A comprehensive review on polysaccharides with hypolipidemic activity: Occurrence, chemistry and molecular mechanism

Prospects of yam (Dioscorea) polysaccharides: Structural features, bioactivities and applications

Yam (Dioscorea) is a tuber crop cultivated for food security, revenue, and medicinal purposes. It has been used to treat diabetes, asthma, diarrhea, and other diseases. The main active ingredients in yam, polysaccharides, are regarded to be the important reason for its widespread applications. Now, a comprehensive review of research developments of yam polysaccharides (YPs) was presented to explore their prospects. We outlined the structural characteristics, biological activities, structure-activity relationships, and potential applications. Around 13 neutral components and 17 acidic components were separated. They exhibited various bioactivities, including immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, gastrointestinal protective, anti-fatigue, and senile disease treatment activities, as well as prebiotic effect. Structure-activity relationships illustrated that unique structural properties, chemical modifications, and carried biopolymers could influence the bioactivities of YPs. The potential applications in medicine, food, and other fields have also been summarized.

Isolation, structural, biological activity and application of Gleditsia species seeds galactomannans

Gleditsia fruits have been known as a valuable traditional Chinese herb for tens of centuries. Previous studies showed that the galactomannans are considered as one of the major bioactive components in Gleditsia fruits seeds (GSGs). Here, we systematically review the major studies of GSGs in recent years to promote their better understanding. The extraction methods of GSGs mainly include hot water extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, ultrasonic extraction, acid extraction, and alkali extraction. The analysis revealed that GGSs exhibited in the form of semi-flexible coils, and its molecular weight ranged from 0.018 × 103 to 2.778 × 103 KDa. GSGs are composed of various monosaccharide constituents such as mannose, galactose, glucose, and arabinose. In terms of pharmacological effects, GSGs exhibit excellent activity in antioxidation, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammation. Moreover, GSGs have excellent bioavailability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, which make them used in food additives, food packaging, pharmaceutical field, industry and agriculture. Of cause, the shortcomings of the current research and the potential development and future research are also highlighted. We believe our work provides comprehensive knowledge and underpinnings for further research and development of GSGs.

Glucans and applications in drug delivery

Glucan is a natural polysaccharide widely distributed in cereals and microorganisms that has various biological activities, including immunomodulatory, anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. In addition to wide applications in the broad fields of food, healthcare, and biomedicines, glucans hold promising potential as drug delivery carrier materials or ligands. Specifically, glucan microparticles or yeast cell wall particles are naturally enclosed vehicles with an interior cavity that can be exploited to carry and deliver drug payloads. The biological activities and targeting capacities of glucans depend largely on the recognition of glucan moieties by receptors such as dectin-1 and complement receptor 3, which are widely expressed on the cell membranes of mononuclear phagocytes, dendritic cells, neutrophils, and some lymphocytes. This review summarizes the chemical structures, sources, fundamental properties, extraction methods, and applications of these materials, with an emphasis on drug delivery. Glucans are utilized mainly as vaccine adjuvants, targeting ligands and as carrier materials for various drug entities. It is believed that glucans and glucan microparticles may be useful for the delivery of both small-molecule and macromolecular drugs, especially for potential treatment of immune-related diseases.

Natural products in atherosclerosis therapy by targeting PPARs: a review focusing on lipid metabolism and inflammation

Inflammation and dyslipidemia are critical inducing factors of atherosclerosis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated transcription factors and control the expression of multiple genes that are involved in lipid metabolism and inflammatory responses. However, synthesized PPAR agonists exhibit contrary therapeutic effects and various side effects in atherosclerosis therapy. Natural products are structural diversity and have a good safety. Recent studies find that natural herbs and compounds exhibit attractive therapeutic effects on atherosclerosis by alleviating hyperlipidemia and inflammation through modulation of PPARs. Importantly, the preparation of natural products generally causes significantly lower environmental pollution compared to that of synthesized chemical compounds. Therefore, it is interesting to discover novel PPAR modulator and develop alternative strategies for atherosclerosis therapy based on natural herbs and compounds. This article reviews recent findings, mainly from the year of 2020 to present, about the roles of natural herbs and compounds in regulation of PPARs and their therapeutic effects on atherosclerosis. This article provides alternative strategies and theoretical basis for atherosclerosis therapy using natural herbs and compounds by targeting PPARs, and offers valuable information for researchers that are interested in developing novel PPAR modulators.

