Combination of Lycium barbarum L. and Laminaria japonica polysaccharides as a highly efficient prebiotic: Optimal screening and complementary regulation of gut probiotics and their metabolites.

The combination of polysaccharides is an effective way to develop prebiotics with stable performance during processing and digestion for human wellness. However, there is little information on optimal screening and complementary regulation of compound polysaccharides. This study aimed to optimally select a combination of Lycium barbarum L. polysaccharide (LBP) and Laminaria japonica polysaccharide (LJP) as a highly efficient prebiotic to regulate the gut probiotics and their metabolites. Two LBPs characterized as rhamnogalacturonan I enriched pectins and two LJPs characterized as fucoidans were obtained by enzyme-assisted acid extraction at moderate and dramatic temperatures and combined in pairs to obtain 4 groups containing 4 proportional combinations. All combinations showed better prebiotic effects than individual LJP. The combination of LBP and LJP extracted at 50 °C at a ratio of 4:1 exhibited the strongest prebiotic effect. The optimal compound polysaccharide achieved superior effect and complementary function via LBP-targeted proliferation of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides and production of SCFAs and non-SCFA health-associated metabolites, LJP-targeted accumulation of butyrate-producing bacteria and corresponding metabolites, as well as synergistic effect of LJP and LBP at exact proportion. Our study provided theoretical and methodological guidance for optimal screening of compound polysaccharides as new prebiotics.

Characterization and Antioxidant Evaluation of Four Kinds of Marine Oils in vitro.

The objective of this study was to characterize the lipid class and fatty acid composition of four kinds of marine oils including Phaeodactylum tricornutum oil (PO), Laminaria japonica oil (LO), krill oil (KO) and fish oil (FO), and evaluate their antioxidant capacities in vitro. The results indicated that compared to other three oils, PO showed the highest contents of total lipids and fucoxanthin (194.70 and 7.48 mg/g dry weight, respectively), the relatively higher content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (30.94 % in total fatty acids), and total phenolic content (675.88 mg gallic acid equivalent /100 g lipids), thereby contribute to great advantages in scavenging free radicals such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), peroxyl radical, as well as reducing FRAP value. In conclusion, PO should be considered as a potential ingredient for dietary supplement with antioxidant capacity.

Effects of sulfated polysaccharides from Laminaria japonica on regularating the gut microbiotan and alleviating intestinal inflammation in obese mice.

Due to their known health-enhancing properties, Laminaria japonica polysaccharides (LJP) may alleviate obesity via unknown mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate beneficial LJP effects and mechanism(s) of action using an animal obesity model (ICR mice fed a high-fat diet). First, LJP were confirmed to consist of sulfated polysaccharides via infrared spectroscopy. Next, LJP administration to mice was found to induce weight loss, reduce liver fat accumulation, and support healthy obesity-related blood serum indicator levels. Notably, LJP treatment significantly reduced TC and LDL levels and significantly increased HDL, LPL, UCP-2, and PPAR-α levels. Furthermore, examinations of tissues of LJP-treated mice revealed significantly reduced intestinal tissue inflammation as compared to corresponding results obtained for untreated obese controls. Additionally, LJP treatment relieved colonic shortening and reduced colonic levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6. Further exploration of LJP treatment effects on mouse gut microbiota conducted via fecal 16S rRNA gene sequence-based gut microbiome profiling analysis revealed that LJP treatment increased the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio and increased gut abundances of probiotics Bacteroides acidifaciens, s_Lactobacillus intestinalis, and s_Lactobacillus murinus. In conclusion, these results collectively suggest that LJP use as a food supplement may alleviate obesity and related gut microbiota dysbiosis and intestinal inflammatory disorders.

[Content and distribution of inorganic elements in Laminaria japonica based on ICP-MS and Micro-XRF].

In order to evaluate the composition and distribution characteristics of inorganic elements in Laminaria japonica, this study employed inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS) to detect the inorganic elements and used high performance liquid chromatography tandem ICP-MS(HPLC-ICP-MS) to determine the content of different arsenic species in L. japonica from diffe-rent origins. Micro X-ray fluorescence(Micro-XRF) was used to determine micro-area distribution of inorganic elements in L. japonica. The results showed that the average content of Mn, Fe, Sr, and Al was high, and that of As and Cr exceeded the limits of the national food safety standard. According to the results of HPLC-ICP-MS, arsenobetaine(AsB) was the main species of As contained in L. japonica. The more toxic inorganic arsenic accounts for a small proportion, whereas its content was 1-4 times of the limit in the national food safety standard. The results of Micro-XRF showed that As, Pb, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Ni were mainly distributed on the surface of L. japonica. Among them, As and Pb had a clear tendency to diffuse from the surface to the inside. The results of the study can provide a basis for the processing as well as the medicinal and edible safety evaluation of L. japonica.

