Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) suppresses hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced rat H9C2 cardiomyocytes pyroptosis via Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

This study aimed to explore the mechanism that Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) suppress hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-caused pyroptosis in cardiomyocytes (H9C2) via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Initially, we established the cell model of H/R (6 h hypoxia plus with 24 h reoxygenation), and found that 90 µg/mL LBP was the optimal concentration. Subsequently, we confirmed that LBP reduced the pyroptosis rate of cells after H/R, the activity of LDH, the inflammatory factors IL-1ß and IL-18, and the levels of pyroptosis-specific markers ASC, NLRP3, and Caspase-1 (mRNAs and proteins). It increased the cell survival rate and the mRNA levels of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway markers Nrf2 and HO-1, and allowed cytoplasmic Nrf2 protein to enter the nucleus to activate HO-1 protein. The Nrf2 siRNA2 caused the following events in H/R model: (1) the increases of the apoptosis rate, LDH activity, the levels of inflammatory factors (IL-1ß and IL-18), the levels of ACS, NLRP3, and Caspase-1 (mRNAs and proteins); and (2) the decreases of the cell survival rate, the mRNA levels of Nrf2 and HO-1, and the protein levels of cytoplasm-Nrf2, nucleus-Nrf2, and HO-1. Therefore we concluded that 90 µg/mL LBP suppressed H/R-induced H9C2 cardiomyocyte pyroptosis via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

The effect of dietary supplementation of Lycium barbarum leaves on the growth performance, organ indexes and intestinal microflora of rats.

This study was conducted to investigate both fruit and different levels of leaf supplementation on the growth performance, organ indices and intestinal microflora of rats. Twenty-five healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups. The rats in the control (NC) and positive control (PC) groups were fed by gavage a basal diet and a basal diet with 4 g/kg of L. barbarum fruit homogenate, respectively. The test (LD, MD, and HD) groups were fed basal diets with additional 2, 4, and 8 g/kg of L. barbarum leaf homogenate, respectively. The feeding period was 35 d. The result revealed that the rats in the LD group had the highest average weight gain (p < 0.05). The cardiac and renal indexes in the LD and MD groups were significantly higher than in NC group, respectively (p < 0.05). Diversity analysis revealed that adding low concentrations of L. barbarum leaf homogenates markedly reduced the Shannon index of the rats cecum (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Verrucomicrobiota was higher in the LD group than those in other groups (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Actinobacteriota was found significantly higher in PC group than others (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Akkermansia in LD group was the highest (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Romboutsia in the PC group was considerably higher than that in other groups. The relative abundance of Candidatus_Saccharimonas in the supplementation groups was appreciably lower than those found in other groups. The relative abundance of Alloprevotella was significantly lower in PC, LD, and MD groups than in NC and HD groups (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Oscillibacter was significantly higher in HD group than in other groups (p < 0.05). Thus, L. barbarum leaf homogenate fed to rats could increase their growth performance, internal organ weights and additionally enhance the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria. Therefore, based on the obtained data in the current study, a dose of L. barbarum leaf homogenate supplemented with 2 g/kg in diet is recommended, however, further studies are required to confirm, especially in animals.

In vivo absorption and fecal excretion of polysaccharides from the fruits of Lycium barbarum L. in rats through fluorescence labeling.

In the present study, the in vivo absorption and fecal excretion of a purified fraction of polysaccharides from the fruits of Lycium barbarum L. (LBPs-4) in rats were investigated by labelling LBPs-4 with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). It was found that the fluorescent labeled LBPs-4 (LBPs-4-FITC) was not detected in the plasma within 24 h following the administration of a single dose of LBPs-4-FITC (100 mg/kg of body weight) to rats, indicating that LBPs-4 was hardly absorbed in its prototype form. Instead, a smaller fragment dissociated from LBPs-4-FITC was observed in feces and was accumulated in a time-dependent manner, suggesting that LBPs-4 was excreted into the feces with a form of degradation. Meanwhile, we observed that LBPs-4-FTIC could modulate the fecal bacterial community profile via increasing the relative abundances of Bacteroides ovatus and Alistipes and promote the production of acetic acid. Furthermore, the monoculture experiment confirmed that LBPs-4 could be metabolized into smaller fragment by B. ovatus, producing acetic acid. Collectively, our study provides information on the destiny of LBPs-4 after oral administration: non-absorbed but moved to the large intestine and catabolized by gut microbiota, especially B. ovatus.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides regulate the gut microbiota to modulate metabolites in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides (LBP) can benefit lipid parameters such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein levels and upregulate the level of Firmicutes, increase the diversity of gut microbiota and reduce metabolic disorders, finally relieving weight gain of obese rats. But it cannot reverse the outcome of obesity. Over 30 differential metabolites and four pathways are altered by LBP.

