Auricularia auricula Melanin Protects against Alcoholic Liver Injury and Modulates Intestinal Microbiota Composition in Mice Exposed to Alcohol Intake

Immune Response Activation and Hepatoprotective Activity of Randia echinocarpa Soluble Melanins in Murine Models

This research demonstrates the in vivo immunomodulatory and hepatoprotective activities of the soluble melanins of the Randia echinocarpa fruit (PSM). The splenocyte cellular metabolic activity and lymphocyte T γδ expression in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and Peyer patches (PPs) were measured in the mice model. The PSM hepatoprotective activity was evaluated in the CCl4-induced acute hepatotoxic injury (AHTI) in the rat model. Compared with the controls, the PSM treatment induced higher splenocyte cellular metabolic activity (in vitro, 24.1%-57.25%; in vivo, 28.8%-47.7%), activation of lymphocytes T γδ in MLN but suppression in PP. Related to in vivo hepatoprotective activity, PSM treatment reduces CCl4-induced damage; animals showed lower levels of serum ALT (218.85-67.02 U/L) and ALP (453.37-355.47 U/L), higher levels of serum GSH (127.96-252.15 ng/mg of tissue), lower levels of hepatic MDA (10.25-7.85 nmol/mL), and less severe damage in the hepatic histopathology. These results suggest the nutraceutical and therapeutic potential of PSM.

Physicochemical characterization and protective effects of raw and nine-steamed Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharides on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice

Polygonatum cyrtonema (PC) is a traditional Chinese herb used in both food and medicine with considerable bioactivity. The nine-steam processed pieces of PC are the main form of clinical application, while research has focused on the polysaccharide of their crude form. This study evaluated the physicochemical characteristics and protective effects of polysaccharides from both crude PC (PCP) and nine-steamed PC (NPCP) against cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppression. The findings indicate significant differences in the physicochemical characteristics of PCP and NPCP. The nine steaming treatments reduced the polysaccharide content by 8.15 %, and significantly altered monosaccharide proportion. Both polysaccharides accelerated the recovery of spleen and thymus indexes and restored the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IgA, IgM, and IgG in the serum of CTX-treated mice in a dose-dependent manner as well as improved the morphology of spleen, thymus, and colon tissues. Furthermore, PCP and NPCP promoted the production of SCFAs and the recovery of intestinal flora in CTX-induced immunosuppressed mice. NPCP exhibited a better protective effect against CTX-induced immunosuppression. The results of this study confirm the importance of the nine-steaming method for PC and provide a basis for the further development of NPCP as a functional food to alleviate CTX-induced immunosuppression.

Photodynamic inactivation mediated by natural alizarin on bacteria for the safety of fresh-cut apples

Most photosensitizers have limited responsiveness to visible light, however, visible light is a light source with a wide range of wavelengths and the most common in daily life, and making full use of visible light can help to enhance the photodynamic antimicrobial properties of photosensitizers. To tackle this issue, this study confirmed that alizarin has a good absorption capacity for visible light by UV-DRS analysis. Theoretical calculations showed that alizarin might be excited through the charge transfer (CT) mechanism. Under simulated light conditions, alizarin exhibited significant photodynamic inactivation, with a bactericidal efficiency of 99.91 % against S. aureus and L. monocytogenes within 40 min. Meanwhile, the cytolytic rate of alizarin was less than 5 % and the free radical scavenging rate was more than 90 %. To improve the freshness of fresh-cut fruits, we prepared alizarin-pectin (Ali-Pec) coatings using a one-step synthesis method. FT-IR spectroscopic showed the possible presence of hydrogen bonding. It was further found that during storage, the coating-treated fresh-cut apples in the experimental group showed an 8 % reduction in the variation of L-value and a 50 % reduction in the variation of a*-value, and effectively maintained the pH, VC, PPO, and T-AOC levels of the fresh-cut apples, which prolonged the shelf-life of the fresh-cut apples.

Natural pigments in the food industry: Enhancing stability, nutritional benefits, and gut microbiome health

Natural pigments are increasingly favored in the food industry for their vibrant colors, fewer side effects and potential health benefits compared to synthetic pigments. However, their application in food industry is hindered by their instability under harsh environmental conditions. This review evaluates current strategies aimed at enhancing the stability and bioactivity of natural pigments. Advanced physicochemical methods have shown promise in enhancing the stability of natural pigments, enabling their incorporation into food products to enhance sensory attributes, texture, and bioactive properties. Moreover, recent studies demonstrated that most natural pigments offer health benefits. Importantly, they have been found to positively influence gut microbiota, in particular their regulation of the beneficial and harmful flora of the gut microbiome, the reduction of ecological dysbiosis through changes in the composition of the gut microbiome, and the alleviation of systemic inflammation caused by a high-fat diet in mice, suggesting a beneficial role in dietary interventions.

Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) inhibited the growth and feeding by disrupting the gut and digestive gland homeostasis in octopus Amphioctopus fangsiao (Mollusca: Cephalopoda)

A novel brominated flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) poses a potential threat to animals, but its effects on cephalopods remain unknown. In this study, Amphioctopus fangsiao, a common octopus in China, was exposed to DBDPE (0, 1, 50, 100, 300 μg/L) for 28 days. Chemical analysis revealed that the digestive gland bore a greater burden of DBDPE compared with other tissues. In addition, accumulated DBDPE could curb the growth and feeding performance of A. fangsiao. The potential effects on the "gut-digestive gland axis" were also elucidated. Specifically, DBDPE in the gut shifted the microorganisms toward a Bacteroidetes-dominated composition, and impaired the intestinal epithelial barrier, thereby triggering oxidative stress and inflammation. Excessive DBDPE also threatens the digestive gland function, including histological damage, immune reaction, oxidative stress, glucolipid metabolism dysfunction, and neurotoxicity. Metabolome plasticity enabled A. fangsiao to develop a DBDPE stress-adaptive metabolic profile via alteration of glucolipid metabolism, immunity, oxidative stress, and signaling molecules. Taken together, we identified a new detoxification mechanism linking the microbiota-gut-digestive gland axis with the growth and food intake of A. fangsiao, which is the first time it has been demonstrated in mollusks. These findings provided important clues for a further mechanism study and risk assessment of DBDPE.

An appearance quality classification method for Auricularia auricula based on deep learning

The intelligent appearance quality classification method for Auricularia auricula is of great significance to promote this industry. This paper proposes an appearance quality classification method for Auricularia auricula based on the improved Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Networks (improved Faster RCNN) framework. The original Faster RCNN is improved by establishing a multiscale feature fusion detection model to improve the accuracy and real-time performance of the model. The multiscale feature fusion detection model makes full use of shallow feature information to complete target detection. It fuses shallow features with rich detailed information with deep features rich in strong semantic information. Since the fusion algorithm directly uses the existing information of the feature extraction network, there is no additional calculation. The fused features contain more original detailed feature information. Therefore, the improved Faster RCNN can improve the final detection rate without sacrificing speed. By comparing with the original Faster RCNN model, the mean average precision (mAP) of the improved Faster RCNN is increased by 2.13%. The average precision (AP) of the first-level Auricularia auricula is almost unchanged at a high level. The AP of the second-level Auricularia auricula is increased by nearly 5%. And the third-level Auricularia auricula AP is increased by 1%. The improved Faster RCNN improves the frames per second from 6.81 of the original Faster RCNN to 13.5. Meanwhile, the influence of complex environment and image resolution on the Auricularia auricula detection is explored.

Melanin in Auricularia auricula: biosynthesis, production, physicochemical characterization, biological functions, and applications

Auricularia auricular (A. auricula), a nutritious fungus and traditional medicinal resource, is known for melanin. This review aims to summarize the research progress on melanin in A. auricula, specifically focusing on biosynthesis, fermentation production, extraction processes, physicochemical characterization, biological functions, and applications. The biosynthesis of melanin in A. auricula primarily involves the oxidative polymerization reaction of phenolic compounds. To enhance melanin production, strategies such as deep fermentation culture, selection of optimal fermentation materials, and optimization of the culture medium have been employed. Various extraction processes have been compared to determine their impact on the physicochemical properties and stability of melanin. Moreover, the antioxidant and antibiofilm activities of A. auricula melanin, as well as its potential beneficial effects on the human body through in vivo experiments, have been investigated. These findings provide valuable insights into the application of A. auricula melanin and serve as a reference for future research in this field.

Graphical abstract

Cyanidin-3-O-Glucoside Alleviates Alcoholic Liver Injury via Modulating Gut Microbiota and Metabolites in Mice