Isolation, purification, and structural characterization of polysaccharides from Codonopsis pilosula and its therapeutic effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in vitro and in vivo

Codonopsis pilosula is a famous edible and medicinal plants, in which polysaccharides are recognized as one of the important active ingredients. A neutral polysaccharide (CPP-1) was purified from C. pilosula. The structure was characterized by HPSEC-MALLS-RID, UV, FT-IR, GC-MS, methylation analysis, and NMR. The results showed that CPP-1 was a homogeneous pure polysaccharide, mainly containing fructose and glucose, and a small amount of arabinose. Methylation analysis showed that CPP-1 composed of →1)-Fruf-(2→, Fruf-(1→ and Glcp-(1→ residues. Combined the NMR results the structure of CPP-1 was confirmed as α-D-Glcp-(1 → [2)-β-D-Fruf-(1 → 2)-β-D-Fruf-(1]26 → 2)-β-D-Fruf with the molecular weight of 4.890 × 103 Da. The model of AML12 hepatocyte fat damage was established in vitro. The results showed that CPP-1 could increase the activity of SOD and CAT antioxidant enzymes and reduce the content of MDA, thus protecting cells from oxidative damage. Subsequently, the liver protective effect of CPP-1 was studied in the mouse model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by the high-fat diet. The results showed that CPP-1 significantly reduced the body weight, liver index, and body fat index of NAFLD mice, and significantly improved liver function. Therefore, CPP-1 should be a potential candidate for the treatment of NAFLD.

Research progress in the preparation, structural characterization, and biological activities of polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicines are tremendous sources of polysaccharides, which are of great interest in the human welfare system as natural medicines, food, and cosmetics. This review aims to highlight the recent trends in extraction (conventional and non-conventional), purification and analytic techniques of traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides (TCMPs), and the chemical structure, biological activities (anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, intestinal flora regulation, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, and other activities), and the underlying mechanisms of polysaccharides extracted from 76 diverse traditional Chinese medicines were compared and discussed. With this wide coverage, a total of 164 scientific articles were searched from the database including Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and China Knowledge Network. This comprehensive survey from previous reports indicates that TCMPs are non-toxic, highly biocompatible, and good biodegradability. Besides, this review highlights that TCMPs may be excellent functional factors and effective therapeutic drugs. Finally, the current problems and future research advances of TCMPs are also introduced. New valuable insights for the future researches regarding TCMPs are also proposed in the fields of therapeutic agents and functional foods.

Laminaria japonica Aresch-Derived Fucoidan Ameliorates Hyperlipidemia by Upregulating LXRs and Suppressing SREBPs

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and hyperlipidemia is one major inducing factor of CVD. It is worthy to note that fucoidans are reported to have hypolipidemic activity with species specificity; however, the underlying mechanisms of action are far from clarification. This study is aimed at investigating the plasma lipid-lowering mechanisms of the fucoidan from L. japonica Aresch by detecting the levels of hepatic genes that are involved in lipid metabolism. Our results demonstrated that the fucoidan F3 significantly lowered total cholesterol and triglyceride in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet. In the mouse liver, fucoidan F3 intervention significantly increased the gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α, liver X receptor (LXR) α and β, and ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABC) G1 and G8 and decreased the expression of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), low-density lipoprotein receptor, cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase A1, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) 1c and SREBP-2. These results demonstrated that the antihyperlipidemic effects of fucoidan F3 are related to its activation of PPARα and LXR/ABC signaling pathways and inactivation of SREBPs. In conclusion, fucoidan F3 may be explored as a potential compound for prevention or treatment of lipid disorders.

Effect of dietary Glycyrrhiza polysaccharides on growth performance, hepatic antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory capacity of broiler chickens

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of varying levels of dietary Glycyrrhiza polysaccharides (GPS) on the health status of broiler chickens. A total of 288 1-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly assigned to four groups with six replicates, consisting of 12 chickens in each replicate. The control group (CON) was provided with the basal diet, while the experimental groups were administered 300, 600, and 900 mg/kg of GPS in the basal diet for 42 days. The results demonstrated a significant enhancement in average daily gain (ADG) as a result of GPS supplementation (P < 0.05). The dietary GPS significantly elevated total antioxidation capability (T-AOC) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes (P < 0.05), while effectively reducing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum and liver (P < 0.05). Administration of GPS notably inhibited the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway (P < 0.05), decreased interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels (P < 0.05), and increased IL-4 and IL-10 levels (P < 0.05). Additionally, the expression of crucial regulators involved in liver lipid metabolism, including sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). In contrast, the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) was significantly enhanced in the GPS-supplemented groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the supplementation of GPS positively influenced the growth performance, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity of the liver, as well as liver lipid metabolism in broilers.

The amelioration of a purified Pleurotus abieticola polysaccharide on atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice

In this study, a polysaccharide known as PAPS2 was eluted from Pleurotus abieticola fruiting bodies using 0.1 M NaCl solutions. PAPS2 has a Mw of 19.64 kDa and its backbone is mainly composed of →6)-α-D-Galp-(1→, →6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→ and →2,6)-α-D-Galp-(1→ residues, and its branches mainly end with β-D-Manp-(1→, which is attached at C2 of →2,6)-α-D-Galp-(1→. PAPS2 elicited several effects in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed ApoE-/- mice. It significantly reduced the body weight, liver index, and serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TGs), and it alleviated lipid accumulation in the aorta. Intestinal microflora analysis showed that PAPS2 suppressed the abundances of Adlercreutzia, Turicibacter, and Helicobacter and enriched that of Roseburia. It also influenced lipid metabolism, suggesting that it reduced the levels of TGs, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and ceramide (Cer). Moreover, it suppressed oxidative response by increasing nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2)-related factor expression and activating the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) to reduce the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Meanwhile, it showed anti-inflammatory effects partially related to the inhibition of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 cells, as well as in the aorta of HFD-fed ApoE-/- mice. This study provides experimental evidence of the auxiliary applicability of PAPS2 in atherosclerosis treatment.