Impact of molecular weight and gastrointestinal digestion on the immunomodulatory effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides.

In traditional Chinese medicine, Lycium barbarum is of rich medicinal value, and its polysaccharides are particularly interesting due to their significant pharmacological effects and potential health benefits. This study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) by examining their interaction with the TLR4/MD-2 complex and the impacts of gastrointestinal digestion on these interactions. We discovered that the affinity binding of LBPs for TLR4/MD-2 and their cytokine induction capability are influenced by molecular weight, with medium-sized LBPs (100-300 kDa) exhibiting stronger binding affinity and induction capability. Conversely, LBPs smaller than 10 kDa showed reduced activity. Additionally, the content of arabinose and galactose within the LBPs fractions was found to correlate positively with both receptor affinity and cytokine secretion. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion resulted in the degradation of LBPs into smaller fragments that are rich in glucose. Although these fragments exhibited decreased binding affinity to the TLR4/MD-2 complex, they maintained their activity to promote cytokine production. Our findings highlight the significance of molecular weight and specific monosaccharide composition in the immunomodulatory function of LBPs and emphasize the influence of gastrointestinal digestion on the effects of LBPs. This research contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the immunomodulatory effects of traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides and their practical application.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides attenuate nonylphenol and octylphenol-induced oxidative stress and neurotransmitter disorders in PC-12 cells.

Nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) are environmental contaminants with potential endocrine disrupting effects. However, there is limited research on the mechanisms and intervention of combined NP and OP exposure-induced neurotoxicity. This study aims to explore the cytotoxicity of combined NP and OP exposure and evaluate the potential of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) in mitigating the aforementioned toxicity. In present study, LBP (62.5, 125 and 250 µg/mL) were applied to intervene rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells treated with combined NP and OP (NP: OP = 4:1, w/w; 1, 2, 4 and 8 µg/mL). The results showed that NP and OP induced oxidative stress, disrupted the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and cholinergic systems in PC-12 cells. Additionally, they activated the p38 protein kinase (p38) and suppressed the expression of silent information regulation type 1 (SIRT1), monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), phosphorylated cyclic-AMP response binding protein (p-CREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phosphorylated tropomyosin-related kinase receptor type B (p-TrkB). However, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) treatment counteracted the changes of signalling molecule p38, SIRT1/MAOA and CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathways-related proteins induced by NP and OP. LBP pretreatment ameliorated combined NP and OP exposure-induced oxidative stress and neurotransmitter imbalances. Furthermore, the application of LBP and administration of a p38 inhibitor both reversed the alterations in the signaling molecule p38, as well as the proteins associated to the SIRT1/MAOA and CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathways. These results implied that LBP may have neuroprotective effects via p38-mediated SIRT1/MAOA and CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathways.

Effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides supplemented to high soybean meal diet on immunity and hepatic health of spotted sea bass Lateolabrax maculatus.

High soybean meal diet (HSBMD) decreased the immunity and damaged the liver health of spotted sea bass; in this study, Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) was added to HSBMD to explore its effects on the immunity and liver health. The diet with 44% fish meal content was designed as a blank control. On this basis, soybean meal was used to replace 50% fish meal as HSBMD, and LBP was added in HSBMD in gradient (1.0, 1.5, 2.0 g/kg) as the experimental diet. 225-tailed spotted sea bass with initial body weight of 44.52 ± 0.24 g were randomly divided into 5 groups and fed the corresponding diet for 52 days, respectively. The results show that: after ingestion of HSBMD, the immunity of spotted sea bass decreased slightly and hepatic tissue was severely damaged. And the addition of LBP significantly improved the immune capacity and protected the hepatic health. Specifically, the activities of serum lysozyme (LZM), immunoglobulin M (IgM), liver acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) were increased, and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were significantly decreased, and hepatic morphology was improved. In the analysis of transcriptome results, it was found that toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) were down-regulated in toll-like receptor signaling pathway. And LBP may protect hepatic health by regulating Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis, Insulin signaling pathway, Steroid biosynthesis and other glucolipid-related pathways. In conclusion, the addition of LBP in HSBMD can improve the immunity and protect the hepatic health of spotted sea bass, and its mechanism may be related to glucose and lipid metabolism.