Physicochemical Properties of the Soluble Dietary Fiber from Laminaria japonica and Its Role in the Regulation of Type 2 Diabetes Mice.

Laminaria japonica is a large marine brown alga that is annually highly productive. However, due to its underutilization, its potential value is substantially wasted. For example, a lot of Laminaria japonica cellulose remains unused during production of algin. The soluble dietary fiber (SDF) was prepared from the byproducts of Laminaria japonica, and its physicochemical properties were explored. SDF exhibits good water-holding, oil-holding, water-absorbing swelling, glucose and cholesterol absorption capacity, and inhibitory activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. In addition, the beneficial effects of SDF in diabetic mice include reduced body weight, lower blood glucose, and relieved insulin resistance. Finally, the intestinal flora and metabolomic products were analyzed from feces using 16S amplicon and LC-MS/MS, respectively. SDF not only significantly changed the composition and structure of intestinal flora and intestinal metabolites, but also significantly increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria Akkermansia, Odoribacter and Bacteroides, decreased the abundance of harmful bacteria Staphylococcus, and increased the content of bioactive substances in intestinal tract, such as harmine, magnolol, arachidonic acid, prostaglandin E2, urimorelin and azelaic acid. Taken together, these findings suggest that dietary intake of SDF alleviates type 2 diabetes mellitus disease, and provides an important theoretical basis for SDF to be used as a functional food.

Laminaria japonica cyclic peptides exert anti-colorectal carcinoma effects through apoptosis induction in vitro and in vivo.

Laminaria japonica is consumed as a health food and used as a traditional medicine because of its biochemical and pharmacological abilities. However, the anti-tumor effect of L. japonica peptides has not been well explored. In the current study, three novel L. japonica cyclic peptides (LCPs) were isolated using an anti-cancer activity tracking method. LCP-3 [cyclo-(Trp-Leu-His-Val)] significantly induced apoptosis in Caco-2 cells in vitro. LCP-3 increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, activated caspases, and regulated the p53/murine double minute 2 network. LCP-3 blocked Caco-2 cells in G0/G1 phase, which was accompanied by the inhibition of cyclin expression. Furthermore, LCP-3 inhibited colon cancer growth and induced cancer cell apoptosis in tumor-bearing mice. Notably, LCP-3 might be a potential agent for the prevention of colon cancer.

Isolation, structural characterization and bioactivities of polysaccharides from Laminaria japonica: A review.

Laminaria japonica is a familiar marine plant and is often used as food due to its abundant carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. As one of the main types of active substances in L. japonica, polysaccharides are widely used in the food and chemical industries and in medicine and healthcare due to their health benefits, such as immunoregulatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic effects. However, there has been no systematic summary of the isolation, structural characterization and bioactivities of L. japonica polysaccharides (LJPs). Therefore, the present review includes a survey of extraction and purification methods for these bioactive molecules, along with a dissertation on the structural characterization of the carbohydrate components. Moreover, an overview of the most recent results related to LJP biological activities is provided. This review provides a useful reference for further research, production, and application of LJPs in functional foods and therapeutic agents.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Fucoidan Extracts In Vitro.

Fucoidans are sulfated, complex, fucose-rich polymers found in brown seaweeds. Fucoidans have been shown to have multiple bioactivities, including anti-inflammatory effects, and are known to inhibit inflammatory processes via a number of pathways such as selectin blockade and enzyme inhibition, and have demonstrated inhibition of inflammatory pathologies in vivo. In this current investigation, fucoidan extracts from Undaria pinnatifida, Fucus vesiculosus, Macrocystis pyrifera, Ascophyllum nodosum, and Laminaria japonica were assessed for modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6) by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in a human macrophage line (THP-1). Fucoidan extracts exhibited no signs of cytotoxicity in THP-1 cells after incubation of 48 h. Additionally, all fucoidan extracts reduced cytokine production in LPS stimulated PBMCs and human THP-1 cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Notably, the 5-30 kDa subfraction from Macrocystis pyrifera was a highly effective inhibitor at lower concentrations. Fucoidan extracts from all species had significant anti-inflammatory effects, but the lowest molecular weight subfractions had maximal effects at low concentrations. These observations on various fucoidan extracts offer insight into strategies that improve their efficacy against inflammation-related pathology. Further studies should be conducted to elucidate the mechanism of action of these extracts.

