The Antioxidant Properties of Salvia verbenaca Extract Contribute to Its Intestinal Antiinflammatory Effects in Experimental Colitis in Rats.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic gastrointestinal inflammation with unpredictable symptom fluctuations. While there is no effective cure for IBD, various treatments aim to manage symptoms and improve the quality of life for affected individuals. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the potential benefits of certain natural plants and herbs in the management of IBD. In this regard, this study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of a well-characterized extract of Salvia verbenaca (S. verbenaca) in an experimental model of colitis in rats. Interestingly, the daily administration of S. verbenaca (10 and 25 mg/kg) effectively alleviated colitis symptoms, as evidenced by reduced weight/length ratio and colonic damage. Moreover, it reduced oxidative stress markers (MPO and GSH), decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (Il-6, Il-12a, Il-1ß, Il-23, Icam-1, Mcp-1, Cinc-1), and preserved the integrity of the intestinal barrier (Villin, Muc-2, Muc-3). These effects suggest S. verbenaca extract could represent a potential complementary candidate to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Its beneficial actions can be related to its antioxidant properties as well as the downregulation of the immune response, which can result in the improvement in the intestine epithelial barrier.

Administration of intestinal mesenchymal stromal cells reduces colitis-associated cancer in C57BL/6J mice modulating the immune response and gut dysbiosis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of developing colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) with poor prognosis. IBD etiology remains undefined but involves environmental factors, genetic predisposition, microbiota imbalance (dysbiosis) and mucosal immune defects. Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) injections have shown good efficacy in reducing intestinal inflammation in animal and human studies. However, their effect on tumor growth in CAC and their capacity to restore gut dysbiosis are not clear. METHODS: The outcome of systemic administrations of in vitro expanded human intestinal MSCs (iMSCs) on tumor growth in vivo was evaluated using the AOM/DSS model of CAC in C57BL/6J mice. Innate and adaptive immune responses in blood, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and colonic tissue were analyzed by flow cytometry. Intestinal microbiota composition was evaluated by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. RESULTS: iMSCs significantly inhibited colitis and intestinal tumor development, reducing IL-6 and COX-2 expression, and IL-6/STAT3 and PI3K/Akt signaling. iMSCs decreased colonic immune cell infiltration, and partly restored intestinal monocyte homing and differentiation. iMSC administration increased the numbers of Tregs and IFN-γ+CD8+ T cells in the MLNs while decreasing the IL-4+Th2 response. It also ameliorated intestinal dysbiosis in CAC mice, increasing diversity and Bacillota/Bacteroidota ratio, as well as Akkermansia abundance, while reducing Alistipes and Turicibacter, genera associated with inflammation. CONCLUSION: Administration of iMSCs protects against CAC, ameliorating colitis and partially reverting intestinal dysbiosis, supporting the use of MSCs for the treatment of IBD.

Pectin from sunflower by-products obtained by ultrasound: Chemical characterization and in vivo evaluation of properties in inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a public health challenge and the use of pectin for symptom amelioration is a promising option. In this work, sunflower pectin has been extracted without (CHP) and with assistance of ultrasound (USP) using sodium citrate as a food-grade extracting agent. At optimal conditions (64 °C, 23 min) the highest yield was obtained with ultrasound application (15.5 vs. 8.1 %). Both pectins were structurally characterized by 1H NMR, HPSEC-ELSD, FT-IR and GC-FID. Unlike CHP, USP showed a lower molecular weight, higher galacturonic acid, lower degree of methyl-esterification and, overall, higher viscosity. These characteristics could affect the anti-inflammatory activity of pectins, evaluated using DSS-induced IBD model mice. So, USP promoted the defence (ICAM-1) and repair of the gastrointestinal mucosa (TFF3, ZO-1) more effectively than CHP. These results demonstrate the potential amelioration of acute colitis in IBD mice through USP supplementation. Taking into account the biomarkers analysed, these results demonstrate, for the first time, the positive impact of sunflower pectin extracted by ultrasound under very soft conditions on inflammatory bowel disease that might open up new possibilities in the treatment of this serious pathology.

The Antioxidant Properties of Lavandula multifida Extract Contribute to Its Beneficial Effects in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice.