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is primarily caused by long-term excessive alcohol consumption. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) is a widely occurring natural anthocyanin with multiple biological activities. This study aims to investigate the effects of C3G isolated from black rice on ALD and explore the potential mechanism. C57BL/6J mice (male) were fed with standard diet (CON) and Lieber-DeCarli liquid-fed (Eth) or supplemented with a 100 mg/kg/d C3G Diet (Eth-C3G), respectively. Our results showed that C3G could effectively ameliorate the pathological structure and liver function, and also inhibited the accumulation of liver lipids. C3G supplementation could partially alleviate the injury of intestinal barrier in the alcohol-induced mice. C3G supplementation could increase the abundance of Norank_f_Muribaculaceae, meanwhile, the abundances of Bacteroides, Blautia, Collinsella, Escherichia-Shigella, Enterococcus, Prevotella, [Ruminococcus]_gnavus_group, Methylobacterium-Methylorubrum, Romboutsia, Streptococcus, Bilophila, were decreased. Spearman's correlation analysis showed that 12 distinct genera were correlated with blood lipid levels. Non-targeted metabolic analyses of cecal contents showed that C3G supplementation could affect the composition of intestinal metabolites, particularly bile acids. In conclusion, C3G can attenuate alcohol-induced liver injury by modulating the gut microbiota and metabolites, suggesting its potential as a functional food ingredient against alcoholic liver disease.

Transcriptome and proteomics conjoint analysis reveal anti-alcoholic liver injury effect of Dianhong Black Tea volatile substances

Dianhong Black Tea, a fermented tea containing various bioactive ingredients, has been found to have a significant role in alleviating alcoholic liver injury (ALI). One of its main unique components, Dianhong Black Tea volatile substances (DBTVS), may have potential anti-ALI effects. However, its effects and underlying molecular mechanisms are still unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential of DBTVS as an anti-ALI agent using alcohol-fed rats. We assessed the effect of DBTVS on ALI by analyzing serum transaminase and lipid levels, as well as conducting hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O staining. Additionally, GC-MS was used to detect the components of DBTVS, while transcriptome, proteomics analysis, Western blot, and molecular docking were employed to uncover the underlying mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that DBTVS significantly reduced serum ALT and AST levels and improved lipid metabolism disorders. Moreover, we identified 14 components in DBTVS, with five of them exhibiting strong binding affinity with key proteins. These findings suggested that DBTVS could be a promising agent for the prevention and treatment of ALI. Its potential therapeutic effects may be attributed to its ability to regulate lipid metabolism through the PPAR signaling pathway.

Akkermansia muciniphila and Alcohol-Related Liver Diseases. A Systematic Review

SCOPE

Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) are Gram negative commensal bacteria, degrading mucin in the intestinal mucosa, modulating intestinal permeability and inflammation in the digestive tract, liver, and blood. Some components can promote the relative abundance of A. muciniphila in the gut microbiota, but lower levels of A. muciniphila are more commonly found in people with obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndromes, or inflammatory digestive diseases. Over-intake of ethanol can also induce a decrease of A. muciniphila, associated with dysregulation of microbial metabolite production, impaired intestinal permeability, induction of chronic inflammation, and production of cytokines.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using a PRISMA search strategy, a review is performed on the bacteriological characteristics of A. muciniphila, the factors capable of modulating its relative abundance in the digestive tract and its probiotic use in alcohol-related liver diseases (alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic transplantation, partial hepatectomy).

CONCLUSION

Several studies have shown that supplementation with A. muciniphila can improve ethanol-related hepatic pathologies, and highlight the interest in using this bacterial species as a probiotic.

The Role of Bifidobacterium in Liver Diseases: A Systematic Review of Next-Generation Sequencing Studies

The physiopathology of liver diseases is complex and can be caused by various factors. Bifidobacterium is a bacterial genus commonly found in the human gut microbiome and has been shown to influence the development of different stages of liver diseases significantly. This study investigated the relationship between the Bifidobacterium genus and liver injury. In this work, we performed a systematic review in major databases using the key terms "Bifidobacterium", "ALD", "NAFLD", "NASH", "cirrhosis", and "HCC" to achieve our purpose. In total, 31 articles were selected for analysis. In particular, we focused on studies that used next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. The studies focused on assessing Bifidobacterium levels in the diseases and interventional aimed at examining the therapeutic potential of Bifidobacterium in the mentioned conditions. Overall, the abundance of Bifidobacterium was reduced in hepatic pathologies. Low levels of Bifidobacterium were associated with harmful biochemical and physiological parameters, as well as an adverse clinical outcome. However, interventional studies using different drugs and treatments were able to increase the abundance of the genus and improve clinical outcomes. These results strongly support the hypothesis that changes in the abundance of Bifidobacterium significantly influence both the pathophysiology of hepatic diseases and the related clinical outcomes. In addition, our critical assessment of the NGS methods and related statistical analyses employed in each study highlights concerns with the methods used to define the differential abundance of Bifidobacterium, including potential biases and the omission of relevant information.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction Was Involved in Decabromodiphenyl Ethane-Induced Glucolipid Metabolism Disorders and Neurotoxicity in Zebrafish Larvae

Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), a novel brominated flame retardant, is becoming increasingly prevalent in environmental and biota samples. While DBDPE has been shown to cause various biological adverse effects, the molecular mechanism behind these effects is still unclear. In this research, zebrafish embryos were exposed to DBDPE (50-400 μg/L) until 120 h post fertilization (hpf). The results confirmed the neurotoxicity by increased average swimming speed, interfered neurotransmitter contents, and transcription of neurodevelopment-related genes in zebrafish larvae. Metabolomics analysis revealed changes of metabolites primarily involved in glycolipid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and oxidative stress, which were validated through the alterations of multiple biomarkers at various levels. We further evaluated the mitochondrial performance upon DBDPE exposure and found inhibited mitochondrial oxidative respiration accompanied by decreased mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activities, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP contents. However, addition of nicotinamide riboside could effectively restore DBDPE-induced mitochondrial impairments and resultant neurotoxicity, oxidative stress as well as glycolipid metabolism in zebrafish larvae. Taken together, our data suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction was involved in DBDPE-induced toxicity, providing novel insight into the toxic mechanisms of DBDPE as well as other emerging pollutants.

Integrated serum pharmacochemistry, 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics to reveal the material basis and mechanism of Yinzhihuang granule against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Yinzhihuang granule (YZHG) has liver protective effect and can be used for clinical treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but its material basis and mechanism need to be further clarified.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to reveal the material basis and mechanism of YZHG treating NAFLD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Serum pharmacochemistry were employed to identify the components from YZHG. The potential targets of YZHG against NAFLD were predicted by system biology and then preliminarily verified by molecular docking. Furthermore, the functional mechanism of YZHG in NAFLD mice was elucidated by 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics.

RESULTS

From YZHG, 52 compounds were identified, of which 42 were absorbed into the blood. Network pharmacology and molecular docking showed that YZHG treats NAFLD with multi-components and multi-targets. YZHG can improve the levels of blood lipids, liver enzymes, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and inflammatory factors in NAFLD mice. YZHG can also significantly improve the diversity and richness of intestinal flora and regulate glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism. Moreover, Western Blot experiment showed that YZHG can regulate liver lipid metabolism and enhance intestinal barrier function.

CONCLUSIONS

YZHG may treat NAFLD by improving the disruption of intestinal flora and enhancing the intestinal barrier. This will reduce the invasion of LPS into the liver subsequently regulate liver lipid metabolism and reduce liver inflammation.

Extraction, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant activity of natural melanin from Auricularia heimuer fermentation

Introduction

Natural melanin from Auricularia heimuer have numerous beneficial biological properties, which were used as a safe and healthy colorant in several industries.

Methods

In this study, single-factor experiments, Box-Behnken design (BBD), and response surface methodology (RSM) were employed to investigate the effects of alkali-soluble pH, acid precipitation pH, and microwave time on the extraction yield of Auricularia heimuer melanin (AHM) from fermentation. Ultraviolet-visible spectrum (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to analyze the extracted AHM. The solubility, stability, and antioxidant activities of AHM were also measured.

Results

The results showed that alkali-soluble pH, acid precipitation pH, and microwave time significantly affected the AHM yield, with the following optimized microwave-assisted extraction conditions: alkali-soluble pH of 12.3, acid precipitation pH of 3.1, and microwave time of 53 min, resulting in an AHM extraction yield of 0.4042%. AHM exhibited a strong absorption at 210 nm, similar to melanin from other sources. FT-IR spectroscopy also revealed that AHM exhibited the three characteristic absorption peaks of natural melanin. The HPLC chromatogram profile of AHM showed a single symmetrical elution peak with a 2.435 min retention time. AHM was highly soluble in alkali solution, insoluble in distilled water and organic solvents, and demonstrated strong DPPH, OH, and ABTS free radical scavenging activities.

Discussion

This study provides technical support to optimize AHM extraction for use in the medical and food industries.