Toxicological effects of marine seaweeds: a cautious insight for human consumption.

Marine environment is a rich and diverse source for many biologically active substances including functional foods and nutraceuticals. It is well exploited for useful compounds, natural products and aquaculture industry; and seaweeds is one of the major contributors in terms of both food security and healthy nutrition. They are well-known due to their enormous benefits and is consumed globally in many countries. However, there is lack of attention toward their toxicity reports which might be due toxic chemical compounds from seaweed, epiphytic bacteria or harmful algal bloom and absorbed heavy metals from seawater. The excess of these components might lead to harmful interactions with drugs and hormone levels in the human body. Due to their global consumption and to meet increasing demands, it is necessary to address their hazardous and toxic aspects. In this review, we have done extensive literature for healthy seaweeds, their nutritional composition while summarizing the toxic effects of selected seaweeds from red, brown and green group which includes- Gracilaria, Acanthophora, Caulerpa, Cladosiphon, and Laminaria sp. Spirulina, a microalgae (cyanobacteria) biomass is also included in toxicity discussion as it an important food supplement and many times shows adverse reactions and drug interactions. The identified compounds from seaweeds were concluded to be toxic to humans, though they exhibited certain beneficial effects too. They have an easy access in food chain and thus invade the higher trophic level organisms. This review will create an awareness among scientific and nonscientific community, as well as government organization to regulate edible seaweed consumption and keep them under surveillance for their beneficial and safe consumption.

Fucoxanthin extracted from Laminaria Japonica inhibits metastasis and enhances the sensitivity of lung cancer to Gefitinib.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Laminaria japonica, a brown seaweed, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat a variety of diseases including lung cancer. AIM OF THE STUDY: To demonstrate the effects of Fucoxanthin (FX), a major active component extracted from Laminaria japonica on metastasis and Gefitinib (Gef) sensitivity in human lung cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Invasion and migration of lung cancer cells were detected using the wound healing assay and transwell assay. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) factors and PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathways were analyzed by western blotting. RNA interference (RNAi) technology was used to silence TIMP-2 gene expression in A549 cells. The anti-metastatic effect of FX was evaluated in vivo in an experimental lung metastatic tumor model. On the other hand, cell counting kit-8 assay was used to study the cell viability of human lung cancer PC9 cells and Gef resistant PC9 cells (PC9/G) after Gef, FX or FX combined with Gef treatment. PC9 xenograft model was established to explore the anti-tumor effect of FX or combined with Gef. Immunohistochemistry staining assay and immunofluorescence staining assay were used to reveal the effects of FX on lung cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. RESULTS: FX was able to significantly inhibit lung cancer cells migration and invasion in vitro. FX suppressed the expressions of Snail, Twist, Fibronectin, N-cadherin, MMP-2, PI3K, p-AKT and NF-κB, and increased the expression of TIMP-2. Furthermore, knockdown of TIMP-2 attenuated FX-mediated invasion inhibition. Additionally, we demonstrated that FX inhibited lung cancer cells metastasis in vivo. The anti-metastatic effects of FX on lung cancer cells might be attributed to inhibition of EMT and PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. We further demonstrated that the anti-tumor activity of FX was not only limited to the drug sensitive cell lines, but also prominent on lung cancer cells with Gef resistant phenotype. Furthermore, in vivo xenograft assay confirmed that FX inhibited tumor growth and enhanced the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to Gef and this effect may be due to inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and activation of apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our findings suggested that FX suppresses metastasis of lung cancer cells and overcomes EGFR TKIs resistance. Thus, FX is worthy of further investigation as a drug candidate for the treatment of lung cancer.

Synergistic effects of UVA irradiation and phlorotannin extracts of Laminaria japonica on properties of grass carp myofibrillar protein gel.

