Bamboo shavings derived O-acetylated xylan alleviates loperamide-induced constipation in mice.

BSH-1 is an O-acetylated xylan obtained from bamboo shavings. This study determined the protective effects of BSH-1 against loperamide (Lop)-induced constipation in mice. Mice received BSH-1 by gavage daily for 14 days. In constipated mice, BSH-1 significantly shortened the defecation time and raised the gastrointestinal (GI) transit rate, stool production, and cecal concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). BSH-1 regulated the serum levels of gut hormones and neurotransmitters. BSH-1 also significantly altered the cecal microbiota of the constipated mice by increasing the abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus, Roseburia, and Bacteroidales_S24-7) and decreasing potentially pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Alloprevotella and Staphylococcus). Furthermore, colonic transcriptome analysis revealed that BSH-1 significantly reversed the expression changes of genes related to intestinal motility, water and ion transport, inflammation and cancer in constipated mice. Our findings indicated that BSH-1 effectively relieved Lop-induced constipation in mice and could be potentially used for constipation treatment.

Nuciferine reduced fat deposition by controlling triglyceride and cholesterol concentration in broiler chickens.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dietary nuciferine affects lipid metabolism in broiler chickens. Four treatment groups were made from 120 1-day-old broiler chickens including the base diet group (normal control [NC], supplemented with 0 mg/kg of nuciferine) and groups treated with 25 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg of dietary nuciferine, which was supplemented for 42 d. The results showed that body weight, average daily weight gain, and absolute and relative fat and liver weight were significantly decreased with nuciferine supplementation. The plasma concentration of triiodothyronine, free triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and free thyroxine was significantly decreased in the nuciferine-supplemented group, but the plasma glucagon concentration was significantly increased. The plasma and hepatic triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations were significantly decreased in the nuciferine group, but plasma and hepatic nonesterified fatty acid concentration, hepatic lipase activity, and hepatic glycogen content were significantly increased. Hepatic histological examination showed that fat cell volume and size in the 100 and 400 mg/kg group were smaller than those in the NC group. The fatty degeneration in the liver was decreased with nuciferine supplementation. The fat cell volume and size were shrunk in the nuciferine group. Dietary nuciferine supplementation significantly decreased the gene expression level of HMGCR, SREBP2, ACC, and SPEBP-1C, but significantly increased the gene expression level of LXR-α, CYP7A1, and CPT-I. The results indicated that nuciferine exhibited strong reduced fat deposition activities and reflected not only by decrease of the concentration of TG and TC but also by reduction in the key gene expression level of HMGCR, SREBP2, ACC, and SPEBP-1c and elevation of the key gene expression level of LXR-α, CYP7A1, and CPT-I. Taken together, our results suggested that the ability of nuciferine on reducing fat deposition in broiler chickens by regulating lipid metabolism was associated with the balance of TG and TC concentration.

Anti-inflammatory activity of polysaccharides from Phellinus linteus by regulating the NF-κB translocation in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages.

Inflammatory response remains one of the most common and serious complications of disease. In order to profound understanding relationship between Phellinus linteus polysaccharides (TCM) and inflammation, inflammatory cell model was constructed by LPS acting RAW264.7 cell line. The results showed that TCM could decrease the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-12) contents and the mRNA expression levels and increase the anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) contents and the mRNA expression levels. Additionally, the levels of NF-κB translocation was significantly decreased, which associated with the IκBα phosphorylation level decreased and the AMPKα phosphorylation level increased. These results indicated that TCM could reduce the inflammatory responses in the LPS induced inflammatory cell model might be related to inhibit NF-κB translocation and regulate the balance of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory factors.

Apoptosis of mouse myeloma cells induced by curcumin via the Notch3-p53 signaling axis.

Resistance to apoptosis is a characteristic of cancer. Curcumin has become a potential anticancer drug for its pro-apoptotic effects, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Furthermore, the Notch3-p53 signaling axis serves an important role in cell fate. The present study was designed to investigate the antitumor effect of curcumin by the Notch3-p53 axis in mouse myeloma P3X63Ag8 cells. The effects of curcumin on the viability of P3X63Ag8 cells were evaluated using an MTT assay. Quantitative expression of the Notch3-p53 signaling axis-associated genes was measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blot analysis was used to investigate the expression of proteins. Additionally, flow cytometry was used to measure the ratio of apoptosis. The results demonstrated that curcumin could significantly inhibit cell viability. No significant pro-apoptotic effect was observed when the concentration of curcumin was <30 µM. At 30 µM, curcumin-treated cells exhibited an apoptotic phenomenon, and the ratio of late apoptosis increased with the concentration of curcumin, and reached 28.4 and 51.8% in the medium- and high-dose groups, respectively. Curcumin inhibited the expression of Notch3, while the middle- and high-dose groups promoted p53. The expression of Notch3-responsive genes Hes family BHLH transcription factor 1 and Hes-related family transcription factor with YRPW motif 1 were notably promoted. Curcumin treatment significantly downregulated B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) at the mRNA and protein levels, but upregulated Bcl-2-associated X. These data indicated that curcumin exhibited antitumor effects in mouse myeloma cells with induction of apoptosis by affecting the Notch3-p53 signaling axis.

