP caused a decrease in body weight, plasma lipids (triglyceride, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)), liver triglyceride, and cholesterol levels, and liver histopathological scores. BCP caused a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in liver tissues. BCP also led to an increase in 72-h fecal dry weight and crude fat in a rat metabolic cage. The analysis of fecal samples with liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS) showed that the biomarkers associated with BCP consumption were mainly related to fatty and amino acid metabolism. Notably, BCP treatment significantly promoted linoleic acid metabolism.

Discussion

These results suggest that BCP may have a preventive effect against diet-induced hyperlipidemia through the promotion of fecal fat excretion. BCP may potentially be used as an alternative functional food component for people with diet-induced hyperlipidemia.

Effect of dietary aspirin eugenol ester on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, intestinal inflammation, and cecal microbiota of broilers under high stocking density

This study was designed to examine the impact of aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) on the growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, jejunal barrier function, and cecal microbiota of broilers raised under stressful high density (HD) stocking conditions compared with normal density broilers (ND). A total of 432 one-day-old AA+ male broilers were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal density (ND, 14 broilers /m2), high density (HD, 22 broilers /m2), ND + AEE, and HD + AEE. The results of the study revealed a significant decrease in the growth performance of broiler chickens as a result of HD stress (P < 0.05). The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in serum demonstrated a significant decrease (P < 0.05) at both 28 and 35 d. Conversely, the serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) exhibited a significant increase (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of AEE resulted in a significant elevation (P < 0.05) of serum GSH-PX, SOD and T-AOC activity at both 28 and 35 d. Moreover, exposure to HD stress resulted in a considerable reduction in the height of intestinal villi and mRNA expression of tight junction proteins in the jejunum, along with, a significant elevation in the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (P < 0.05). However, the administration of AEE reversed the adverse effects of HD-induced stress on villus height and suppressed the mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory genes, COX-2 and mPGES-1. Additionally, the exposure to HD stress resulted in a substantial reduction in the α-diversity of cecal microbiota and disruption in the equilibrium of intestinal microbial composition, with a notable decrease in the relative abundance of Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium (P < 0.05). In contrast, the addition of AEE to the feed resulted in a notable increase in the relative abundance of Phascolarctobacterium and enhanced microbial diversity (P < 0.05). The inclusion of AEE in the diet has been demonstrated to enhance intestinal integrity and growth performance of broilers by effectively mitigating disruptions in gut microbiota induced by HD stress.

Colon microbiota and metabolite potential impact on tail fat deposition of Altay sheep

Tail fat deposition of Altay sheep not only increased the cost of feeding but also reduced the economic value of meat. Currently, because artificial tail removal and gene modification methods cannot solve this problem, it is maybe to consider reducing tail fat deposition from the path of intestinal microbiota and metabolite. We measured body weight and tail fat weight, collected the serum for hormone detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and collected colon contents to 16S rRNA sequence and liquid chromotography with mass spectrometry detection to obtain colon microbiota and metabolite information, from 12 3-month-old and 6-month-old Altay sheep. Subsequently, we analyzed the correlation between colon microbiota and tail fat weight, hormones, and metabolites, respectively. We identified that the tail fat deposition of Altay sheep increased significantly with the increase of age and body weight, and the main microbiota that changed were Verrucomicrobia, Cyanobacteria, Akkermansia, Bacteroides, Phocaeicola, Escherichia-Shigella, and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1. The results indicated that the diversities of metabolites in the colon contents of 3-months old and 6-months old were mainly reflected in phosphocholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in the lipid metabolism pathway. The correlations analyzed showed that Verrucomicrobia, Chlamydiae, Akkermansia, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005, Bacteroides, and Phocaeicola were negatively correlated with tail fat deposition. Verrucomicrobia, Akkermansia, and Bacteroides were negatively correlated with growth hormone (GH). Verrucomicrobia was positively correlated with L-a-lysophosphatidylserine and PE(18:1(9Z)/0:0). Our results showed that tail fat deposition of Altay sheep was probably correlated with the abundance of Verrucomicrobia, Akkermansia, Bacteroides of colon microbiota, PC, PE of metabolites, and GH of serum.