Polysaccharides from Chinese herbal medicine: a review on the hepatoprotective and molecular mechanism

Polysaccharides, predominantly extracted from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs such as Lycium barbarum, Angelica sinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, Dendrobium officinale, Ganoderma lucidum, and Poria cocos, represent principal bioactive constituents extensively utilized in Chinese medicine. These compounds have demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory capabilities, especially anti-liver injury activities, while exhibiting minimal adverse effects. This review summarized recent studies to elucidate the hepatoprotective efficacy and underlying molecular mechanisms of these herbal polysaccharides. It underscored the role of these polysaccharides in regulating hepatic function, enhancing immunological responses, and improving antioxidant capacities, thus contributing to the attenuation of hepatocyte apoptosis and liver protection. Analyses of molecular pathways in these studies revealed the intricate and indispensable functions of traditional Chinese herbal polysaccharides in liver injury management. Therefore, this review provides a thorough examination of the hepatoprotective attributes and molecular mechanisms of these medicinal polysaccharides, thereby offering valuable insights for the advancement of polysaccharide-based therapeutic research and their potential clinical applications in liver disease treatment.

Metabolomics reveals the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum dy-1 fermentation on the lipid-lowering capacity of barley β-glucans in an in vitro model of gut-liver axis

Bioactive polysaccharides known as the biological response modifiers, can directly interact with intestinal epithelium cells (IEC) and regulate key metabolic processes such as lipid metabolism. Here, the coculture of Caco-2/HT29 monolayer (>400 Ω × cm2) and HepG2 cells was developed to mimic the gut-liver interactions. This system was used to investigate the effects of raw and fermented barley β-glucans (RBG and FBG) on lipid metabolism by directly interacting with IEC. Both RBG and FBG significantly and consistently reduced the lipid droplets and triacylglycerol levels in monoculture and coculture of HepG2 overloaded with oleic acid. Notably, FBG significantly and distinctly elevated PPARα (p < 0.05) and PPARα-responsive ACOX-1 (p < 0.01) gene expressions, promoting lipid degradation in cocultured HepG2. Moreover, the metabolomics analyses revealed that FBG had a unique impact on extracellular metabolites, among them, the differential metabolite thiomorpholine 3-carboxylate was significantly and strongly correlated with PPARα (r = -0.68, p < 0.01) and ACOX-1 (r = -0.76, p < 0.01) expression levels. Taken together, our findings suggest that FBG-mediated gut-liver interactions play a key role in its lipid-lowering effects that are superior to those of RBG. These results support the application of Lactiplantibacillus fermentation for improving hypolipidemic outcomes.

Advances in Research on Marine-Derived Lipid-Lowering Active Substances and Their Molecular Mechanisms

Hyperlipidemia (HLP) is a metabolic disorder caused by abnormal lipid metabolism. Recently, the prevalence of HLP caused by poor dietary habits in the population has been increasing year by year. In addition, lipid-lowering drugs currently in clinical use have shown significant improvement in blood lipid levels, but are accompanied by certain side effects. However, bioactive marine substances have been shown to possess a variety of physiological activities such as hypoglycemic, antioxidant, antithrombotic and effects on blood pressure. Therefore, the hypolipidemic efficacy of marine bioactive substances with complex and diverse structures has also attracted attention. This paper focuses on the therapeutic role of marine-derived polysaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, and bioactive peptides in HLP, and briefly discusses the main mechanisms by which these substances exert their hypolipidemic activity in vivo.

Natural polysaccharides protect against diet-induced obesity by improving lipid metabolism and regulating the immune system

Unhealthy dietary patterns-induced obesity and obesity-related complications pose a great threat to human health all over the world. Accumulating evidence suggests that the pathophysiology of obesity and obesity-associated metabolic disorders is closely associated with dysregulation of lipid and energy metabolism, and metabolic inflammation. In this review, three potential anti-obesity mechanisms of natural polysaccharides are introduced. Firstly, natural polysaccharides protect against diet-induced obesity directly by improving lipid and cholesterol metabolism. Since the immunity also affects lipid and energy metabolism, natural polysaccharides improve lipid and energy metabolism by regulating host immunity. Moreover, diet-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, prolonged endoplasmic reticulum stress, defective autophagy and microbial dysbiosis can disrupt lipid and/or energy metabolism in a direct and/or inflammation-induced manner. Therefore, natural polysaccharides also improve lipid and energy metabolism and suppress inflammation by alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress, promoting autophagy and regulating gut microbiota composition. Specifically, this review comprehensively summarizes underlying anti-obesity mechanisms of natural polysaccharides and provides a theoretical basis for the development of functional foods. For the first time, this review elucidates anti-obesity mechanisms of natural polysaccharides from the perspectives of their hypolipidemic, energy-regulating and immune-regulating mechanisms.