Characterization and stability assessment of polyphenols bound to Lycium barbarum polysaccharide: Insights from gastrointestinal digestion and colon fermentation.

Polysaccharides and polyphenols are biologically active components that coexist in Lycium barbarum fruit, and there may be interactions between them that affect the release of each other. In this study, polyphenols bound to L. barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) were characterized, and the stability of bound phenolics (BP) was assessed by gastrointestinal digestion and colon fermentation. The results showed that a total of 65 phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and coumarins were identified by UPLC-MS/MS. Quantitative analysis revealed that the major phenolic constituents were rutin, p-coumaric acid, catechin, ferulic acid, protocatechuic acid, and gallic acid, and their contents were 58.72, 24.03, 14.24, 13.28, 10.39, and 6.7 mg GAE/100 g DW, respectively. The release of BP by gastric digestion and gastrointestinal digestion was 9.67 % and 19.39 %, respectively. Most polyphenols were greatly affected by gastric digestion, while rutin was released in small intestine. The BP were fully released (49.77 %) and metabolized by gut microorganisms, and a considerable number of intermediates and end-products were detected, such as phloroglucinol, phenylacetic acid, and phenyllactic acid. Microbiomics data emphasized the positive impact of LBP on gut bacteria of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Clostridioides. These findings could deepen our understanding of the bioavailability and biological fate of BP and also provide reference data for nutrient release and utilization of L. barbarum as a whole.

[Comparison on biological activities of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides extracted with five methods].

Studying the physicochemical properties and biological activities of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides(LBPs) is of great significance. The previous study had extracted LBPs(LBP-1, LBP-2, LBP-3, LBP-4, and LBP-5) by five different methods(cold water extraction, boiling water reflux extraction of the residue after cold water extraction, ultrasonic extraction with 50% ethanol, ultrasonic extraction with 25% ethanol of the residue after 50% ethanol extraction, and hot water extraction). In this study, the structures of the obtained five LBPs were characterized by UV spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the antioxidant, blood lipid-lowering, nitrosation-inhibting, acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting, and tyrosinase-inhibiting activities of the five LBPs were measured in vitro. The results showed that high-temperature extraction destroyed the polysaccharide structure, while ultrasound-assisted extraction ensured the structural integrity. The thermal stability and degradation behaviors differed among the five LBPs. However, the UV spectroscopic results of the five LBPs did not show significant differences, and all of the five LBPs showed the characteristic absorption peaks of proteins. LBP-3 and LBP-4 exhibited strong antioxidant activity, while LBP-3 had the strongest blood lipid-lowering activity. In addition, LBP-3 outperformed other LBPs in inhibiting nitrosation and acetylcholineste-rase, and LBP-2 showed the strongest inhibitory effect on tyrosinase. This study explored the effects of different extraction methods on the physicochemical properties and biological activities of LBPs, with a view to providing a basis for the selection of suitable extraction methods to obtain LBPs with ideal biological activities.

Specific molecular weight of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide for robust breast cancer regression by repolarizing tumor-associated macrophages.

The pro-tumorigenic M2-type tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) promote the progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis of breast cancer. The repolarization of TAMs from an M2-type toward an M1-type holds great potential for the inhibition of breast cancer. Here, we report that Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) can significantly reconstruct the TME by modulating the function of TAMs. Specifically, we separated four distinct molecular weight segments of LBPs and compared their repolarization effects on TAMs in TME. The results showed that LBP segments within 50-100 kDa molecular weight range exhibited the prime effect on the macrophage repolarization, augmented phagocytosis effect of the repolarized macrophages on breast cancer cells, and regression of breast tumor in a tumor-bearing mouse model. In addition, RNA-sequencing confirms that this segment of LBP displays an enhanced anti-breast cancer effect through innate immune responses. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of LBP segments within the 50-100 kDa molecular weight range for macrophage repolarization, paving ways to offer new strategies for the treatment of breast cancer.

