Dextran-Sulfate-Sodium-Induced Colitis-Ameliorating Effect of Aqueous Phyllanthus emblica L. Extract through Regulating Colonic Cell Gene Expression and Gut Microbiomes.

The anti-inflammation effect of aqueous Phyllanthus emblica L. extract (APE) and its possible underlying mechanism in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mice chronic colonic inflammation were studied. APE treatment significantly improved the colitic symptoms, including ameliorating the shortening of the colon, increasing the DSS-induced body weight loss, reducing the disease activity index, and reversing the condition of colon tissue damage of mucus lost and goblet cell reduction. Overproduction of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines were suppressed by the treatment of APE. Gut microbiome analysis showed that APE remodeled the structure of gut bacteria in phylum and genus levels, upregulating the abundance of phylum Bacteroidetes, family Muribaculaceae, and genus Bacteroides and downregulating the abundance of phylum Firmicutes. The reshaped gut microbiome caused metabolic functions and pathway change with enhanced queuosine biosynthesis and reduced polyamine synthesis pathway. Colon tissue transcriptome analysis further elucidated APE-inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathways and the expressions of the genes that promote the progress of colorectal cancer. It turned out that APE reshaped the gut microbiome and inhibited MAPK, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and TNF signaling pathways as well as the colorectal-cancer-related genes to exert its colitis protective effect.

Biocatalytical Acyl-Modification of Puerarin: Shape Gut Microbiota Profile and Improve Short Chain Fatty Acids Production in Rats.

Gut microbiota balance and metabolites have become a potentially mechanism in maintaining health. The specific aim of this study was to compare the modulation of puerarin and puerarin acid esters on gut microbial composition and metabolites. Male mice were fed a control diet or diets supplemented with puerarin, puerarin propanoate ester, puerarin hexanoate ester, puerarin myristate ester for 24 h, respectively. The result revealed that puerarin acid esters with different chain lengths showed different activities to create more own impacted bacterial. Puerarin propanoate and puerarin hexanoate ester significantly improved the diversity of microbiota and promoted the relative abundance of beneficial gut microbiota such as Lactobacillus, Barnesiella, Clostridium IV, Prevotella. Additionally, the puerarin propanoate ester group showed the capacity to deliver specific propionic acid to the colon. But esters with medium-long chain lengths had more opportunity to alter gut microbiota for enhancing the short chain fatty acids production. As a whole, puerarin acid esters with different chain lengths supplements shaped different gut microbial and short chain fatty acids metabolism, which could improve human health.

In vitro antioxidant activity of Bombax malabaricum flower extracts.

CONTEXT: Bombax malabaricum DC. (Bombacaceae) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, diarrhea, fever, chronic inflammation, catarrhal affection, and as a diuretic. However, little information is available about its antioxidative activity. OBJECTIVE: Water, 50% ethanol, and 80% acetone extracts from flowers of B. malabaricum were investigated for their in vitro antioxidant activity in this article for the first time. Then the relationships between antioxidant activity measured by different methods and total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were established. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antioxidant activities of extracts from B. malabaricum flower were investigated including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), reducing power, and inhibition on phosphatidylcholine liposome peroxidation. RESULTS: Results showed that all the extracts possessed remarkable antioxidant capacity compared with ascorbic or gallic acids. Total antioxidant activities evaluated by ORAC assay of different extracts ranged from 700.03 to 1482.46 µmol Trolox equivalents/g. The highest TPC of 130.38 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g was observed in 80% acetone extract, whereas the lowest TPC of 57.09 mg GAE/g was obtained in the water extract. Furthermore, TFC exhibited significant (P < 0.05) positive correlations with DPPH radical-scavenging activity, ORAC, and reducing power. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that the flowers of B. malabaricum have excellent antioxidant activities and thus might be a potential source of natural antioxidants.

A multipathogen selective enrichment broth for simultaneous growth of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes.

A selective enrichment broth (SSL) was formulated to allow concurrent growth of 3 prominent food-borne pathogens: Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. Nalidixic acid, lithium chloride, and potassium tellurite were added as the selective agents, while sodium pyruvate and mannitol were employed as the supplemented elements. In the individual growth trial, the target pathogens were capable of growing in SSL to as high as 7-8 log(10) colony-forming units (CFU)/mL after 24 h incubation at 37 degrees C when being inoculated at 50-100 CFU/mL. In the simultaneous growth trial, the 3 combined target pathogens showed similar growth rates. The results show that SSL could support the successful simultaneous enrichment of 3 pathogens; however, SSL inhibited the growth of nontarget bacteria. In the artificial contaminated raw beef and ready-to-eat chicken, a high recovery of these 3 target pathogens was obtained in SSL. Finally, Salmonella Enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and L. monocytogenes were detected from 710 suspicious food samples by SSL with real-time PCR, and no false-positive or -negative results were reported. In summary, SSL has been shown to be a suitable broth for the simultaneous detection of the 3 prominent food-borne pathogens by multipathogen detection on a single-assay platform.

[A multipathogen selective enrichment broth (SVV) for simultaneous growth of Salmonella, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio cholerae].

We formulated a selective enrichment broth (SVV) for simultaneous growth of Salmonella, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio cholerae by single factor experiment and response surface method. We evaluated the enrichment effect of SVV by conventional culture method and real-time PCR assay. We obtained the SVV broth by supplementting the Buffered Peptone Water (BPW) with bile salt no. 3, potassium tellurite, and sodium citrate as inhibitors, and glucose, mannitol, snhydrous sodium sulfite and sodium pyruvate as accelerants. We also modified the concentration of sodium chloride in BPW. When mixed at equal or varied proportions, the target pathogens had a great accumulation (10(5)-10(8) CFU/mL) after incubated in SVV for 18 h at 37 degrees C with shaking. It can also effectively inhibit the competitive microflora. We detected 10 artificial simulated samples and 608 real samples using SVV with real-time PCR. After enriched in SVV for 18 h, the quantity of the bacteria in samples were above the detection limit. The SVV with PCR assay showed higher tested positive (4.06%) compared to that of the conventional detection method (3.78%) and there was no false report. In summary, SVV is a promising new multiplex selective enrichment broth that can be used in detection of seafood.

[A multi-pathogen selective enrichment broth for simultaneous growth of Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes].

OBJECTIVE: A selective enrichment broth (SSL) was formulated to allow simultaneous growth of Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogens. METHODS: Suitable additive agents were selected by single factor experiment, the enrichment effect of the broth for the three pathogens were evaluated by conventional detection method and real-time PCR. RESULTS: A selective enrichment broth, SSL, was obtained by adding the selective agents, including nalidixic acid, lithium chloride, and potassium tellurite, in the basic broth, and sodium pyruvate and mannitol as the supplemented elements. Recovery of three target pathogens in SSL was obtained within 24 h of incubation at 37 degrees C, yielding cell dnesities of 10(7) - 10(8) CFU/mL. Meanwhile, SSL broth effectively inhibited the growth of non-target organisms. 710 samples were detected by SSL with real-time PCR, and there is no error report. CONCLUSION: SSL is demonstrated to be a promising new multiplex selective enrichment broth for simultaneous detection of the three most prominent foodborn pathogens by multipathogen detection on a single assay platform.