Alleviation of Alcoholic Fatty Liver by Dendrobium officinale Flower Extracts due to Regulation of Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Mice Exposed to Chronic Alcohol

Evaluation of chemical compositions and biological activities of Dendrobium species

Dendrobium spp. were investigated for their chemical compositions with HPTLC/CMS, and biological properties, including antioxidant activities (DPPH and ABTS.+ assay), and anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The ethanolic extracts of Dendrobium orchid pseudobulbs (D. chrysotoxum; DC, D. fimbriatum; DF, D. lindleyi; DL, and D. pulchellum; DP) were found to contain caffeic acid, gallic acid, quercetin, rutin hydrate and vanillin. While luteolin was shown in D. fimbriatum and D. lindleyi extracts. D. lindleyi, and D. pulchellum extracts presented the high value of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, resulting in a strong antioxidant property. Moreover, D. chrysotoxum extract expressed AChE inhibitory potential. This research indicated that chemical compounds in Dendrobium would be involved with their biological properties, i.e. antioxidant and anti-AChE. This information can be used to support further in-depth research and product development in health, food, and pharmaceutical.

Polysaccharides, the active component of Dendrobiumofficinale flower, ameliorates chronic pharyngitis in rats via TLR4/NF-κb pathway regulation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Chronic pharyngitis persistently afflicts a large population and accounts for approximately one-third of otolaryngology patients. Currently, the treatment of CP remains controversial because of the poor outcomes. Dendrobium officinale is a well-used "Yin-nourishing" traditional Chinese medicinal and edible herb used for thousands of years in China. The flowers of D. officinale are often used in folk of China to make tea for voice protection on and throat clearing.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was to evaluate beneficial effects of polysaccharides from D. officinale flower (DOFP) on CP and its potential mechanisms.

METHODS

Chemical characterization of DOFP, including polysaccharide content and monosaccharide composition, structural characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were performed. A CP model was established in rats by administering a mixture of Chinese Baijiu and chili pepper liquid, combined with low-concentration ammonia spraying. The general states, amount of oral secretion, and apparent state of the pharynx of CP rats were observed during the period of DOFP administration. Furthermore, hemorheological parameters were measured using an automatic hematology analyzer. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (1L-1β), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and D-lactate (D-LA) in the serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Morphological changes in the pharynx and colon were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The expression of nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65), p-NF-κB p65, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin 1β（IL-1β）and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) in the pharynx,Claudin-1, Occludin, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the colon was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western Blot. The mRNA expression of TLR4, COX-2, and IL-1β in the pharynx were determined using reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR.

RESULTS

In this study, DOFP with a total polysaccharide content of 71.44% and a composition of D-mannose, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose in a molar ratio of 3.95:2.19:1.00:0.74:1.30, was isolated from the flowers of D. officinale. DOFP improved the general state and exhibited significant effects on reducing oral secretion, alleviating pharyngeal injury, suppressing inflammatory cell infiltration in the pharynx, decreasing the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β, and reducing the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes in the model rats. Moreover, the expressions of TLR4, p-NF-κB p65, COX-2, IL-1β and MUC5AC in the pharynx of model rats were obviously inhibited. In addition, the levels of LPS, D-LA in the serum and the protein expression of IL-6 in the colon were downregulated when the protein expression of Occludin and Claudin-1 in the colon were upregulated.

CONCLUSIONS

DOFP exerts significant ameliorating effects on CP and it likely acts by inhibiting LPS/TLR4-associated inflammatory mediator activation and reducing excessive secretion of mucus by repairing the intestinal barrier in CP rats.

Physicochemical properties, health benefits, and applications of the polysaccharides from Rosa rugosa Thunb.: A review

Rosa rugosa Thunb. (R. rugosa) has been used as food and medicine and not just as ornamental plant for nearly a thousand years, its nutritional and medicinal value have been recognized by people. It contains a variety of biological active ingredients that are beneficial to the human body. R. rugosa polysaccharides are also one of the main bioactive ingredients, which have many health benefits such as anti-diabetes, antioxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-tumour, moisture-preserving and anti-alcoholic liver disease. This review summarizes the extraction, purification, structural characteristics, health benefits, and structure-activity relationships of R. rugosa polysaccharides. In addition, current and potential applications of R. rugosa polysaccharides are analyzed and supplemented, hoping to provide some valuable insights for further research and development of functional food additives, nutritional supplements, additives for daily chemical products, and even pharmaceuticals.

