Phenylethanoid glycosides from Michelia champaca leaves.

Chemical investigation on the leaves of Michelia champaca L. (Magnoliaceae) led to the isolation of five previously undescribed phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs), 4-O-ß-d-glucopyranosyl-acteoside (1), 4"'-O-(6-O-E-caffeoyl)-ß-d-glucopyranosyl-acteoside (2), 4"'-O-(6-O-E-caffeoyl)-ß-d-glucopyranosyl-isoacteoside (3), 6""-O-E-feruloyl-echinacoside (4), and 6""-O-p-E-coumaroyl-echinacoside (5), together with eighteen known PhGs. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. All the known PhGs except acteoside (8) were not previously reported in the genus. Twenty-one PhGs exhibited more potent DPPH radical scavenging activity and FRAP than l-ascorbic acid (l-AA), and twenty-two PhGs showed better ABTS radical cation scavenging activity than l-AA. In addition, twelve PhGs displayed more potent cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity than curcumin. The results revealed that the leaves of M. champaca are a rich source of phenylethanoid glycosides and antioxidants.

Flavonoid glycosides from the leaves of Michelia champaca.

Michelia champaca L. (Magnoliaceae) was cultivated in large scale for flowers as cosmetic raw materials, whereas the value of its leaves remains to be discovered. Our chemical study on the leaves yielded four new flavonol diglycosides, champaflavosides A-D (1-4), together with twenty-three known flavonoid glycosides (5-27). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compounds 5-21 and 23-27 were not previously reported from the genus Michelia, and kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside (22) was obtained from this species for the first time. All the compounds were evaluated for antioxidant activity by four in vitro assays. Compounds 3-12 and 20 showed more potent 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity than l-ascorbic acid (l-AA). Compounds 2-23, 25, and 27 exhibited 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation scavenging activity superior to l-AA. The ferric reducing antioxidant powers (FRAP) of compounds 2-13, 17, and 19 were higher than l-AA. Further, eighteen compounds demonstrated cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity, of which champaflavoside D (4), rhamnetin 3-O-neohesperidoside (8), quercetin 3-O-(6-O-E-p-coumaroyl)-neohesperidoside (9), and liquiritin (27) were more potent than curcumin. The results revealed that the renewable leaves of M. champaca are a rich source of flavonoids and antioxidants.

Research on corn starch and black bean protein isolate interactions during gelatinization and their effects on physicochemical properties of the blends.

The interaction between starch and protein during food processing is crucial for controlling food quality. This study aims to understand the interactions between corn starch and black bean protein isolate (BBPI) at various gelatinization phases and their effects on the physicochemical properties of the blends. BBPI reduced the rheological properties of the corn starch/BBPI mixed system during gelatinization, increasing light transmittance and gelatinization temperature, while decreasing total viscosity and enthalpy change. The changes in starch and protein microstructure during gelatinization indicated that BBPI adhered to the starch particle surface or partially penetrated the swollen starch particles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed that BBPI decreased the number of hydrogen bonds within starch, with no newly formed functional groups in the mixed system. Furthermore, BBPI reduced the composite relative crystallinity (RC). The effect of protein addition on water migration in the mixed system demonstrates that protein and starch compete for water during gelatinization, preventing water molecules from diffusing into starch particles.

Critical respiratory failure due to pregnancy complicated by COVID-19 and bacterial coinfection: A case report.

BACKGROUND: In the past 3 years, the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a great threat to human life and safety. Among the causes of death in COVID-19 patients, combined or secondary bacterial infection is an important factor. As a special group, pregnant women experience varying degrees of change in their immune status, cardiopulmonary function, and anatomical structure during pregnancy, which puts them at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. COVID-19 infection during pregnancy is associated with increased adverse events such as hospitalisation, admission to the intensive care unit, and mechanical ventilation. Therefore, pregnancy combined with coinfection of COVID-19 and bacteria often leads to critical respiratory failure, posing severe challenges in the diagnosis and treatment process. CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of COVID-19 complicated with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) coinfection in a pregnant woman at 34 wk of gestation. Her rapid progression of pulmonary lesions caused severe respiratory failure, and she received non-invasive ventilator-assisted respiratory treatment. Subsequently, we delivered a foetus via emergency caesarean section after accelerating the maturity of the foetal pulmonary system, and the respiratory condition of the puerperant woman significantly improved after the delivery of the foetus. Lavage fluid was taken under tracheoscopy to quickly search for pathogens by the metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), and both COVID-19 and S. aureus were detected. After targeted anti-infective treatment, the maternal condition gradually improved, and the patient was discharged from the hospital. CONCLUSION: The coinfection of pregnancy with COVID-19 and bacteria often leads to critical respiratory failure, which is a great challenge in the process of diagnosis and treatment. It is crucial to choose the right time to deliver the foetus and to quickly find pathogens by mNGS.

