Efficacy of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and its underlying mechanism in preventing bisphenol-A-induced metabolic disorders in mice.

To investigate the efficacy of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and its underlying mechanism in preventing bisphenol-A-induced metabolic disorders, in this study, a mice model of metabolic disorders induced by BPA was developed to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of EGCG using microbiomes and metabolomics. The results showed that EGCG reduced body weight, liver weight ratio, and triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in mice by decreasing the mRNA expression of genes related to fatty acid synthesis (Elov16) and cholesterol synthesis (CYP4A14) and increasing the mRNA expression of genes related to fatty acid oxidation (Lss) and cholesterol metabolism (Cyp7a1). In addition, EGCG normalized BPA-induced intestinal microbial dysbiosis. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that low-dose EGCG was more effective than high-dose EGCG at affecting the biosynthesis of L-cysteine, glycerophosphorylcholine, and palmitoleic acid. These results provide specific data and a theoretical basis for the risk assessment of BPA and the utilization of EGCG.

Simultaneous Determination of 108 Pesticide Residues in Three Traditional Chinese Medicines Using a Modified QuEChERS Mixed Sample Preparation Method and HPLC-MS/MS.

A rapid, efficient, simple, and high-throughput method for the simultaneous determination of 108 pesticide residues in three traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) was established, comprising an improved QuEChERS method in combination with HPLC-MS/MS based on mixed samples. A quantity of 10 mL of acetonitrile was used as extraction solvent, and 10 mg of amino-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-NH2) and 150 mg of anhydrous magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) were selected as sorbents for dispersive solid phase extraction. The performance of the method was verified according to the analytical quality control standards of SANTE/11813/2017 guidelines. With good linearity (R2 > 0.9984) in the range of 2−200 µg/L for all pesticides in the selected matrices, and good accuracy, precision, and high sensitivity, the recoveries were in the range of 70−120% for more than 95% of the pesticides, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 16.82% for all. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method were 0.01−3.87 µg/kg and 0.07−12.90 µg/kg, respectively, for Fritillaria thunbergii Miq (F. thunbergii), Chrysanthemum Morifolium Ramat (C. morifolium), and Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo (D. officinale). The method was successfully applied to 60 batches of actual samples from different regions.

Arecanut (Areca catechu L.) Seed Polyphenol-Ameliorated Osteoporosis by Altering Gut Microbiome via LYZ and the Immune System in Estrogen-Deficient Rats.

Polyphenol can improve osteoporosis and is closely associated with gut microbiota, while the mechanism and the relationship among polyphenol, osteoporosis, and gut microbiota colonization remain unclear. Here, an osteoporosis rat model established by ovariectomy was employed to investigate the improving mechanism of arecanut (Areca catechu L.) seed polyphenol (ACP) on osteoporosis by regulating gut microbiota. We analyzed the bone microstructure, Paneth cells, regulating microbial protein (lysozyme (LYZ)), proinflammatory cytokines, macrophage infiltration levels, and gut microbial communities in a rat. ACP improved the trabecular microstructure compared to OVX, including the increased trabecular number (Tb.N) (P < 0.01) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) (P < 0.001) and decreased trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) (P < 0.01). At the phylum level, Bacteroidetes was increased after ovariectomy (P < 0.001) and Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were increased in ACP (P < 0.001). Antiosteoporosis groups with lower LYZ and Paneth cells (P < 0.001) showed that the microbiota Alistipes, which have a negative effect on bone metabolism were decreased in ACP (P < 0.001). Altogether, these studies showed that the estrogen deficiency could induce the shedding of Paneth cells, which leads to the decrease of LYZ, while ACP could increase the LYZ expression by maintaining the population of Paneth cells in an estrogen-deficient host, which were implicated in gut microbiota regulation and improved osteoporosis by controlling the inflammatory reaction.