Codium fragile Suppressed Chronic PM2.5-Exposed Pulmonary Dysfunction via TLR/TGF-β Pathway in BALB/c Mice

This study investigated the ameliorating effect of the aqueous extract of Codium fragile on PM2.5-induced pulmonary dysfunction. The major compounds of Codium fragile were identified as palmitic acid, stearic acid, and oleamide using GC/MS2 and hexadecanamide, oleamide, and 13-docosenamide using UPLC-Q-TOF/MSE. Codium fragile improved pulmonary antioxidant system deficit by regulating SOD activities and reducing GSH levels and MDA contents. It suppressed pulmonary mitochondrial dysfunction by regulating ROS contents and mitochondrial membrane potential levels. It regulated the inflammatory protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-JNK, p-NF-κB, iNOS, Caspase-1, TNF-α, and IL-1β. In addition, it improved the apoptotic protein expression of BCl-2, BAX, and Caspase-3 and attenuated the fibrous protein expression of TGF-β1, p-Smad-2, p-Smad-3, MMP-1, and MMP-2. In conclusion, this study suggests that Codium fragile might be a potential material for functional food or pharmaceuticals to improve lung damage by regulating oxidative stress inflammation, cytotoxicity, and fibrosis via the TLR/TGF-β1 signaling pathway.

Bioassay-guided isolation and in silico study of antihyperlipidemic compounds from Onosma hispidum Wall

Isolation of bioactive compounds from plants and their therapeutic evaluation is crucial in the pursuit of novel phytochemicals and contributes an indispensable role in drug discovery and design. The literature has documented the hypolipidemic effect of numerous Onosma species. Taking that into consideration, the current study was designed to isolate, purify and evaluate the antihyperlipidemic potential of leaves of Onosma hispidum Wall. For the first time, the bioassay-guided isolation led to the separation of 3 compounds that were identified by spectroscopic techniques as o-phthalic acid bis-(2-ethyl decyl)-ester (1), bis (2-ethyloctyl) phthalate (2), and 1,2 benzenedicarboxylic acid bis(2-methyl heptyl) ester (3). Lipase inhibition assay was utilized to scrutinize the antihyperlipidemic potential of methanolic extract fractions and subsequently isolated compounds. Further, the isolated compounds were employed for in silico studies via molecular docking, molecular mechanics with generalized born and surface area solvation (MM-GBSA), and MD simulations with Pancreatic Lipase Colipase (PDB ID: 1LPB). Molecular docking and MM-GBSA of isolated compounds were employed to explain the mode of binding between the protein-ligand complex and binding free energy calculation, respectively. Since compound (3) displayed the best docking score of -6.689 kcal/mol as compared to orlistat -5.529 kcal/mol with PDB: 1LPB. So, it was chosen for MD simulations to evaluate ligand stability and flexibility of the complex which was validated by the fluctuation of α-carbon chain, root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), and type of interactions involved which authenticated the in vitro lipase inhibitory potential. Overall, in silico and in vitro results validated that compound (3) could be exploited as a promising pancreatic lipase inhibitor.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Sulfated Polysaccharide from Caulerpa racemosa Attenuates the Obesity-Induced Cardiometabolic Syndrome via Regulating the PRMT1-DDAH-ADMA with mTOR-SIRT1-AMPK Pathways and Gut Microbiota Modulation

Our investigation intended to analyze the effects of sulfated polysaccharides from Caulerpa racemosa (SPCr) in attenuating obesity-induced cardiometabolic syndrome via regulating the protein arginine N-methyltransferase 1-asymmetric dimethylarginine-dimethylarginine dimethylamino-hydrolase (PRMT1-DDAH-ADMA) with the mammalian target of rapamycin-Sirtuin 1-5' AMP-activated protein kinase (mTOR-SIRT1-AMPK) pathways and gut microbiota modulation. This is a follow-up study that used SPs from previous in vitro studies, consisting of 2,3-di-O-methyl-1,4,5-tri-O-acetylarabinitol, 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-D-mannopyranose, and type B ulvanobiuronicacid 3-sulfate. A total of forty rats were randomly divided into four treatment groups: Group A received a standard diet; Group B was provided with a diet enriched in cholesterol and fat (CFED); and Groups C and D were given the CFED along with ad libitum water, and daily oral supplementation of 65 or 130 mg/kg of body weight (BW) of SPCr, respectively. Group D showed the lowest low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and blood glucose levels, and the highest HDL level compared to the other groups in this study. These results in the group fed high-dose SPCr demonstrated a significant effect compared to the group fed low-dose SPCr (p < 0.0001), as well as in total cholesterol and blood glucose (p < 0.05). Supplementation with SPCr was also observed to have an upregulation effect on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator (PGC)-1alpha, interleukin 10, Sirtuin 1, DDAH-II, superoxide dismutase (SOD) cardio, and AMPK, which was also followed by a downregulation of PRMT-1, TNF-α, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, and mTOR. Interestingly, gut microbiota modulation was also observed; feeding the rats with a cholesterol-enriched diet shifted the gut microbiota composition toward the Firmicutes level, lowered the Bacteroidetes level, and increased the Firmicutes level. A dose of 130 mg/kg BW of SPCr is the recommended dose, and investigation still needs to be continued in clinical trials with humans to see its efficacy at an advanced level.