Ginsenoside Rd attenuated hyperglycemia via Akt pathway and modulated gut microbiota in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Ginsenoside Rd is a protopanaxadiol abundant in Panax ginseng and Panax notoginseng. It has been reported that ginsenoside Rd possesses various health benefits, such as anti-diabetic, anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory. This work explored the effects of ginsenoside Rd on hyperglycemia and gut microbiota in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Results showed that 5-week ginsenoside Rd (20 mg/kg) treatment significantly improved hyperglycemia in diabetic rats. Besides, ginsenoside Rd promoted glycogen synthesis via activating Akt pathway. It also inhibited hepatic gluconeogenesis, which was associated with inhibiting phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase. We further found that ginsenoside Rd treatment increased the diversity of gut microbiota, increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as SMB53, rc4-4 and Ruminococcus, and reduced the abundance of conditional pathogenic bacteria. These results indicated that ginsenoside Rd has the potential for diabetic intervention.

Metagenomic and Untargeted Metabolomic Analysis of the Effect of Sporisorium reilianum Polysaccharide on Improving Obesity.

Gut microbiota plays an important role in the pathophysiology of obesity. Fungal polysaccharide can improve obesity, but the potential mechanism needs further study. This experiment studied the potential mechanism of polysaccharides from Sporisorium reilianum (SRP) to improve obesity in male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) using metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics. After 8 weeks of SRP (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day) intervention, we analyzed the related index of obesity, gut microbiota, and untargeted metabolomics of rats. The obesity and serum lipid levels of rats treated with SRP were reduced, and lipid accumulation in the liver and adipocyte hypertrophy was improved, especially in rats treated with a high dose of SRP. SRP improved the composition and function of gut microbiota in rats fed with a high-fat diet, and decreased the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroides at the phylum level. At the genus level, the abundance of Lactobacillus increased and that of Bacteroides decreased. At the species level, the abundance of Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus helveticus, and Lactobacillus acidophilus increased, while the abundance of Lactobacillus reuteri and Staphylococcus xylosus decreased. The function of gut microbiota mainly regulated lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. The untargeted metabolomics indicated that 36 metabolites were related to the anti-obesity effect of SRP. Furthermore, linoleic acid metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, and the phenylalanine metabolism pathway played a role in improving obesity in those treated with SRP. The study results suggest that SRP significantly alleviated obesity via gut-microbiota-related metabolic pathways, and SRP could be used for the prevention and treatment of obesity.

Envafolimab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of combined small cell lung cancer: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Combined small cell lung cancer (C-SCLC) is a special subtype of small cell lung cancer that is relatively rare, aggressive, and prone to early metastasis and has a poor prognosis. Currently, there are limited studies on C-SCLC, and there is no uniform standard treatment, especially for extensive C-SCLC, which still faces great challenges. In recent years, the development and progress of immunotherapy have provided more possibilities for the treatment of C-SCLC. We used immunotherapy combined with first-line chemotherapy to treat extensive-stage C-SCLC to explore its antitumor activity and safety. CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of C-SCLC that presented early with adrenal, rib, and mediastinal lymph node metastases. The patient received carboplatin and etoposide with concurrent initiation of envafolimab. After 6 cycles of chemotherapy, the lung lesion was significantly reduced, and the comprehensive efficacy evaluation showed a partial response. No serious drug-related adverse events occurred during the treatment, and the drug regimen was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Envafolimab combined with carboplatin and etoposide in the treatment of extensive-stage C-SCLC has preliminary antitumor activity and good safety and tolerability.

