Amelioration of nitroglycerin-induced migraine in mice via Wuzhuyu decoction: Inhibition of the MZF1/PGK1 pathway and activation of NRF2 antioxidant response.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Migraine, a chronic and intricate disorder, manifests as recurrent episodic headaches accompanied by various neurological symptoms. Wuzhuyu Decoction (WZYD) is a traditional Chinese medical formula with promising effects in treating migraines; however, its underlying mechanisms have not yet been clarified. AIM OF STUDY: The study aimed to evaluate WZYD's effectiveness in migraine treatment and investigate the potential mechanism of WZYD's effects on migraine and oxidative stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Behavior tests and immunofluorescence assay for the intensity of migraine markers to assess the migraine-relieving effect of WZYD after chronic migraine model induced by nitroglycerin in mice. The impacts of WZYD on oxidative stress-related markers, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), heme oxygenase 1 (HO1), and NAD (P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) in brain tissue were examined. In addition, protein expression or mRNA levels of the MZF1/PGK1 were detected using Western blot or PCR, respectively. Finally, the MZF1 overexpression vector was constructed to the higher level of MZF1. The MZF1/PGK1 signaling pathway expression was evaluated by markers of oxidative stress including NRF2 and others in this series of experiments. RESULTS: Through murine model experimentation, we observed that WZYD effectively alleviates migraine symptoms, signifying its therapeutic efficacy. Mechanistically, WZYD emerges as a potent activator of the NRF2, acting as a robust defense against oxidative stress. In vitro investigations demonstrated that WZYD combats oxidative stress and curbs cell apoptosis induced by these detrimental conditions. Furthermore, by suppressing the transcriptional expression of PGK1, an influential player in the NRF2 pathway, WZYD effectively activates NRF2 signaling. Intriguingly, we have identified MZF1 as the mediator orchestrating the regulation of the PGK1/NRF2 pathway by WZYD. CONCLUSION: The study confirms the effectiveness of WZYD in alleviating migraine symptoms. Mechanistically, WZYD activated the NRF2 signaling pathway; moreover, the action of WZYD involved the down-regulation of PGK1 mediated by MZF1, which promoted the activation of the NRF2 pathway. This study advances our understanding of the intricate mechanisms driving WZYD's efficacy, paving the way for novel treatments in migraine management.

Qualitative and quantitative meta-analysis of acupuncture effects on the motor function of Parkinson's disease patients.

Objective: To explore the association between acupuncture sessions and its effects on the motor function of Parkinson's Disease (PD). Methods: Eight databases and two clinical trials registries were searched from inception to August 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared acupuncture with sham acupuncture, or antiparkinsonian drugs, were included. After qualitative meta-analysis, a non-linear meta regression approach with restricted cubic spline was used to investigate the dose-response relationship between acupuncture sessions and their efficacy on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (UPDRS-III) score. Subgroup meta-analysis was performed of the included studies according to the weekly acupuncture frequency. And finally, the included studies containing the determination of intermediate efficacy were compared. Results: Of the 268 citations screened, 16 studies (462 patients of PD) were included. The qualitative meta-analysis showed that the acupuncture group had better effect on UPDRS-III scores than the control group. And the quantitative meta-analysis suggested that acupuncture dose was correlated with the reduction of UPDRS-III score in PD patients with motor symptoms. In subgroup analysis, on the one hand, when the frequency of acupuncture was no more than 3 times a week, with the increase of acupuncture session, the changes of UPDRS-III score decreased and then increased (P = 0.000). On the other hand, when acupuncture for more than 3 times a week and the dose of acupuncture treatment was <60 times, the changes of UPDRS-III score increased with the increase of acupuncture dose, but the score stopped to decrease if the dose continued to increase (P = 0.020). The comparative analysis of two quantitative RCTs found that the score improvement was more significant at the higher weekly acupuncture frequency. Interpretation: This study found that when treating PD patients with motor symptoms, acupuncture treatment may need to reach a certain dose to obtain better therapeutic effect and excessive acupuncture stimulation may cause the body to develop a certain tolerance. However, the above results still need to be verified by more high-quality clinical studies. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022351428).

