Exploring Impact of Probiotic-Fermented Soymilk on Dextran-Sulfate-Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis via Modulating Inflammation and Gut Microbiota Profile.

SCOPE: Lactic acid bacteria with probiotic functions and their fermentation products play a role in regulating ulcerative colitis (UC). This study investigates the potential role of fermented soymilk (FSM4) rich in isoflavones on DSS-induced UC. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice received 3% DSS and are supplemented daily once for 1 week by NFSM and FSM4. DSS usually causes intestinal inflammation and alters the gut microbiota. FSM4 intervention improves the UC-related inflammation and gut microbiota alteration. It considerably decreases pro-inflammatories such as TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in serum and COX-2 and MPO in colon tissues and pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia-Shigella). This facilitates gut-healthy bacteria growth. These healthy bacteria negatively correlat with pro-inflammatory factors but positively associated with acetic acid, butyric acid, and propionic acid, which may act for PPAR-γ pathway activating and NF-κB p65 pathway inhibiting, lowering the risk of UC. Overall, FSM4 might alleviate UC and significantly reverse the dysbiosis of gut microbiota via the PPAR-γ activation. It could be a good alternative for developing functional food to protect against UC. CONCLUSION: FSM4 attenuates intestinal inflammation and modulates the SCFA-producing bacteria growth, which enable the PPAR-γ activation to alleviate the UC target, which could be a dietary intervention strategy for gut health.

Structural characteristic of pectin-glucuronoxylan complex from Dolichos lablab L. hull.

Polysaccharides are important constituents in Dolichos lablab hull. Herein, pectin-glucuronoxylan complex from D. lablab hull designated as DLHP-3 (D. lablab hull polysaccharide,) was prepared by ion exchange and gel permeation chromatography, and further characterized by acid degradation and enzymatic hydrolysis, methylation combined with GC-MS, NMR and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. Both of pectin and glucuronoxylan regions were found in DLHP-3. The glucuronoxylan region consisted of a →4)-ß-Xylp-(1→ backbone with branches of α-GlcpA-(1→ substituted at O-2 site, and the ratio of xylose to glucuronic acid was about 5:1. Acetyl groups were mainly attached to O-3 site of →2,4)-ß-Xylp-(1→ residues. The main chain of pectin region could be represented by →4)-α-GalpA-(1→4)-α-GalpA-(1→ and →2)-α-Rhap-(1→4)-α-GalpA-(1→ with partial methyl-esterification. The side chains were deduced to embrace arabinan and arabinogalactan linked to rhamnogalacturonan-I region. Pectin was probably covalently bound to glucuronoxylan. Our findings uncovered the molecular structure of pectin-glucuronoxylan complex from D. lablab hull.

Effect of acidity regulators on acrylamide and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural formation in French fries: The dual role of pH and acid radical ion.

The influence of acidity regulators and buffers on the formation of acrylamide (AA) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) in French fries and the underlying mechanism were evaluated. Prior to frying, the potato strips were dipped in the corresponding acidity regulator solutions or buffers for 30 min at room temperature. The results showed that acids inhibited AA formation, but increased 5-HMF levels. The AA level decreased and 5-HMF level increased with decreasing pH of potato strips. Interestingly, increasing concentration of acid radical ions resulted in AA increase and 5-HMF decrease, which was opposite to the acidification effect of citric acid and acetic acid. Both pH and acid radical ion were important factors for AA and 5-HMF formation. Moreover, acidity regulators might impact AA formation by acting on the generation of methylglyoxal (MGO) and glyoxal (GO) and impact 5-HMF formation by acting on the generation of 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG).

Effects of processing parameters on furan formation in canned strawberry jam.

The formation mechanism of furan has been studied extensively in model systems, however, furan formation in real foods are complex and far from being fully understood. In this study, the effects of acid-regulating agent (citric acid), sugar addition (glucose, fructose and sucrose) and thickening agents (xanthan gum, κ-carrageenan and pectin) on furan levels in strawberry jams were studied; meanwhile the formation pathway of furan in canned strawberry jam was proposed by carbon module labeling (CAMOLA) technique. Our results suggested low pH promoted furan formation in strawberry jam. Besides, fructose produces more furans than sucrose and glucose, and the addition of xanthan gum reduced furan levels significantly. The kinetic data showed that ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acid degradation followed first-order kinetics while rate of furan formation followed zero-order kinetics. This study presented the possibility of mitigating furan formation in canned strawberry jams by optimization of processing parameters and addition of xanthan gum.