Zeaxanthin prevents ferroptosis by promoting mitochondrial function and inhibiting the p53 pathway in free fatty acid-induced HepG2 cells.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disorder worldwide and a risk factor for obesity and diabetes. Emerging evidence has shown that ferroptosis is involved in the progression of NAFLD. Zeaxanthin (ZEA) is a carotenoid found in human serum. It has been reported that ZEA can ameliorate obesity, prevent age-related macular degeneration, and protect against non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. However, no study has focused on the protective effects of ZEA against NAFLD. In this study, free fatty acid (FFA) induced HepG2 cells were used as a cell model for NAFLD. Our results suggest that ZEA exerts antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects in FFA-induced HepG2 cells. Moreover, ZEA acted as a ferroptosis inhibitor, significantly reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and iron overload and improving mitochondrial dysfunction in FFA-induced HepG2 cells. In addition, ZEA downregulated the expression of p53 and modulated downstream targets, such as GPX4, SLC7A11, SAT1, and ALOX15, which contributed to the reduction in cellular lipid peroxidation. Our findings suggest that ZEA has the potential for NAFLD intervention.

Characterization of the synergistic inhibitory effect of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and catechin on pancreatic lipase.

This study aimed to identify novel pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibitors using affinity ultrafiltration combined with spectroscopy and molecular docking. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G; IC50: 0.268 mg/mL) and catechin (IC50: 0.280 mg/mL) were shown to be potent PL inhibitors extracted from black rice and adzuki bean coat extracts. Isobologram analysis revealed that the combined use of C3G and catechin at a ratio of 2:3 had a remarkable synergistic effect (IC50 of the mixture: 0.201 mg/mL). The inhibitory mechanism of C3G-catechin mixture was of mixed type. The C3G-catechin mixture had a great impact on PL secondary structures. Molecular docking analysis further demonstrated that these polyphenols formed hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues in the binding pocket of PL. Collectively, C3G and catechin were shown to inhibit PL in a synergistic manner and can be potentially used for the development of food supplements for obesity prevention.

Effects of Ultra-High Pressure on Endogenous Enzyme Activities, Protein Properties, and Quality Characteristics of Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) during Iced Storage.

The present study aimed to explore the effects of ultra-high pressure (UHP) on the cathepsin (B, D, H, and L) activities, protein oxidation, and degradation properties as well as quality characteristics of iced shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Fresh shrimps were vacuum-packed, treated with UHP (100-500 MPa for 5 min), and stored at 0 °C for 15 days. The results showed that the L* (luminance), b* (yellowness), W (whiteness), ΔE (color difference), hardness, shear force, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience of shrimp were significantly improved by UHP treatment. Moreover, the contents of surface hydrophobicity, myofibril fragmentation index (MFI), trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-soluble peptides, carbonyl, dityrosine, and free sulfhydryl of myofibrillar protein (MP) were significantly promoted by UHP treatment. In addition, UHP (above 300 MPa) treatment enhanced the mitochondrial membrane permeability but inhibited the lysosomal membrane stability, and the cathepsin (B, D, H, and L) activities. UHP treatment notably inhibited the activities of cathepsins, delayed protein oxidation and degradation, as well as texture softening of shrimp during storage. Generally, UHP treatment at 300 MPa for 5 min effectively delayed the protein and quality deterioration caused by endogenous enzymes and prolonged the shelf life of shrimp by 8 days.

Zeaxanthin remodels cytoplasmic lipid droplets via ß3-adrenergic receptor signaling and enhances perilipin 5-mediated lipid droplet-mitochondrion interactions in adipocytes.

Cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs), which are remarkably dynamic, neutral lipid storage organelles, play fundamental roles in lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis. Both the dynamic remodeling of LDs and LD-mitochondrion interactions in adipocytes are effective mechanisms to ameliorate obesity and related comorbidities. Zeaxanthin (ZEA) is a natural carotenoid and has beneficial effects on anti-obesity. However, the underlying mechanisms of ZEA on LD modulation are still unclear. In the present study, ZEA efficiently inhibited LD accumulation and attenuated adipocyte proliferation by arresting the cell cycle. ZEA drove transcriptional alterations to reprogram a lipid oxidative metabolism phenotype in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes. ZEA significantly decreased the TAG and FA content and modulated the dynamic alterations of LDs by upregulating the expression of lipases and the LD-mitochondrion contact site protein, perilipin 5 (PLIN5), and downregulating the LD fusion protein, fat-specific protein 27 (FSP27). Mechanistically, ZEA stimulated LD remodeling and ameliorated mitochondrial defects caused by large and unilocular LD accumulation by activating ß3-adrenergic receptor (ß3-AR) signaling. Furthermore, the knockdown of PLIN5 impaired the LD-mitochondrion interactions, thereby disrupting the role of ZEA in promoting mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and respiratory chain operation. Collectively, the present study demonstrates that ZEA induces LD structural and metabolic remodeling by activating ß3-AR signaling and enhances PLIN5-mediated LD-mitochondrion interactions in hypertrophic white adipocytes, thereby enhancing oxidative capacity, and has the potential as a nutritional intervention for the prevention and treatment of obesity and associated metabolic syndrome.

Fraxetin protects rat brains from the cerebral stroke via promoting angiogenesis and activating PI3K/Akt pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Fraxetin has antioxidant, anti-inflammation and neuroprotective functions, however, its role in ischemic stroke is still vague. Herein, this study delves into the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Ischemia and reperfusion operation were performed to establish the cerebral stroke rat models. The brain functions were evaluated with neurological score. The brain infarcted volume in fraxetin group was measured by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The blood-brain barrier permeability, CD34 enrichment, and the brain water content were measured by Evans blue staining, immunofluorescence staining, and wet-dry method, respectively. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot (WB) were applied to examine the levels of angiogenesis- and PI3K/Akt pathway-related factors. MTT and tube formation assays were used to measure the viability and tube formation of HUVECs. RESULTS: Fraxetin decreased the brain injury-related neurological score, brain infarction, and cerebral edema and maintained blood-brain barrier permeability, whereas it promoted the angiogenesis in ischemia-damaged brain via enhancing CD34 enrichment, the expressions of VEGF, Ang-1, Tie-2, and CD-31, viability of HUVECs, as well as activating the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt. Importantly, wortmannin (a specific PI3K inhibitor) impeded the fraxetin-induced cell viability, angiogenesis, and phosphorylation of Akt and PI3K in HUVECs. CONCLUSIONS: Fraxetin has protective effects on the brain ischemia-reperfusion injury and promotes angiogenesis for cerebral repair via phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt.

Lipid oxidation and in vitro digestion of pickering emulsion based on zein-adzuki bean seed coat polyphenol covalent crosslinking nanoparticles.

This study first used adzuki bean seed coat polyphenol (ABSCP) to modify zein and form covalent nanoparticles (ZAP) and used ZAP as an emulsifier to stabilize Pickering emulsion (ZAE). The results showed that the ratio of zein-ABSCP controlled the physicochemical properties of the two compounds. ZAP could be absorbed on the water-oil surface and stabilized ZAE, which presented as a non-Newtonian fluid state with good rheological properties. The addition of ABSCP inhibited lipid oxidation in a dose-dependent manner, as verified through the analysis of accelerated oxidation experiments (50 °C, 20 days). In in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of ZAE showed that free fatty acids (FFA) release gradually decreased with ABSCP concentration increasing. Moreover, ABSCP gave ZAE a strong red-yellow color, which allowed ZAE to be used for specific applications (e.g., natural pigments). Our findings make it feasible to develope functional food and food-grade delivery systems made of protein-plant polyphenols nanoparticles.

Vedolizumab-associated diffuse interstitial lung disease in patients with ulcerative colitis: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Vedolizumab, a newer class of integrin antagonist biological agents, has been applied to treat patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), especially for patients who are refractory to traditional therapies and tumor necrosis factor antagonists. However, some rare but life-threatening adverse effects warrant pharmacovigilance. We describe the first fatal case of vedolizumab-associated severe diffuse interstitial lung disease in China. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case of new-onset diffuse parenchymal lung disease developing under treatment with vedolizumab in a patient with UC. After two doses of vedolizumab, he developed persistent fever and progressively worsening dyspnea. Extensive workups, including bronchoalveolar lavage, transbronchial lung biopsy and metagenomic next-generation sequencing, identified no infectious causes, and other potential causes (such as tumors and cardiogenic pulmonary edema) were also excluded. As a result, a diagnosis of vedolizumab-related interstitial lung disease was established. Unfortunately, although corticosteroids and empiric antibiotics were administered, the patient eventually died of respiratory failure. CONCLUSION: Vedolizumab-related interstitial lung disease in patients with UC is rare but potentially lethal. Gastroenterologists and pulmonologists should be aware of vedolizumab-related adverse drug reactions.