Nuciferine Prevents Hepatic Steatosis by Regulating Lipid Metabolismin Diabetic Rat Model.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigatesthe nuciferine capacity to regulate the liver's lipid metabolism regarding steatosis and injury in STZ-induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into groups control, diabetic and nuciferine 200 mg/kg/ day treatment. After 4 days of STZ injection, the nuciferine group was treated and administered via oral gavages for 4 weeks. At the end of experiment, blood, liver, myocardial and muscular samples were collected. RESULTS: Nuciferine-treated significantly increased the body weight from 339.4g to 367.8g, but significantly decreased the food and water intake compared with diabetic rats. Also, the nuciferine-treated rats had significantly decreased TC, TG, and FFAs in the liver compared with the diabetic group, especially the serum markers of blood glucose. These were associated with the gene expression related to lipogenesis which was significantly down-regulated; the gene expression involved in lipolysis and fatty acid ß-oxidation was significantly up-regulated. Discussion and. CONCLUSION: The data provide evidence that nuciferine supplementation could protect the liver by regulating lipid metabolism gene expression resulting in decreasing the steatosis and injury in diabetic rat. Thus, nuciferine could be developed as a diabetic adjuvant food additive in future.

Curcumin supplementation regulates lipid metabolism in broiler chickens.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dietary curcumin affects lipid metabolism in the liver of broiler chickens. Four treatment groups were formed from 1200 1-day-old broiler chickens, including a base diet (control, supplemented with 0 mg/kg curcumin), 500 mg/kg, 1,000 mg/kg, and 2,000 mg/kg dietary curcumin, for 49 d. At the end of experiment, each group of 50 chickens were sampled and analyzed. Compared with the control group, the results have showed that body weight, average daily weight gain, absolute and relative liver weight significantly decreased in the 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg curcumin groups (P < 0.05). The absolute and relative abdominal fat weight were significantly decreased in the 2,000 mg/kg curcumin group (P < 0.05). The concentrations of plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.05) and plasma and hepatic triglyceride concentrations (P < 0.01) were markedly decreased in the 2,000 mg/kg curcumin group. The hepatic nonesterified fatty acid concentration (P < 0.05) and the hepatic glycogen (P < 0.05) and liver hepatic lipase activities (P < 0.01) were significantly increased in the 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg curcumin groups. The plasma-free triiodothyronine and thyroxine concentrations were significantly increased in the 2,000 mg/kg curcumin group (P < 0.05). The gene expression levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) were significantly decreased in all curcumin groups (P < 0.05), but the gene expression levels of acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) and ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) were significantly decreased only in the 2,000 mg/kg curcumin group (P < 0.05). The expression levels of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor α (PPARα) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-I (CPT-I) were significantly increased in the 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg curcumin groups (P < 0.05). These results indicated that curcumin plays an important role in reduction abdominal fat deposition by decreasing the hepatic and plasma lipid profile and affecting the expression levels of genes related to lipogenesis and lipolysis including ACC, FAS, SREBP-1c, ACLY, PPARα, and CPT-I.

Modifications of dietary flavonoids towards improved bioactivity: An update on structure-activity relationship.

Over the past two decades, extensive studies have revealed that inflammation represents a major risk factor for various human diseases. Chronic inflammatory responses predispose to pathological progression of chronic illnesses featured with penetration of inflammatory cells, dysregulation of cellular signaling, excessive generation of cytokines, and loss of barrier function. Hence, the suppression of inflammation has the potential to delay, prevent, and to treat chronic diseases. Flavonoids, which are widely distributed in humans daily diet, such as vegetables, fruits, tea and cocoa, among others, are considered as bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory potential. Modification of flavonoids including hydroxylation, o-methylation, and glycosylation, can alter their metabolic features and affect mechanisms of inflammation. Structure-activity relationships among naturally occurred flavonoids hence provide us with a preliminary insight into their anti-inflammatory potential, not only attributing to the antioxidant capacity, but also to modulate inflammatory mediators. The present review summarizes current knowledge and underlies mechanisms of anti-inflammatory activities of dietary flavonoids and their influences involved in the development of various inflammatory-related chronic diseases. In addition, the established structure-activity relationships of phenolic compounds in this review may give an insight for the screening of new anti-inflammatory agents from dietary materials.