Barley ß-glucan inhibits digestion of soybean oil in vitro and lipid-lowering effects of digested products in cell co-culture model.

The effect of barley ß-glucan on soybean oil digestion characteristics before and after fermentation was studied in an in vitro-simulated gastrointestinal digestion model. The addition of barley ß-glucan made the system more unstable, the particle size increased significantly, and confocal laser imaging showed that it was easier to form agglomerates. The addition of barley ß-glucan increased the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in digestion products, and reduced digestibility of soybean oil. In a co-culture model of Caco-2/HT29 and HepG2 cells, the effects of digestive products of soybean oil and barley ß-glucan before and after fermentation on lipid metabolism in HepG2 cells were investigated. The results showed that adding only soybean oil digestion products significantly increased triglycerides (TG) content and lipid accumulation in basolateral HepG2 cells. When fermented barley ß-glucan was added, lipid deposition was significantly decreased, and the lipid-lowering activity was better than that of unfermented barley ß-glucan.

Health-promoting properties of barley: A review of nutrient and nutraceutical composition, functionality, bioprocessing, and health benefits.

Barley is one of the world's oldest cereal crops forming an important component of many traditional diets. Barley is rich in a variety of bioactive phytochemicals with potentially health-promoting effects. However, its beneficial nutritional attributes are not being fully realized because of the limited number of foods it is currently utilized in. It is therefore crucial for the food industry to produce novel barley-based foods that are healthy and cater to customers' tastes. This article reviews the nutritional and functional characteristics of barley, with an emphasis on its ability to improve glucose/lipid metabolism. Then, recent trends in barley product development are discussed. Finally, current limitations and future research directions in glucolipid modulation mechanisms and barley bioprocessing are discussed.

Purification and Identification of Lipid-Lowering Protein from Barley Extract after Lactiplantibacillus plantarum dy-1 fermentation.

Previous studies have found that the protein in barley extract fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum dy-1 has the ability to inhibit lipid accumulation. However, the isolation, purification, and structural identification of the protein with lipid-lowering activity were still needed. In the present study, barley protein fermented by L. plantarum dy-1 with the optimal lipid-lowering ability was isolated and purified in three steps: using ammonium sulfate precipitation, anion-exchange chromatography, and size-exclusion chromatography. Combined with the model of HepG2 cells induced by oleic acid, the results showed that the pure protein LFBEP-C1 had the best lipid-lowering potential. Furthermore, our research found that LFBEP-C1 enriched the content of hydrophobic amino acids in LFBEP-C1. Ultraviolet spectroscopy analysis indicated that the glycosidic bond in LFBEP-C1 was an O-type glycosidic bond. The FTIR and circular dichroism spectra indicated that α-helix and random coil were the main secondary structures of LFBEP-C1. Mass spectrometry determined the theoretical molecular weight of LFBEP-C1 as 48 kDa, and its amino acid coverage was 63%. These findings suggest that the protein LFBEP-C1 with the best lipid-lowering activity was isolated and purified, and its structural characteristics were identified.

Transcriptomics reveals the anti-obesity mechanism of Lactobacillus plantarum fermented barley extract.

Fermentation by lactic acid bacteria can improve the nutritional value and biological function of cereal. Our previous studies have confirmed that Lactobacillus plantarum fermented barley extract (LFBE) can alleviate obesity caused by high-fat diet (HFD) in rats, while the precise mechanism remains unclear. Herein, we explored the effect of LFBE on the adipose tissue in obese rats and its mechanism via transcriptomics technology. Results showed that administration of LFBE in obese rats for 8 weeks significantly alleviated weight gain, reduced fasting blood glucose, and inhibited lipid accumulation. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation of adipose tissue found that LFBE held the ability to maintain mitochondria integrity and functionality. Transcriptomics analysis revealed that LFBE increased the expressions of mitochondrial ß-oxidized-related genes, while inhibiting the expressions of fatty acid synthesis-related genes. Furthermore, KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enrichment analysis and western blotting studies confirmed that LFBE mainly enhanced the energy consumption of adipocytes through the phosphorylation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) and the mitochondrial proliferation pathway regulated by peroxisome proliferative activated receptor, gamma, coactivator 1 alpha (PGC1α). Taken together, these findings indicated that LFBE could ameliorate HFD-induced obesity by activating AMPK/PGC1α axis regulated signaling pathways.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum fermented barley extracts ameliorate high-fat-diet-induced muscle dysfunction via mitophagy.