Cardiac myxomas as great imitators: A rare case series and review of the literature.

Myxoma is the most common type of primary cardiac tumors, accounting for 50%-80% of them. Cardiac myxomas are difficult to detect due to the lack of specific signs and symptoms and even benign tumors can cause serious consequences. Cardiac failure, atrio-ventricular valve obstruction or the embolization phenomenon can quietly occur in patients with cardiac myxomas. Here, we report three extraordinary cases, each of which vary in the first symptom. One case involved a 66-year-old man who had no underlying heart disease but suddenly developed chest tightness and got out of breath after exercising. One case was a 36-year-old young woman with a two-year history of low blood pressure but suddenly suffered a stroke. The third case was a 42-year-old middle-aged woman who accidentally discovered a cardiac myxoma during the diagnosis and treatment of acute pancreatitis. Echocardiography revealed huge masses floating in their atriums. Under general anesthesia, all the patients underwent open-heart surgery and hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of the samples confirmed myxomas. Although most patients with cardiac myxomas lack of specific systemic symptoms, typical myxomas are relatively easy to diagnose. There are currently no effective medical therapeutic to inhibit tumor growth and surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment, which prevents a dreaded complication resulted from systemic and pulmonary embolisms.

Perpendicular magnetization anisotropy induced dynamical coherence reduction in stripe domain film.

We investigated the magnetization dynamics of the 350 nm permalloy film with in plane domain (IPD), stripe domain (SD), and labyrinth domain (LD) patterns. Experimental and micromagnetic simulation results showed that the change in magnetic domain structure from IPD to LD was due to the increasing perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) of the film. The magnetization dynamics indicated that the resonant modes of the film strongly depended on the magnetic domain structure. IPD films presented a uniform precession mode. The film with well-regular SD exhibited clear acoustic and optical resonance modes, and the formation of LD suppressed both resonance modes. Finally, the dynamics of magnetization dependent on the domain structure in these films were discussed by using the phenomenological resonance models.

The effect of lactic acid bacteria and co-culture on structural, rheological, and textural profile of corn dough.

This study is aimed at assessing the effect of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on corn flour using dynamic characterization methods including RVA, TPA, Rheometer, SEM, and DSC along with co-culture technique in order to enhance its applicability by evaluating the variations in rheological, textural, morphological, thermal, and structural properties. Our findings suggested that bacterial incorporation both individually and in combination (co-culture) revealed an improved corn dough profile with better properties. SEM showed irregular shape of particles having more grooves, indentations, and cracks. RVA demonstrated different pasting behavior on the dough. Bacterial inoculation in flour attributed to increase the TO (68.61-71.18), TP (73.74-78.42), TC (78.78-85.36), melting temperature (10.17-15.19), and ΔH (2.72-5.40). The hardness of corn was found approximately 75% of native dough. In treated corn, an increase was noted in both loss and storage modulus in correspondence with changes in the starch configuration and leaching of constituents. The results from DSC presented an increased melting temperature range and gelatinization enthalpy owing to bacterial treatment accredited to diversified morphological characteristics. The outcomes concluded in demonstration of a novel influence on structural, thermal, morphological, and rheological capabilities and capacities of corn dough. Lactic acid bacteria hydrolyzed part of the corn and flour had smaller, irregularly shaped particles with more holes in them, resulting in a reduced water retaining capacity. Textural, thermal, and pasting profile has also been improved due to degradation of macromolecules. Furthermore, the insight alterations induce various changes leading to improved corn flour. It may also develop the associations about the upright insurgence in the corn dough profile and its potential usage in industry and homes.

Protective effect of rosuvastatin against the formation of benign esophageal stricture.

