Network Pharmacology Combined with an Experimental Validation Study to Reveal the Effect and Mechanism of Eucommia ulmoides Leaf Polysaccharide against Immunomodulation

Physicochemical properties, biological activities, applications, and protective potential of the skeletal system of Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharides: a review

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv (E. ulmoides) is a widely distributed plant with economic value, nutritional value, edible value and even medicinal value. In recent years, E. ulmoides polysaccharides are considered to be one of the most important bioactive ingredients in E. ulmoides. Modern pharmacological studies show that the crude extract of E. ulmoides polysaccharides, their active monomer and ramifications have a wide range of pharmacological activities in vitro and in vivo experiments, which can be used to improve inflammation, regulate immunity, improve osteoporosis, and promote osseointegration, etc. Therefore, this review focuses on the induction and summary of the research at home and abroad in recent years, and summarizes the extraction and purification, modification methods, physicochemical properties, biological activities and potential mechanisms of E. ulmoides polysaccharides, providing a theoretical basis for the in-depth study of E. ulmoides polysaccharides and the development of related products.

Isolation, structures, bioactivities, and applications of the polysaccharides from Boletus spp.: A review

Boletus spp., the edible mushrooms distributed in Europe, Asia, and North America, have been widely used as food and medicinal ingredients worldwide. Bioactive polysaccharides are highly abundant in Boletus spp., as demonstrated by modern phytochemical studies. The isolation, chemical properties, and bioactivities of polysaccharides from Boletus spp. have long been attracted by academics worldwide. However, there is still a lack of systematic tracking of research progress on Boletus polysaccharides (BPs), which is essential for researchers to understand their potential and gain a deeper insight into their functional mechanisms. In this review, we summarized the recent development of BPs, including the extraction and purification methods, physiochemical and structural features, bioactivities and functional mechanisms, the structure-activity relationship, and the potential applications. This review aims to provide researchers with a comprehensive understanding of the current progress and potential of BPs to assist their further investigations.

Hypoglycemic activity of enzymatically extracted Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharide (EUL-w1) on IR-HepG2 cell via the AMPK/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

This study devised optimal conditions to extract Eucommia ulmoides leaf (EUL) polysaccharides using a cellulase and pectinase composite enzyme system based on one-way experiments and response surface methodology. Crude EUL polysaccharides (EULPs) were extracted and purified using a DEAE chromatography column. The polysaccharides EUL-w, EUL1, EUL2, and EUL3 were obtained by elution with water, 0.1 mol/L NaCl, 0.2 mol/L NaCl, and 0.3 mol/L NaCl, respectively. The EUL-w fraction had the highest hypoglycemic activity based on its α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. The preliminary structure of purified EUL-w1 was elucidated. In vitro hypoglycemic activity studies and metabolomics analyses suggested that EUL-w1 modulated glucose metabolism by mediating the AMPK/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Our findings provide novel insights and data support for the utilization of EULPs as an emerging food resource in functional foods.

Preparation techniques, structural features, and bioactivities of Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharides: A review

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. (tu-chung), as a famous nature medical and edible plant, has the effect of tonifying liver and kidney, strengthening the function of the muscles and bones, and miscarriage prevention. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the polysaccharides from Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. (EUPs) are a kind of vital and representative biologically active macromolecules and have various health-promoting biological activities in vivo and in vitro, such as antioxidant activity, immunomodulatory activity, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activities, anti-inflammatory activities, anti-tumor activity, and among others. The review aims to comprehensively and systematically collate the recent research progress on extraction and purification methods, structural characteristics, biological activities, mechanism of action, structural modification, and toxicity of EUPs to support their therapeutic potential and health-care functions. New valuable insights for future research with EUPs were also proposed in the areas of structural characterization and pharmacological activities to promoting the development of therapeutic agents and functional foods.

Polysaccharides from Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. leaves alleviates alcohol-induced mouse brain injury and BV-2 microglial dysfunction

Acute alcohol intoxication is a harmful clinical condition characterized by behavioral and neurological symptoms, for which few effective therapies are available at present. Dysfunction of microglial BV-2 cells has been reported to be associated with acute alcohol-induced brain injuries. In the present study, the protective effects of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. leaves polysaccharides (EULP) on acute alcoholic brain injury and microglial dysfunction were investigated. 14-day pretreatment of EULP significantly attenuated neurobehavioral deficit and neurotransmitter damage in the brain tissue of mice caused by acute alcohol exposure. Additionally, EULP regulated the metabolic disorder of brain tissue. Consistently, it was shown that EULP pretreatment significantly improved alcohol-induced phagocytosis decrease, oxidative stress and inflammation in BV-2 cells. Therefore, EULP may be proposed and employed as a potential therapeutic agent for alcohol-induced brain damage.

Integrated component identification, network pharmacology, and experimental verification revealed mechanism of Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo against lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo (DO), a valuable Chinese herbal medicine, has been reported to exhibit potential effects in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer. However, its material basis and mechanism of action have not been comprehensively analyzed.