BACKGROUND: A reduced level of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) by skeletal muscle leads to the accumulation of intermuscular fat (IMF), which is linked to impaired exercise capacity. Previously, we have reported that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum fermented barley extract (LFBE) has effective anti-obesity properties. In this study, the effects of LFBE on muscle were investigated. RESULTS: LFBE improved running endurance and muscle strength, which was caused by the elevation of FAO in muscle. In addition, LFBE renovated muscle regeneration through the upregulation of paired box 7 and myogenic differentiation 1 expression avoiding the injury of skeletal muscle fibers. Furthermore, total polyphenol isolated from LFBE (FTP) reinforced mobility and showed a significant protective effect on maintaining muscle fiber morphogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Transmission electron microscope observation suggested FTP induced mitophagy in C. elegans body wall muscle, which was strongly connected with enhanced FAO in mitochondria. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlighted the beneficial bioactivities of FTP and its potential application for stimulating mitophagy and muscle function in obese individuals. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 fermented barley extraction activates white adipocyte browning in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity is caused by the imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. Here, we studied the inhibitory effects of aqueous extracts of fermented barley with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 (LFBE) and beta-glucan (BGL) on the obesity induced by HFD. Both LFBE and BGL significantly decreased body weight, suppressed visceral lipid accumulation, improved blood lipid profile, and glucose tolerance in HFD rats. BGL showed no thermogenic capacity, while LFBE enhanced the expression of Uncoupling Protein 1 (UCP1), and brown-specific mRNA (PRDM16, PGC1-α, and CIDEA) levels in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white adipose tissues (WAT) of HFD rats. In addition, LFBE increased the expression of key genes involved in mitochondria biosynthesis and the mitochondrial respiration function. Further, we demonstrated that proteins extracted from LFBE (LFBE-P) were responsible for triggering brown markers to some extent. In conclusion, LFBE alleviates HFD-induced obesity by activating thermogenic fat bioenergetics and mitochondria biosynthesis. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Barley is one of the most productive crops with pretty low utilization. Our group committed to exploring the application and nutritional value of barley. This work aimed to explore improvements in nutritional function of barley after fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1. Our study found that oral administration of LFBE help turning white adipose tissue into a thermogenesis state and activate heat generation function of brown adipose tissue. Its characteristics mentioned above significantly inhibited the body weight and blood lipid of high-fat diet rats. Further, we evidenced that LFBE-P were responsible for triggering brown markers in 3T3-L1 cells. We believe our research plays a great part to relieving high-fat diet-induced obesity and type 2 diabetes with functional diet supplementation.

ChaiQi Decoction Alleviates Vascular Endothelial Injury by Downregulating the Inflammatory Response in ApoE-Model Mice.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a pathological state of metabolic disorders that primarily occur in human proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. It is a complex cluster of core metabolic disorder syndromes including obesity, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, and vascular endothelial injury, occurring over time. The currently available treatment options cannot effectively manage MetS. In our previous research, we revealed ChaiQi decoction (CQD) as an effective prescription for improving MetS; however, the specific mechanism remains unclear. Herein, we assessed the efficacy and mechanism of CQD in ApoE gene knockout (ApoE-) mice. Mice were administered with CQD daily for 12 weeks, and the measurement of their body weight was taken monthly. To evaluate the metabolic levels of mice, we determined the fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin (FINS), insulin resistance index (IRI), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis was adopted to determine the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in vascular endothelium, while an optical microscope was adopted to observe the pathological morphology of abdominal aorta in mice. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) levels were determined using the ELISA method, whereas Western blotting was used to determine nuclear factor- (NF-) κB p65. Of note, intragastric CQD administration ameliorated ApoE-model mice, as evidenced by reduced levels of FBG, FINS, IRI, TG, TC, and LDL-C. Furthermore, CQD alleviated vascular endothelial injury and regularized the structure of the abdominal aorta by downregulating the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and NF-κB p65. Overall, these findings advocated that CQD ameliorates metabolic levels and vascular endothelial injury in mice by downregulating the inflammatory response and thus may be utilized as a novel MetS therapy.