BACKGROUND: Benign esophageal strictures result from caustic or radiation injury or surgical procedures. Statins have anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic activities. We examined the role of rosuvastatin in preventing benign esophageal fibrosis and stricture formation in a rabbit model. METHODS: Twenty-six rabbits were assigned to control and rosuvastatin groups. The rabbits in the rosuvastatin group were administered rosuvastatin 5 mg/day, 2 weeks prior to the esophageal stricture phase. Esophageal strictures were established by applying 4% sodium hydroxide solution to the middle esophagus. Esophagography was performed to evaluate the degree of esophageal stenosis, and histopathologic assessment of esophageal tissue damage was performed with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining. The expressions of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were examined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The incidence of strictures was significantly lower in the rosuvastatin group. Esophagography demonstrated mild stenosis in the narrowest inner esophageal diameter in the rosuvastatin group than in the control group, and Masson staining demonstrated significantly less collagen deposition in the rosuvastatin group. In addition, immunohistochemistry results showed that the expressions of TGF-ß1, CTGF, and α-SMA significantly reduced in the rosuvastatin group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that rosuvastatin prevents benign esophageal stricture formation. This effect may be exerted through the anti-fibrotic activity of rosuvastatin, which may be exerted by the inhibition of CTGF and α-SMA production induced by TGF-ß1.

Dietary Antioxidant Anthocyanins Mitigate Type II Diabetes through Improving the Disorder of Glycometabolism and Insulin Resistance.

Insulin resistance (IR) is one of the pathological reasons for type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, it is important to prevent the body from developing T2DM by improving IR and maintaining glucose homeostasis. Anthocyanins (ACNs) are water-soluble pigments and are widely distributed in natural products. This article summarizes research on the bioavailability and metabolism of ACNs. Moreover, we further elaborate on how ACNs reduce IR and hyperglycemia during the development of T2DM based on studies over the past 20 years. Many studies have demonstrated that ACNs are small molecules that target the pancreatic, liver, muscle, and adipose tissues, preventing IR and hyperglycemia. However, the molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Therefore, we envision whether the molecular mechanism of reducing T2DM by ACNs could be more deeply investigated.

Zeaxanthin ameliorates obesity by activating the ß3-adrenergic receptor to stimulate inguinal fat thermogenesis and modulating the gut microbiota.

The stimulation of fat thermogenesis and modulation of the gut microbiota are promising therapeutic strategies against obesity. Zeaxanthin (ZEA), a carotenoid plant pigment, has been shown to prevent various diseases; however, the therapeutic mechanism for obesity remains unclear. Herein, whether ZEA improves obesity by activating the ß3-adrenergic receptor (ß3-AR) to stimulate white adipose tissue (WAT) thermogenesis and modulating the gut microbiota was investigated. C57BL6/N mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) supplemented with ZEA for 22 weeks. ZEA treatment reduced body weight, fat weight, adipocyte hypertrophy, liver weight, and lipid deposition, and improved dyslipidaemia, serum GPT, GOT, leptin, and irisin levels, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance in HFD-fed mice. Mechanistically, ZEA treatment induced the expression of ß3-AR and thermogenic factors, such as PRDM16, PGC-1α, and UCP1, in inguinal WAT (iWAT) and brown adipose tissue. ZEA treatment stimulated iWAT thermogenesis through the synergistic cooperation of key organelles, which manifested as an increased expression of lipid droplet degradation factors (ATGL, CGI-58 and pHSL), mitochondrial biogenesis factors (Sirt1, Nrf2, Tfam, Nampt and Cyt-C), peroxisomal biogenesis factors (Pex16, Pex19 and Pmp70), and ß-oxidation factors (Cpt1, Cpt2, Acadm and Acox1). The thermogenic effect of ZEA was abolished by ß3-AR antagonist (SR59230A) treatment. Additionally, dietary supplementation with ZEA reversed gut microbiota dysbiosis by regulating the abundance of Firmicutes, Clostridia, Proteobacteria, and Desulfovibrio, which were associated with the thermogenesis- and obesity-associated indices by Spearman's correlation analysis. Functional analysis of the gut microbiota indicated that ZEA treatment significantly enriched the lipid metabolism pathways. These results demonstrate that ZEA is a promising multi-target functional food for the treatment of obesity by activating ß3-AR to stimulate iWAT thermogenesis, and modulating the gut microbiota.