A review of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides: Health benefit, structure-activity relationship, modification, and nanoparticle encapsulation

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides possess unique functional properties. Various processing technologies have been used to produce and modify G. lucidum polysaccharides to improve their yield and utilization. In this review, the structure and health benefits were summarized, and the factors that may affect the quality of G. lucidum polysaccharides were discussed, including the use of chemical modifications such as sulfation, carboxymethylation, and selenization. Those modifications improve the physicochemical characteristics and utilization of G. lucidum polysaccharides, and make them more stable that could be used as functional biomaterials to encapsulate active substances. Ultimate, G. lucidum polysaccharide-based nanoparticles were designed to deliver various functional ingredients to achieve better health-promoting effects. Overall, this review presents an in-depth summary of current modification strategies and offers new insights into the effective processing techniques to develop G. lucidum polysaccharide-rich functional foods or nutraceuticals.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides improve lipid metabolism disorders of spotted sea bass Lateolabrax maculatus induced by high lipid diet

This experiment explored the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) on lipid metabolism of spotted sea bass Lateolabrax maculatus. Blank and experimental control diets with 100 and 150 g/kg lipid were designed, respectively, and three dosages of LBP (0.75, 1.00, 1.25 g/kg) were supplemented in the experimental control diet. A total 375 of spotted sea bass (19.33 ± 0.15) g were divided into 5 groups, and were given experimental diets for 56 days, respectively. Results showed fish were induced to lipid metabolism disorders with dietary 150 g/kg lipid intake, which manifested in reduced feeding, oxidative stress, elevated serum lipid, and more severe hepatic damage. Dietary LBP improved the lipid metabolism disorders of fish, as indicated by significant enhancements in weight gain, digestion, superoxide dismutase activity, and decreases in malonaldehyde content, and activity of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Accordingly, an improvement in the hepatic morphological and expression of lipid metabolism related genes, including FAS, PPAR-α, CPT1 and ATGL, was observed. Nevertheless, no significant variation in serum triglyceride and total cholesterol was observed. Overall, dietary LBP can improve the growth, digestion, antioxidant capacity, and liver health of spotted sea bass, thereby improving the lipid metabolism disorders induced by 150 g/kg dietary lipid intake.

Regulatory mechanism of high-concentration CO2 on polysaccharide accumulation in Tetradesmus obliquus cultured in sludge extract

Microalgae such as Tetradesmus obliquus have great potential in immobilizing high-concentration CO₂ and removing highly toxic organic matters, which could be produced from coal chemical industry and coal chemical wastewater biological treatment process. In this study, Tetradesmus obliquus was cultured in sludge extract and high-concentration CO₂ was added. The maximum cell density and dry weight were respectively (111.46 ± 4.87) × 10⁶ cell/mL and 3.365 ± 0.168 g/L under 30% CO₂. Tetradesmus obliquus accumulated the most polysaccharides (629.60 ± 31.48 mg/L) on the 30th day under 30% CO₂. The results of proteomic showed that the upregulation of A0A2Z4THB7 and A0A383VAT1 promoted polysaccharide accumulation. Polysaccharide was mainly formed at the stable phase instead of the log-growth phase due to the abiotic stress caused by high TOC at the log-growth phase. Collectively, this study revealed the regulatory mechanism of high-concentration CO₂ on the toxicity removal and accumulation of polysaccharides in Tetradesmus obliquus.

Structure characterization of pectin from the pollen of Typha angustifolia L. and the inhibition activity of lipid accumulation in oleic acid induced L02 cells

The pollen of Typha angustifolia L. decoction was clinically used to treat hyperlipidemia in China. A pectin polysaccharide (PTPS-2-2) was obtained from T. angustifolia pollen through water extraction, ion-exchange chromatography, and gel chromatography. Structural characterization showed that PTPS-2-2 had a molecular weight of 54 kDa and was composed of rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, galactose, and galacturonic acid with a molar ratio of 11.5: 36.5: 4.1: 36.7: 11.2. PTPS-2-2 consisted of rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) and arabinogalactan II (AG-II) domains. Its backbone was predominantly composed of →4-α-D-GalpA-(1 → 2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→, with branches of 1,3-Galp, 1,6-Galp, 1,3,6-Galp, T-Araf, 1.5-Araf and T-Xylp, connected to the 4-position of 1,2-Rhap and the 3-position of 1,4-GalpA. The inhibitory effect of PTPS-2-2 on lipid accumulation was studied in vitro, using L02 cells induced by oleic acid. This experiment shows that PTPS-2-2 treatment at 100-400 μg/mL dose-dependently reduce cellular triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (TC), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, while elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. This indicated that PTPS-2-2 potentially ameliorated oleic acid-induced hepatic steatosis by inhibiting lipid accumulation and oxidative stress.