The dose-dependent mechanism behind the protective effect of lentinan against acute alcoholic liver injury via proliferating intestinal probiotics

Acute alcoholic liver injury (AALI) is a widespread disease that can develop into hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening, while drug treatment presents various side effects. This study characterized the structure of natural lentinan (LNT) from the Qinba Mountain area and investigated the protective mechanism of different LNT doses (100 mg kg-1, 200 mg kg-1, and 400 mg kg-1) on AALI. The results showed that LNT was a glucose-dominated pyran polysaccharide with a triple-helical structure and a molecular weight (Mw) of 7.56 × 106 Da. An AALI mouse model showed that all the LNT doses protected liver function, reduced hepatic steatosis, alleviated oxidative stress and inflammatory response, and stimulated probiotic proliferation. Low-dose LNT increased anti-oxidant-associated beneficial bacteria, medium-dose LNT improved liver swelling and promoted anti-oxidant-associated probiotics, and high-dose LNT increased the probiotics that helped protect liver function and anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. All the LNT doses inhibited pathogenic growth, including Oscillospiraceae, Weeksellaceae, Streptococcaceae, Akkermansiaceae, Morganellaceae, and Proteus. These results indicated that the protective effect of LNT against AALI was mediated by the proliferation of various intestinal probiotics and was related to the consumption doses. These findings offer new strategies for comprehensively utilizing Lentinula edodes from the Qinba Mountain area and preventing AALI using natural food-based substances.

Sini san regulates intestinal flora and short-chain fatty acids to ameliorate hepatocyte apoptosis and relieve CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice

Introduction

Si-Ni-San (SNS), a traditional Chinese medicine, is effective in treating liver fibrosis with an unclear mechanism. Although disturbance of intestinal flora and the subsequent secretion of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) is suggested to be involved in the progression of liver fibrosis, whether SNS produces the anti-fibrosis effect through the regulation of intestinal flora and SCFAs remains unclear.

Methods

In the current study, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-treated mice were dosed with SNS to examine the anti-fibrotic effects and the involved mechanism. Biochemical parameters, histological staining, and analyses of fibrotic gene expression were used to evaluate the anti-fibrotic effect of SNS, while intestinal flora and SCFA content were determined by 16S rRNA and LC-MS to evaluate the mechanism.

Results

In vivo results showed that SNS improved liver function, reduced hepatocyte apoptosis and FFAR2/3 expression, and restored intestinal dysbiosis and reduced PA, BA, and IsA levels. In vitro experiments showed that PA, BA, and IsA exacerbated TNF-α-induced HepG2 apoptosis. Notably, the protective effects of SNS were compromised in pseudo-sterile mice.

Discussion

In conclusion, our experimental results suggest that the disturbance in intestinal flora results in elevated SCFA levels, which further exacerbates hepatocyte apoptosis in liver fibrosis, while SNS suppresses CCl4-induced liver fibrosis at least partially by reinstating intestinal flora homeostasis and reducing SCFA levels.

Rapid Measurement of Total Saponins, Mannitol, and Naringenin in Dendrobium officinale by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometrics

Dendrobium officinale has drawn increasing attention as a dual-use plant with herbal medicine and food applications. The efficient quality evaluation of D. officinale is essential to ensuring its nutritional and pharmaceutical value. Given that traditional analytical methods are generally time-consuming, expensive, and laborious, this study developed a rapid and efficient approach to assess the quality of D. officinale from different geographical origins by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and chemometrics. Total saponins, mannitol, and naringenin were utilized as quality indicators. Two wavelength selection methods, namely, uninformative variable elimination and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), were utilized to enhance the prediction accuracy of the quantification model. Moreover, multiple spectral pretreatment methods were applied for model optimization. Results indicated that the partial least squares (PLS) model constructed based on the wavelengths selected by CARS exhibited superior performance in predicting the contents of the quality indicators. The coefficient of determination (RP2) and root mean square error (RMSEP) in the independent test sets were 0.8949 and 0.1250 g kg-1 for total saponins, 0.9664 and 0.2192 g kg-1 for mannitol, and 0.8570 and 0.003159 g kg-1 for naringenin, respectively. This study revealed that NIR spectroscopy and the CARS-PLS model could be used as a rapid and accurate technique to evaluate the quality of D. officinale.

The Influence of Diet and Its Components on the Development and Prevention of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is diagnosed annually in nearly a million people worldwide, with approximately half of them being diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease. Non-infectious risk factors for the development of HCC include an unbalanced lifestyle, including poor dietary choices characterized by a low intake of antioxidants, such as vitamins E and C, selenium, and polyphenols, as well as an excessive consumption of energy and harmful substances. Repeated bad dietary choices that contribute to an unbalanced lifestyle lead to the accumulation of fatty substances in the liver and to it entering an inflammatory state, which, without intervention, results in cirrhosis, the main cause of HCC. This review of the English language literature aims to present the food components that, when included in the daily diet, reduce the risk of developing HCC, as well as identifying foods that may have a carcinogenic effect on liver cells.