Alterations in intestinal microbiota and metabolites in individuals with Down syndrome and their correlation with inflammation and behavior disorders in mice

The intestinal microbiota and fecal metabolome have been shown to play a vital role in human health, and can be affected by genetic and environmental factors. We found that individuals with Down syndrome (DS) had abnormal serum cytokine levels indicative of a pro-inflammatory environment. We investigated whether these individuals also had alterations in the intestinal microbiome. High-throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene in fecal samples from 17 individuals with DS and 23 non-DS volunteers revealed a significantly higher abundance of Prevotella, Escherichia/Shigella, Catenibacterium, and Allisonella in individuals with DS, which was positively associated with the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. GC-TOF-MS-based fecal metabolomics identified 35 biomarkers (21 up-regulated metabolites and 14 down-regulated metabolites) that were altered in the microbiome of individuals with DS. Metabolic pathway enrichment analyses of these biomarkers showed a characteristic pattern in DS that included changes in valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis and degradation; synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies; glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism; tyrosine metabolism; lysine degradation; and the citrate cycle. Treatment of mice with fecal bacteria from individuals with DS or Prevotella copri significantly altered behaviors often seen in individuals with DS, such as depression-associated behavior and impairment of motor function. These studies suggest that changes in intestinal microbiota and the fecal metabolome are correlated with chronic inflammation and behavior disorders associated with DS.

Melanin of fungi: from classification to application

Melanin is a secondary metabolite composed of complex heterogeneous polymers. Fungal melanin is considered to be a sustainable and biodegradable natural pigment and has a variety of functional properties and biological activities. On one hand, due to its own specific properties it can play the role of antioxidant, anti-radiation, adsorption, and photoprotection. On the other hand, it has good biological activities such as hepatoprotective effect, hypolipidemic effect and anti-cancer. Therefore, it is widely used in various fields of daily life, including dyeing, food, biomedical and commercial industry. It is conducive to environmental protection and human health. However, the insolubility of fungal melanin in water, acids and organic solvents has been an obstacle to its commercial applications. Thus, the chemical modification methods of fungal melanin are summarized to increase its solubility and expand the application fields. Although fungal melanin has been used in many industries, as the structure and function of fungal melanin and modified melanin are further studied, more functional properties and bioactivities are expected to be discovered for a wide range of applications in the future.

Role of gut bacterial and non-bacterial microbiota in alcohol-associated liver disease: Molecular mechanisms, biomarkers, and therapeutic prospective

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) comprises a spectrum of liver diseases that include: steatosis to alcohol-associated hepatitis, cirrhosis, and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma. The pathophysiology and potential underlying mechanisms for alcohol-associated liver disease are unclear. Moreover, the treatment of ALD remains a challenge. Intestinal microbiota include bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that are now known to be important in the development of ALD. Alcohol consumption can change the gut microbiota and function leading to liver disease. Given the importance of interactions between intestinal microbiota, alcohol, and liver injury, the gut microbiota has emerged as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target. This review focuses on the potential mechanisms by which the gut microbiota may be involved in the pathogenesis of ALD and explains how this can be translated into clinical management. We discuss the potential of utilizing the gut microbiota signature as a biomarker in ALD patients. Additionally, we present an overview of the prospect of modulating the intestinal microbiota for the management of ALD.

Intestinal microbiomics and liver metabolomics insights into the preventive effects of chromium (III)-enriched yeast on hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia induced by high-fat and high-fructose diet

In recent years, organic chromium (III) supplements have received increasing attentions for their low toxicity, high bioavailability and wide range of health-promoting benefits. This study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of chromium (III)-enriched yeast (YCr) on high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFHFD)-induced hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in mice, and further clarify its mechanism of action from the perspective of intestinal microbiomics and liver metabolomics. The results indicated that oral administration of YCr remarkably inhibited the aberrant elevations of body weight, blood glucose and lipid levels, hepatic cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels caused by HFHFD. Liver histological examination showed that oral YCr intervention inhibited HFHFD induced liver lipid accumulation. Besides, 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing showed that YCr intervention was beneficial to ameliorating intestinal microbiota dysbiosis by altering the proportion of some intestinal microbial phylotypes. Correlation-based network analysis indicated that the key intestinal microbial phylotypes intervened by YCr were closely related to some biochemical parameters associated with glucose and lipid metabolism. Liver metabolomics analysis revealed that dietary YCr intervention significantly regulated the levels of some biomarkers involved in purine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, citrate cycle, pyrimidine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, and so on. Moreover, dietary YCr intervention regulated the mRNA levels of key genes associated with glucose, cholesterol, fatty acids and bile acids metabolism in liver. These findings suggest that dietary YCr intervention has beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolism by regulating intestinal microbiota and liver metabolic pathway, and thus can be served as a functional component to prevent hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia.

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Chromium-enriched yeast enhances glucose tolerance and liver glycogen synthesis.

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Chromium-enriched yeast ameliorates the disturbance of intestinal microbiota.

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Explore the hepatoprotective effect of chromium-enriched yeast based on metabolomics.

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Chromium-enriched yeast alleviates lipid metabolism through “gut-liver” axis.

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Chromium-enriched yeast intervention affects hepatic gene transcription levels.