IMPORTANCE

Excessive tail fat deposition of Altay sheep caused great economic losses, and the current research results could not solve this problem well. Now, our research speculates that the tail fat deposition of Aletay sheep may be related to the abundance of Verrucomicrobia, Akkermansia, Bacteroides, metabolites phosphocholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and growth hormone of serum. Further investigation of the interaction mechanism between these microbiota or metabolites and tail fat deposition is helpful in reducing tail fat deposition of Altay sheep and increasing the economic benefits of breeding farms.

Aspirin eugenol ester affects ileal barrier function, inflammatory response and microbiota in broilers under lipopolysaccharide-induced immune stress conditions

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) on ileal immune function in broilers under lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immune stress.

Methods

Two hundred and forty one-day-old male Arbor Acres chicks were randomly divided into four groups (saline, LPS, saline + AEE and LPS + AEE) with six replicates of ten broilers each. The saline group and LPS group were fed the normal diet, while the other two groups received normal diet plus 0.1 g/kg AEE. Broilers in the LPS and LPS + AEE groups were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 mg/kg B.W LPS in saline for seven consecutive days beginning at 14 days of age, while broilers in the saline and saline + AEE groups were injected with saline only.

Results

The results showed that AEE improved the ileal morphology and increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth of immune-stressed broilers. LPS-induced immune stress significantly reduced the expression of the genes for the tight junction proteins occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), claudin-1 and claudin-2, in the ileum, while AEE significantly up-regulated the expression of these genes. Compared with the saline group, the LPS-treated chickens showed significantly increased mRNA expression of the inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and microsomal Prostaglandin E Synthesase-1 (mPGES-1) in the ileum, while they were significantly decreased by AEE supplementation. In addition, analysis of the ileal bacterial composition showed that compared with saline and LPS + AEE groups, the proportion of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus in the LPS group was lower, while the proportion of Proteobacteria and Escherichia-Shigella was higher. Similarly, Line Discriminant Analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis showed that compared with the LPS group, Brevibacillus was dominant in the saline group, while the LPS + AEE group was rich in Rhizobium, Lachnoclostridium, Ruminococcaceae, Faecalibacterium, Negativibacillus, Oscillospiraceae, and Flavonifractor.

Conclusion

These results indicate that dietary supplementation with 0.1 g/kg AEE could protect the intestinal health by improving the intestinal villus morphology, enhancing the expression of tight junction genes and alleviating inflammation to resist the immune stress caused by LPS stimulation in broilers, and the mechanism may involve COX-2-related signal transduction and improved intestinal microbiota composition.

Multi-omics reveals aspirin eugenol ester alleviates neurological disease

BACKGROUND

Exosomes play an essential role in maintaining normal brain function due to their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) is a new medicinal compound synthesized by the esterification of aspirin with eugenol using the prodrug principle. Aspirin has been reported to have neuroprotective effects and may be effective against neurodegenerative diseases.

PURPOSE

This study wanted to investigate how AEE affected neurological diseases in vivo and in vitro.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

A multi-omics approach was used to explore the effects of AEE on the nervous system. Gene and protein expression changes of BDNF and NEFM in SY5Y cells after AEE treatment were detected using RT-qPCR and Western Blot.

KEY RESULTS

The multi-omics results showed that AEE could regulate neuronal synapses, neuronal axons, neuronal migration, and neuropeptide signaling by affecting transport, inflammatory response, and regulating apoptosis. Exosomes secreted by AEE-treated Caco-2 cells could promote the growth of neurofilaments in SY5Y cells and increased the expression of BDNF and NEFM proteins in SY5Y cells. miRNAs in the exosomes of AEE-treated Caco-2 cells may play an important role in the activation of SY5Y neuronal cells.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, AEE could play positive effects on neurological-related diseases.