Polysaccharides for Medical Technology: Properties and Applications

Over the past decade, the use of polysaccharides has gained tremendous attention in the field of medical technology. They have been applied in various sectors such as tissue engineering, drug delivery system, face mask, and bio-sensing. This review article provides an overview and background of polysaccharides for biomedical uses. Different types of polysaccharides, for example, cellulose and its derivatives, chitin and chitosan, hyaluronic acid, alginate, and pectin are presented. They are fabricated in various forms such as hydrogels, nanoparticles, membranes, and as porous mediums. Successful development and improvement of polysaccharide-based materials will effectively help users to enhance their quality of personal health, decrease cost, and eventually increase the quality of life with respect to sustainability.

Synergistic effect of polysaccharides and flavonoids on lipid and gut microbiota in hyperlipidemic rats

Hyperlipidemia is a global health risk factor, and its development is closely related to the absorption and metabolism of lipids in the intestine. In this study, the Auricularia auricula polysaccharide, the Tremella polysaccharide, and hawthorn flavonoids were mixed by equal weight (HDC), and then its effect on the intervention in the intestine and blood lipids of hyperlipidemic rats on a high-fat diet (HFD) was investigated. The results revealed that HDC significantly inhibited the development of hyperlipidemia and reduced lipid levels and fat accumulation. In addition, HDC improved the edema deformation of intestinal epithelial cells, impaired the intestinal barrier induced by HFD, and improved the antioxidant capacity of the intestine. HDC showed a significant synergistic effect. Analysis of the gut microbiota by 16s rRNA gene sequencing showed that HDC reduced the ratio of Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes and the relative abundance of actinomycetes. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Rumincococcaceae-UCG-14, and Muribaculaceae was increased and the relative abundance of Allobaculum, Corynebacterium-1, Blautia, and Turicibucter was decreased. Intestinal lipidomics showed that HDC reduced the levels of DGDG, LPE, PG, phSM, PIP2, SoG1, and SM in the intestine of HFD rats, although there were no significant differences in LPE, PG, and phSM. 42 HDC-acting lipid biomarkers were screened. In conclusion, these findings support the potential of HDC intervention to prevent hyperlipidemia by regulating gut microbiota and lipid absorption and metabolism in the intestine.

Pectin in Metabolic Liver Disease

Alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) are observed in nutritional liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and have been shown to be associated with the severity of both. Editing the composition of the microbiota by fecal microbiota transfer or by application of probiotics or prebiotics/fiber in rodent models and human proof-of-concept trials of NAFLD and ALD have demonstrated its possible contribution to reducing the progression of liver damage. In this review, we address the role of a soluble fiber, pectin, in reducing the development of liver injury in NAFLD and ALD through its impact on gut bacteria.

High-Value Compounds and Bioactivity of Rice Bran, Rice Bran Protein: A review

BACKGROUND

Rice bran and rice bran protein are important sources of minerals, energy, and vitamins. Other bioactive compounds are abundantly available to exert therapeutical activity. Health-promoting activities of high-value compounds of rice bran were significant, as observed in recent studies.

INTRODUCTION

A variety of bioactive components present in rice bran and rice bran extract are responsible to exhibit therapeutical potential like chemopreventive, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and lipid-lowering activity. Several bioactivity representative compounds like γ-oryzanol, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, tricin, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, coumaric acid, phytic acid, isoferulic acid, gallic acid, γ-amino butyric acid, sinapic acid, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E complexes, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, cyanidin-3-glucoside, peonidin-3-glucoside, quercetin, rutin, kaemferol, β-carotene, lutein, vitamin B and lycopene are known to display significant health benefits. The bioactive components produced therapeutical effects by regulation of different mechanisms like increasing faecal excretion, reducing oxidative stress, reducing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), regulation of NF-kb activation, reduction of proinflammatory cytokines production, suppression of SREBP-1, reduction in the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, elevated the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, up-regulating P53 expression and suppressing COX-2.

METHODOLOGY

Several research engines like PubMed, google scholar, science direct, etc. were used to collect the data on the mentioned keywords. Recent scientific works were included in this article.

CONCLUSION

In this review paper, we profiled the high-value compounds and focused on their antioxidant, anti-hyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, and anticancer activity with their possible mechanism of action.