Obesity is a worldwide public health problem whose prevalence rate has increased steadily over the last few years. Therefore, it is urgent to improve the management of obesity and its comorbidities, and plant-based treatments are receiving increasing attention worldwide. In this regard, the present study aimed to investigate a well-characterized extract of Lavandula multifida (LME) in an experimental model of obesity in mice and explore the underlying mechanisms. Interestingly, the daily administration of LME reduced weight gain as well as improved insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. Additionally, LME ameliorated the inflammatory state in both liver and adipose tissue by decreasing the expression of various proinflammatory mediators (Il-6, Tnf-α, Il-1ß, Jnk-1, Pparα, Pparγ, and Ampk) and prevented increased gut permeability by regulating the expression of mucins (Muc-1, Muc-2, and Muc-3) and proteins implicated in epithelial barrier integrity maintenance (Ocln, Tjp1, and Tff-3). In addition, LME showed the ability to reduce oxidative stress by inhibiting nitrite production on macrophages and lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that LME may represent a promising complementary approach for the management of obesity and its comorbidities.

The Prebiotic Effects of an Extract with Antioxidant Properties from Morus alba L. Contribute to Ameliorate High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice.

Obesity is a global health issue, in which modifications in gut microbiota composition have a key role. Different therapeutic strategies are being developed in combination with diet and exercise, including the use of plant extracts, such as those obtained from Morus alba L. leaves. Recent studies have revealed their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The aim of the present work was to evaluate whether the beneficial effects of M. alba L. leaf extract in high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice is correlated with its impact on gut microbiota. The extract reduced body weight gain and attenuated lipid accumulation, as well as increased glucose sensitivity. These effects were associated with an amelioration of the obesity-associated inflammatory status, most probably due to the described antioxidant properties of the extract. Moreover, M. alba L. leaf extract mitigated gut dysbiosis, which was evidenced by the restoration of the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and the decrease in plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. Specifically, the extract administration reduced Alistipes and increased Faecalibaculum abundance, these effects being correlated with the beneficial effects exerted by the extract on the obesity-associated inflammation. In conclusion, anti-obesogenic effects of M. alba L. leaf extract may be mediated through the amelioration of gut dysbiosis.

Tigecycline reduces tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer via inhibition of cell proliferation and modulation of immune response.

BACKGROUND: and Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the cancers with the highest incidence in which APC gene mutations occur in almost 80% of patients. This mutation leads to ß-catenin aberrant accumulation and an uncontrolled proliferation. Apoptosis evasion, changes in the immune response and microbiota composition are also events that arise in CRC. Tetracyclines are drugs with proven antibiotic and immunomodulatory properties that have shown cytotoxic activity against different tumor cell lines. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The effect of tigecycline was evaluated in vitro in HCT116 cells and in vivo in a colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) murine model. 5-fluorouracil was assayed as positive control in both studies. KEY RESULTS: Tigecycline showed an antiproliferative activity targeting the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and downregulating STAT3. Moreover, tigecycline induced apoptosis through extrinsic, intrinsic and endoplasmic reticulum pathways converging on an increase of CASP7 levels. Furthermore, tigecycline modulated the immune response in CAC, reducing the cancer-associated inflammation through downregulation of cytokines expression. Additionally, tigecycline favored the cytotoxic activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), one of the main immune defenses against tumor cells. Lastly, the antibiotic reestablished the gut dysbiosis in CAC mice increasing the abundance of bacterial genera and species, such as Akkermansia and Parabacteroides distasonis, that act as protectors against tumor development. These findings resulted in a reduction of the number of tumors and an amelioration of the tumorigenesis process in CAC. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Tigecycline exerts a beneficial effect against CRC supporting the use of this antibiotic for the treatment of this disease.

Minocycline Prevents the Development of Key Features of Inflammation and Pain in DSS-induced Colitis in Mice.