Separation of polysaccharides from Lycium barbarum L. by high-speed countercurrent chromatography with aqueous two-phase system.

The traditional method for isolation and purification of polysaccharides is time-consuming. It often involves toxic solvents that destroy the function and structure of the polysaccharides, thus limiting in-depth research on the essential active ingredient of Lycium barbarum L. Therefore, in this study, high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) and aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) were combined for the separation of crude polysaccharides of Lycium barbarum L. (LBPs). Under the optimized HSCCC conditions of PEG1000-K2HPO4-KH2PO4-H2O (12:10:10:68, w/w), 1.0 g of LBPs-ILs was successfully divided into three fractions (126.0 mg of LBPs-ILs-1, 109.9 mg of LBPs-ILs-2, and 65.4 mg of LBPs-ILs-3). Moreover, ATPS was confirmed as an efficient alternative method of pigment removal for LBPs purification, with significantly better decolorization (97.1 %) than the traditional H2O2 method (88.5 %). Then, the different partitioning behavior of LBPs-ILs in the two-phase system of HSCCC was preliminarily explored, which may be related to the difference in monosaccharide composition of polysaccharides. LBPs-ILs-1 exhibited better hypoglycemic activities than LBPs-ILs-2 and LBPs-ILs-3 in vitro. Therefore, HSCCC, combined with aqueous two-phase system, was an efficient separation and purification method with great potential for separating and purifying active polysaccharides in biological samples.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides attenuate oxidative stress and mitochondrial toxicity induced by mixed plasticizers in HepG2 cells through activation of Nrf2.

AIMS: In daily life, it is common for humans to be exposed to multiple phthalate esters (PAEs). However, there is limited research on the mechanisms and intervention of combined PAEs toxicity. This study aims to explore the cytotoxicity of combined PAEs and evaluate the potential of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) in mitigating the aforementioned toxicity. MAIN METHODS: LBP (62.5, 125 and 250 µg/mL) were applied to intervene HepG2 cells treated with DEHP and DBP mixtures (50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 µg/mL). Western Blot and different kits were mainly performed in our study. KEY FINDINGS: DEHP and DBP mixtures suppressed the expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and activated MAPK pathway by increasing ROS. Combined DEHP and DBP exposure reduced ATP content and inhibited the mitochondrial biogenesis pathway in HepG2 cells through oxidative stress, which in turn caused cytotoxicity. LBP reduced oxidative stress and cell death induced by mixed plasticizers, upregulated Nrf2 levels and mitochondrial biogenesis pathway levels and inhibited MAPK pathway activation. Notably, after treating HepG2 cells with Nrf2-specific inhibitor (ML385, 0.5 µM), we found that the activation of Nrf2 played a crucial role on LBP intervention of DEHP and DBP induced HepG2 cytotoxicity. SIGNIFICANCE: This study not only enhances our understanding of the toxicological effects caused by combined PAEs exposure, but also has significant implications in devising strategies to mitigate the toxicological consequences of combined exposure to exogenous chemicals through the investigation of the role of LBP.

Amelioration of dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis by fermented Lycium barbarum polysaccharides through modulation of intestinal microecology / 中国药科大学学报

@#Abstract: To explore the mechanism of the intestinal microecology regulation by polysaccharide prebiotics, ELISA, histopathologic analysis, immunohistochemical analysis, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were applied to investigate the effects of fermented polysaccharides on changes in the intestinal microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model and their relationship with the level of intestinal inflammation and barrier protein expression. It was found that fermented Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (FLBP) significantly reduced intestinal inflammation level, improved colonic tissue structure, up-regulated the expression of tight junction proteins Claudin-1 and ZO-1, and significantly increased the content of intestinal SCFAs in mice. Gut bacteria analyses showed that FLBP enriched intestinal Dubosiella and Akkermansia in mice and decreased the abundance of Turicibacter, Faecalibaculum, and Escherichia-Shigella. Results showed that remodeled Dubosiella activated by FLBP played a dominant role in ameliorating colitis by significantly increasing SCFAs content, improving intestinal barrier and reducing intestinal inflammation. The study aimed to provide a safer and better option for the amelioration of colitis and to provide a theoretical basis for the development of functional foods with FLBP.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide alleviates DSS-induced chronic ulcerative colitis by restoring intestinal barrier function and modulating gut microbiota.

