The protective effect of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. polysaccharide on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice via the modulation of gut microbiota and inhibition of NF-κB activation.

BACKGROUND: Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill, a fruit utilized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has a long history of medical application. It has been used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill polysaccharide (SACP) is an important biologically active ingredient that has been shown to have a variety of beneficial effects including immune regulation and anti-oxidative properties. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a complicated gastrointestinal inflammatory disease. We explore the protective effect of SACP against UC. RESULTS: Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill polysaccharide significantly reduced the disease activity index (DAI) and levels of myeloperoxidase(MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in colonic tissue. It also alleviated weight loss and histopathological damage of mice. The expression of MUC2 and occludin proteins was increased and the barrier function of the colonic mucosa was enhanced by SACP treatment. NF-κB pathway activation was also inhibited and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines was decreased whereas anti-inflammatory cytokines were increased. 16SrDNA sequencing of fecal flora showed that SACP increased the abundance of Muribaculaceaeunclassified, LachnospiraceaeNK4A136group and reduced the abundance of Bacteroides and Erysipelatoclostridium. CONCLUSION: Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill polysaccharide can protect against Dextran Sulfate Sodium Salt (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Expression and Antitumor Function of Latcripin-4 RCC1 and ANK Domain Protein on HepG2 from the Shiitake Medicinal Mushroom, Lentinus edodes C91-3 (Agaricomycetes), Transcriptome.

The recombinant protein of Latcripin-4 regulator of chromosome condensation 1 (RCC1) and ankyrin (ANK) domains were expressed and the antitumor activity of Latcripin-4 on HepG2 cells was studied. First, the Latcripin-4 transcript was selected from the medicinal mushroom Lentinus edodes C91-3 transcriptome by bioinformatics. Then the full-length gene of Latcripin-4 was isolated with 3'-full rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and 5'-full RACE methods according to the transcriptome. The RCC1 and ANK domains from the full-length gene were selected and inserted into the expression vector pET-32a (+) and expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta-gami (DE3). Western blotting indicated that the protein was expressed successfully. The biological function of Latcripin-4 RCC1 and ANK domain protein on HepG2 cells was studied with the CCK-8 assay. All results demonstrated that Latcripin-4 RCC1 and ANK domain protein can inhibit the growth of human HepG2 liver cancer cells, which brings new insights to identifying antitumor proteins from medicinal food for cancer therapy.