Polysaccharides from fermented Momordica charantia L. with Lactobacillus plantarum NCU116 ameliorate metabolic disorders and gut microbiota change in obese rats.

Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by overweight resulting from fat accumulation, along with disturbance of metabolism and gut microbiota. Fermentation, as a green processing method, is beneficial for improving the nutrition capacity of food components. Polysaccharides are considered as one of the important components in food and are also potential supplements for anti-obesity treatment. This study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effects of polysaccharides from fermented and non-fermented Momordica charantia L. with Lactobacillus plantarum NCU116 (FP and NFP) on obese rats by serum metabolomics and gut microbiota analysis. Metabolomics results revealed that abnormal lipid metabolism was formed due to obesity. The supplement of FP and NFP improved the glycerophospholipids, glycosphingolipids, and amino acid metabolism of the obese rats, which alleviated the hypercholesterolemia and overweight in rats. Furthermore, the disorder of gut microbiota was ameliorated by FP and NFP. FP promoted the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as phylum Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and genera Anaerostipes, Coprococcus, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium. FP also reduced several harmful bacteria belonging to the phylum Proteobacteria and genera Helicobacter. The positive correlation of the weight loss and lowering of serum lipids with the increased beneficial bacteria further elucidated that the anti-obesity effect of FP in obese rats is associated with the regulation of gut microbiota and serum metabolites. The results of this study could provide information for developing probiotic products in the future that may have beneficial effects on the prevention or treatment of obesity.

Composition of bound polyphenols from carrot dietary fiber and its in vivo and in vitro antioxidant activity.

Qualitative analysis of bound polyphenols from carrot dietary fiber (CDF-PP) was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography equipped with an electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). Eleven organic acids, nine hydroxybenzoic acids and derivatives, six hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives, four phenolic alcohols and derivatives, three flavonoids and derivatives, seven esters and derivatives, two other compounds, were detected by matching their retention times, secondary mass spectrometry fragment information with authentic standards or literature data. Furthermore, in vitro antioxidant activity was determined by different kinds of assays, including DPPH, ORAC, PSC, demonstrated that CDF-PP could scavenge radicals in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, CDF-PP exhibited significantly reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity in living Caenorhabditis elegans. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive research to investigate composition and in vitro/in vivo antioxidant activity of bound polyphenols in CDF, which implied that CDF-PP could be a promising source of antioxidants.

Detection of Phytoestrogen Metabolites in Breastfed Infants' Urine and the Corresponding Breast Milk by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

To date, there has been limited information on phytoestrogen (PE) exposure and metabolism in breastfed infants. In the present work, 50 sample pairs of Chinese breastfed infants' urine and the corresponding breast milk were collected. The contents of the relevant PE metabolites in the biosamples were detected via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The correlations between the PE metabolite contents in breastfed infants' urine and those in the corresponding breast milk were analyzed. The average concentrations of total PE metabolites in breast milk and urine were 0.27 and 0.23 nmol/mL, respectively. Genistein and enterolactone levels in the infant urine were positively correlated with their concentrations in the corresponding breast milk samples, which implies that urine excretion can be utilized as a noninvasive parameter for precise genistein and enterolactone intake assessment. Additionally, the efficiency of PE urine excretion showed significant differences across infants with different ages, genders, and durations of pregnancy.

Physicochemical and rheological properties of pomelo albedo pectin and its interaction with konjac glucomannan.

Pomelo albedo was extracted with water to obtain the high methoxyl pectin, labeled as PAP. The physicochemical and rheological properties of PAP were determined. The effects of PAP addition on rheological property and thermal stability of konjac glucomannan (KGM) were evaluated. Results indicated that PAP was composed of arabinose, glucose and galacturonic acid with a relative mass percentage of 7.2%: 9.5%: 83.3%, and exhibited an average molecular weight of 56.6 kDa. The degree of esterification of PAP was 65.5%, showing PAP was a kind of high methoxyl pectin. Apparent viscosity of PAP was concentration-dependently increased, while it was slightly enhanced with salt (NaCl or CaCl2) addition. Moreover, the addition of PAP declined the apparent viscosity, elastic property and thermal stability of KGM. It can be concluded that interaction was occurred between KGM and PAP. Meanwhile, the interaction mechanism between KGM and PAP has been preliminarily proposed. The present study can provide some references for the application of PAP and support the combination usage of this pectin and KGM in food and other industries.