Qingre Jianpi decoction attenuates inflammatory responses by suppressing NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 inflammasome activation in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Qingre Jianpi decoction (，QRJPD) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice and explore its mechanism. METHODS: All mice were randomly divided into six groups. Weight changes, disease activity index values, and histological damage were detected. Inflammatory cytokines and immune cell infiltration were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) method. The key protein expression levels of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome were detected by western blot analysis, IHC, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: QRJPD played an anti-inflammatory role in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC), reduced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, and inhibited the inflammatory infiltration of immune cells by suppressing DSS-induced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. CONCLUSION: QRJPD exerts protective effects by inhibiting DSS-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Notoginsenoside R1 activates the Ang2/Tie2 pathway to promote angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic angiogenesis is a novel strategy for the treatment of ischemic diseases that involves promotion of angiogenesis in ischemic tissues via the use of proangiogenic agents. However, effective proangiogenic drugs that activate the Ang2/Tie2 signaling pathway remain scarce. PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the proangiogenic activity of notoginsenoside R1 (NR1) isolated from total saponins of Panax notoginseng with regard to activation of the Ang2/Tie2 signaling pathway. METHODS: We examined the proangiogenic effects of NR1 by assessing the effects of NR1 on the proliferation, migration, invasion and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The aortic ring assay and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor (VRI)-induced vascular regression in the zebrafish model were used to confirm the proangiogenic effects of NR1 ex vivo and in vivo. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism was investigated by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: We found that NR1 promoted the proliferation, mobility and tube formation of HUVECs in vitro. NR1 also increased the number of sprouting vessels in rat aortic rings and rescued VRI-induced vascular regression in zebrafish. NR1-induced angiogenesis was dependent on Tie2 receptor activation mediated by increased autocrine Ang2 in HUVECs, and inhibition of the Ang2/Tie2 pathway abrogated the proangiogenic effects of NR1. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that NR1 promotes angiogenesis by activating the Ang2/Tie2 signaling pathway. Thus, NR1-induced activation of the Ang2/Tie2 pathway is an effective proangiogenic approach. NR1 may be useful agent for the treatment of ischemic diseases.

Inhibitory effect of fermented selected barley extracts with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 on the proliferation of human HT-29 Cells.

The objective of this study was to understand the changes of nutrition constituents in extracts of four varieties of barley fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 (LFBEs) and to uncover the potential apoptosis-related mechanism induced by LFBE to inhibit the proliferation of HT-29 cells. The contents of total polysaccharide, polyphenol, and protein in the four LFBEs significantly changed as the fermentation time went by and exerted different inhibitory effects on the proliferation of HT-29 cells. Results indicated that LFBE (YangSi No.3) inhibited proliferation of HT-29 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manners. The scanning electron micrograph illustrated that LFBE caused representative apoptotic trait and flow cytometric analysis suggested that LFBE brought about apoptosis by ceasing cell cycle at S phase. Western-blotting results indicated that LFBE promoted apoptosis was relevant to the regulation of apoptosis-related proteins, such as B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and the release of Cytochrome-C from mitochondria. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Abundant studies have reported that extracts of fermented barley held the activities of anti-obesity, antitumor, and so on. However, little information about the comparison in the chemical profile and antiproliferation property among different barley varieties (namely, YangSi barley No.1, YangSi barley No.3, DaZhong 88-91, XiYin No.2) was observed. Results indicated that LFBE (YangSi No.3 barley) exhibited the best inhibitory property by inducing the apoptosis of HT-29 cells. These findings may be beneficial to select a higher nutritional value barley and optimize the fermentation conditions to maximize the bioactive concentration expected in foods for the human.