Therapeutic potential of dietary nutrients and medicinal foods against metabolic disorders: Targeting Akkermansia muciniphila

As one of the most attractive next‐generation probiotics, mucin‐degrading Akkermansia muciniphila has emerged as an essential and integral factor in maintaining human health and affecting pathological outcomes. Its abundance is inversely associated with various metabolic diseases (e.g., obesity and type 2 diabetes), cardiovascular diseases, and intestinal inflammation. Supplementing A. muciniphila to restore the gut microbiota ecosystem is a promising approach for treating metabolic disorders. However, the direct utilization of this probiotic is limited by technological and regulatory hurdles, such as the in vitro bulk culture of A. muciniphila and the need for expensive animal‐derived materials. Therefore, enrichment of A. muciniphila using nutraceutical supplements is a feasible strategy. Dietary supplements, especially medicinal herbs, offer a vast and valuable resource as potential prebiotics for promoting the growth of A. muciniphila in the gut, ensuring reliable safety and efficacy. In this study, we first systemically reviewed the dietary substances and medicinal foods known to promote A. muciniphila from over 100 literature sources, aiming to establish a candidate basis for future exploration of prebiotics targeting A. muciniphila. Furthermore, we summarized and discussed the major regulatory factors and mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effect of A. muciniphila on metabolic disorders, hoping to open up exciting directions for in‐depth research on the pharmacological mechanism of A. muciniphila and pave the way for its clinical therapeutics.

Therapeutic Potential of Danyankang Capsule in High-Fat Diet-Induced Cholelithiasis and Its Impact on Liver FXR Signaling and Gut Microbiota

Cholelithiasis, commonly known as gallstones, represents a prevalent hepatobiliary disorder. This study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic role and mechanism of Danyankang capsulein treating cholelithiasis induced by a high-fat diet in C57BL/6 mice. The therapeutical potential of Danyankang was assessed through biochemical analyses, histopathological examinations, protein detection, and 16S rDNA sequencing. A high-fat diet resulted in cholelithiasis manifestation in mice, with discernable abnormal serum biochemical indices and disrupted biliary cholesterol homeostasis. Danyankang treatment notably ameliorated liver inflammation symptoms and rectified serum and liver biochemical abnormalities. Concurrently, it addressed biliary imbalances. Elevated expressions of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB)/pNF-κB, HMGCR, CYP7A1, and CYP8B1 observed at the inception of cholelithiasis, were notably reduced upon Danyankang administration. Furthermore, 16S rDNA analysis revealed a decline in species number and diversity of the intestinal flora in cholelithiasis-treated mice, while the decline was reversed with Danyankang treatment. Danyankang capsules reduced the abundance of Verrucomicrobiota and increased the abundance of Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that Danyankang exerts potent therapeutic efficacy against high-fat diet-induced cholelithiasis. This beneficial outcome is potentially linked to the inhibition of the TLR4/pNF-κB and SHP/CYP7A1/CYP8B1 signaling pathways, as well as the enhancement of intestinal flora species abundance.

Rapid Indentification of Auramine O Dyeing Adulteration in Dendrobium officinale, Saffron and Curcuma by SERS Raman Spectroscopy Combined with SSA-BP Neural Networks Model

(1) Background: Rapid and accurate determination of the content of the chemical dye Auramine O(AO) in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) is critical for controlling the quality of TCMs. (2) Methods: Firstly, various models were developed to detect AO content in Dendrobium officinale (D. officinale). Then, the detection of AO content in Saffron and Curcuma using the D. officinale training set as a calibration model. Finally, Saffron and Curcuma samples were added to the training set of D. officinale to predict the AO content in Saffron and Curcuma using secondary wavelength screening. (3) Results: The results show that the sparrow search algorithm (SSA)-backpropagation (BP) neural network (SSA-BP) model can accurately predict AO content in D. officinale, with Rp2 = 0.962, and RMSEP = 0.080 mg/mL. Some Curcuma samples and Saffron samples were added to the training set and after the secondary feature wavelength screening: The Support Vector Machines (SVM) quantitative model predicted Rp2 fluctuated in the range of 0.780 ± 0.035 for the content of AO in Saffron when 579, 781, 1195, 1363, 1440, 1553 and 1657 cm-1 were selected as characteristic wavelengths; the Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) model predicted Rp2 fluctuated in the range of 0.500 ± 0.035 for the content of AO in Curcuma when 579, 811, 1195, 1353, 1440, 1553 and 1635 cm-1 were selected as the characteristic wavelengths. The robustness and generalization performance of the model were improved. (4) Conclusion: In this study, it has been discovered that the combination of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and machine learning algorithms can effectively and promptly detect the content of AO in various types of TCMs.