Fermentation of Polygonati Rhizoma aqueous extract using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum under the condition of eutrophication.

In this experiment, the eutrophication system was established by adding sucrose and yeast powder, and the pH and dissolved oxygen were measured in a bioreactor in real time to study the effect of aerobic environment on the fermentation process of Polygonati Rhizoma extract by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. To further analyze metabolic changes, UPLC-Q-Exactive MS was used for metabolomic analysis and metabolic profiling. Multivariate analysis was performed using principal component analysis and Orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis. Finally, 313 differential metabolites were selected, 196 of which were annotated through database matching. After fermentation, the content of short-chain fatty acids, lactic acid, and their derivatives increased significantly, and there were 13 kinds and 4 kinds, respectively. Both compounds and their derivatives are beneficial to the intestinal flora. Consequently, incorporating L. plantarum into the aerobic fermentation process of Polygonati Rhizoma extract within the eutrophic system is potentially advantageous in enhancing the impact of its fermentation solution on the gut microbiota and its effects on human health. Our findings for this kind of edible and medicinal material research and development offer useful insights.

Structural Characterization and Antidepressant-like Effects of Polygonum sibiricum Polysaccharides on Regulating Microglial Polarization in Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress-Induced Zebrafish.

Polysaccharides are one of the main active ingredients of Polygonum sibiricum (PS), which is a food and medicine homolog used throughout Chinese history. The antidepressant-like effects of PSP and its underlying mechanisms remain elusive, especially the regulation of microglial polarization. The current study determined the chemical composition and structural characteristics of PSP. Then, the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) procedure was carried out on the zebrafish for 5 weeks, and PSP was immersed for 9 days (1 h/d). The body weight of zebrafish was monitored, and behavioral tests, including the novel tank test and light and dark tank test, were performed to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of PSP. Then, the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis, the levels of peripheral inflammation, neuronal and blood-brain barrier damage in the mesencephalon and telencephalon, and the mRNA expression of M1/M2 phenotype genes in the brain were examined. PSP samples had the typical structural characteristics of polysaccharides, consisting of glucose, mannose, and galactose, with an average Mw of 20.48 kDa, which presented porous and agglomerated morphologies. Compared with untreated zebrafish, the depression-like behaviors of CUMS-induced zebrafish were significantly attenuated. PSP significantly decreased the levels of cortisol and pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokines in the body of CUMS-induced depressive zebrafish. Furthermore, PSP remarkably reversed the neuronal and blood-brain barrier damage in the mesencephalon and telencephalon and the mRNA expression of M1/M2 phenotype genes in the brain. These findings indicated that the antidepressant-like effects of PSP were related to altering the HPI axis hyperactivation, suppressing peripheral inflammation, inhibiting neuroinflammation induced by microglia hyperactivation, and modulating microglial M1/M2 polarization. The current study provides the foundations for future examinations of PSP in the functional foods of emotional regulation.

[Effect of Polygonati Rhizoma aqueous extract on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in rats].

This study aimed to investigate the effects and potential mechanism of Polygonati Rhizoma aqueous extract on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) in rats. Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the normal, model,Yupingfeng Granules(1. 5 g·kg~(-1)), and low-, medium-, and high-dose(0. 25, 0. 5, and 1 g·kg~(-1), respectively) Polygonati Rhizoma aqueous extract groups. The rat model of COPD was established by cigarette smoke inhalation for 8 weeks, and then the modeled rats received corresponding treatment for 4 weeks. The grip strength and fecal moisture content were measured, and the lung index was calculated. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed to determine the levels of interleukin(IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in the lung tissue. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and Masson staining were performed to assess the pathological changes in the lung tissue. Flow cytometry was used to analyze T lymphocytes and their subpopulations in the peripheral blood, and the immunofluorescence assay and Western blot were employed to measure the protein levels of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappaB(p-NF-κB), NF-κB, phosphorylated inhibitory kappa B-α(p-IκBα), IκBα, IL-6,and TNF-α in the lung tissue. The results indicated that the treatment with Polygonati Rhizoma aqueous extract significantly reduced the fecal moisture content, enhanced the grip strength, and inhibited inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis in the lung tissue. The treatment increased the Th/Tc ratio and Th cell proportion and decreased the Tc cell proportion in the peripheral blood. Furthermore,the treatment down-regulated the expression levels of TLR4, IL-6, and TNF-α and the p-NF-κB/NF-κB and p-IκBα/IκBα ratios in the lung tissue. In conclusion, Polygonati Rhizoma aqueous extract can ameliorate lung tissue damage in the rat model of COPD by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and the production of inflammatory mediators.

Discrimination of Polygonati Rhizoma Species: An Investigation Utilizing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Fingerprints and Chemometrics.

Polygonati Rhizoma has been a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for two thousand years. It is increasingly being used not just as a traditional herbal medicine but also as a popular functional food. In this study, qualitative and quantitative analysis of PR from three different origins were initially performed using chemical fingerprint and chemometrics methods. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and Principal component analysis (PCA) were used to classify 60 PR samples from three different origins. The results revealed that the PR samples fell into three clusters related to the origins. In addition, pairwise comparison of varying PR and obtaining chemical markers between different species through the establishment of partial least squares discriminant analysis. Finally, chemical markers 9,13 and 17 were identified by LC/MS as disporopsin, 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4'-hydroxybenzyl)-6,8-dimethylchroman-4-one and (3R)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4'-hydroxybenzyl)-6-methylchroman-4-one or isomer, respectively. In conclusion, these methods can be applied to identify and distinguish the quality of PR with other original plants and provide novel ideas for evaluating herbal products used in TCM.

Effects of Solid Fermentation on Polygonatum cyrtonema Polysaccharides: Isolation, Characterization and Bioactivities.

Polygonati Rhizoma is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with complex pre-processing steps. Fermentation is a common method for processing TCM to reduce herb toxicity and enhance their properties and/or produce new effects. Here, in this study, using Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we aimed to evaluate the potential application of solid fermentation in isolating different functional polysaccharides from Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua. With hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, DEAE anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration, multiple neutral and acidic polysaccharides were obtained, showing different yields, content, compositions and functional groups after fermentation. Combining in vitro experiments and in vivo aging and immunosuppressed mouse models, we further compared the antioxidant and immunomodulating bioactivities of these polysaccharides and found a prominent role of a natural polysaccharide (BNP) from fermented P. cyrtonema via Bacillus subtilis in regulating intestinal antioxidant defense and immune function, which may be a consequence of the ability of BNP to modulate the homeostasis of gut microbiota. Thus, this work provides evidence for the further development and utilization of P. cyrtonema with fermentation, and reveals the potential values of BNP in the treatment of intestinal disorders.

Polygonati Rhizoma Polysaccharide Prolongs Lifespan and Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Polygonati Rhizoma is the dried rhizome of Polygonatum kingianum coll.et hemsl., Polygonatum sibiricum Red. or Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua, and has a long history of medication. Raw Polygonati Rhizoma (RPR) numbs the tongue and stings the throat, while prepared Polygonati Rhizoma (PPR) can remove the numbness of the tongue, and at the same time enhance its functions of invigorating the spleen, moistening the lungs and tonifying the kidneys. There are many active ingredients in Polygonati Rhizoma (PR), among which polysaccharide is one of the most important active ingredients. Therefore, we studied the effect of Polygonati Rhizoma polysaccharide (PRP) on the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and found that polysaccharide in PPR (PPRP) was more effective than Polysaccharide in RPR (RPRP) in prolonging the lifespan of C. elegans, reducing the accumulation of lipofuscin, and increasing the frequency of pharyngeal pumping and movement. The further mechanism study found that PRP can improve the anti-oxidative stress ability of C. elegans, reduce the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in C. elegans, and improve the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The results of quantitative real-time PCR(q-PCR) experiments suggested that PRP may prolong the lifespan of C. elegans by down-regulating daf-2 and activating daf-16 and sod-3, and the transgenic nematode experiments were consistent with its results, so it was hypothesized that the mechanism of age delaying effect of PRP was related to daf-2, daf-16 and sod-3 of the insulin signaling pathway. In short, our research results provide a new idea for the application and development of PRP.