PURPOSE: This study examined the protective effects and mechanism of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) in the context of intestinal barrier function and intestinal microbiota in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced chronic ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: C57BL/6J male mice were assigned to a standard normal diet without DSS (control group), a normal diet with DSS (DSS group, 2% DSS given discontinuously for 3 weeks) or a normal diet supplemented with LBP (1% dry feed weight, LBP group, 2% DSS given discontinuously for 3 weeks) for a total of 8 weeks, at which point colonic tissues and caecal contents were collected. RESULTS: LBP exerted a significant effect against colitis by increasing body weight, colon length, DAI and histopathological scores. LBP inhibited proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, iNOS and TNF-α) expression, improved anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) expression, promoted the expression of tight junction proteins (Occludin and ZO-1) via nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation and decreased Claudin-2 expression to maintain the intestinal mucosal barrier. In addition, the abundances of some probiotics (Ruminococcaceae, Lactobacillus, Butyricicoccus, and Akkermansia) were decreased with DSS treatment but increased obviously with LBP treatment. And LBP reduced the abundance of conditional pathogens associated with UC (Mucispirillum and Sutterella). Furthermore, LBP improved the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and isobutyric acid. CONCLUSION: LBP can alleviate DSS-induced UC by regulating inflammatory cytokines and tight junction proteins. Moreover, LBP promotes probiotics, suppresses conditional pathogens and increases SCFAs production, showing a strong prebiotic effect.

Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides Improved Glucose Metabolism in Prediabetic Mice by Regulating Duodenal Contraction.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) have been shown to exert an antiglycemic effect. Emerging evidence suggests that patients with hyperglycemia have a hypercontractility of duodenum, and targeting duodenal contraction of duodenum can be beneficial to glucose metabolism. However, it is unknown whether LBPs can improve glucose metabolism by regulating the hypercontractility of the duodenum. Our aim was to explore the effect of LBPs on duodenal contraction in prediabetic mice and also preliminarily investigate the mechanism. The results showed that LBPs improved glucose homeostasis by decreasing the duodenal amplitude of contraction rather than frequency. Moreover, LBPs ameliorated the gut microbiota composition and the levels of short-chain fatty acids, especially acetic acid, which might bind to the receptor on neurons to regulate the contraction of the duodenum. Acetic acid was hypothesized to play a key role in the above process. Then, acetic acid was determined to exert an antiglycemic effect as expected. In conclusion, LBPs may rely on acetic acid to regulate duodenal contraction to ameliorate glucose metabolism in prediabetic mice, which provides a new therapeutic strategy to treat dysglycemia.

Combined Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides with Plasmon-Activated Water Affect IFN-γ/TNF-α Induced Inflammation in Caco-2 Cells.

The effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) and plasmon-activated water (PAW) against IFN-γ/TNF-α induced inflammation in human colon Caco-2 cells were investigated. Cells were divided into the control, induction, LBP treatment (100-500 µg/mL), and combination groups with PAW. Inflammation was induced 24 h with 10 ng/mL IFN-γ when cell confluency reached >90%, and various doses of LBP with or without PAW were treated for 3 h, and subsequently 50 ng/mL TNF-α was added for another 24 h to provoke inflammation. Combination of LBP with PAW significantly decreased the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8. Cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible NO synthase expression was attenuated in all LBP-treated groups with or without PAW. NLRP3 inflammasome and related protein PYCARD expression were inhibited by LBP at the highest dose (500 µg/mL). All doses of LBP alone significantly decreased p-ERK expression, but combination with PAW increased p-ERK expression compared to those without PAW. Additionally, 250 and 500 µg/mL of LBP with or without PAW inhibited procaspase-3/caspase-3 expression. Therefore, LBP possesses anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis by inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome-related protein. The combination with PAW exerts additive or synergistic effect on anti-inflammation.

[Structure-activity relationship of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides].