Ginsenoside F1 promotes angiogenesis by activating the IGF-1/IGF1R pathway.

Ischemic stroke is one of the most lethal and highly disabling diseases that seriously affects the human health and quality of life. A therapeutic angiogenic strategy has been proposed to alleviate ischemia-induced injury by promoting angiogenesis and improving cerebrovascular function in the ischemic regions. The insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)/insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) axis is crucial for cerebral angiogenesis and neurogenesis. However, effective drugs that prevent cerebral ischemic injury by inducing cerebral angiogenesis via activation of the IGF1R pathway are lacking. Here, we screened a pro-angiogenic agent ginsenoside F1 (GF1), a ginseng saponin isolated from a traditional Chinese medicine that was widely used in ischemic stroke treatment. It promoted the proliferation, mobility and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human brain microvascular endothelial cells, as well as pericytes recruitment to the endothelial tubes. GF1 stimulated vessel sprouting in the rat arterial ring and facilitated neovascularization in chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). In the in vivo experiments, GF1 rescued the axitinib-induced vascular defect in zebrafish. It also increased the microvessel density (MVD) and improved focal cerebral blood perfusion in the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Mechanism studies revealed that GF1-induced angiogenesis depended on IGF1R activation mediated by the autocrine IGF-1 loop in endothelial cells. Based on our findings, GF1-induced activation of the IGF-1/IGF1R pathway to promote angiogenesis is an effective approach to alleviate cerebral ischemia, and GF1 is a potential agent that improves cerebrovascular function and promotes recovery from ischemic stroke.

Fermented barley extracts with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 changes serum metabolomic profiles in rats with high-fat diet-induced obesity.

We have previously reported an aqueous extract of fermented barley with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 (LFBE) has more efficient anti-obesity effect compared with that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To further explore associated effects of LFBE on body weight and body fat distribution, and lipid profiles related metabolic outcomes, serum metabolites were analysed using LC-MS-MS and partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Obese and lean groups were clearly discriminated from each other on PLS-DA score plot and major metabolites contributing to the discrimination were assigned as lipid metabolites (fatty acids), lipid metabolism intermediates (choline, betaine, carnitine and butyryl-carnitine), amino acids and citric acid. A high-fat diet increased lipid metabolites and decreased lipid metabolism intermediates, indicating that abnormal lipid metabolism induced by a high-fat diet resulted in fat accumulation via decreased ß-oxidation. But LFBE can inhibit fat accumulation by reducing lipid metabolites and increasing lipid metabolism intermediates. Furthermore, the level changes of these metabolites can be used to assess the risk of obesity and the therapeutic effect of obesity management.

UCP2 Mitigates the Loss of Human Spermatozoa Motility by Promoting mROS Elimination.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To demonstrate the function of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) in the regulation of human spermatozoa motility. METHODS: Semen samples were collected from donors with either normal spermatozoa motility (normospermia [NS]) or poor spermatozoa motility (asthenospermia [AS]). UCP2 protein in spermatozoawas quantified by Western blotting. The level of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) was evaluated by MitoSOX Red. The activity of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in spermatozoa was evaluated by a JC-1 assay and the ATP level was monitored by a luciferin-luciferase assay. RESULTS: UCP2 was expressed in both NS and AS groups, with the former exhibiting a higher level than the latter. Immunofluorescence analysis shows that UCP2 is mainly located at the mid-region of human spermatozoa. The inhibition of UCP2 by a highly selective inhibitor, Genipin, results in not only impaired spermatozoa mobility (P<.05) but also an elevated level of mROS (P<.05), suggesting that UCP2 is involved in the maintenance of the spermatozoa mobility, which probably is achieved by promoting mROS elimination. Furthermore, H2O2 treatment of spermatozoa increases the mROS level coupled with the loss of spermatozoa mobility. Unexpectedly, this treatment also has a positive impact on the expression of UCP2 within a certain range of supplemental H2O2, indicating the moderate mROS level possibly serves as a feedback signal to stimulate the expression of UCP2. Finally, the treatment of spermatozoa by an ROS scavenger, N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC),decreases the level of mROS and increases the curvilinear velocity (VCL) of spermatozoa, but the UCP2 level is not affected. CONCLUSION: These results suggest an UCP2-mROS-motility regulatory system exists for maintaining spermatozoa mobility in humans. In such a system, UCP2 fulfills its function by promoting mROS elimination, and slightly over-produced mROS in turn serves as a signal to stimulates the expression of UCP2. This regulatory system represents a new potential target for the discovery of novel pharmaceuticals for the treatment of patients with low spermatozoa motility.