BACKGROUND: Oxidized phlorotannin can be used as a protein crosslinking agent to produce high-quality fish gel products. Phlorotannin can be easily induced to form quinone compounds in an oxidizing environment, while o-quinone has been proven to be a reactive, electrophilic intermediate that easily reacts with proteins to form rigid molecular crosslinking networks. The objective of this study was to investigate the synergistic effects of ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation (1 h, 15 W m-2 ) and various concentrations of Laminaria japonica phlorotannin extracts (PTE) on the gel properties of grass carp myofibrillar protein (MP). RESULTS: UVA treatment and PTE could synergistically improve the MP gel properties more than PTE alone (P < 0.05). At 625 mmol kg-1 MP PTE alone, the gel strength and cooking yield reached 3.10 ± 0.16 g cm and 47.45 ± 0.35%, respectively, while with the same level of PTE plus UVA they became 4.26 ± 0.19 g cm and 53.89 ± 1.54%, respectively. The three-dimensional network structure of the gel (with PTE + UVA) showed higher connectivity and tightness than that of the control group (no treatment). CONCLUSIONS: The synergistic effects of PTE and UVA could effectively induce crosslinking of grass carp MP, which could lead to an improvement of MP gel quality. These findings would provide a new technical approach to produce high-quality protein gel products in the fish processing industry. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Fucoidan mitigated diabetic nephropathy through the downregulation of PKC and modulation of NF-κB signaling pathway: in vitro and in vivo investigations.

The persistence of hyperglycemia and oxidative stress in diabetic patients ultimately leads to diabetic nephropathy (DN). In this study, we investigated the effect of sulfated polysaccharides (SPS) extracted from Laminaria japonica in relieving DN symptoms. To induce the diabetic model, normal rats were kept on a high-sugar, high-fat diet, then they were injected with streptozocin. Groups of these rats were later treated with SPS and/or protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. The analyses performed herein demonstrate that although diabetes significantly decreases the body weights of rats, SPS and inhibitor treatments increase these weights, as well as the ratios of renal to total body weight. Serum biochemical analyses indicate that blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels gradually decrease in the SPS group. In addition, DN symptoms are substantially relieved by SPS and/or inhibitor treatments, as evidenced by histopathological analyses. Changes in the expressions of PKC-α, PKC-ß, P-selectin, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and p65, detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot assessments, show that SPS regulates diabetic nephropathy via the PKC/NF-κB pathway.

Laminaria japonica Suppresses the Atopic Dermatitis-Like Responses in NC/Nga Mice and Inflamed HaCaT Keratinocytes via the Downregulation of STAT1.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a skin allergy accompanied by acute and chronic dermal inflammation. In traditional oriental medicine, Laminaria japonica has been used to treat various diseases, including inflammatory diseases. Therefore, to determine the therapeutic potential of L. japonica against AD, we investigated the inhibitory effects of L. japonica water extract (LJWE) on the inflammatory mediators and AD-like skin lesions. We determined the cell viability of LJWE-treated HaCaT cells using the cell counting kit-8 assay and the levels of inflammatory cytokines using cytometric bead array kits. Additionally, we analyzed the modulatory effects of LJWE on the signaling pathways in tumor necrosis factor-α/interferon-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells via Western blotting. Furthermore, we determined the in vivo effect of LJWE on NC/Nga mice and found that LJWE remarkably improved the skin moisture, reduced dermatitis severity, and inhibited the overproduction of inflammatory mediators in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-sensitized NC/Nga mice. We also observed that LJWE inhibits the expression of inflammatory chemokines in human keratinocytes by downregulating the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and activating the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1. In conclusion, LJWE has the therapeutic potential against AD by healing AD-like skin lesions, and suppressing inflammatory mediators and major signaling molecules.

Inhibitory Effects of Laminaria japonica Fucoidans Against Noroviruses.