As a traditional Chinese herb and functional food, the fruits of Lycium barbarum has been widely used for thousands of years in China. L. barbarum polysaccharides(LBPs) are predominant active components, which have immunomodulatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, neuroprotective, anti-tumor, and prebiotic activities. The molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, glycosidic bond, branching degree, protein content, chemical modification, and spatial structure of LBPs are closely related to their biological activity. Based on the previous studies of this research team, this paper systematically combed and integrated the research progress of structure, function, and structure-activity relationship of LBPs. At the same time, some problems restricting the clarification of the structure-activity relationship of LBPs were considered and prospected, hoping to provide references for the high value utilization of LBPs and in-depth exploration of their health value.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides improve lipid metabolism disorders of spotted sea bass Lateolabrax maculatus induced by high lipid diet.

This experiment explored the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) on lipid metabolism of spotted sea bass Lateolabrax maculatus. Blank and experimental control diets with 100 and 150 g/kg lipid were designed, respectively, and three dosages of LBP (0.75, 1.00, 1.25 g/kg) were supplemented in the experimental control diet. A total 375 of spotted sea bass (19.33 ± 0.15) g were divided into 5 groups, and were given experimental diets for 56 days, respectively. Results showed fish were induced to lipid metabolism disorders with dietary 150 g/kg lipid intake, which manifested in reduced feeding, oxidative stress, elevated serum lipid, and more severe hepatic damage. Dietary LBP improved the lipid metabolism disorders of fish, as indicated by significant enhancements in weight gain, digestion, superoxide dismutase activity, and decreases in malonaldehyde content, and activity of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Accordingly, an improvement in the hepatic morphological and expression of lipid metabolism related genes, including FAS, PPAR-α, CPT1 and ATGL, was observed. Nevertheless, no significant variation in serum triglyceride and total cholesterol was observed. Overall, dietary LBP can improve the growth, digestion, antioxidant capacity, and liver health of spotted sea bass, thereby improving the lipid metabolism disorders induced by 150 g/kg dietary lipid intake.

Distinct Role of Lycium barbarum L. Polysaccharides in Oxidative Stress-Related Ocular Diseases.

Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the increased production of reactive species and reduced antioxidant activity, which can cause a variety of disturbances including ocular diseases. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) are complex polysaccharides isolated from the fruit of L. barbarum, showing distinct roles in antioxidants. Moreover, it is relatively safe and non-toxic. In recent years, the antioxidant activities of LBPs have attracted remarkable attention. In order to illustrate its significance and underlying therapeutic value for vision, we comprehensively review the recent progress on the antioxidant mechanisms of LBP and its potential applications in ocular diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive neuroretinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury, glaucoma, dry eye syndrome, and diabetic cataract.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide alleviates dextran sodium sulfate-induced inflammatory bowel disease by regulating M1/M2 macrophage polarization via the STAT1 and STAT6 pathways.

Disruption of colonic homeostasis caused by aberrant M1/M2 macrophage polarization contributes to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is the primary active constituent of traditional Chinese herbal Lycium barbarum L., which has been widely demonstrated to have important functions in regulating immune activity and anti-inflammatory. Thus, LBP may protect against IBD. To test this hypothesis, the DSS-induced colitis model was established in mice, then the mice were treated with LBP. The results indicated that LBP attenuated the weight loss, colon shortening, disease activity index (DAI), and histopathological scores of colon tissues in colitis mice, suggesting that LBP could protect against IBD. Besides, LBP decreased the number of M1 macrophages and the protein level of Nitric oxide synthase 2(NOS2) as a marker of M1 macrophages and enhanced the number of M2 macrophages and the protein level of Arginase 1(Arg-1) as a marker of M2 macrophages in colon tissues from mice with colitis, suggesting that LBP may protect against IBD by regulating macrophage polarization. Next, the mechanistic studies in RAW264.7 cells showed that LBP inhibited M1-like phenotype by inhibiting the phosphorylation of STAT1, and promoted M2-like phenotype by promoting the phosphorylation of STAT6. Finally, immunofluorescence double-staining results of colon tissues showed that LBP regulated STAT1 and STAT6 pathways in vivo. The results in the study demonstrated that LBP could protect against IBD by regulating macrophage polarization through the STAT1 and STAT6 pathways.