Fabricating pectin and chitosan double layer coated liposomes to improve physicochemical stability of beta-carotene and alter its gastrointestinal fate.

To improve storage stability and gastrointestinal (GI) stability of liposomes, pectin and chitosan double layer coated liposome (P-C-L) was proposed and optimized using electrostatic deposition technique. The physical-chemical properties and GI fate of the carrier were then investigated in comparison to that of chitosan coated liposomes (C-L) and un-coated liposomes (L). The results showed P-C-L was successfully prepared at 0.2 % chitosan and 0.06 % pectin. It was hydrogen bonds between the amino groups in chitosan and liposomal interfacial region, and the interaction between the carboxyl groups in pectin layer and amino groups in chitosan layer maintained the structure of P-C-L after absorption by electrostatic interaction. The double layer coatings could improve chemical stability of the encapsulated ß-carotene (ßC), as well as the thermal stability of liposomes. What's more, the permeability of liposomal bilayers and ßC release mechanism in simulated GI fluids was changed by the polymer coating. P-C-L exhibited better controlled release for ßC than C-L and L, and displayer beneficial effect on delivering bioactive agents passing through intensity tract. This may assistant developing more efficient delivery system for bioactive agent.

Effect of Tongfu traditional Chinese medicine preparation on patients with septic gastrointestinal dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Tongfu traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation is a common alternative therapy for clinical treatment of patients with septic gastrointestinal dysfunction. In recent years, a number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted to verify the effectiveness of Tongfu TCM preparation in the treatment of sepsis gastrointestinal dysfunction, but all of them have been small sample studies, and the research conclusions have been controversial. Here, this study conducted a meta-analysis on the clinical efficacy of the treatment of septic gastrointestinal dysfunction with TCM preparation, to produce a more objective and comprehensive systematic review to guide clinical application. BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tongfu traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation in the treatment of patients with septic gastrointestinal dysfunction. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of Tongfu TCM preparation in the treatment of septic gastrointestinal dysfunction published before February 2021 were searched for in the Chinese databases China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Chinese Biomedical Literature Disk (CBMdisc), and Chongqing VIP (CQVIP), and English databases PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, and The Cochrane Library. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software, and funnel plots were drawn to evaluate the bias of literatures. RESULTS: A total of 22 RCTs involving 1,558 patients were included. There were 772 patients in the control group and 786 in the trial group. Meta-analysis results showed that: gastrointestinal dysfunction score [mean difference (MD) =-0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.61 to -0.38], Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score (MD =-3.30, 95% CI: -3.73 to -2.86), and mortality (MD =0.34, 95% CI: 0.25-0.47) in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The funnel plot results showed that there was little possibility of publication bias. DISCUSSION: Tongfu TCM preparation can effectively improve the gastrointestinal function of patients with sepsis gastrointestinal dysfunction, prevent the deterioration of the disease, and reduce the mortality; however, more evidence is required to substantiate these findings.

Development of Oral Delivery Systems with Enhanced Antioxidant and Anticancer Activity: Coix Seed Oil and ß-Carotene Coloaded Liposomes.

Fortifying food and beverage products with combinations of bioactive agents is a major initiative within the food industry because of their potentially additive or even synergistic benefits for human health. Coix seed oil (CSO) has been reported to possess anticancer activity, whereas ß-carotene (ßC) is a natural antioxidant that may also exhibit anticancer activity. However, both of these bioactives are insoluble in water and have poor oral bioavailability. The aim of this study was to overcome these obstacles by encapsulating both ßC and CSO into liposomes (L-ßC-CSO). The effect of different combinations of these two bioactive agents on the physiochemical properties, stability, release, antioxidant activity, and anticancer activity of the liposomes was then determined. Increasing the CSO level decreased the ßC entrapment efficiency, increased the particle size, reduced the polydispersity, and raised the magnitude of the surface potential of the bioactive-loaded liposomes. Moreover, the ßC and CSO levels affected their orientation within the lipid bilayer, which also influences the physiochemical properties, stability, and in vitro release behavior of the system. Compared to liposomes containing single bioactive types, the combined systems exhibited higher bioavailability and increased anticancer and antioxidant activity. These results suggest that the combined bioactive-loaded liposomes could be an efficient formulation for potential applications in functional foods and supplements.

A Systematic Review of Rhubarb (a Traditional Chinese Medicine) Used for the Treatment of Experimental Sepsis.

Sepsis is a global major health problem in great need for more effective therapy. For thousands of years, Rhubarb had been used for various diseases including severe infection. Pharmacological studies and trials reported that Rhubarb may be effective in treating sepsis, but the efficacy and the quality of evidence remain unclear since there is no systematic review on Rhubarb for sepsis. The present study is the first systematic review of Rhubarb used for the treatment of experimental sepsis in both English and Chinese literatures by identifying 27 studies from 7 databases. It showed that Rhubarb might be effective in reducing injuries in gastrointestinal tract, lung, and liver induced by sepsis, and its potential mechanisms might include reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, ameliorating microcirculatory disturbance, and maintaining immune balance. Yet the positive findings should be interpreted with caution due to poor methodological quality. In a word, Rhubarb might be a promising candidate that is worth further clinical and experimental trials for sepsis therapy.