Structural Characterization and Chain Conformation of Water-Soluble ß-Glucan from Wild Cordyceps sinensis.

Water-soluble ß-d-glucan was obtained from wild Cordyceps sinensis by alkali solution and ethanol precipitation. The structure characteristics were determined using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD), methylation combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and one-/two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results showed that ß-d-glucan had a structure of every seven (1→3)-ß-d-Glcp backbone residues with two (1→6)-ß-d-Glcp branches. Additionally, conformation properties in different solvents were investigated by static light scattering, dynamic light scattering, and HPSEC with multiple detectors. It was found that ß-d-glucan in 0.5 M NaOH had a narrow unimodal distribution of hydrodynamic radius displaying a spherical coil conformation, whereas it formed severe aggregation in dimethyl sulfoxide. In 0.1 M NaNO3, ß-d-glucan mainly existed as a rod-like conformation corresponding to a helical structure together with small aggregates (10%). This work added more information to the understanding of C. sinensis polysaccharides.

Polysaccharide from the Seeds of Plantago asiatica L. Protect Against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Liver Injury.

Previous studies have proven that polysaccharide obtained from the seeds of Plantago asiatica L. (PLCP) could induce maturation of murine dendritic cells, promote defecation, and possess antioxidant activity in vitro. However, the effect of PLCP on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury in mice has been rarely reported. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of PLCP on LPS-induced liver injury. Mice were pretreated orally with different dose of PLCP for 3 weeks. On day 22, they were injected intraperitoneally with LPS and sacrificed 12 h later. The results showed that PLCP inhibited the excessive production of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-2, and IL-1ß in mouse serum and liver. PLCP also improved glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant capacity activities in mouse liver. In addition, PLCP inhibited nitric oxide, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 expression, and increased metallothionein production in mouse liver. Consequently, PLCP may possess protective effects on inflammatory associated liver injury.

Comparison of Furans Formation and Volatile Aldehydes Profiles of Four Different Vegetable Oils During Thermal Oxidation.

The evolution of volatile aldehydes and the conversion of oxygenated ityß-unsaturated aldehydes (OαßUAs) into furans were compared in four vegetable oils (soybean oil, olive oil [OVO], peanut oil [PO], and perilla oil [PAO]) thermally oxidized at temperatures of 150, 180, and 210 °C for 10 hr/day over a 3-day period. Results showed that 2 alkyl furans and 23 volatile aldehydes including 4 toxic OdßUAs were detected by GC-MS. The original fatty acid compositions of the oils played a key role in the type and concentration of those volatile compounds. 4-Hydroxy-2-hexenal (HHE) and ethyl furan were only detected in PAO with a high content of linolenic acid, while the greatest level of pentyl furan was detected in PO with abundant linoleic acid. Greater amounts of 4-hydroxy-(E)-2-nonenal (HNE) and 4-oxo-(E)-2-nonenal (ONE) were formed in the OVO with abundant oleic acid. The close relativity of HHE and ethyl furan was also demonstrated. With principal component analysis, these vegetable oils could be discriminated based on their fatty acids and volatile compounds. The loading plot confirmed that HHE and ethyl furan were derived from the linolenic acid oxidation and degradation. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The chemometric results showed that the formation of the volatile components during heating in different vegetable oils has close correlation with the original fatty acids composition of vegetable oils. Our research has also confirmed the presence of toxic OɑßUAs in oils after heating. Considering that they are proven to generate lots of degenerative diseases, further studies are needed to establish the risk level of using certain oils in frying and seek effective methods to inhibit their formation.

Fermented Momordica charantia L. juice modulates hyperglycemia, lipid profile, and gut microbiota in type 2 diabetic rats.