Health-Promoting Activities and Associated Mechanisms of Polygonati Rhizoma Polysaccharides.

Polygonati Rhizoma, a typical homology of medicine and food, possesses remarkable anti-fatigue, anti-aging, metabolic regulatory, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-diabetes, and anti-cancer effects. Among bioactive phytochemicals in Polygonati Rhizoma, polysaccharides play important roles in the health-promoting activities through the mechanisms mentioned above and potential synergistic effects with other bioactives. In this review, we briefly introduce the updated biosynthesis of polysaccharides, the purification method, the structure characterization, and food applications, and discuss in detail the biological activities of Polygonati Rhizoma polysaccharides and associated mechanisms, aiming at broadening the usage of Polygonati Rhizoma as functional food and medicine.

[Different processed products of Polygonati Rhizoma treat Alzheimer's disease in rats: urine metabolomics based on UPLC-Q/TOF-MS].

The study investigated the effects of different processed products of Polygonati Rhizoma(black bean-processed Polygonati Rhizoma, BBPR; stewed Polygonati Rhizoma, SPR) on the urinary metabolites in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease(AD). Sixty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomized into a control group, a model group, a donepezil group, a BBPR group, and a SPR group, with twelve rats in each group. Other groups except the control group were administrated with D-galactose injection(100 mg·kg~(-1)) once a day for seven weeks. The control group was administrated with an equal volume of normal saline once a day for seven consecutive weeks. After three weeks of D-galactose injection, bilateral hippocampal Aß_(25-35) injections were performed for modeling. The rats were administrated with corresponding drugs(10 mL·kg~(-1)) by gavage since week 2, and the rats in the model and control group with an equal volume of double distilled water once a day for 35 continuous days. The memory behaviour and pathological changes in the hippocampal tissue were observed. The untargeted metabolites in the urine were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q/TOF-MS). Principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were employed to characterize and screen differential metabolites and potential biomarkers, for which the metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was conducted. The results indicated that BBPR and SPR increased the new object recognition index, shortened the escape latency, and increased the times of crossing the platform of AD rats in the Morris water maze test. The results of hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining showed that the cells in the hippocampal tissue of the drug administration groups were closely arranged. Moreover, the drugs reduced the content of interleukin-6(IL-6, P<0.01) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the hippocampal tissue, which were more obvious in the BBPR group(P<0.05). After screening, 15 potential biomarkers were identified, involving two metabolic pathways: dicoumarol pathway and piroxicam pathway. BBPR and SPR may alleviate AD by regulating the metabolism of dicoumarol and piroxicam.

[Effect of superfine powder and aqueous extract of Polygonati Rhizoma on rats with natural perimenopausal syndrome].

This study aims to examine the effect of superfine powder and aqueous extract of Polygonati Rhizomaon on natural perimenopausal syndrome in rats and explore the underlying mechanism. To be specific, a total of 60 female SD rats(14-15 months old) with estrous cycle disorder were screened by the vaginal smear and randomized into model control group, ß-estradiol 3-benzoate group(0.1 mg·kg~(-1)), superfine powder of Polygonati Rhizoma group(0.25, 0.5 g·kg~(-1)) and aqueous extract of Polygonati Rhizoma group(0.25, 0.5 g·kg~(-1)), and another 10 female SD rats(14-15 months old) were selected as the youth control group. The administration lasted 6 weeks. Then the perimenopausal syndrome-related indexes such as body temperature, microcirculatory blood flow of face and ear, vertigo period, salivary secretion, grip force, and bone strength were determined and open field test was conducted. The immune system-related indexes such as the wet weight and index of thymus and spleen, percentage of T lymphocytes and subgroups in peripheral blood, and hematological indexes were measured. In addition, the ovary-related indexes such as estrous cycle, the wet weight and index of uterus and ovary, ovarian tissue morphology, and cell apoptosis were determined. Moreover, hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis(HPO)-related indexes such as serum sex hormone levels, cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1(CYP11A1), cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1(CYP19A1), and cytochrome P450 family 17 subfamily A member 1(P450 17A1) in ovarian tissue were measured. The results showed that the superfine powder and aqueous extract of Polygonati Rhizoma significantly decreased body temperature(anal, facial and dorsal temperature), microcirculatory blood flow in the ear, and vertigo period, increased salivary secretion, grip force, bone strength, total distance and total speed in the open field test, wet weight and index of thymus and spleen, lymphocyte ratio, CD3~+ level, and CD4~+/CD8~+ ratio, reduced neutrophil number and ratio, estrous cycle disorder ratio, and number of ovarian apoptotic cells, raised wet weight and index of uterus, wet weight of ovary, levels of inhibin B(INHB), estradiol(E_2), anti-müllerian hormone(AMH), and ovarian CYP11A1 and CYP19A1, decreased follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH) content, and improved ovarian tissue morphology. It is suggested that the superfine powder and aqueous extract of Polygonati Rhizoma can improve the symptoms associated with natural perimenopausal syndrome in rats and enhance ovarian function and immune function. The mechanism is that they regulate HPO axis function by increasing estrogen synthesis.

