Potential inhibitory effect of Auricularia auricula polysaccharide on advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).

In this study, a novel polysaccharide, AAP-2S, was extracted from Auricularia auricula, and the anti-glycosylation effect of AAP-2S and its underlying mechanisms were investigated using an in vitro BSA-fructose model and a cellular model. The results demonstrated the inhibiting formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in vitro by AAP-2S. Concurrently, it attenuated oxidative damage to proteins in the model, preserved protein sulfhydryl groups from oxidation, reduced protein carbonylation, prevented structural alterations in proteins, and decreased the formation of ß-crosslinked structures. Furthermore, AAP-2S demonstrated metal-chelating capabilities. GC-MS/MS-based metabolomics were employed to analyze changes in metabolic profiles induced by AAP-2S in a CML-induced HK-2 cell model. Mechanistic investigations revealed that AAP-2S could mitigate glycosylation and ameliorate cell fibrosis by modulating the RAGE/TGF-ß/NOX4 pathway. This study provides a foundational framework for further exploration of Auricularia auricular polysaccharide as a natural anti-AGEs agent, paving the way for its potential development and application as a food additive.

Eucommia Bark/Leaf Extract Improves Lipid Metabolism Disorders by Affecting Intestinal Microbiota and Microbiome-Host Interaction in HFD Mice.

Eucommia bark contains many bioactive compounds and has anti-hyperlipidemic effects. However, due to the slow growth rate of the plant, there is a limited supply of this resource. Studies have demonstrated that Eucommia leaves contain active ingredients similar to those of Eucommia bark and also have anti-hyperlipidemic effects. It is not currently clear whether Eucommia leaf can be used as a substitute for Eucommia bark. Furthermore, their mechanism of action for anti-hyperlipidemia by improving the structure of the gut microbiota is also unclear. We aimed to determine the composition of the active ingredients in EBE and ELE by HPLC, establish an HFD-induced hyperlipidemia model, and combine fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments to investigate the mechanism of EBE/ELE anti-hyperlipidemia by modifying the structure of intestinal microbiota, as well as to compare the effects of EBE and ELE. Our results showed that EBE and ELE contained similar active ingredients and significantly alleviated lipid metabolism disorders and blood glucose levels in the HFD-induced hyperlipidemia model. In this study, EBE and ELE significantly reduced the relative abundance of Desulfovibrionaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae and significantly increased the relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae. They also promoted the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and activated the gene expression of the SCFA receptors G protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41) and GPR43. In addition, EBE and ELE can significantly increase the expression of the fasting-induced adipose factor (Fiaf) gene in the colon and inhibit the secretion of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in the liver, thereby inhibiting triglyceride (TG) synthesis. They also significantly activate the expression of GPR41 and GPR43 genes in the epididymal fat tissue, leading to reduced lipid accumulation in adipocytes. These effects on the target genes were associated with changes in the abundance of Desulfovibrionaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, and Ruminococcaceae bacteria in the intestinal microbiota. Thus, regulating the relative abundance of these microbes may serve as prospective targets for EBE/ELE to influence the Fiaf-LPL gut-liver axis and the SCFAs-GPR41/GPR43 gut-fat axis. In addition, there was no significant difference in the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of ELE and EBE, suggesting that Eucommia leaf may be a suitable alternative to Eucommia bark for managing hyperlipidemia by regulating the structure of the intestinal microbiota. These findings suggest that Eucommia leaves have great potential for development as a functional food with lipid-lowering properties.

Advances in Chemical Composition, Extraction Techniques, Analytical Methods, and Biological Activity of Astragali Radix.

Astragali Radix (AR) is one of the well-known traditional Chinese medicines with a long history of medical use and a wide range of clinical applications. AR contains a variety of chemical constituents which can be classified into the following categories: polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids, amino acids, and trace elements. There are several techniques to extract these constituents, of which microwave-assisted, enzymatic, aqueous, ultrasonic and reflux extraction are the most used. Several methods such as spectroscopy, capillary electrophoresis and various chromatographic methods have been developed to identify and analyze AR. Meanwhile, this paper also summarizes the biological activities of AR, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor and antiviral activities. It is expected to provide theoretical support for the better development and utilization of AR.

Proanthocyanidins Protect Against Cadmium-Induced Diabetic Nephropathy Through p38 MAPK and Keap1/Nrf2 Signaling Pathways.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most devastating complications of diabetes mellitus. Although cadmium (Cd) exposure might be involved in the pathogenesis of DN, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we explored the protective effects and possible mechanism of proanthocyanidins (OPC) from grape seed using a mouse model of Cd-induced DN. The successful establishment of this model was verified by analyzing the physiological and biochemical indices of mice, including their body weight and tissue ratio; levels of blood glucose, creatinine, microalbumin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; and was based on histopathological examination. Oxidative-antioxidative status, elemental analysis, and key signaling pathway analysis were performed to explore the possible protective mechanism of OPC. The protective effects of OPC and its possible mechanism in preventing the progression of DN were investigated using a multidimensional approach, including its ability in regulating oxidative-antioxidative status (lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione GST, GSH-Px), metal-binding ability (Cd levels in the kidneys and urine and MT content) and mediation of essential elements (Zn, Ca, Cu, and Fe levels in the kidneys), and activation of the p38 MAPK and Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathways. OPC exhibited a significant renoprotective effect, attributed to the metal-chelating ability, anti-oxidative effect, and mediation of oxidative stress-related signaling pathway. These results highlight the potential of OPC in preventing or treating DN in humans and suggest the dietary intake of grapes, which are rich in polyphenols, for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications.