Ultrasound Intensify the Flavonoid Production of the Willow Bracket Mushroom, Phellinus igniarius (Agaricomycetes), Fermentation Mycelia.

This research aimed to use a novel and effective ultrasound (US) approach for obtaining high bio-compound production, hence proposing strategies for boosting active ingredient biosynthesis. Furthermore, the US promotes several physiological effects on the relevant organelles in the cell, morphological effects on the structure of Phellinus igniarius mycelium, and increases the transfer of nutrients and metabolites. One suitable US condition for flavonoid fermentation was determined as once per day for 7-9 days at a frequency 22 + 40 kHz, power density 120 W/L, treated 10 min, treatment off time 7 s. The flavonoid content and production increased about 47.51% and 101.81%, respectively, compared with the untreated fermentation (P < 0.05). SEM showed that sonication changes the morphology and structure of Ph. igniarius mycelium; TEM reveals the ultrasonic treatment causes organelle aggregation. The ultrasound could affect the metabolism of the biosynthesis of the active ingredients.

Effect of thermosonication on texture degradation of carrot tissue in relation to alterations in cell membrane and cell wall structure.

Thermosonication as an alternative to hot water blanching of carrots, the effect of thermosonication on the carrot texture and cell structure required deep investigation. This study was conducted from the aspects of cell membrane, cell water, and cell wall pectin. Results showed that thermosonication at 60 °C significantly increased carrot tissue hardness by up to 10.3% compared with fresh. Rheological curves showed that the carrot tissues remained rigid after thermosonication. Cell membrane permeability was damaged to different extents during processing, inducing bound and immobilized water to migrate to free water and bring intracellular electrolytes to outflow. Thermosonication affected cell structure by altering the characteristics of pectin, including uronic acids and neutral sugar contents, degree of linearity and branching, and degree of methoxylation. The modified pectin can seize more divalent cations such as Ca2+ retained in the thermosonicated carrot cell wall, conducive to preserving the textural property of processed fruits and vegetables.

Shaoyao-Gancao Decoction Relieves Visceral Hyperalgesia in TNBS-Induced Postinflammatory Irritable Bowel Syndrome via Inactivating Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid Type 1 and Reducing Serotonin Synthesis.

Postinflammatory irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder, which is characterized by abdominal pain, low-grade inflammation, and visceral hypersensitivity. Shaoyao-Gancao decoction (SGD) has been used to improve the clinical symptoms of abdominal spasmodic pain accompanying acute gastroenteritis, but the underlying therapeutic mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, a rat model of PI-IBS was established via rectal administration of TNBS. Rats were scored daily for 28 days using disease activity index (DAI). Abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) was used to measure the pain threshold. After SGD (6.25, 12.5, and 25 g/kg/d) treatment for 14 days, rat colonic tissue was collected for histopathological grading, enterochromaffin (EC) cell count, and 5-HT content measurement. RT-qPCR and western blot analyses were employed to detect the gene and protein level of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT), and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1). To further validate the effect of SGD on TRPV1, another experiment was performed in cells. The results revealed that visceral hyperalgesia, reflected by increased DAI, AWR, pathological injury score, 5-HT content, and EC cell count in PI-IBS rats, was significantly ameliorated by SGD. In cells, SGD markedly inhibited the expression and function of TRPV1. Moreover, the expression levels of TPH were also repressed by SGD. The findings of the present study indicated that the therapeutic effect of SGD on visceral hyperalgesia may be closely associated with the regulatory role of TRPV1 and 5-HT signaling pathways.

Comparative pharmacokinetics and metabolites study of seven major bioactive components of Shaoyao-Gancao decoction in normal and polycystic ovary syndrome rats by ultra high pressure liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.

A simple and sensitive liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for simultaneous quantification of paeoniflorin, albiflorin, oxypaeoniflorin, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, glycyrrhetinic acid, and glycyrrhizin in rat plasma after oral administration of Shaoyao-Gancao decoction, which is traditionally used in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. The plasma samples were pretreated with methanol as precipitant. The method exhibited good linearity (correlation coefficient (R2 ) > 0.99) with lower quantification limits of 0.595-4.69 ng/mL for all analytes. Intra- and interbatch precision, accuracy, recovery, and stability of the method were all within accepted criteria. The results showed that the pharmacokinetic behaviors of the seven compounds were altered in the pathological status of polycystic ovary syndrome. Furthermore, a total of 36 metabolites were structurally identified based on their accurate masses and fragment ions. The major metabolic pathway involves phase I metabolic reactions (such as hydroxylation), phase II metabolic reactions (such as sulfation and glucuronidation conjugation) as well as the combined multiple-step metabolism. This study is the first report on the pharmacokinetic and metabolic information of Shaoyao-Gancao decoction in both normal and model rats, which would provide scientific evidences for the bioactive chemical basis of herbal medicines and also promote the clinical application of Shaoyao-Gancao decoction for treating polycystic ovary syndrome.

Shaoyao-Gancao Decoction alleviated hyperandrogenism in a letrozole-induced rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome by inhibition of NF-κB activation.

Shaoyao-Gancao Decoction (SGD) has been widely used for the treatment of gynopathy. The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of SGD on hyperandrogenism in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) rats. In the present work, SGD was orally administrated to the PCOS rats at the dose of 12.5, 25, and 50 g/kg/d for 14 consecutive days. UPLC-MS/MS was performed to identify the main chemical components of SGD. Body weight, ovarian weight, cystic dilating follicles, and serum levels of steroid hormones were tested to evaluate the therapeutic effect of SGD. In order to further clarify the underlying mechanism, we also measured mRNA and the protein levels of NF-κB, NF-κB p65, P-NF-κB p65, and IκB by RT-qPCR and Western blotting techniques. Our results showed that SGD treatment significantly alleviated hyperandrogenism in PCOS rats as evidenced by reduced serum levels of T and increased E2 and FSH levels. In addition, SGD effectively reduced the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and increased the expression of IκB. Results of the present study demonstrated that SGD could ameliorate hyperandrogenism in PCOS rats, and the potential mechanism may relate to the NF-κB pathway.

Modification of garlic skin dietary fiber with twin-screw extrusion process and in vivo evaluation of Pb binding.

This study investigated the effects of a twin-screw extrusion-cooking process on the modification of garlic skin dietary fiber (DF) under optimal conditions (feed moisture 25%, extrusion temperature 170 °C and screw speed 170 rpm). The evaluation of the soluble dietary fiber (SDF) from the extruded garlic skin on the capacity of Pb binding was determined in vivo. Compared with the untreated garlic skin, the content of extruded garlic skin SDF increased from 5.31 ±â€¯0.58% to 15.87 ±â€¯0.88%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images demonstrated that the macromolecules deteriorated to form smaller SDF fractions during extrusion. Moreover, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) spectra showed the thermal stability of the extruded SDF was highly improved after extrusion. Additionally, in vivo experimental results indicated that the addition of extruded DF significantly reduced the Pb absorptivity of rats with exposed Pb concentrations at 20, 100 and 200 mg/kg. The findings showed that the extruded garlic skin DF has a positive effect on Pb binding.