Aptamers as Smart Ligands for Targeted Drug Delivery in Cancer Therapy

Undesirable side effects and multidrug tolerance are the main holdbacks to the treatment of cancer in conventional chemotherapy. Fortunately, targeted drug delivery can improve the enrichment of drugs at the target site and reduce toxicity to normal tissues and cells. A targeted drug delivery system is usually composed of a nanocarrier and a targeting component. The targeting component is called a "ligand". Aptamers have high target affinity and specificity, which are identified as attractive and promising ligands. Therefore, aptamers have potential application in the development of smart targeting systems. For instance, aptamers are able to efficiently recognize tumor markers such as nucleolin, mucin, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Besides, aptamers can also identify glycoproteins on the surface of tumor cells. Thus, the aptamer-mediated targeted drug delivery system has received extensive attention in the application of cancer therapy. This article reviews the application of aptamers as smart ligands for targeted drug delivery in cancer therapy. Special interest is focused on aptamers as smart ligands, aptamer-conjugated nanocarriers, aptamer targeting strategy for tumor microenvironment (TME), and aptamers that are specified to crucial cancer biomarkers for targeted drug delivery.

A Review on Nutrients, Phytochemicals, and Health Benefits of Green Seaweed, Caulerpa lentillifera

Caulerpa lentillifera is a type of green seaweed widely consumed as a fresh vegetable, specifically in Southeast Asia. Interestingly, this green seaweed has recently gained popularity in the food sector. Over the last two decades, many studies have reported that C. lentillifera is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, and bioactive compounds that contribute many health benefits. On the other hand, there is currently hardly any article dedicated specifically to C. lentillifera regarding nutritional composition and recent advancements in its potential health benefits. Hence, this study will summarise the findings on the nutritional content of C. lentillifera and compile recently discovered beneficial properties throughout the past decade. From the data compiled in this review paper, it can be concluded that the nutrient and phytochemical profile of C. lentillifera differs from one region to another depending on various external factors. As a result, this paper will offer researchers the groundwork to develop food products based on C. lentillifera. The authors of this paper are hopeful that a more systematic review could be done in the future as currently, existing data is still scarce.

Polymeric Compounds of Lingonberry Waste: Characterization of Antioxidant and Hypolipidemic Polysaccharides and Polyphenol-Polysaccharide Conjugates from Vaccinium vitis-idaea Press Cake

Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) fruits are important Ericaceous berries to include in a healthy diet of the Northern Hemisphere as a source of bioactive phenolics. The waste generated by the V. vitis-idaea processing industry is hard-skinned press cake that can be a potential source of dietary fiber and has not been studied thus far. In this study, water-soluble polysaccharides of V. vitis-idaea press cake were isolated, separated, and purified by ion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. The results of elemental composition, monosaccharide analysis, ultraviolet–visible and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, molecular weight determination, linkage analysis, and alkaline destruction allowed us to characterize two polyphenol–polysaccharide conjugates (PPC) as neutral arabinogalactans cross-linked with monomeric and dimeric hydroxycinnamate residues with molecular weights of 108 and 157 kDa and two non-esterified galacturonans with molecular weights of 258 and 318 kDa. A combination of in vitro and in vivo assays confirmed that expressed antioxidant activity of PPC was due to phenolic-scavenged free radicals, nitrogen oxide, hydrogen peroxide, and chelate ferrous ions. Additionally, marked hypolipidemic potential of both PPC and acidic polymers bind bile acids, cholesterol, and fat, inhibit pancreatic lipase in the in vitro study, reduce body weight, serum level of cholesterol, triglycerides, low/high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol, and malondialdehyde, and increase the enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase in the livers of hamsters with a 1% cholesterol diet. Polysaccharides and PPC of V. vitis-idaea fruit press cake can be regarded as new antioxidants and hypolipidemic agents that can be potentially used to cure hyperlipidemic metabolic disorders.

Antioxidant Activity of Fucoidan Modified with Gallic Acid Using the Redox Method

Antioxidant compounds decrease the amount of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and, consequently, reduce the deleterious effects of ROS in osteoblasts. Here, we modified a 21 kDa fucoidan (FucA) with gallic acid (GA) using the redox method, to potentiate its antioxidant/protective capacity on pre-osteoblast-like cells (MC3T3) against oxidative stress. The 20 kDa FucA-GA contains 37 ± 3.0 mg GA per gram of FucA. FucA-GA was the most efficient antioxidant agent in terms of total antioxidant capacity (2.5 times), reducing power (five times), copper chelation (three times), and superoxide radical scavenging (2 times). Exposure of MC3T3 cells to H2O2 increased ROS levels and activated caspase-3 along with caspase-9. In addition, the cell viability decreased approximately 80%. FucA-GA also provided the most effective protection against oxidative damage caused by H2O2. Treatment with FucA-GA (1.0 mg/mL) increased cell viability (~80%) and decreased intracellular ROS (100%) and caspase activation (~80%). In addition, Fuc-GA (0.1 mg/mL) abolished H2O2-induced oxidative stress in zebra fish embryos. Overall, FucA-GA protected MC3T3 cells from oxidative stress and could represent a possible adjuvant for the treatment of bone fragility by counteracting oxidative phenomena.

