Comparison of the Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of Mycelial Polysaccharides from Different Strains of Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes).

Ganoderma lucidum is a popular tonic medicine in China, and its polysaccharides are believed to promote health benefits. However, G. lucidum and the composition, structure, and molecular weight of G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs) are very heterogeneous. There are limited studies on the relationship between GLPs and their function. Therefore, this study sought to evaluate the cosmetic efficacy of six types of GLPs and analyze the structure of the identified polysaccharides. GLPs (GLP1-GLP6) were prepared with conventional methods by selecting six G. lucidum strains. The 8-methoxypsoralan-induced melanin model of B16 cells, the lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation model of HaCaT cells, and the hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress model of human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) were used. The whitening, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative effects of GLP1-GLP6 were determined. After initial screening, promising GLPs were selected for further analysis. These were purified and their structure was characterized. GLP1-GLP6 had no whitening effect as assessed by cellular tyrosinase level and melanin content. Meanwhile, GLP1 and GLP4 had strong inhibitory effect on hyaluronidase, and GLP1 and GLP2 significantly reduced the relative expression of inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1α. All GLPs could significantly increase the activity of HSFs and reduce the proportion of senescent cells. The comprehensive score of GLP1 was the highest. GLP1-I and GLP1-II were obtained by DEAE-52 ion exchange resin. Morphological analysis showed that there were significant differences between GLP1 and its two components. The results of infrared spectroscopy showed that GLP1-I had a ß-glycosidic bond, and high-performance gel penetration chromatography showed that GLP1-I had a low molecular weight. GLPs showed no whitening but had significant antioxidant activity. GLPs are promising compounds to be developed into natural antioxidants and potentially used in cosmetics, health products, and functional foods.

Fermentation of Panax notoginseng root extract polysaccharides attenuates oxidative stress and promotes type I procollagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblast cells.

BACKGROUND: Panax notoginseng is one of the most valuable traditional Chinese medicines. Polysaccharides in P. notoginseng has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of human diseases. However the application of fermentation technology in Panax notoginseng is not common, and the mechanism of action of P. notoginseng polysaccharides produced by fermentation is still unclear. The specific biological mechanisms of fermented P. notoginseng polysaccharides (FPNP) suppresses H2O2-induced apoptosis in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) and the underlying mechanism are not well understood. METHODS: In this study, the effects of water extracted and fermentation on concentration of polysaccharides in P. notoginseng extracts were analyzed. After the H2O2-induced HDF model of oxidative damage was established, and then discussed by the expression of cell markers, including ROS, MDA, SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and MMP-1, COL-I, ELN, which were detected by related ELISA kits. The expression of TGF-ß/Smad pathway markers were tested by qRT-PCR to determine whether FPNP exerted antioxidant activity through TGF-ß signaling in HDF cells. RESULTS: The polysaccharide content of Panax notoginseng increased after Saccharomyces cerevisiae CGMCC 17452 fermentation. In the FPNP treatment group, ROS and MDA contents were decreased, reversed the down-regulation of the antioxidant activity and expression of antioxidant enzyme (CAT, GSH-Px and SOD) induced by H2O2. Furthermore, the up-regulation in expression of TGF-ß, Smad2/3 and the down-regulation in the expression of Smad7 in FPNP treated groups revealed that FPNP can inhibit H2O2-induced collagen and elastin injury by activating TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: It was shown that FPNP could inhibit the damage of collagen and elastin induced by H2O2 by activating the TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway, thereby protecting against the oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide. FPNP may be an effective attenuating healing agent that protects the skin from oxidative stress and wrinkles.

Acute caffeine ingestion reduces insulin sensitivity in healthy subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: According to previous meta-analyses, coffee consumption reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Whether caffeine, the key ingredient in coffee, has a beneficial effect on the glycemic homeostasis and the anti-diabetic effect is particularly controversial. The aim of this study was to summarize the effect of acute caffeine ingestion on insulin sensitivity in healthy men. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search for papers published before April 2016 was conducted in EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effect of caffeine on insulin sensitivity in healthy humans without diabetes were included. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: The search yielded 7 RCTs in which caffeine intake was the single variant. Compared with placebo, caffeine intake significantly decreased the insulin sensitivity index, with a standardized mean difference of -2.06 (95% confidence interval -2.67 to -1.44, I2 = 49%, P for heterogeneity = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Acute caffeine ingestion reduces insulin sensitivity in healthy subjects. Thus, in the short term, caffeine might shift glycemic homeostasis toward hyperglycemia. Long-term trials investigating the role of caffeine in the anti-diabetic effect of coffee are needed.

Study on effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Jianpi Chushi decoction and ointment on chronic eczema.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Jianpi Chushi decoction and ointment on chronic eczema. METHODS: DNCB acetone solution was used to sensitize the skin of back and ears of 36 rats in order to establish chronic eczema model. A total of 36 rats were divided into four groups of 9 randomly including oral medicine group, external inunctum group, combination therapy group, and model control group respectively. Besides, the blank group of 4 healthy rats were set. The oral medicine group was given Traditional Chinese Medicine Jianpi Chushi decoction [(Poria cocos, Chinese yam, Cortex dictamni, Zaocys dhumnade, Rhizoma atractylodis, Pericarpium citri reticulatae, Scutellaria baicalensis, Radix Sophorae Flavescentis, Raw Radix Paeoniae Alba, Licorice roots (Northwest Origin)] by gastric infusion (1.6 g/mL·5 mL/d); the external inunctum group was given Qingpeng ointment on the skin, the combination therapy group was given Jianpi Chushi decoction by gastric infusion and Qingpeng ointment combination therapy. The model control group was given normal saline (NS) of the same volume by gastric infusion and vaseline on skin. Continuous administration 15 d and stopped for 3 d. The thickness difference and weight difference of left and right ear of every group were measured and the degree of ear swelling were evaluated. The CD4+ and CD8+ content and the IL-2, IL-4 level of serum were detected, and the inflammatory cells counts of back skin were recorded. RESULTS: After treatment, the degree of ear swelling of oral medicine group, external inunctum group and combination therapy group significant decreased compared with model control group (P < 0.05). The CD4+, CD8+ cell content and IL-2 level of oral medicine group, external inunctum group, combination therapy group and model control group significant decreased compared with blank group, and IL-2 level and the inflammatory cells count increased. After 15 d of treatment, the CD4+, CD8+ cell content and IL-2 level of serum of oral medicine group, external inunctum group and combination therapy group raised and the IL-4 level and the inflammatory cells count had significant decreased compared with model control group, and the effect of combination therapy group was more obvious (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Qral Jianpi Chushi decoction could treat chronic eczema effectively, and oral Chinese medicine combined with ointment could enhance and speed up the efficacy.