Ginsenosides and Polysaccharides from Ginseng Co-Fermented with Multi-Enzyme-Coupling Probiotics Improve In Vivo Immunomodulatory Effects.

The active components of ginseng, such as ginsenosides and polysaccharides, have high therapeutic value in treating cancer, decreasing obesity, and enhancing immunity. However, simple primary ginseng treatment cannot maximize this medicinal potential. Therefore, in this study, Panax ginseng was co-fermented with multi-enzyme-coupling probiotics to obtain a fermentation broth with higher levels of ginsenosides, polysaccharides, and probiotics. When compared to other treatment methods for cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice, the results reveal that the P. ginseng fermentation broth treated with multi-enzyme-coupling probiotics could significantly improve the immune function of immunosuppressive mice and restore intestinal flora stability. Overall, this processing method will provide a novel strategy for promoting the application of ginseng and the relief of immunosuppression.

Superoxide dismutase-embedded metal-organic frameworks via biomimetic mineralization for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic and spontaneous inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, and has been associated with an improved level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, superoxide dismutase (SOD) was encapsulated into zeolitic imidazolate framework-zni (ZIF-zni) to construct a nanocomposite termed SOD@ZIF-zni through biomimetic mineralization, which was then used as a formulation for the IBD treatment. The SOD@ZIF-zni composite could efficiently suppress the level of ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines, using the colorectal cancer cell line SW480 as a model. Oral administration of the SOD@ZIF-zni composite could relieve the oxidative stress and inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the inflamed colonic tissues, leading to the alleviation of colitis in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mice. Overall, the favorable therapeutic efficacy and biocompatibility of SOD@ZIF-zni gave it potential to be used as a safe and effective formulation for IBD treatment in the future.

Cellobiose phosphorylase from Caldicellulosiruptor bescii catalyzes reversible phosphorolysis via different kinetic mechanisms.

In the process of yielding biofuels from cellulose degradation, traditional enzymatic hydrolysis, such as ß-glucosidase catalyzing cellobiose, can barely resolve the contradiction between cellulose degradation and bioenergy conservation. However, it has been shown that cellobiose phosphorylase provides energetic advantages for cellobiose degradation through a phosphorolytic pathway, which has attracted wide attention. Here, the cellobiose phosphorylase gene from Caldicellulosiruptor bescii (CbCBP) was cloned, expressed, and purified. Analysis of the enzymatic properties and kinetic mechanisms indicated that CbCBP catalyzed reversible phosphorolysis and had good thermal stability and broad substrate selectivity. In addition, the phosphorolytic reaction of cellobiose by CbCBP proceeded via an ordered Bi Bi mechanism, while the synthetic reaction proceeded via a ping pong Bi Bi mechanism. The present study lays the foundation for optimizing the degradation of cellulose and the synthesis of functional oligosaccharides.

Immobilized lipase in bio-based metal-organic frameworks constructed by biomimetic mineralization: A sustainable biocatalyst for biodiesel synthesis.

Herein, thermophilic lipase QLM from Alcaligenes sp. has been successfully immobilized in bio-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) through biomimetic mineralization, using zinc acetate and adenine as metal ion and organic ligand, respectively. The morphology and structure of lipase@Bio-MOF was systematically characterized by scanning electron microcopy (SEM), transmission electron microcopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR). The enzyme loading in immobilized enzyme was measured to be 15.9 % by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Further, it was demonstrated to possess favorable catalytic activity and stability under high temperature and alkaline conditions and in the presence of metal ions, using the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl caprylate as a model. Finally, the immobilized enzyme was successfully applied in the preparation of biodiesel through the trans-esterification of sunflower oil with methanol, obtaining a conversion of >60 % at a high oil/methanol ratio of 8:1. Meanwhile, it showed excellent recyclability during the biodiesel production, and no changes of morphology and crystal structure were observed after being used for 3 cycles. Overall, the immobilized lipase in bio-based MOFs provided an economically and environmentally viable biocatalyst for the synthesis of biodiesel.

Hypoglycemic effect of polysaccharides with different molecular weight of Pseudostellaria heterophylla.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to evaluate the antidiabetic activity and to detect molecular size of Pseudostellaria heterophylla polysaccharide (PHP). Pseudostellaria heterophylla is a medicine extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine formulas to treat diabetes and its complications. METHODS: Molecular weight of PHP was determined by gel permeation chromatography combined with phenol-sulphuric acid method and the monosaccharides composition was determined by HPLC with a precolumn derivatization. Four polysaccharides with different molecular weight were compared for hypoglycemic active on two animal models both high does alloxan induced type1 diabetic mellitus (T1DM) and high-fat/lower does streptozotocin induced type2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM). Blood sugar, glucose tolerance, and insulin tolerance were detected. Rat serum IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-10, Leptin, TNF-α, Acrp30 and CRP were also analyzed by sandwich-ELISA approaches to preliminary probe the hypoglycemic mechanism of PHP. RESULTS: The hypoglycemic effects related to molecular size of polysaccharide were more effective against T2DM than T1DM. PHP comprise four monosaccharides of galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose and arabinos. T2DM rats daily receiving oral dose of polysaccharide(100 ~ 400 mg/kg) with 50 ~ 210 kDa molecular weight (PF40) could not only significantly lower blood sugar but also reduce total triglyceride level in serum. PF40 improves in insulin tolerance inhibited the expression of some biomarkers including inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and elevated anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, regulated adiponectin Acrp30 and leptin. CONCLUSIONS: PF40 prevent the cascade of inflammatory events in the treatment of T2DM to block overweight progresses to obesity.