The Effect of Nanobubble Water Containing Cordyceps Extract and Withaferin A on Free Fatty Acid-Induced Lipid Accumulation in HepG2 Cells.

Cordyceps extract and withaferin A (Wi-A) are natural compounds that have therapeutic effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, their efficacy is limited and a long treatment duration is usually required. To enhance their efficiency, the synergistic effects of nanobubble water (NBW) derived from nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen gases were investigated. Results showed that the physical properties of all three NBWs, including nanobubble density (108 particles/mL) and zeta potential (below -22 mV), were stable during 48 h of storage. Hydrogen and nitrogen NBWs did not reduce, but instead promoted, free fatty acid-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. In contrast, oxygen NBW synergistically enhanced the effects of cordyceps extract and Wi-A. The lipid content decreased by 29% and 33% in the oxygen NBW + cordyceps extract and oxygen NBW + Wi-A groups, respectively, compared to reductions of 22% and 16% by aqueous extracts without NB. This study found that NBW may enhance the lipid-reducing effects of natural compounds, such as cordyceps extract and withaferin A, in hepatic cells. Further studies in animal experiments are needed to determine whether NBW has a potential application in NAFLD.

Metagenomic insights into the effects of nanobubble water on the composition of gut microbiota in mice.

The particular physicochemical and biological properties of nanobubbles (NBs) have prompted many researchers to conduct an in-depth study on their potential application in various fields. This study aims to investigate the effects of nanobubble water (NBW) on the community structure of the gut microbiota in mice. In this study, supplementation with nitrogen NBW (SD-N2 group), hydrogen NBW (SD-H2 group) and deionized water (SD-C group) to a standard diet of mice was performed for five weeks. The composition of fecal microbiota was analyzed by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Compared with the SD-C group, the species diversity of the fecal microbiota in mice in NBW groups was significantly increased. At the genus level, supplementation with nitrogen NBW to mice significantly increased the relative abundance of two beneficial genera Clostridium and Coprococcus (mean growth 6.3 times and 9.7 times, respectively), while supplementation with hydrogen NBW significantly decreased the relative abundance of two pathogenic genera Mucispirillum and Helicobacter (mean reduction rate 86% and 60%, respectively). These results demonstrate that supplementation with NBW might optimize the composition of gut microbiota in mice.

Enhanced hydrolysis and acidification of cellulose at high loading for methane production via anaerobic digestion supplemented with high mobility nanobubble water.

In this study, CH4 production from anaerobic digestion (AD) of refractory cellulose was investigated at a high loading of 3.5 (VScellulose/VSinoculum) under nanobubble water (NBW) addition. A longer proton spin-spin relaxation time (2611-2906 ms) of NBW during 35 days' storage reflected its high mobility and diffusion of water molecules. Higher volatile fatty acids were yielded at the hydrolysis-acidification stage under NBW addition. Methanogenesis tests showed that Air-NBW and CO2-NBW supplementation accelerated the utilization of crystalline cellulose, achieving methane yields of 264 and 246 mL CH4/g-VSreduced, increasing by 18% and 10% compared to deionized water addition (the control), respectively. In addition, under NBW addition the cellulose crystallinity reduction was enhanced by 14-20% with microbial community being enriched with hydrolytic and methanogenic bacteria. Results from this work suggest that NBW environment with no chemical addition and relatively low energy consumption is advantageous for enhanced AD process of cellulosic biomass.