Abdominal pain is a common feature in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, and greatly compromises their quality of life. Therefore, the identification of new therapeutic tools to reduce visceral pain is one of the main goals for IBD therapy. Minocycline, a broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic, has gained attention in the scientific community because of its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of this antibiotic as a therapy for the management of visceral pain in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Preemptive treatment with minocycline markedly reduced histological features of intestinal inflammation and the expression of inflammatory markers (Tlr4, Tnfα, Il1ß, Ptgs2, Inos, Cxcl2, and Icam1), and attenuated the decrease of markers of epithelial integrity (Tjp1, Ocln, Muc2, and Muc3). In fact, minocycline restored normal epithelial permeability in colitic mice. Treatment with the antibiotic also reversed the changes in the gut microbiota profile induced by colitis. All these ameliorative effects of minocycline on both inflammation and dysbiosis correlated with a decrease in ongoing pain and referred hyperalgesia, and with the improvement of physical activity induced by the antibiotic in colitic mice. Minocycline might constitute a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of IBD-induced pain. PERSPECTIVE: This study found that the intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of minocycline ameliorate DSS-associated pain in mice. Therefore, minocycline might constitute a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of IBD-induced pain.

The Antioxidant Activity of Thymus serpyllum Extract Protects against the Inflammatory State and Modulates Gut Dysbiosis in Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice.

Nowadays, there is an increasing interest in alternative therapies in the treatment of metabolic syndrome that combine efficacy and safety profiles. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of an extract of Thymus serpyllum, containing rosmarinic acid, on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mice, highlighting the impact of its antioxidant activity on the inflammatory status and gut dysbiosis. The extract was administered daily (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg) in HFD-fed mice. The treatment reduced body weight gain, glucose and lipid metabolic profiles. Moreover, the extract ameliorated the inflammatory status, with the c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JUNK) pathway being involved, and showed a significant antioxidant effect by the reduction of radical scavenging activity and the mitigation of lipid peroxidation. Moreover, the extract was able to modulate the altered gut microbiota, restoring microbial richness and diversity, and augmenting the counts of short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria, which have been associated with the maintenance of gut permeability and weight regulation. In conclusion, the antioxidant activity of Thymus serpyllum extract displayed a positive impact on obesity and its metabolic alterations, also reducing systemic inflammation. These effects may be mediated by modulation of the gut microbiota.

The cephalic phase of insulin release is modulated by IL-1ß.

The initial cephalic phase of insulin secretion is mediated through the vagus nerve and is not due to glycemic stimulation of pancreatic ß cells. Recently, IL-1ß was shown to stimulate postprandial insulin secretion. Here, we describe that this incretin-like effect of IL-1ß involves neuronal transmission. Furthermore, we found that cephalic phase insulin release was mediated by IL-1ß originating from microglia. Moreover, IL-1ß activated the vagus nerve to induce insulin secretion and regulated the activity of the hypothalamus in response to cephalic stimulation. Notably, cephalic phase insulin release was impaired in obesity, in both mice and humans, and in mice, this was due to dysregulated IL-1ß signaling. Our findings attribute a regulatory role to IL-1ß in the integration of nutrient-derived sensory information, subsequent neuronally mediated insulin secretion, and the dysregulation of autonomic cephalic phase responses in obesity.

Myrianthus arboreus P. Beauv improves insulin sensitivity in high fat diet-induced obese mice by reducing inflammatory pathways activation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Metabolic syndrome is currently recognized as the major cause of morbidity, with dramatic complications on life expectancy and health status. Myrianthus arboreus is a medicinal plant traditionally used in local communities as a safe remedy in treating diabetes and other metabolic diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the impact of a methanol extract of Myrianthus arboreus leaf (MAL) in a mice model of metabolic syndrome induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) intake. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice were assigned to the following groups: control, obese control, and obese treated with MAL extract (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. Control mice received a standard chow diet, while all obese mice were fed with HFD. Animal weight and food consumption were periodically measured. At the end of the treatment, fasting blood glucose and metabolic plasma analysis (insulin level, triglycerides, and total cholesterol (TC)) were performed. The HFD-induced inflammatory status and the expression of several obesity-related markers were evaluated in liver and fat using qPCR and Western blot analysis. In addition, the phytochemical composition of MAL was identified by GC-MS and HPLC-MS. RESULTS: MAL administration significantly reduced body weight gain, basal glycemia, and insulin resistance, and improved plasma lipid profile compared with HFD-fed mice. Similarly, this extract improved the HFD-associated inflammatory status in mice by gene expression modulation of different inflammatory markers involved in this experimentally induced metabolic condition. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate the novel applicability of MAL, thus suggesting it as a promising therapeutic approach for the management of metabolic disorders.

Beneficial Effects of Limosilactobacillus fermentum in the DCA Experimental Model of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Rats.

Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT5716, a probiotic strain isolated from human milk, has reported beneficial effects on different gastrointestinal disorders. Moreover, it has shown its ability to restore altered immune responses, in association with microbiome modulation in different pathological conditions. Therefore, our aim was to assess the effects of a Limosilacbacillus fermentum CECT5716 in a rat experimental model of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that resembles human IBS. The experimental IBS was induced by deoxycholic acid (DCA) in rats and then, Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 (109 CFU/day/rat) was administered. Behavioral studies, hyperalgesia and intestinal hypersensitivity determinations were performed and the impact of the probiotic on the inflammatory and intestinal barrier integrity was evaluated. Additionally, the gut microbiota composition was analyzed. Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 attenuated the anxiety-like behavior as well as the visceral hypersensitivity and referred pain. Moreover, this probiotic ameliorated the gut inflammatory status, re-establishing the altered intestinal permeability, reducing the mast cell degranulation and re-establishing the gut dysbiosis in experimental IBS. Therefore, our results suggest a potential use of Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 in clinical practice for the management of IBS patients.

Silk fibroin nanoparticles enhance quercetin immunomodulatory properties in DSS-induced mouse colitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and idiopathic inflammatory disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The pharmacological treatments used currently for its treatment lack efficacy, so new therapeutic strategies should be developed. In this context, flavonoids loaded in biopolymeric nanoparticles can be considered as novel promising candidates. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of quercetin when is administered loaded in silk fibroin nanoparticles (QSFN) in the dextran sulphate sodium experimental model of mouse colitis, which displays some similarities to human IBD. Previously characterized quercetin-loaded silk fibroin nanoparticles (QSFN). QSFN showed a reversible aggregation profile induced by the acidification of the solution but did not affect the loaded quercetin. Daily administration of QSFN significantly reduced disease activity index values compared to the control colitic group. This beneficial effect was not only corroborated by the histological examination of the colonic specimens but also the improvement of the colonic expression of the different proinflammatory cytokines (Tnf-α, Il-1ß, Il-6, Mcp-1, Icam-1, Nlrp3 and iNOS). Therefore, these data suggest that QSFN could be a promising alternative to current treatments as a drug delivery system for IBD treatment.

Intestinal mesenchymal cells regulate immune responses and promote epithelial regeneration in vitro and in dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis in mice.

AIM: Disruption of the intestinal mucosal tolerance, that is, the immunological unresponsiveness to innocuous food antigens and the commensal microbiota, in the colon is associated with several chronic diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Understanding the mechanisms responsible for intestinal mucosal tolerance has potential translational value for its therapy and management. Human intestinal mesenchymal cells (iMCs) play important roles in colonic mucosal tolerance, but further studies on their tissue regenerative and immunomodulatory capacities are necessary in order to fully understand their function in health and disease. METHODS: In this study, we have isolated and analysed the capacity of human iMCs to promote wound healing and modulate immune responses in vitro and in vivo, using the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model. RESULTS: Cultured iMCs were CD45- CD73+ CD90+ CD105+ and accelerated the wound closure in a normal colon mucosa (NCM) 356 human epithelial cell wound healing assay. Furthermore, iMCs blocked the LPS-mediated induction of TNF-α in THP-1 macrophages and inhibited the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, partly through the induction of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase. In DSS colitic mice, iMCs administration reduced the disease activity index and ameliorated intestinal tissue damage and permeability. Furthermore, iMCs reduced intestinal inflammation, evidenced by a decreased mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reduced IL-1ß secretion by intestinal explants and inhibited colonic iNOS protein expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that human iMCs isolated from the noninflamed intestine possess tissue-regenerative and immunomodulatory capacities that could potentially be harnessed/restored in order to reduce IBD severity.

Validity of different copeptin assays in the differential diagnosis of the polyuria-polydipsia syndrome.