Multi-omics reveals the mechanisms underlying Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P8-mediated attenuation of oxidative stress in broilers challenged with dexamethasone

Oxidative stress is a common phenomenon in poultry production. Several molecules, including antioxidant genes, miRNAs, and gut microbiota metabolites, have been reported to participate in redox regulation. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P8 (P8) was shown to improve the antioxidant capacity of chickens, but the specific molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, 400 broilers were allocated to 4 treatment groups: control diet (Con group), control diet + dexamethasone injection (DEX group), control diet containing 1 × 108 CFU/g P8 (P8 group), and control diet containing 1 × 108 CFU/g P8 + DEX injection (DEX_P8 group). Integrated analysis of the microbiome, metabolomics, and miRNAomics was conducted to investigate the roles of P8 in oxidative stress in broilers. Results demonstrated that P8 supplementation significantly improved growth performance, jejunal morphology, and antioxidant function in DEX-treated broilers. Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed a higher abundance of Barnesiella (P = 0.01) and Erysipelatoclostridium (P = 0.05) in the DEX_P8 group than in the DEX group. Functional prediction indicated that certain pathways, including the phenylacetate degradation pathway, were enriched in the DEX_P8 group compared to the DEX group. Metabolites in the cecal contents were distinct between the groups. P8 supplementation increased the content of metabolites with antioxidant capacity, e.g., urobilinogen (P < 0.01), and decreased that of metabolites related to oxidative stress, e.g., genistein (P < 0.01). Functional prediction indicated that metabolites that differed between the DEX_P8 and DEX groups were enriched in pathways including "tryptophan metabolism" and "primary bile acid biosynthesis". The miRNAomics analysis further showed that, compared to the DEX group, several miRNAs in the jejunum, such as gga-miR-21-3p (P = 0.03), were increased, whereas gga-miR-455-3p (P = 0.02) was decreased in the DEX_P8 group. The PI3K-Akt, Ras, and Rap1 signaling pathways were enriched in the DEX_P8 group compared to the DEX group through KEGG analysis. Correlation analysis revealed potential interactions between growth performance, oxidation/antioxidation, jejunal morphology, gut microbiota, cecal content metabolites, and jejunal miRNAs. Overall, our results indicate that P8 supplementation may improve the growth performance, jejunal morphology and antioxidant capacity of DEX-treated broilers by regulating gut microbiota, its metabolites, and intestinal miRNAs.

Untargeted lipidomics and metagenomics reveal the mechanism of aspirin eugenol ester relieving hyperlipidemia in ApoE-/- mice

Hyperlipidemia is induced by abnormal lipid metabolism, which can cause the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases and lead to grievous injury to health. Studies showed that AEE had a significant therapeutic effect on hyperlipidemia and is likely to be associated with the up-regulation of cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1), the key enzyme for cholesterol conversion to bile acids, but no research confirmed whether the effect of AEE on hyperlipidemia was related to the gut microbiota and liver lipids. At the same time, more and more studies have shown that gut microbiota and lipids are closely related to hyperlipidemia. Hence, in this study, we investigated the effects of AEE on liver lipids through LC-MS-based untargeted lipidomics and the effects of AEE on gut microbiota based on cecal contents metagenomics by Illumina sequencing in HFD-induced hyperlipidemia ApoE-/- mice at the overall level. The results of lipidomics showed that AEE relieved hyperlipidemia by decreasing the concentration of 10 PEs and 12 SMs in the liver and regulating the pathways of glycerophospholipid metabolic pathway, sphingolipid signaling pathway, and NF-kB signaling pathway. The results of metagenomics concluded that AEE treatment changed the composition of gut microbiota and regulated the functions of lipid transport and metabolism, as well as the metabolism of bile acids and secondary bile acids. The results of the joint analysis between lipidomics and metagenomics showed that the abundance of Verrucomicrobia, Verrucomicrobiales, Candidatus_Gastranaerophilales, and Candidatus_Melainabacteria was significantly positively correlated with the concentration of SM (d18:1/18:0) and PE (16:0/18:1) in the process of AEE alleviating hyperlipidemia in mice. In conclusion, these results suggested that the effect of AEE on hyperlipidemia was closely related to the gut microbiota by the change of bile acids and liver lipids.

Serum Metabolomics Analysis for Biomarkers of Lactobacillus plantarum FRT4 in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Lactobacillus plantarum is considered a potential probiotic supplementation for treating obesity. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is poorly understood. Our previous study displayed that L. plantarum FRT4 alleviated obesity in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) through ameliorating the HFD-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis. To explore the roles of FRT4 in obesity prevention, in this study, we investigated changes in serum metabolomic phenotype by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF/MS) and analyzed the pathway of HFD-fed Kunming female mice orally administered with FRT4 for eight weeks. Using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), metabolite patterns with significant changes were observed. 55 metabolites including phosphatidylcholine, lysophophatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, serotonin, indole-3-methyl aceta, indole-3-carbinol, indole-5,6-quino, 11,12-DHET, prostaglandin B2, leukotriene B4, and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid were identified as potential biomarkers associated with obesity, which were mainly involving in glycerophospholipid metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism. Perturbations of 14 biomarkers could be regulated by FRT4 intervention. These metabolites may serve as valuable biomarkers to understand the mechanisms by which intake of diets containing FRT4 contributes to the treatment or prevention of obesity. Thus, FRT4 can be a promising dietary supplement for the prevention of HFD-induced obesity.

Beneficial effects of eugenol supplementation on gut microbiota and hepatic steatosis in high-fat-fed mice

Due to the increase in the prevalence of obesity, new therapies have emerged and Eugenol has been shown to be beneficial in metabolic changes and gut microbiota. This study aimed...

Impact of Gut Microbiota and Microbiota-Related Metabolites on Hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia, defined as the presence of excess fat or lipids in the blood, has been considered as a high-risk factor and key indicator of many metabolic diseases. The gut microbiota has been reported playing a vital role in regulating host lipid metabolism. The pathogenic role of gut microbiota in the development of hyperlipidemia has been revealed through fecal microbiota transplantation experiment to germ-free mice. The effector mechanism of microbiota-related metabolites such as bile acids, lipopolysaccharide, and short-chain fatty acids in the regulation of hyperlipidemia has been partially unveiled. Moreover, studies on gut-microbiota-targeted hyperlipidemia interventions, including the use of prebiotics, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and natural herbal medicines, also have shown their efficacy in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. In this review, we summarize the relationship between gut microbiota and hyperlipidemia, the impact of gut microbiota and microbiota-related metabolites on the development and progression of hyperlipidemia, and the potential therapeutic management of hyperlipidemia targeted at gut microbiota.

Tailored Functionalization of Natural Phenols to Improve Biological Activity

Phenols are widespread in nature, being the major components of several plants and essential oils. Natural phenols' anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, pharmacological and nutritional properties are, nowadays, well established. Hence, given their peculiar biological role, numerous studies are currently ongoing to overcome their limitations, as well as to enhance their activity. In this review, the functionalization of selected natural phenols is critically examined, mainly highlighting their improved bioactivity after the proper chemical transformations. In particular, functionalization of the most abundant naturally occurring monophenols, diphenols, lipidic phenols, phenolic acids, polyphenols and curcumin derivatives is explored.

Protective Activity of Aspirin Eugenol Ester on Paraquat-Induced Cell Damage in SH-SY5Y Cells

Aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) is a new pharmaceutical compound esterified by aspirin and eugenol, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pharmacological activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of AEE on paraquat- (PQ-) induced cell damage of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells and its potential molecular mechanism. There was no significant change in cell viability when AEE was used alone. PQ treatment reduced cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. However, AEE reduced the PQ-induced loss of cell viability. Flow cytometry, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and 4′6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining were used to evaluate cell apoptosis. Compared with the PQ group, AEE pretreatment could significantly inhibit PQ-induced cell damage. AEE pretreatment could reduce the cell damage of SH-SY5Y cells induced by PQ via reducing superoxide anion, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) and increasing the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). At the same time, AEE could increase the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and decrease the activity of malondialdehyde (MDA). The results showed that compared with the control group, the expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and Bcl-2 was significantly decreased, while the expression of caspase-3 and Bax was significantly increased in the PQ group. In the AEE group, AEE pretreatment could upregulate the expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and Bcl-2 and downregulate the expression of caspase-3 and Bax in SH-SY5Y cells. PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and the silencing of PI3K by shRNA could weaken the protective effect of AEE on PQ-induced SH-SY5Y cells. Therefore, AEE has a protective effect on PQ-induced SH-SY5Y cells by regulating the PI3K/Akt signal pathway to inhibit oxidative stress.