[Effect of Polygonati Rhizoma in improving pyroptosis injury of diabetic macroangiopathy via NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pathway].

This study aims to explore the influence of Polygonati Rhizoma on the pyroptosis in the rat model of diabetic macroangiopathy via the NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3)/cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1(caspase-1)/gasdermin D(GSDMD) pathway. The rat model of diabetes was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ) combined with a high-fat, high-sugar diet. The blood glucose meter, fully automated biochemical analyzer, hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot were employed to measure blood glucose levels, lipid levels, vascular thickness, inflammatory cytokine levels, and expression levels of pyroptosis-related proteins. The mechanism of pharmacological interventions against the injury in the context of diabetes was thus explored. The results demonstrated the successful establishment of the model of diabetes. Compared with the control group, the model group showed elevated levels of fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c), lowered level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-c), thickened vascular intima, and elevated serum and aorta levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß) and interleukin-18(IL-18). Moreover, the model group showed increased NLRP3 inflammasomes and up-regulated levels of caspase-1 and GSDMD in aortic vascular cells. Polygonati Rhizoma intervention reduced blood glucose and lipid levels, inhibited vascular thickening, lowered the levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-18 in the serum and aorta, attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome expression, and down-regulated the expression levels of caspase-1 and GSDMD, compared with the model group. In summary, Polygonati Rhizoma can slow down the progression of diabetic macroangiopathy by inhibiting pyroptosis and alleviating local vascular inflammation.

[Optimization of processing technology of wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma based on orthogonal test and AHP-comprehensive scoring method and comparison of immunomodulation functions of Polygonati Rhizoma processed with different methods].

This study employed orthogonal design and AHP-comprehensive scoring method to optimize the processing technology of wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma, and then explored the immunomodulation performance of the product. Orthogonal test was established based on single factor test results to study the effects of soaking time, steaming time, and drying temperature on the quality of wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma. Further, the analytic hierarchy process(AHP) and comprehensive scoring method were employed to determine the optimum processing parameters. The immunosuppression model of mice was established by injecting cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally. The body weight, immune organ index, and white blood cell count(WBC) and red blood cell count(RBC) in peripheral blood were compared between the mice administrated with the non-processed Polygonati Rhizoma and the wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma prepared with modern and traditional methods. Further, the levels of interleukin-2(IL-2) and interferon-gamma(IFN-γ) in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) for comparison. The processing parameters were optimized as follows: soaking in Chinese rice wine for 10 h, steaming for 20 h, and drying thick slices at 60 ℃. The wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma prepared with both modern and traditional methods can significantly enhance the immune function, with similar performance. The optimized processing technology of wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma is stable and feasible and the product prepared with this process has obvious immune-enhancing effect, which provides a basis for the quality standard formulation and the modern research of wine-processed Polygonati Rhizoma.

[Polygonati Rhizoma: a crop with potential of being consumed as food and medicine].