Norovirus is the leading cause of nonbacterial foodborne disease outbreaks. Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) bind to histo-blood group antigens as the host receptor for infection. In this study, the inhibitory effects of fucoidans from brown algae, Laminaria japonica (LJ), Undaria pinnatifida and Undaria pinnatifida sporophyll, were evaluated against murine norovirus (MNoV), feline calicivirus (FCV) and HuNoV. Pretreatment of MNoV or FCV with the fucoidans at 1 mg/mL showed high antiviral activities, with 1.1 average log reductions of viral titers in plaque assays. They also showed significant inhibition on the binding of the P domains of HuNoV GII.4 and GII.17 to A- or O-type saliva and the LJ fucoidan was the most effective, reaching 54-72% inhibition at 1 mg/mL. In STAT1-/- mice infected with MNoV, oral administration of the LJ fucoidan, composed of mainly sulfated fucose and minor amounts of glucose and galactose, improved the survival rates of mice and significantly reduced the viral titers in their feces. Overall, these results provide the LJ fucoidan can be used to reduce NoV outbreaks.

Brown Seaweeds for the Management of Metabolic Syndrome and Associated Diseases.

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by the coexistence of different metabolic disorders which increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, metabolic syndrome leads to a reduction in patients' quality of life as well as to an increase in morbidity and mortality. In the last few decades, it has been demonstrated that seaweeds exert multiple beneficial effects by virtue of their micro- and macronutrient content, which could help in the management of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This review aims to provide an updated overview on the potential of brown seaweeds for the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome and its associated diseases, based on the most recent evidence obtained from in vitro and in vivo preclinical and clinical studies. Owing to their great potential for health benefits, brown seaweeds are successfully used in some nutraceuticals and functional foods for treating metabolic syndrome comorbidities. However, some issues still need to be tackled and deepened to improve the knowledge of their ADME/Tox profile in humans, in particular by finding validated indexes of their absorption and obtaining reliable information on their efficacy and long-term safety.

[Literature research on khumbu].

Khumbu was first recorded in Wupu Bencao(, Wu Pu's Materia Medica) from the Wei period(220-265 A. D.), formerly known as "Lunbu" , Mingyi Bielu(, Alternative Records of Famous Physicians) began with "Kunbu" as the name of the drug, which has been used for generations. Nowadays, the original medicinal kelp is derived from Laminaria japonica Aresch. or Ecklonia kurome Okam. The kelp is mainly produced in the East China Sea region and North Korea according to early ancient herbal works. Today's kelp is mainly produced in Liaoning, Shandong, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong; Kunbu (chaese) is mainly produced in Zhejiang and Fujian. In addition to food, Khumbu has also been used as medicine for more than 2, 000 years.

Preventive Effects of Three Polysaccharides on the Oxidative Stress Induced by Acrylamide in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Model.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as a model to explore the preventive effect of two marine polysaccharides separately derived from Sepia esculenta ink (SIP) and Laminaria japonica (FL) as well as one terrestrial polysaccharides from Eleocharis tuberosa peel (WCPP) on toxic injury induced by acrylamide (AA). The growth of yeast was evaluated by kinetics indexes including doubling time, lag phase and maximum proliferation density. Meanwhile, intracellular redox state was determined by contents of MDA and GSH, and SOD activity. The results showed that AA inhibited yeast growth and destroyed the antioxidant defense system. Supplement with polysaccharides, the oxidative damage of cells was alleviated. According to the growth recovery of yeast, FL and WCPP had similar degree of capacity against AA associated cytotoxicity, while SIP was 1.5~2 folds as strong as FL and WCPP. SIP and FL significantly reduced production of MDA by AA administration. Moreover, SIP, FL and WCPP increased SOD activity and repressed GSH depletion caused by AA.

Inhibition of UVB-Induced Inflammation by Laminaria japonica Extract via Regulation of nc886-PKR Pathway.

Continuous exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) can cause photodamage of the skin. This photodamage can be inhibited by the overexpression of the non-coding RNA, nc886, via the protein kinase RNA-activated (PKR) pathway. The study aims to identify how UVB inhibits nc886 expression, and it also seeks to determine whether substances that can control nc886 expression can influence UV-induced inflammation, and the mechanisms involved. The results suggest that UVB irradiation accelerates the methylation of the nc886 gene, therefore, reducing its expression. This induces the activation of the PKR, which accelerates the expression of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2), and the production of MMP-9, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase (PGE2), and certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, specifically interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-). Conversely, in a model of nc886 overexpression, the expression and production of those inflammatory factors are inhibited. In addition, Laminaria japonica extract (LJE) protect the levels of nc886 against UVB irradiation then subsequently inhibit the production of UV-induced inflammatory factors through the PKR pathway.