Nutritional and Chemical Composition of Sargassum zhangii and the Physical and Chemical Characterization, Binding Bile Acid, and Cholesterol-Lowering Activity in HepG2 Cells of Its Fucoidans

Fucoidan is a marine sulfated polysaccharide that is rich in Sargassum and has a wide range of biological activities. In this study, the chemical composition and bile acid binding ability of six crude fucoidans were compared, the nutrition and chemical composition of Sargassum zhangii were analyzed, and fucoidan from Sargassum zhangii was extracted and purified. The purified fractions (ZF1, ZF2, and ZF3) were analyzed by physicochemical characterization, and the ability of binding bile acid and cholesterol lowering in HepG2 cells were evaluated. The results showed that the contents of sulfate in crude fucoidan from Sargassum Zhangii (ZF) was as high as13.63%. Its ability of binding bile acid was better than other five crude fucoidans. Sargassum zhangii was a kind of brown seaweed with high carbohydrate, and low fat and rich in minerals. The sulfate content of ZF1, ZF2, and ZF3 was 3.29%, 19.39%, and 18.89% respectively, and the molecular weight (Mw) was 4.026 × 10⁵, 2.893 × 10⁵, and 3.368 × 10⁵, respectively. Three fucoidans all contained the characteristic absorption bands of polysaccharides and sulfate groups and were rich in fucose. Three fucoidans can bind to bile acid, and ZF2 showed the best binding capability. In vitro experiments showed that ZF1, ZF2, and ZF3 could reduce intracellular total cholesterol (TC) content in HepG2 cells without affecting their viability. ZF2 showed the best ability to reduce TC.

Structural Characterization of Polysaccharides in Waste Liquor Produced by Wet Decortication of Sesame Seeds

The wet decortication of sesame seeds produces wastewater containing diverse minerals and organic pollutants that could be valuable resources for the food industry. This investigation aimed to reclaim, purify, and characterize the polysaccharides contained in the waste liquor from the sesame decortication industry. The purified polysaccharide fractions were characterized using monosaccharide analysis, GPC (high-performance gel permeation chromatography), FT-IR (Fourier-transform infrared) spectroscopy, methylation analysis, 1D and 2D Nucleai Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis, and thermal analysis. Four fractions were found (SSP-1,-2,-3, -4), of which SSP-2 was proportionately the largest and most interesting. The backbone of SSP-2 is mainly composed of (1→2,4)-β-_D-Xylp residues with side chains connected to the O-4 position, with many T-β-_D-Galp and (1→5)-α-_L-Araf residues, and fewer (1→4)-α-_D-Glcp, (1→2)-α-_L-Rhap, T-α-_L-Araf, and (1→2)-β-_D-GlcpA residues. An efficient method for removing the polysaccharides would simplify wastewater treatment while finding a use for them would benefit the sesame, food, and pharmaceutical industries.

Polysaccharide-Based Transdermal Drug Delivery

Materials derived from natural plants and animals have great potential for transdermal drug delivery. Polysaccharides are widely derived from marine, herbal, and microbial sources. Compared with synthetic polymers, polysaccharides have the advantages of non-toxicity and biodegradability, ease of modification, biocompatibility, targeting, and antibacterial properties. Currently, polysaccharide-based transdermal drug delivery vehicles, such as hydrogel, film, microneedle (MN), and tissue scaffolds are being developed. The addition of polysaccharides allows these vehicles to exhibit better-swelling properties, mechanical strength, tensile strength, etc. Due to the stratum corneum’s resistance, the transdermal drug delivery system cannot deliver drugs as efficiently as desired. The charge and hydration of polysaccharides allow them to react with the skin and promote drug penetration. In addition, polysaccharide-based nanotechnology enhances drug utilization efficiency. Various diseases are currently treated by polysaccharide-based transdermal drug delivery devices and exhibit promising futures. The most current knowledge on these excellent materials will be thoroughly discussed by reviewing polysaccharide-based transdermal drug delivery strategies.

An Insight into Antihyperlipidemic Effects of Polysaccharides from Natural Resources

Hyperlipidemia is a chronic metabolic disease caused by the abnormal metabolism of lipoproteins in the human body. Its main hazard is to accelerate systemic atherosclerosis, which causes cerebrovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and thrombosis. At the same time, although the current hypolipidemic drugs have a certain therapeutic effect, they have side effects such as liver damage and digestive tract discomfort. Many kinds of polysaccharides from natural resources possess therapeutic effects on hyperlipidemia but still lack a comprehensive understanding. In this paper, the research progress of natural polysaccharides on reducing blood lipids in recent years is reviewed. The pharmacological mechanisms and targets of natural polysaccharides are mainly introduced. The relationship between structure and hypolipidemic activity is also discussed in detail. This review will help to understand the value of polysaccharides in lowering blood lipids and provide guidance for the development and clinical application of new hypolipidemic drugs.