Metabolomic signatures for liver tissue and cecum contents in high-fat diet-induced obese mice based on UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS

Background

The incidence of obesity is increasing worldwide, and it is a risk factor for diabetes, dyslipidemia, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Our previous study had demonstrated that high-fat diet induced increased weight gain, fat weight, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and ATL levels in liver, and influenced the diversity and composition of cecal microbiota in mice. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the roles of the gut microbially derived metabolites and liver metabolites between the obese and lean mice, focusing on their association with the progression of obesity induced by high-fat diet (HFD).

Methods

An obesity model in mice was established with HFD for 16 weeks. Cecal contents and liver tissues metabolomics based on ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analyses (OPLS-DA) was performed to identify the alterations in metabolites associated with obese mice.

Results

Obese and lean groups were clearly discriminated from each other on OPLS-DA score plot and major metabolites contributing to the discrimination were mainly involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids pathways. HFD-induced alterations of 19 metabolites in liver and 43 metabolites in cecum contents were identified as potential biomarkers related to obesity. Specifically, chenodeoxycholic acid, taurochenodeoxycholate, and tauroursodeoxycholic acid in liver were elevated 35.94, 24.36, and 18.71-fold, respectively. PI(P-16:0/18:1(9Z)), PG(19:0/16:0), PS(P-16:0/20:2(11Z,14Z)), PI(22:1(11Z)/12:0), and PE(21:0/0:0) in cecum were enhanced 884, 640.96, 226.63, 210.10, 45.13-fold in comparison with the lean mice. These metabolites were the most important biomarkers for discriminating between the obese and lean mice. In addition, cecum contents metabolites were strongly correlated with hepatic metabolites through gut-liver axis analysis.

Conclusions

HFD increased lipid profiles (i.e. glycerophospholipids, PC, PE, PI, PG, and PS) and total bile acid (primary and secondary bile acid) in liver and cecum, suggesting that they may play an important role in the progression of obesity. These metabolites can be used to better understand obesity and related disease induced by HFD. Furthermore, the level alterations of these metabolites can be used to assess the risk of obesity and the therapeutic effect of obesity management.

The Protective Effect of Aspirin Eugenol Ester on Oxidative Stress to PC12 Cells Stimulated with H2O2 through Regulating PI3K/Akt Signal Pathway

Aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) is a new pharmaceutical compound esterified by aspirin and eugenol, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pharmacological activities. This study is aimed at identifying the protective effect of AEE against H₂O₂-induced apoptosis in rat adrenal pheochromocytoma PC12 cells and the possible mechanisms. The results of cell viability assay showed that AEE could increase the viability of PC12 cells stimulated by H₂O₂, while AEE alone had no significant effect on the viability of PC12 cells. Compared with the control group, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were significantly decreased, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly increased in the H₂O₂ group. By AEE pretreatment, the level of MDA was reduced and the levels of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px were increased in H₂O₂-stimulated PC12 cells. In addition, AEE could reduce the apoptosis of PC12 cells induced by H₂O₂ via reducing superoxide anion, intracellular ROS, and mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) and increasing the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Furthermore, the results of western blotting showed that compared with the control group, the expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and Bcl-2 was significantly decreased, while the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax was significantly increased in the H₂O₂ group. In the AEE group, AEE pretreatment could upregulate the expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and Bcl-2 and downregulate the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax in PC12 cells stimulated with H₂O₂. The silencing of PI3K with shRNA and its inhibitor-LY294002 could abrogate the protective effect of AEE in PC12 cells. Therefore, AEE has a protective effect on H₂O₂-induced PC12 cells by regulating the PI3K/Akt signal pathway to inhibit oxidative stress.