Effects of whole plant brown algae (Laminaria japonica) on zootechnical performance, apparent total tract digestibility, faecal characteristics and blood plasma urea in weaned piglets.

Two trials were conducted with 48 newly weaned piglets (28 d old) each 8.6 ± 0.05 kg to study how Laminaria japonica plants (LJ) affect zootechnical performance, feed conversion and the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude nutrients. All basal diets consisted of cereals, soybean meal, skim milk powder and premixes according to recommendations (no growth promoters or enzymes). For Trial 1, piglets from 16 litters (50% male-castrated, 50% female) were assigned to three treatment groups (n = 16) in a completely randomised block design. Groups received either 2.5% supplementation with sun dried (SD) or drum dried (DD) LJ powder or 2.5% of diatomaceous earth (control). For Trial 2, piglets from 12 litters received either 5% of diatomaceous earth (control) or one of three mixtures of diatomaceous earth + DD LJ powder (3.3%+1.7%, 1.7%+3.3% or 0.0%+5%; n = 12). Data collection included zootechnical performance, faecal consistency, blood plasma urea (Trial 1 and 2) and ATTD (Trial 2). Metabolisable energy (ME) of DD LJ and diets in Trial 2 was estimated using digestible nutrients. Statistical analysis included two-way ANOVA (treatment, block) and mixed linear regression. During both trials, LJ at dosages ≥2.5% significantly reduced feed:gain ratio compared to control (p ≤ 0.0001, = 0.01 for Trial 1, Trial 2) irrespective of the drying method. ATTD from Trial 2 significantly increased digestibilities of dry matter (DM) and crude ash (CA) (p ≤ 0.01) and significantly decreased digestibilities of organic matter and crude fibre in animals fed ≥3.33% DD LJ (p = 0.01). Fractional digestibility of the DD LJ resulted in limited ME of ~9.3 ± 2.5 MJ/kg DM. Dietary conversion ratios of ME and digestible DM of DD LJ diets from Trial 2 decreased linearly with increasing algal supplementation (R2 = 0.93, 0.94 and pslope = 0.002, 0.002 for MCR, DCR). In conclusion, dried LJ powder was included up to 5% into diets without impairing zootechnical performance. The improved feed conversion in the presence of LJ was partly due to slightly higher ME within the algae diets compared to control. However, piglets receiving LJ during Trial 2 needed significantly lower dietary ME and digestible DM to maintain growth performance. Thus, LJ exerted a performance enhancing effect on weaned piglets. The precise mode-of-action is yet unclear.

The polyherbal composition Gyeongshingangjeehwan 18 attenuates glucose intolerance and pancreatic steatosis in C57BL/6J mice on a high-fat diet.

Ethnopharmacologic relevance: Gyeongshingangjeehwan 18 (GGEx18) is a polyherbal composition derived from Ephedra sinica Stapf (Ephedraceae), Laminaria japonica Aresch (Laminariaceae), and Rheum palmatum L. (Polygonaceae) that is used as an antiobesity drug in Korean clinics. Its constituents are traditionally known to combat obesity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of GGEx18 on glucose metabolism and pancreatic steatosis in obese C57BL/6 J mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and to examine the related cellular and molecular mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mice were grouped and fed for 13 weeks as follows: 1) low-fat diet, 2) HFD, or 3) HFD supplemented with GGEx18 (500 mg/kg/day). Various factors affecting insulin sensitivity and pancreatic function were then assessed via blood analysis, histology, immunohistochemistry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: GGEx18 treatment of obese mice reduced body weight, total fat, and visceral fat mass. GGEx18 inhibited hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia and improved glucose and insulin tolerance. GGEx18 also decreased serum leptin levels and concomitantly increased adiponectin levels. Furthermore, GGEx18-treated mice exhibited reduced pancreatic fat accumulation and normalized insulin-secreting ß-cell area. GGEx18 increased pancreatic expression of genes promoting fatty acid ß-oxidation (i.e., MCAD and VLCAD), whereas expression levels of lipogenesis-related genes (i.e., PPARγ, SREBP-1c, and FAS) declined. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: GGEx18 curtailed impaired glucose metabolism and pancreatic steatosis in our mouse model by regulating pancreatic genes that govern lipid metabolism and improving insulin sensitivity. This composition may benefit patients with impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and pancreatic dysfunction.