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to preliminarily elucidate the active components and pharmacological mechanisms of DO in treating lung cancer, according to UPLC-Q/TOF-MS, HPAEC-PAD, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification.

METHODS

The chemical components of DO were identified via UPLC-Q/TOF-MS, while the monosaccharide composition of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) was determined by HPAEC-PAD. The prospective active constituents of DO as well as their respective targets were predicted in the combined database of Swiss ADME and Swiss Target Prediction. Relevant disease targets for lung cancer were searched in OMIM, TTD, and Genecards databases. Further, the active compounds and potential core targets of DO against lung cancer were found by the C-T-D network and the PPI network, respectively. The core targets were then subjected to enrichment analysis in the Metascape database. The main active compounds were molecularly docked to the core targets and visualized. Finally, the viability of A549 cells and the relative quantity of associated proteins within the major signaling pathway were detected.

RESULTS

249 ingredients were identified from DO, including 39 flavonoids, 39 bibenzyls, 50 organic acids, 8 phenanthrenes, 27 phenylpropanoids, 17 alkaloids, 17 amino acids and their derivatives, 7 monosaccharides, and 45 others. Here, 50 main active compounds with high degree values were attained through the C-T-D network, mainly consisting of bibenzyls and monosaccharides. Based on the PPI network analysis, 10 core targets were further predicted, including HSP90AA1, SRC, ESR1, CREBBP, MAPK3, AKT1, PIK3R1, PIK3CA, HIF1A, and HDAC1. The results of the enrichment analysis and molecular docking indicated a close association between the therapeutic mechanism of DO and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. It was confirmed that the bibenzyl extract and erianin could inhibit the multiplication of A549 cells in vitro. Furthermore, erianin was found to down-regulate the relative expressions of p-AKT and p-PI3K proteins within the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

This study predicted that DO could treat lung cancer through various components, multiple targets, and diverse pathways. Bibenzyls from DO might exert anti-lung cancer activity by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and modulating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. A fundamental reference for further studies and clinical therapy was given by the above data.

Lonicera flos and Curcuma longa L. extracts improve growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immune response in broiler chickens

Alternatives to antibiotics are urgently needed to maintain broiler growth and health. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Lonicera flos and Curcuma longa L. extracts (LCE) as antibiotic substitutes on growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immune response in broilers. A total of 480 one-day-old female broilers (WOD168) were allocated to 3 treatments with 5 replicates of 32 birds for 35 days. The 3 treatments were: an antibiotic-free basal diet (control, CON), CON +50 mg/kg spectinomycin hydrochloride and 25 mg/kg lincomycin hydrochloride (ANT), CON +500 mg/kg LCE (LCE). During the entire experimental period, supplementation of ANT and LCE increased (p < 0.01) average daily gain (ADG) and decreased (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR), thereby resulting in greater final body weight (BW) compared with CON. Dietary LCE supplementation increased (p < 0.05) serum (glutathione peroxidase) GSH-Px, (superoxide dismutase) SOD and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activities, and decreased (p < 0.05) serum malonaldehyde (MDA) concentration at day 35 compared with CON. There was no significant difference in serum catalase (CAT) activity among treatments. Birds in LCE group had lower (p < 0.05) MDA concentration and higher SOD activity in liver than those in CON and ANT groups at day 35. Birds in LCE group had higher (p < 0.05) phagocytic index and serum antibody titers to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) than those in CON group. Lower (p < 0.05) concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines and higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines in serum and liver were observed in birds fed LCE diet than those fed CON diet. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of LCE improved growth performance by enhancing antioxidant capacity, strengthening immune system and alleviating inflammation, which has potential as antibiotic alternatives.

Polysaccharides from Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Leaves Alleviate Acute Alcoholic Liver Injury by Modulating the Microbiota-Gut-Liver Axis in Mice

The interplay among gut microbiota, intestines, and liver is crucial in preventing acute alcoholic liver injury. In this study, the hepatoprotective potential of polysaccharides from Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. leaves (EULP) on acute alcoholic liver injury in Kunming male mice was investigated. The structural features suggested that the EULP appeared as a heterogeneous mixture of polysaccharides with a molecular weight of 186132 Da. A 14-day pretreatment of EULP ameliorated acute alcoholic-induced hepatic inflam mation (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10), oxidative stress (GSH, SOD, and T-AOC), and liver damage (ALT and AST) via enhancing intestinal barrier (Occludin, Claudin 1, and ZO-1) and modulating microbiome, which subsequently inhibiting endotoxemia and balancing the homeostasis of the gut-liver axis. EULP restored the composition of intestinal flora with an increase in the relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae and a decrease in Lachnospiraceae and Verrucomicrobiaceae. Notably, prolonged EULP pretreatment (14 days) but no single gavage of EULP achieved excellent hepatoprotection. These findings endorsed the potential of EULP as a functional food for mitigating acute alcoholic-induce d liver damage, attributed to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and prebiotic properties facilitated by the microbiota-gut-liver axis.