The aim of this study was to correlate three commercially available copeptin assays and their diagnostic accuracy in the differential diagnosis of the polyuria-polydipsia syndrome. Analyzed data include repeated copeptin measures of 8 healthy volunteers and 40 patients with polyuria-polydipsia syndrome undergoing osmotic stimulation and of 40 patients hospitalized with pneumonia. Copeptin was measured using the automated Brahms KRYPTOR, the manual Brahms LIA and the manual Cloud Clone ELISA assay. Primary outcome was the interrater correlation coefficient (ICC) and diagnostic accuracy in the polyuria-polydipsia syndrome of the three assays. In healthy volunteers, there was a moderate correlation for the KRYPTOR and LIA (ICC 0.74; 95% CI 0.07 to 0.91), and a poor correlation for the KRYPTOR and ELISA (ICC 0.07; 95% CI - 0.06 to 0.29), as for the LIA and ELISA (ICC 0.04; 95% CI - 0.04 to 0.17). The KRYPTOR had the highest diagnostic accuracy (98% (95% CI 83 to100)), comparable to the LIA (88% (95% CI 74 to 100)), while the ELISA had a poor diagnostic accuracy (55% (95% CI 34 to 68)) in the differential diagnosis of the polyuria-polydipsia syndrome. The KRYPTOR and LIA yield comparable copeptin concentrations and high diagnostic accuracy, while the ELISA correlates poorly with the other two assays and shows a poor diagnostic accuracy for polyuria-polydipsia patients. The current copeptin cut-off is valid for the KRYPTOR and LIA assay. Our results indicate that interpretation with other assays should be performed with caution and separate validation studies are required before their use in differentiating patients with polyuria-polydipsia syndrome.Trial registration: NCT02647736 January 6, 2016/NCT01940614 September 12, 2013/NCT00973154 September 9, 2009.

Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 ameliorates high fat diet-induced obesity in mice through modulation of gut microbiota dysbiosis.

Obesity is one of the main features of metabolic syndrome, where a low-grade chronic inflammation and gut dysbiosis contribute to the development of the related metabolic dysfunctions. Different probiotics have demonstrated beneficial effects on this condition, increasing the interest in the development of probiotic treatments. Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 has shown anti-inflammatory effects and capacity to modulate microbiota composition in different experimental models. In this study, L. fermentum CECT5716 was evaluated in a model of high fat diet-induced obesity in mice. It exerts anti-obesity effects, associated with its anti-inflammatory properties and amelioration of endothelial dysfunction and gut dysbiosis. The probiotic restores Akkermansia sp. abundance and reduced Erysipelotrichi class and Clostridium spp presence as well as increased Bacteroides proportion. In conclusion, this probiotic represents a very interesting approach. Our findings describe, for the first time, the ability of this probiotic to ameliorate experimental obesity through microbiome modulation, affecting different bacteria that have been reported to play a key role in the pathogenesis of obesity. Therefore, this suggests a potential use of L. fermentum CECT5716 in clinical practice, also taking into account that probiotic treatments have demonstrated to be relatively safe and well tolerated.

Comparative Study of the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Leaf Extracts from Four Different Morus alba Genotypes in High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice.

Increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a low-grade chronic inflammation in multiple organs have been demonstrated in obesity. Morus alba leaves extracts (MAEs) have been used in traditional medicine as anti-inflammatory agents. In this work, the bioactive compounds of different genotypes of M. alba L. (Filipina, Valenciana Temprana, Kokuso, and Italia) were analyzed not only by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS) and hydrophilic interaction chromatography-electrospray ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (HILIC-ESI-TOF-MS), but also screened for in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity by means of DPPH· radical scavenging assay and Caenorhabditis elegans model. These MAEs were administered daily in a model of diet-induced obesity in mice. Filipina and Italia genotypes significantly reduced weight gain, the glycemic levels in high fat diet, as well as, levels of LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Filipina and Italia MAEs also reduced the expression of proinflammatory mediators such as Tnf-α, Il-1ß, Il-6 and increased the levels of adiponectin and AMPK, which exert anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, Italia genotype ameliorated the intestinal barrier function. In conclusion, Filipina and Italia methanolic extracts show the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, due to the presence of compounds such as protocatechuic acid or quercetin-3-glucoside, and they could be developed as a complementary treatment for obesity and metabolic disorders.

The Beneficial Effects of Lippia Citriodora Extract on Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice Are Associated with Modulation in the Gut Microbiota Composition.