As revealed by the investigation on the name change, biological characteristics, artificial cultivation, and edible history of Polygonatum kingianum var. grandifolium, it was described as a variation pattern of P. kingianum in the Chinese version of Flora of China(1978) and as a variant of P. kingianum in the revised English version of the Flora of China(2000). P. kingianum var. grandifolium, long been consumed as food by local folks, has been widely cultivated in its natural distribution area and circulated as Polygonati Rhizoma in the market. The important biological properties of P. kingianum var. grandifolium make it possess a great potential of being consumed as both medicine and food. The shoots of P. kingianum var. grandifolium sprout immediately out of the ground after seed germination and a new seedling will be formed at the same year, implying that its seedling cultivation period is at least two years shorter than that of P. cyrtonema. It can sprout more than twice a year, and the adult plants always remain evergreen, thereby obtaining higher biomass. Its rhizome biomass can be more than one time higher than that of P. cyrtonema. With reference to the diploid P. cyrtonema, flow cytometry revealed the polyploid and aneuploid forms in natural populations, which were tall and light-adapted with large underground rhizome. It can grow normally under the forest canopy and in the open field. Furthermore, P. kingianum var. grandifolium has important theoretical values for the study of ploidy variation, bud dormancy mechanism, etc.

[Status of Polygonati Rhizome industry and suggestion for its sustainable development].

Field surveys and literatures show that Polygonati Rhizome (Huangjing) was firstly recorded in Shen Nong&s Herbal Classic, and widely used as a medicinal and edible plant. It has a long history of cultivation, and the researches on chemistry have made some progress. The future development is prospected on health market. But the Polygonati Rhizome industry has faced a lot of problems, including the resource depletion, unstable quality, low-tech in cultivation and germplasm confusion, unclear of functional composition, decentralized, small scaled and primary processing products. The suggestion for sustainable development are listed below. First, the relevant researches should focused on material basis and biological mechanism of core effects. To speed up the selection and breeding of improved varieties, ensure the supply of high-quality seedlings and eliminate the unauthentic species are the most important measures. Secondly, to strengthen the conservation and rational use of wild resources, break through the key technologies of high-quality artificial cultivation on light regulation, site control, density control and precision harvesting are also very important. Thirdly, to reveal the toxicity-reducing-and-efficacy-enhancing mechanism of processing, optimize the parameters and setup the standard operating procedure are indispensable. Fourthly, that full advantage of the root, leaf, flower and fruit resources should be strengthened for enlarged health products based on the development of exact functional factors. Above all, Polygonati Rhizome could be a growing market in the future driven by the technological innovation, cultural creativity, integration of three industries, brand strategy and internet+technique.

Structural characterization and mechanisms of macrophage immunomodulatory activity of a novel polysaccharide with a galactose backbone from the processed Polygonati Rhizoma.

A purified polysaccharide with a galactose backbone (SPR-1, Mw 3,622 Da) was isolated from processed Polygonati Rhizoma with black beans (PRWB) and characterized its chemical properties. The backbone of SPR-1 consisted of [(4)-ß-D-Galp-(1]9 â†’ 4,6)-ß-D-Galp-(1 â†’ 4)-α-D-GalpA-(1 â†’ 4)-α-D-GalpA-(1 â†’ 4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ 4,6)-α-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ 4)-α/ß-D-Glcp, with a branch chain of R1: ß-D-Galp-(1 â†’ 3)-ß-D-Galp-(1→ connected to the →4,6)-ß-D-Galp-(1→ via O-6, and a branch chain of R2: α-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ 6)-α-D-Glcp-(1→ connected to the →4,6)-α-D-Glcp-(1→ via O-6. Immunomodulatory assays showed that the SPR-1 significantly activated macrophages, and increased secretion of NO and cytokines (i.e., IL-1ß and TNF-α), as well as promoted the phagocytic activities of cells. Furthermore, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) analysis and molecular docking results indicated high-affinity binding between SPR-1 and MD2 with the equilibrium dissociation constant (K D) of 18.8 µM. It was suggested that SPR-1 activated the immune response through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling and downstream responses. Our research demonstrated that the SPR-1 has a promising candidate from PRWB for the TLR4 agonist to induce immune response, and also provided an easily accessible way that can be used for PR deep processing.