The effect of Lactobacillus plantarum-fermentation on the anti-diabetic functionality of Momordica charantia was examined using a high-fat-diet and low-dose streptozocin-induced type 2 diabetic rat model. Fermented Momordica charantia juice (FMCJ) administration mitigated the hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, and oxidative stress in diabetic rats more favorably than the non-fermented counterpart. Treatments with FMCJ improved ergosterols and lysomonomethyl-phosphatidylethanolamines metabolisms more effectively. Supplement of FMCJ regulated the composition of the gut microbiota, such as increased the abundance of Bacteroides caecigallinarum, Oscillibacter ruminantium, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Prevotella loescheii, Prevotella oralis, and Prevotella melaninogenica, in diabetic rats compared with untreated diabetic rats. Moreover, FMCJ-treated diabetic rats exhibited higher concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, total short-chain fatty acids and lower pH values in colonic contents than that in non-fermented juice-treated rats. These results demonstrated that Lactobacillus plantarum-fermentation enhanced the anti-diabetic property of MC juice by favoring the regulation of gut microbiota and the production of SCFAs.

Formation of Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine and Nε-(carboxyethyl)lysine during black tea processing.

This study selected common processing methods for orthodox black tea and investigated changes in the levels of Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), Nε-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), lysine, and polyphenols during each processing stage and using different parameters of each processing step. The effects of epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, and gallic acid on the levels of CML, CEL, fructoselysine, glyoxal, and methylglyoxal were investigated by chemical model systems study under black tea processing conditions. In tea samples, CML and CEL levels significantly increased during drying (could reach 51.8 and 8.7 µg/g tea, respectively), while natural withering and extensive rolling and fermentation times facilitated the formation of CML and CEL by altering the substrate concentrations and the cellular structure of tea leaves to be dried. The results of model systems (containing lysine, glucose, and fructose) indicated that polyphenols were able to enhance the production of CML and CEL, and the levels of CML and CEL increased 1.2-3.2- and 1.6-3.5-fold, respectively. Furthermore, the main pathways responsible for CML and CEL formation during black tea processing likely involve fructoselysine and others but not glyoxal or methylglyoxal.

Determination of multi-pesticide residues in green tea with a modified QuEChERS protocol coupled to HPLC-MS/MS.

A modified QuEChERS protocol, coupled to HPLC-MS/MS, was used for the analysis of 102 pesticides in green teas produced in Jiangxi province, China. For accurate quantification, matrix-matched calibration curves were applied to compensate for matrix effects. Recoveries for these pesticides ranged from 62% to 125% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 18%. The limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.03 to 15 µg/kg and 0.1 to 50 µg/kg, respectively. We determined that 67% of green tea samples contained some pesticide residues and most contained more than five pesticides. Moreover, the levels of 11 pesticide residues in 18 samples were found to be greater than the values permitted in EC Regulation No. 396/2005.

Polysaccharides from fermented Momordica charantia ameliorate obesity in high-fat induced obese rats.

Momordica charantia (M. charantia) has been widely used to treat obesity due to its bioactive ingredients. This research aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effect of polysaccharides (FP) from fermented M. charantia with Lactobacillus plantarum NCU116 on high-fat induced obese rats. We found that FP could effectively lower the body weight gain, Lee's index, insulin resistance and cell sizes of epididymal adipose tissues in obese rats compared with polysaccharides from non-fermented M. charantia (NFP). FP treatments decreased the total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, leptin, whereas they elevated the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, adiponectin, significantly in the serum of obese rats. Furthermore, administrations of FP notably improved oxidative balance in obese rats. Lipidomics results indicated that 24 potential biomarkers have been identified in serum. Additionally, 21 lipids were considerably altered by FP and NFP intakes, such as fatty acyls, glycerolipids, sphingolipids, sterol lipids and glycerophospholipids. The anti-obesity properties of FP were revealed via relieving insulin resistance and fat accumulation of obese rats, which was associated with the regulation of lipid metabolism. Overall, FP exerted more favourable impacts on the anti-obesity effect than NFP, which may be attributed to fermentation.

Prediction of fatty acid composition in camellia oil by 1H NMR combined with PLS regression.

A rapid method for the determination of fatty acid (FA) composition in camellia oils was developed based on the 1H NMR technique combined with partial least squares (PLS) method. Outliers detection, LVs optimization and data pre-processing selection were explored during the model building process. The results showed the optimal models for predicting the content of C18:1, C18:2, C18:3, saturated, unsaturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated FA were achieved by Pareto scaling (Par) pretreatment, with correlation coefficient (R2) above 0.99, the root mean square error of estimation and prediction (RMSEE, RMSEP) lower than 0.954 and 0.947, respectively. Mean-centering (Ctr) was more suitable for the model of C16:0 and C18:0 with the best performance indicators (R2 ≥ 0.945, RMSEE ≤ 0.377, RMSEP ≤ 0.212). This study indicated that 1H NMR has the potential to be applied as a rapid and routine method for the analysis of FA composition in camellia oils.