SCOPE: Obesity is characterized by a dysfunction in the adipose tissue and an inflammatory subclinical state leading to insulin resistance and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. It is also associated with intestinal dysbiosis that contributes to inflammation development. Lippia citriodora (LCE) contains high levels of polyphenolpropanoids and has shown promising results in obesity. The aim of this study is to investigate a well-characterized extract of LCE in a model of metabolic syndrome in mice, focusing on its effects on metabolic tissues, endothelial dysfunction, and microbiome. METHODS: Mice are fed a high fat diet (HFD) for six weeks and treated daily with LCE (1, 10, and 25 mg kg-1 ). Glucose and lipid metabolism is investigated. The inflammatory state in the metabolic tissues and the intestinal microbiota composition are characterized, as well as the endothelium-dependent vasodilator response to acetylcholine. RESULTS: LCE reduces fat accumulation and improves plasma glycemic and lipid profiles, as well as the inflammatory process and vascular dysfunction. Moreover, LCE lessens intestinal dysbiosis, as it reduces the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and increases Akkermansia abundance in comparison with untreated HFD mice. CONCLUSION: The antiobesity therapeutic properties of LCE are most probably mediated by the synergic effects of its bioactive compounds.

The prebiotic properties of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract contribute to the beneficial effects in diet-induced obesity in mice.

The metabolic syndrome has been associated with an alteration of intestinal microbiota, which can be considered as a target for the management of these patients. Phenolic extracts from Hibiscus sabdariffa have shown beneficial effects on obesity and its related complications. However, their effects on gut microbiota have not been investigated yet. This study evaluates the effects of a chemically characterized polyphenolic extract of H. sabdariffa (HSE) in an experimental model of diet-induced obesity (DIO) in mice. HSE was administered daily by oral gave for 42 days. HSE reduced weight increase in high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice, and improved glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and normalized LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio. It also enhanced the inflammatory state in the liver, reducing the expression of different adipokines and proinflammatory mediators, and reinforced gut integrity by increasing the expression of mucins and proteins involved in the maintenance of mucosal barrier. Moreover, HSE had a prebiotic effect, ameliorating the changes in the gut microbiota induced by the HFD. Thus, HSE improved the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, which may contribute to the beneficial effects. Consequently, HSE could be considered for the development of a complementary treatment for the metabolic syndrome due to its beneficial properties.

Intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of artichoke pectin and modified pectin fractions in the dextran sulfate sodium model of mice colitis. Artificial neural network modelling of inflammatory markers.

Anti-inflammatory properties of artichoke pectin and modified fractions (arabinose- and galactose-free) used at two doses (40 and 80 mg kg-1) in mice with colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium have been investigated. Expression of pro-inflammatory markers TNF-α and ICAM-I decreased in groups of mice treated with original and arabinose-free artichoke pectin while IL-1ß and IL-6 liberation was reduced only in mice groups treated with original artichoke pectin. A decrease in iNOS and TLR-4 expression was observed for most treatments. Intestinal barrier gene expression was also determined. MUC-1 and Occludin increased in groups treated with original artichoke pectin while MUC-3 expression also increased in arabinose-free pectin treatment. Galactose elimination led to a loss of pectin bioactivity. Characteristic expression profiles were established for each treatment through artificial neural networks showing high accuracy rates (≥90%). These results highlight the potential amelioration of inflammatory bowel disease on mice model colitis through artichoke pectin administration.

The Immunomodulatory Properties of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Probiotics: A Novel Approach for the Management of Gastrointestinal Diseases.

Probiotics, included in functional foods, nutritional supplements, or nutraceuticals, exhibit different beneficial effects on gut function. They are extensively used to improve the digestive processes as well as reduce the symptoms and progression of different diseases. Probiotics have shown to improve dysbiosis and modulate the immune response of the host by interacting with different cell types. Probiotics and the host can interact in a direct way, but it is becoming apparent that communication occurs also through extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from probiotics. EVs are key for bacteria-bacteria and bacteria-host interactions, since they carry a wide variety of components that can modulate different signaling pathways, including those involved in the immune response. Interestingly, EVs are recently starting to be considered as an alternative to probiotics in those cases for which the use of live bacteria could be dangerous, such as immunocompromised individuals or situations where the intestinal barrier is impaired. EVs can spread through the mucus layer and interact with the host, avoiding the risk of sepsis. This review summarizes the existing knowledge about EVs from different probiotic strains, their properties, and their potential use for the prevention or treatment of different gastrointestinal diseases.