The "crosstalk" between gut microbiota, metabolites and genes in diet-induced hepatic steatosis mice intervened with Cordyceps guangdongensis polysaccharides.

Cordyceps guangdongensis, a novel edible mushroom in China, has shown many positive health effects. In this study, we extracted the C. guangdongensis polysaccharides (CGP) from the fruiting bodies, and investigated the mechanism for CGP improved high-fat diet-induced (HFDI) metabolic diseases. We found that CGP notably reduced fat mass, improved blood lipid levels and hepatic damage, and restored the gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by high-fat diet (HFD). Metabolome analyses showed that CGP changed the composition of bile acids, and regulated HFDI metabolic disorder in hepatic tissue. Transcriptome comparison showed that the improvement of hepatic steatosis for CGP was mainly related to lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Association analysis result revealed that Odoribacter, Bifidobacterium and Bi. pseudolongum were negatively correlated to fat and blood lipid indicators, and were significantly associated with genes and metabolites related to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Collectively, these results indicate that CGP may be a promising supplement for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic diseases.

Cordyceps guangdongensis lipid-lowering formula alleviates fat and lipid accumulation by modulating gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in high-fat diet mice.

Obesity has caused serious health and economic problems in the world. Cordyceps guangdongensis is a high-value macrofungus with broad application potential in the food and bio-medicine industry. This current study aimed to estimate the role of C. guangdongensis lipid-lowering compound formula (CGLC) in regulating fat and lipid accumulation, gut microbiota balance, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents, and expression levels of genes involved in fat and lipid metabolism in high-fat diet (HFD) mice. The results showed that CGLC intervention markedly reduced body weights and fat accumulation in HFD mice, improved glucose tolerance and blood lipid levels, and decreased lipid droplet accumulation and fat vacuole levels in the liver. CGLC decreased the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and increased the relative abundances of Bacteroides (B. acidifaciens) and Bifidobacterium (B. pseudolongum). In addition, CGLC treatment significantly promoted the production of SCFAs and regulated the relative expression levels of genes involved in fat and lipid metabolism in liver. Association analysis showed that several species of Bacteroides and most of SCFAs were significantly associated with serum lipid indicators. These results suggested that CGLC is a novel candidate formulation for treating obesity and non-alcohol fatty liver by regulating gut microbiota, SCFAs, and genes involved in fat and lipid metabolism.

Aphanamolide A, a new limonoid from Aphanamixis polystachya.

Two new limonoids, namely aphanamolides A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the seeds of Aphanamixis polystachya . Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods. Aphanamolide A (1) featured an unprecedented carbon skeleton via the formation of a C-3-C-6 bond. Compounds 1 and 2 showed cytotoxic activity against two tumor cell lines.

Terpenoids from Dysoxylum densiflorum.

Three degraded limonoids, dysodensiols A-C (1-3), and three sesquiterpenoids, dysodensiols D-F (4-6), along with 17 known compounds, were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Dysoxylum densiflorum. The structures of compounds 1-6 were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis.

Cytotoxic sesquiterpenoids from Vernonia bockiana.

Two new sesquiterpenoids, vernobockolides A (1) and B (2), along with five known ones, piptocarphin C (3), piptocarphin F (4), piptocarphin A (5), hirsutolide (6), and beta-d-glucopyranosyl taraxinic ester (7), were isolated from the aerial part of Vernonia bockiana. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis, especially 2D NMR. Among them, compounds 2-6 showed strong cytotoxic activities against mouse lymphoid tumor cell line P388 with the IC(50) values of 1.81, 1.32, 0.77, and 0.73 microM, respectively.

Agladupols A-E, triterpenoids from Aglaia duperreana.

Three new apotirucallane-type triterpenoids, agladupols A-C (1- 3), and two new tirucallane-type triterpenoids, agladupols D and E (4 and 5), along with four known compounds, were isolated from the leaves and stems of Aglaia duperreana (Meliaceae). The structures of compounds 1- 5 were elucidated by spectroscopic data. A (13)C NMR-based general rule for assignment of the C-21 configuration in the side chain of apotirucallane- and tirucallane-type triterpenoids was proposed. According to this, the relative stereochemistry of 21- O-methyltoosendanpentol (1a), a known compound with the relative configurations of the stereocenters in the side chain undetermined, was completely assigned.