Metabolomic analysis of plasma from normal-weight adults with hypo-HDL cholesterolemia by UPLC-QTOF MS

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is negatively correlated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of hypo-HDL cholesterolemia is as high as 33.9%. The plasma metabolomic differences between hypo-HDL cholesterolemia populations and normal controls were investigated using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Participants with hypo-HDL cholesterolemia and normal controls were clearly discriminated from each other on the orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis score plot and a total of 90 differential metabolites were identified, including down-regulated phosphatidylserine [18:0/20:3(8Z,11Z,14Z)], phosphatidylcholine [19:0/18:3(6Z,9Z,12Z)], phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine [18:0/20:4(5Z,8Z,11Z,13E) (15Ke)], etc., and up-regulated triglyceride [15:0/18:1(9Z)/18:3(9Z,12Z,15Z)][iso6], 13-methyl-1-tritriacontene, tridodecylamine, etc. Most of the changed metabolites were lipids, notably, a significant part of which were odd chain fatty acid incorporated lipids. Carnitine shuttle was the most significant metabolic pathway, except for the disturbed glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycosphingolipid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism in participants with hypo-HDL cholesterolemia. We identified the key metabolites and metabolic pathways that may be changed in hypo-HDL cholesterolemia participants, providing useful clues for studying the metabolic mechanisms and for early prevention of hypo-HDL cholesterolemia and dyslipidemia.

The Protective Effect of Aspirin Eugenol Ester on Paraquat-Induced Acute Liver Injury Rats

Aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. The study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of AEE on paraquat-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in rats. AEE was against ALI by decreasing alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels in blood, increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase levels, and decreasing malondialdehyde levels in blood and liver. A total of 32 metabolites were identified as biomarkers by using metabolite analysis of liver homogenate based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, which belonged to purine metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, histidine metabolism, pantothenate, and CoA biosynthesis, ether lipid metabolism, beta-Alanine metabolism, lysine degradation, cysteine, and methionine metabolism. Western blotting analyses showed that Bax, cytochrome C, caspase-3, caspase-9, and apoptosis-inducing factor expression levels were obviously decreased, whereas Bcl-2 expression levels obviously increased after AEE treatment. AEE exhibited protective effects on PQ-induced ALI, and the underlying mechanism is correlated with antioxidants that regulate amino acid, phospholipid and energy metabolism metabolic pathway disorders and alleviate liver mitochondria apoptosis.

Data Fusion of Fourier Transform Mid-Infrared (MIR) and Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopies to Identify Geographical Origin of Wild Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis

Origin traceability is important for controlling the effect of Chinese medicinal materials and Chinese patent medicines. Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis is widely distributed and well-known all over the world. In our study, two spectroscopic techniques (Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) and near-infrared (NIR)) were applied for the geographical origin traceability of 196 wild P. yunnanensis samples combined with low-, mid-, and high-level data fusion strategies. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and random forest (RF) were used to establish classification models. Feature variables extraction (principal component analysis—PCA) and important variables selection models (recursive feature elimination and Boruta) were applied for geographical origin traceability, while the classification ability of models with the former model is better than with the latter. FT-MIR spectra are considered to contribute more than NIR spectra. Besides, the result of high-level data fusion based on principal components (PCs) feature variables extraction is satisfactory with an accuracy of 100%. Hence, data fusion of FT-MIR and NIR signals can effectively identify the geographical origin of wild P. yunnanensis.

Cellular Metabolomics Reveal the Mechanism Underlying the Anti-Atherosclerotic Effects of Aspirin Eugenol Ester on Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction

Aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) possesses anti-thrombotic, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-oxidative effects. The study aims to clarify the mechanism underlying the anti-atherosclerotic effects of AEE on vascular endothelial dysfunction. Both the high-fat diet (HFD)-induced atherosclerotic rat model and the H2O2-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) model were used to investigate the effects of AEE on vascular endothelial dysfunction. UPLC/QTOF-MS coupled with a multivariate data analysis method were used to profile the variations in the metabolites of HUVECs in response to different treatments. Pretreatment of HUVECs with AEE significantly ameliorated H2O2-induced apoptosis, the overexpression of E-selectin and VCAM-1, and the adhesion of THP-1 cells. Putative endogenous biomarkers associated with the inhibition of endothelial dysfunction were identified in HUVECs pretreated with AEE in the absence or presence of H2O2, and these biomarkers were involved in important metabolic pathways, including amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. Moreover, in vivo, AEE also significantly reduced vascular endothelial dysfunction and decreased the overexpression of VCAM-1 and E-selectin. Based on our findings, the mechanism underlying the anti-atherosclerotic effects of AEE might be related to a reduction in vascular endothelial dysfunction mediated by ameliorating alterations in metabolism, inhibiting oxidative stress, and decreasing the expression of adhesion molecules.