Bamboo Shoots Modulate Gut Microbiota, Eliminate Obesity in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Mice and Improve Lipid Metabolism.

Bamboo shoots (BS) have a variety of nutritional benefits; however, their anti-obesity effect and its underlying mechanism of action are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of BS against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced gut dysbiosis in mice. After 12 weeks of feeding C57BL/6J mice either on a normal or an HFD with or without BS, metabolic indicators, including blood lipids and glucose tolerance, were measured. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomics were used to identify alterations in gut microbiota composition and fecal metabolic profiling. The results demonstrated that BS supplementation reduced body weight by 30.56%, mitigated liver damage, and improved insulin resistance and inflammation in obese mice. In addition, BS increased short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels and SCFA-producing bacteria (e.g., Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Norank_f_Muribaculaceae), and reduced levels of harmful bacteria (e.g., Blautia and Burkholderia-Paraburkholderia). Finally, BS increased many beneficial fecal metabolites, such as fatty acids and bile acids, which are highly relevant to the altered gut microbiota. Based on the modulatory effect of BS on microbiota composition and gut metabolite levels observed in this study, we suggest that BS may be beneficial in treating obesity and its related complications.

Functional Enhancement of Guar Gum-Based Hydrogel by Polydopamine and Nanocellulose.

The development of green, biomedical hydrogels using natural polymers is of great significance. From this viewpoint, guar gum (GG) has been widely used for hydrogel preparation; however, its mechanical strength and adhesion often cannot satisfy the biomedical application. Therefore, in the present study, gelatin and a cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) were first applied to overcome the defects of guar gum hydrogel. Dopamine was self-polymerized into polydopamine (PDA) on the gelatin chain at alkaline condition, and gelatin-polydopamine (Gel-PDA) further cross-linked with guar gum and CNC via the borate-didiol bond, intramolecular Schiff base reaction, and Michael addition. CNC not only interacted with guar gum using borate chemistry but also acted as a mechanical reinforcer. The obtained Gel-PDA+GG+CNC hydrogel had an excellent self-healing capacity, injectability, and adhesion due to the catechol groups of PDA. Moreover, dopamine introduction caused a significant increase in the anti-oxidant activity. This hydrogel was cyto- and hemo-compatible, which implies a potential usage in the medical field.

Chemical features and biological functions of water-insoluble dietary fiber in plant-based foods.

Insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) is a nutritional component constituting the building block of plant cell walls. Our understanding of the role of IDF in plant-based foods has advanced dramatically in recent years. In this Review, we summarize research progress on the subtypes, structure, analysis, and extraction methods of IDF. The impact of different food processing methods on the properties of IDF is discussed. The role of gut microbiota in the health benefits of IDF is introduced. This review provides a better understanding of the chemical features and biological functions of IDF, which may promote the future application of IDF in functional food products. Further investigation of the mechanisms underlying the health benefits of IDF enables the development of effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of human diseases.

Structural Characterization of a Neutral Polysaccharide from Cucurbia moschata and Its Uptake Behaviors in Caco-2 Cells.

A neutral pumpkin polysaccharide (NPPc) was extracted from Cucurbia moschata and its structural characterization is performed. Moreover, uptake behaviors of an NPPC were investigated at the cellular level. The results showed that NPPc, an average molecular weight (Mw) of 9.023 kDa, was linear (1→4)-α-D-Glcp residues in the backbone, which branched point at O-6 position of (1→4,6)-α-D-Glcp. The side chain contained (1→6)-α-D-Glcp and terminal glucose. The cellular uptake kinetics results showed that the uptake of fluorescent-labeled NPPc was in time- and dose-dependent manners in Caco-2 cells. For subcellular localization of NPPc, it was accumulated in endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrion. This study illustrates the characteristics on the uptake of NPPc and provides a rational basis for the exploration of polysaccharides absorption in intestinal epithelium.