The analysis of raw and processed Polygonatum kingianum saponins and stimulatory mechanism in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Polygonati Rhizoma, a Chinese medicine often used in the clinic, can irritate the tongue and throat, so it must be processed before use. Polygonati Rhizoma contains a variety of chemical components, with saponins being one of the main active ingredients. Saponins can be highly irritating to human mocous membranes and have toxicity. In this study, total saponins were extracted from raw and processed Polygonati Rhizoma and detected by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS to identify their constituents. A total of 46 saponins were detected in TSRPR(total saponins of raw Polygonati Rhizoma), TSSPR(total saponins of steamed Polygonati Rhizoma) and TSWPR(total saponins of Polygonati Rhizoma steamed in wine). Of these, 9 compounds that were present in TSRPR were not detected in TSSPR and TSWPR. C.elegans was used as a model animal to study the neurotoxic effect and its mechanisms. TSRPR was found to have neurotoxic effects on C.elegans, but TSSPR and TSWPR had no adverse effects on the nematodes. The disappearance of the irritant effect of raw Polygonati Rhizoma after processing might be related to the changes in the composition of saponins, and the main reason might be the structural transformation of saponins. In particular, the sugar chains of some highly irritating saponins may have been removed or highly irritating saponins isomerized into weakly irritating saponins. The mechanisms of neurotoxic effects on C.elegans may include upregulation of ced-3 and egl-1 expression to promote apoptosis, damage to GABAergic and cholinergic neurons, downregulation of the GABA transmitter receptor genes ggr-1 and gab-1, and a decrease in glutamate levels that impairs nerve signal transmission.

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy-Visible and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Fusion Based on Deep Learning Network for Identification of Adulterated Polygonati Rhizoma.

The geographical origin of foods greatly influences their quality and price, leading to adulteration between high-priced and low-priced regions in the market. The rapid detection of such adulteration is crucial for food safety and fair competition. To detect the adulteration of Polygonati Rhizoma from different regions, we proposed LIBS-VNIR fusion based on the deep learning network (LVDLNet), which combines laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) containing element information with visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (VNIR) containing molecular information. The LVDLNet model achieved accuracy of 98.75%, macro-F measure of 98.50%, macro-precision of 98.78%, and macro-recall of 98.75%. The model, which increased these metrics from about 87% for LIBS and about 93% for VNIR to more than 98%, significantly improved the identification ability. Furthermore, tests on different adulterated source samples confirmed the model's robustness, with all metrics improving from about 87% for LIBS and 86% for VNIR to above 96%. Compared to conventional machine learning algorithms, LVDLNet also demonstrated its superior performance. The results indicated that the LVDLNet model can effectively integrate element information and molecular information to identify the adulterated Polygonati Rhizoma. This work shows that the scheme is a potent tool for food identification applications.

Effects and mechanisms of Polygonati Rhizoma polysaccharide on potassium oxonate and hypoxanthine-induced hyperuricemia in mice.

Hyperuricemia, a prevalent metabolic disturbance intricately linked to gout and chronic kidney disease (CKD), may be relieved by traditional Chinese medicine Polygonati Rhizoma. It is derived from the rhizomes of Polygonatum sibiricum, Polygonatum kingianum, and Polygonatum cyrtonema, which are rich in polysaccharides and are effective hyperuricemia alleviators. This study investigated the potential of Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide (PSP) in managing hyperuricemia. PSP (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg, i.g.) or allopurinol was administered to hyperuricemia mice treated with potassium oxonate and hypoxanthine for two weeks. PSP effectively decreased serum uric acid levels by inhibiting xanthine oxidase and adenosine deaminase activity and expression in the liver and modulating uric acid-related transporters (URAT1, OAT1, and OAT3) in the kidney. PSP lowered serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels, alleviating hyperuricemia-induced renal tubular epithelial-mesenchymal fibrosis. In vitro, PSP promoted mitochondrial biogenesis via the PGC-1α/NRF1/TFAM pathway, suppressed reactive oxygen species production, and prevented cytochrome C and dynamin-related protein 1 dysregulation in HK-2 cells. Furthermore, PSPA (Mw 4.0 kDa) and PSPB (Mw 112.2 kDa) isolated from PSP exhibit different uric acid-lowering mechanisms. In conclusion, our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of PSP and its nephroprotective effects in hyperuricemia, thereby supporting its development as a therapeutic agent for hyperuricemia.

Interpreting the Mechanism of Active Ingredients in Polygonati Rhizoma in Treating Depression by Combining Systemic Pharmacology and In Vitro Experiments.

Polygonati Rhizoma (PR) has certain neuroprotective effects as a homology of medicine and food. In this study, systematic pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experiments were integrated to verify the antidepressant active ingredients in PR and their mechanisms. A total of seven compounds in PR were found to be associated with 45 targets of depression. Preliminarily, DFV docking with cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) showed good affinity. In vitro, DFV inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation of BV-2 cells, reversed amoeba-like morphological changes, and increased mitochondrial membrane potential. DFV reversed the malondialdehyde (MDA) overexpression and superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression inhibition in LPS-induced BV-2 cells and decreased interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-6 mRNA expression levels in a dose-dependent manner. DFV inhibited both mRNA and protein expression levels of COX2 induced by LPS, and the activation of NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and caspase1 was suppressed, thus exerting an antidepressant effect. This study proves that DFV may be an important component basis for PR to play an antidepressant role.

Polygonati Rhizoma varieties and origins traceability based on multivariate data fusion combined with an artificial intelligence classification algorithm.

This study collected multidimensional feature data such as spectra, texture, and component contents of Polygonati Rhizoma from different origins and varieties (Polygonatum kingianum Coll. et Hemsl from Yunnan and Guizhou; Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua from Anhui and Jiangxi; Polygonatum sibiricum Red from Hunan). Multivariate statistical analysis was used to select 39 characteristic factors for distinguishing PR origins and 14 characteristic factors for discriminating PR varieties (VIP > 1 and P < 0.05). In addition, by combining multivariate statistical analysis with a deep belief network (DBN) classification algorithm, a novel artificial intelligence algorithm was developed and optimized. Compared to traditional discriminant analysis methods, the accuracy of this new approach was significantly improved, achieving a 100% discrimination rate for PR varieties and a 100% accuracy rate for tracing the origin of PR. This research provides a reference and data support for constructing intelligent algorithms based on multidimensional data fusion, to achieve food variety discrimination and origin tracing.

Exploration of the pharmacological components and therapeutic mechanisms in treatment of Alzheimer's disease with Polygonati Rhizoma and its processed product using combined analysis of metabolomics, network pharmacology, and gut microbiota.

Polygonati Rhizoma (PR, Huangjing in Chinese) and its processed product (PRP), which are used in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for cognitive enhancement and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), have not been fully explored in terms of the different mechanisms underlying their anti-AD effects. Therefore, we used APP/PS1 mice as an AD model to assess the effects of PR and PRP on anxiety-like behaviors, cognitive function, memory performance, and pathological changes in the murine brain. UPLC-HRMS was applied to identify the components of PR and PRP that entered into the blood and brain. Network pharmacology was used to elucidate potential mechanisms underlying the improvement of AD. Differences in the intestinal flora composition between mice treated with PR and PRP were investigated using 16S rRNA sequencing, establishing a correlation between pharmacological components and distinct flora profiles. The results revealed that both PR and PRP interventions ameliorated cognitive deficits and attenuated Amyloid ß (Aß) plaque deposition in the brains of AD mice. Seven specific blood-entering components, namely glutamic acid, Phe-Phe, and uridine, etc., were associated with PR intervention, whereas ten specific blood-entering components including (2R,3S)-3-isopropylmalate, 3-methylhexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione, and 3-methoxytyrosine were related to PRP intervention. Uridine was identified as a common brain-penetrating component in both PR and PRP interventions. Network pharmacology analysis suggested that the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, Calcium signaling pathway and Alzheimer's disease were specific pathways targeted in AD treatment using PR intervention. Moreover, the apoptosis pathway was specifically linked to AD treatment during PRP intervention. Furthermore, the administration of both PR and PRP enhanced the abundance and diversity of the intestinal flora in APP/PS1 mice. Western blotting confirmed that PR excels in regulates inflammation, whereas PRP balances autophagy and apoptosis to alleviate the progression of AD. This study offers valuable insights and establishes a robust foundation for further comprehensive exploration of the intrinsic correlation between TCM and AD.