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Cao S, Liu M, Han Y, Li S, Zhu X, Li D, Shi Y, Liu B. Effects of Saponins on Lipid Metabolism: The Gut-Liver Axis Plays a Key Role. Nutrients 2024; 16:1514. [PMID: 38794751 PMCID: PMC11124185 DOI: 10.3390/nu16101514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Unhealthy lifestyles (high-fat diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, too little exercise, etc.) in the current society are prone to cause lipid metabolism disorders affecting the health of the organism and inducing the occurrence of diseases. Saponins, as biologically active substances present in plants, have lipid-lowering, inflammation-reducing, and anti-atherosclerotic effects. Saponins are thought to be involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism in the body; it suppresses the appetite and, thus, reduces energy intake by modulating pro-opiomelanocortin/Cocaine amphetamine regulated transcript (POMC/CART) neurons and neuropeptide Y/agouti-related peptide (NPY/AGRP) neurons in the hypothalamus, the appetite control center. Saponins directly activate the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway and related transcriptional regulators such as peroxisome-proliferator-activated-receptors (PPAR), CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP), and sterol-regulatory element binding proteins (SREBP) increase fatty acid oxidation and inhibit lipid synthesis. It also modulates gut-liver interactions to improve lipid metabolism by regulating gut microbes and their metabolites and derivatives-short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids (BAs), trimethylamine (TMA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), et al. This paper reviews the positive effects of different saponins on lipid metabolism disorders, suggesting that the gut-liver axis plays a crucial role in improving lipid metabolism processes and may be used as a therapeutic target to provide new strategies for treating lipid metabolism disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixi Cao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; (S.C.); (M.L.); (Y.H.); (S.L.); (X.Z.); (D.L.)
| | - Mengqi Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; (S.C.); (M.L.); (Y.H.); (S.L.); (X.Z.); (D.L.)
| | - Yao Han
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; (S.C.); (M.L.); (Y.H.); (S.L.); (X.Z.); (D.L.)
| | - Shouren Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; (S.C.); (M.L.); (Y.H.); (S.L.); (X.Z.); (D.L.)
| | - Xiaoyan Zhu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; (S.C.); (M.L.); (Y.H.); (S.L.); (X.Z.); (D.L.)
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Forage Resource Innovation and Utilization, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Henan Forage Engineering Technology Research Center, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Defeng Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; (S.C.); (M.L.); (Y.H.); (S.L.); (X.Z.); (D.L.)
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Forage Resource Innovation and Utilization, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Henan Forage Engineering Technology Research Center, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yinghua Shi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; (S.C.); (M.L.); (Y.H.); (S.L.); (X.Z.); (D.L.)
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Forage Resource Innovation and Utilization, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Henan Forage Engineering Technology Research Center, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Boshuai Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; (S.C.); (M.L.); (Y.H.); (S.L.); (X.Z.); (D.L.)
- Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Forage Resource Innovation and Utilization, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Henan Forage Engineering Technology Research Center, Zhengzhou 450046, China
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Karabaliev M, Tacheva B, Paarvanova B, Georgieva R. Change in Osmotic Pressure Influences the Absorption Spectrum of Hemoglobin inside Red Blood Cells. Cells 2024; 13:589. [PMID: 38607028 PMCID: PMC11011345 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Absorption spectra of red blood cell (RBC) suspensions are investigated in an osmolarity range in the medium from 200 mOsm to 900 mOsm. Three spectral parameters are used to characterize the process of swelling or shrinkage of RBC-the absorbance at 700 nm, the Soret peak height relative to the spectrum background, and the Soret peak wavelength. We show that with an increase in the osmolarity, the absorbance at 700 nm increases and the Soret peak relative height decreases. These changes are related to the changes in the RBC volume and the resulting increase in the hemoglobin intracellular concentration and index of refraction. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry measurements supported these conclusions. The maximum wavelength of the Soret peak increases with increasing osmolarity due to changes in the oxygenation state of hemoglobin. Using these spectrum parameters, the process of osmosis in RBCs can be followed in real time, but it can also be applied to various processes, leading to changes in the volume and shape of RBCs. Therefore, we conclude that UV-Vis absorption spectrophotometry offers a convenient, easily accessible, and cost-effective method to monitor changes in RBC, which can find applications in the field of drug discovery and diagnostics of RBC and hemoglobin disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslav Karabaliev
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University, 11 Armeiska, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (B.T.); (B.P.)
| | - Bilyana Tacheva
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University, 11 Armeiska, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (B.T.); (B.P.)
| | - Boyana Paarvanova
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University, 11 Armeiska, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (B.T.); (B.P.)
| | - Radostina Georgieva
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University, 11 Armeiska, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (B.T.); (B.P.)
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Charite-Universitatsrnedizin Berlin, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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Gao H, Wang Z, Zhu D, Zhao L, Xiao W. Dioscin: Therapeutic potential for diabetes and complications. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 170:116051. [PMID: 38154275 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a widespread metabolic disorder with increasing incidence worldwide, posing a considerable threat to human health because of its complications. Therefore, cost-effective antidiabetic drugs with minimal side effects are urgently needed. Dioscin, a naturally occurring compound, helps to reduce the complications of diabetes mellitus by regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, protecting islet β cells, improving insulin resistance, and inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Plant-derived dioscin reduces the risk of toxicity and side effects associated with chemically synthesized drugs. It is a promising option for treating diabetes mellitus because of its preventive and therapeutic effects, which may be attributed to a variety of underlying mechanisms. However, data compiled by current studies are preliminary. Information about the molecular mechanism of dioscin remains limited, and no high-quality human experiments and clinical trials for testing its safety and efficacy have been conducted. As a resource for research in this area, this review is expected to provide a systematic framework for the application of dioscin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyang Gao
- Shanghai Key Lab of Human Performance (Shanghai University of sport), Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China; The Key Lab of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Ze Wang
- Shanghai Key Lab of Human Performance (Shanghai University of sport), Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China; The Key Lab of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Danlin Zhu
- Shanghai Key Lab of Human Performance (Shanghai University of sport), Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China; The Key Lab of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Linlin Zhao
- Shanghai Key Lab of Human Performance (Shanghai University of sport), Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China; The Key Lab of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China; School of Physical Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China.
| | - Weihua Xiao
- Shanghai Key Lab of Human Performance (Shanghai University of sport), Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China; The Key Lab of Exercise and Health Sciences of Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China.
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