Traditional Chinese Medicine formula FTZ protects against polycystic ovary syndrome through modulating adiponectin-mediated fat-ovary crosstalk in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: FuFang ZhenZhu TiaoZhi (FTZ) is a hospitalized traditional Chinese medicine herbal formula with documented metabolic benefits. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) characterized by ovarian dysfunction and insulin resistance represents one of the most common endocrine disorders in close association with metabolic dysfunction in premenopausal women. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed to investigate the preventive effect of FTZ on letrozole-induced experimental PCOS and its associated insulin resistance in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prepubertal female mice in the experimental groups (letrozole and FTZ) received continuous infusion of letrozole (50 µg/day) for 35 days. FTZ was administrated to mice by oral gavage daily at dosage of 2.892 g/kg body weight for 5 weeks. All groups of mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Ovary and adipose tissue were collected from all mice after 5 weeks and adiponectin, testosterone, estradiol, and luteinizing hormone level determined. RESULTS: Letrozole-induced morphological changes in the ovary, including a decreased number of corpora lutea and antral follicles, and increased cystic follicles, were significantly attenuated in FTZ-treated mice. Additionally, FTZ treatment notably reversed PCOS-related disruption of estrous status. PCOS-related insulin resistance was markedly alleviated. Mechanistically, FTZ treatment notably enhanced circulating level and transcriptional abundance of adiponectin in adipose tissue, thereby orchestrating fat-ovary crosstalk. CONCLUSIONS: Our data collectively demonstrate that FTZ exerted preventive benefits in an experimental model of PCOS, at least partially by potentiating the production of adiponectin from adipose tissues. This suggests that FTZ is a promising treatment for PCOS.

Effect of additional food waste slurry generated by mesophilic acidogenic fermentation on nutrient removal and sludge properties during wastewater treatment.

Fermentation slurry from food waste (FSFW) generated by acidogenic fermentation at mesophilic temperature was utilized to improve the nutrients removal from wastewater. Organic acids (such as lactate and volatile fatty acids) in the FSFW behaved as readily biodegradable carbon sources, while the particulate and macromolecular organics acted as slowly biodegradable carbon sources during denitrification processes. The FSFW dosage significantly influenced the nitrogen removal performance, and a C/N ratio (in terms of chemical oxygen demand to nitrogen ratio) of 8 could achieve complete denitrification in the batch tests. In a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) using FSFW for long-term wastewater treatment, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) gradually accumulated, sludge particle size significantly increased, and microbial communities were selectively enriched, which contributed to promoting the nitrogen (>80%) and phosphate (90.1%) removal efficiencies. Overall, the FSFW produced by acidogenic fermentation under mesophilic temperature served as an excellent intermediary between FW valorization and wastewater treatment.

Nutrients removal performance and sludge properties using anaerobic fermentation slurry from food waste as an external carbon source for wastewater treatment.

Enhancement of nitrogen and phosphate removal using thermophilic fermentation slurry from food waste (FSFW) as external carbon source was investigated. Based on the batch tests, the soluble and particulate fractions of the FSFW acted as easily and slowly biodegradable carbon sources, respectively, and the fermented slurry showed the combined nutrients removal properties of soluble and solid organics. During the long-term operation of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with FSFW for wastewater treatment, the sludge particle size increased obviously, the bacterial metabolic capacity improved significantly, and some functional microorganisms were enriched selectively, which significantly promoted the nitrogen removal efficiency (approximately 90%) by enhancing the anoxic denitrification and simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) processes. Moreover, high phosphate removal efficiency (above 98%) was achieved through the aerobic and anoxic phosphate accumulation processes. Thus, using the FSFW as supplementary carbon source is a suitable solution for both food waste disposal and wastewater treatment.