The anti-obesity effect of fermented barley extracts with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in diet-induced obese rats.

Fermented cereals have significant potential for improving the nutritional quality and health effects of foods and ingredients. In the present study, aqueous extracts of fermented barley with either Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 or Saccharomyces cerevisiae were investigated for their anti-adipogenic effects in vitro and in vivo. Oral administration of an aqueous extract of fermented barley with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 (LFBE) significantly prevented body weight gain and fat mass increase, and improved lipid profiles and glucose tolerance in high fat diet-induced obese male rats. In contrast, an aqueous extract of fermented barley with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SFBE) had no significant anti-obesity effects. In addition, LFBE effectively inhibited adipocyte differentiation in a dose-dependent manner, but only a high dose of SFBE had similar effects. Phenolic acids (mainly vanillic acid and ferulic acid) and ß-glucan in LFBE were responsible for the lipid accumulating actions and may be considered as primary anti-obesity mediators. The results showed that LFBE has more significant anti-obesity effects than SFBE. LFBE has the potential to prevent obesity and its related metabolic diseases.

Dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 fermented barley suppresses body weight gain in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

BACKGROUND: Cereal fermentations have shown significant potential in improvement and design of the nutritional quality and health effects of foods and ingredients. In the present study, the effect of supplementary Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 fermented barley (LFB) on obesity in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats was investigated. RESULTS: LFB treatment showed a lower rate of increase in body weight and percentage of body fat and a reversal of HFD-induced glucose intolerance, with ameliorated hyperinsulinemia, decreased levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol, and inhibited concentration of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. Moreover, LFB treatment also showed the strongest inhibition of nuclear factor (NF)-kB activation and exhibited the greatest effects in blocking the degradation of the inhibitor of NF-kB and inhibiting p38 and JNK1 phosphorylation compared with HFD and raw barley treatment. CONCLUSIONS: It was clear that Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 fermentation significantly improves the anti-obesity properties of barley. The results establish the foundation for ameliorating diet-induced obesity of product with LFB as nutritional supplements. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of fermented wheat germ extract with lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 on HT-29 cell proliferation and apoptosis.

This study aimed to evaluate the anticarcinogenic activities of aqueous extract of fermented wheat germ with Lactobacillus plantarum dy-1 (LFWGE). The anticarcinogenic activities, including antiproliferative effects and the induction of apoptosis, were studied in human HT-29 colon cancer cells. The 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone and total phenol contents in LFWGE were determined by HPLC and the Folin-Ciocalteu method. In addition, some functional proteins were separated and purified by gel filtration chromatography. There were 21 proteins identified by LC-MS/MS. The sugars isolated from LFWGE did not possess any anticarcinogenic activity. The results of an MTT assay showed high antiproliferative effects of LFWGE. In addition, LFWGE attenuated the progression from the G0-G1 to the G2-M phase of the cell cycle, and LFWGE-induced cell apoptosis was associated with the activation of caspase-3. LFWGE and its major bioactive ingredients inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 cells via apoptosis and thus may be a potential anticarcinogenic agent.