Curcumin alleviates liver oxidative stress in type 1 diabetic rats.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of curcumin on antioxidants using a rat model of type 1 diabetes. Seven­week­old male Sprague­Dawley rats were injected with Streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneally to induce this model, and then treated with 1.0% curcumin (weight ratio) mixed in their diet for 21 days. The present study included three groups: Control group (NC), diabetic rat model group (DC) and a curcumin treated group (Diab­Cur). The results demonstrated that curcumin treatment markedly decreased the blood glucose levels, plasma malondialdehyde concentration and plasma activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH­Px) and catalase (CAT); however, it increased the plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) and insulin levels. Curcumin treatment increased the expression of the CAT, GSH­Px, HO­1 and norvegicus NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1, and decreased the SOD1 expression, which, led to a diminished oxidative stress status. In addition, curcumin treatment significantly increased the protein expression of Keap1 in the Diab­Cur group when compared with the DC group, decreased cytosolic concentrations of Nrf2 while increasing nuclear accumulation of Nrf2. The results provide evidence that oxidative stress in the STZ­induced diabetic rat model may be attenuated by curcumin via the activation of the Keap1­Nrf2­ARE signaling pathway, as evidenced by a decrease in the blood glucose concentration and an increase in the transcription of several antioxidant genes.

A High-Concentrate Diet Induced Milk Fat Decline via Glucagon-Mediated Activation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase in Dairy Cows.

Dairy cows are often fed a high-concentrate (HC) diet to meet lactation demands; however, long-term concentrate feeding is unhealthy and decreases milk fat. Therefore, we investigated the effects of liver lipid metabolism on milk fat synthesis. Ten lactating Holstein cows were assigned randomly into HC and LC (low-concentrate) diet groups. After 20 weeks of feeding, milk fat declined, and lipopolysaccharide levels in the jugular, portal, and hepatic veins increased in the HC group. Liver consumption and release of nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) into the bloodstream also decreased. AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKα) was up-regulated significantly in the livers of the HC-fed cows. The HC diet also up-regulated the expression of the transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and its downstream targets involved in fatty acid oxidation, including carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1,2 (CPT-1, CPT-2), liver-fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), and acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO). The HC diet increased blood glucagon (GC) levels, and liver glucagon receptor (GCGR) expression was elevated. Cumulatively, a long-term HC diet decreased plasma concentrations of NEFA via the GC/GCGR-AMPK-PPARα signalling pathway and reduced their synthesis in the liver. The decreased NEFA concentration in the blood during HC feeding may explain the decline in the milk fat of lactating cows.

Synthesis and antioxidant activity of novel Mannich base of 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives possessing 1,4-benzodioxan.

A new series of Mannich base of 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives possessing 1,4-benzodioxan (6a-6ae) were synthesized and characterized by (1)H NMR, ESI-MS and elemental analysis. The structure of 6b was further confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. All these novel compounds were screened for their in vitro antioxidant activity employing 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) cationic radical (ABTS(+)) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) scavenging assays. Due to the combination of 1,4-benzodioxan, 1,3,4-oxadiazoles and substituted phenyl ring, most of them exhibited nice antioxidant activities. In all of these three assays mentioned above, compounds 6f and 6e showed significant radical scavenging ability comparable to the commonly used antioxidants, BHT and Trolox. Seven compounds with representative substituents or activities were selected for further assays in chemical simulation biological systems-inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protection against 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane hydrochloride) (AAPH) induced DNA strand breakage, in which, 6f and 6e were demonstrated to be of the most potent antioxidant activities.

Flavipin in Chaetomium globosum CDW7, an endophytic fungus from Ginkgo biloba, contributes to antioxidant activity.

1,2-Benzenedicarboxaldehyde-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyl (flavipin) was found to be antagonistic against nematodes and fungi. Here we demonstrated that flavipin is a potent antioxidant in vitro and in vivo, which has great potential in the therapy for free radical-associated diseases. Therefore, flavipin-producing bio-source was screened from 80 endophytes in Ginkgo biloba. Seven endophytic fungi were able to synthesize antioxidant substances and identified by ITS rDNA sequences. Among them, Chaetomium globosum CDW7 was a remarkable producer of flavipin. The fermentation parameters of CDW7 were then optimized for high flavipin production. Cultured under the optimal condition (25 °C, 100/250 mL flask, 12 discs/flask, 150 rpm, pH 6.5) for 14 days, CDW7 was able to synthesize flavipin at a production of 315.5 mg/L. In addition, flavipin output was positively correlated to antioxidant activities of crude extracts with a correlation coefficient of 0.8235, indicating that flavipin was the major antioxidant component of CDW7's metabolites. These data demonstrated that CDW7 was a highly yielded bio-source of antioxidant flavipin.