Molecular properties and immunomodulatory activities of a water-soluble heteropolysaccharide isolated from Plantago asiatica L. leaves.

This study aims at investigating physical-chemical properties of a water-soluble heteropolysaccharide from Plnatago asiatica L. leaves, and its immunomodulatory effects on macrophages RAW264.7 cells. Hot water-extracted crude polysaccharide from the plant leaves (PLLCP) was fractionated into four fractions by DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow eluted with 0.1-0.5 M NaCl solutions. The most abundant fraction (0.3 M NaCl elution), designated PLLP-2, was identified as a heteropolysaccharide with an average molecular weight (Mw) of 3.54 × 104 and composed mainly of Gal (34.4%), GalA (36.5%), Ara (10.1%) and Rha (8.4%). PLLP-2 was an acidic polysaccharide exhibiting inflaky curly aggregation with smooth surface. PLLCP and its main subfraction PLLP-2 displayed immunomodulatory activities by stimulating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-1ß in macrophage RAW264.7 cells. These results indicate that the main polysaccharide fraction purified from P. asiatica L. leaves is probably pectin, and have potential immunomodulatory function.

Comparison of (poly)phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of pomace extracts from kiwi and grape juice.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenolic profile of grape and kiwi juice pomace by HPLC-ESI-MS, and their correlation with antioxidant properties determined with DPPH, FRAP and OH scavenging assays. A total of 32 compounds have been identified including anthocyanins, flavonols, flavan-3-ols and phenolic acids. Significantly higher relative amounts of anthocyanin monoglucosides, flavan-3-ols (catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidin), and flavonols (quercetin and its derivatives) were found for grape pomace. Whereas kiwi pomace contained higher amounts of quinic acid, caffeic acid and its derivatives. Although grape pomace had higher total phenolic content (TPC), it showed lower OH scavenging capacity than kiwi pomace, but better DPPH scavenging activity and reducing power. This indicated that the antioxidant activities do not only rely on the TPC but also associate with their phenolic profiles. Overall the two pomaces could potentially be exploited as an inexpensive source of natural antioxidants for food production.

Polysaccharide isolated from seeds of Plantago asiatica L. induces maturation of dendritic cells through MAPK and NF-κB pathway.

Plantago species are used as traditional medicine in Asian and Europe. Polysaccharide isolated from the seeds of Plantago asiatica L. could stimulate maturation transformation of bone-marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs). We found that blocking p38, ERK1/2 and JNK MAPK signal transduction could significantly decreased the PLP-2 induced expression of MHC II, CD86 surface molecules on DCs. Blocking p38 and JNK signal also significantly inhibited the cytokine secretion of TNF-α and IL-12p70 as well, while blocking ERK1/2 signal only decreased the secretion of TNF-α. Meanwhile, DCs in the three MAPK signal-blocking groups showed dramatically attenuated effects on stimulating proliferation of T lymphocytes. Similarly, blocking signal transduction of NF-κB pathway also significantly impaired the phenotypic and functional maturation development of DCs induced by PLP-2. These data suggest that MAPK and NF-κB pathway mediates the PLP-induced maturation on DCs. Especially, among the three MAPK pathways, activation of JNK signal transduction is the most important for DCs development after PLP-2 incubation. And PLP-2 may activate the MAPK and NF-κB pathway by triggering toll-like receptor 4 on DCs.

Antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver leaf extracts.

The total phenolic content, flavonoid content, in vitro xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibitory activity and antioxidant activity (AA) of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver leaf extracts were investigated. The AA investigations included 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, ß-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assay and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) test. The ethyl acetate fraction (EE) showed the highest AA and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity. Whilst the lowest 50% inhibition (IC50) value of this fraction for DPPH free radical scavenging was 0.045mg/mL, its highest ORAC value was 10.57 µmol TE/mg. The highest inhibition rate against linoleic acid oxidation observed was 69.41%, and the lowest IC50 value for xanthine oxidase activity inhibition was 2.47mg/mL. These results show that E. ulmoides leaf extract is a promising source of natural antioxidants because it contains high contents of bioactive compounds, including chlorogenic acid, rutin, hyperin and astragalin, as detected by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS.