Functional properties and antioxidant activity of gelatine and hydrolysate from deer antler base.

Gelatine was extracted from deer antler base by the hot water method and hydrolyzed with trypsin. A comparison of the properties of gelatine before and after enzymatic hydrolysis showed a decline in the surface hydrophobicity, enhanced thermal stability, broadening of the particle size distribution, a zeta potential shift to a lower pH, reduced foaming and emulsifying properties, and enhanced antioxidant activity. Hydrolysis increased the gelatine antioxidant activity in DPPH and FRAP assays. These results indicate that the functional properties of deer antler base gelatine may be affected by trypsin modification.

A Comparative Study on the Effects of Different Parts of Panax ginseng on the Immune Activity of Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppressed Mice.

The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of the immunological activity of various parts (root/stem/leaf/flower/seed) of five-year-old ginseng on the immune system of immunosuppressive mice. Immunosuppression was induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX) in the mouse model, whereas levamisole hydrochloride tablet (LTH) was used for the positive control group. We found that ginseng root (GRT), ginseng leaf (GLF), and ginseng flower (GFR) could relieve immunosuppression by increased viability of NK cells, enhanced immune organ index, improved cell-mediated immune response, increased content of CD4⁺ and ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺, and recovery of macrophage function, including carbon clearance, phagocytic rate, and phagocytic index, in immunodeficient mice. However, ginseng stem (GSM) and ginseng seed (GSD) could only enhance the thymus indices, carbon clearance, splenocyte proliferation, NK cell activities, and the level of IL-4 in immunosuppressed mice. In CTX-injected mice, GRT and GFR remarkably increased the protein expression of Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, SOD1, SOD2, and CAT in the spleen. As expected, oral administration of GRT and GFR markedly enhanced the production of cytokines, such as IL-1ß, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α, compared with the CTX-induced immunosuppressed mice, and GRT and GFR did this relatively better than GSM, GLF, and GSD. This study provides a theoretical basis for further study on different parts of ginseng.

Study on Antidepressant Activity of Pseudo-Ginsenoside HQ on Depression-Like Behavior in Mice.

Suppressive effects of ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2), (24R)-pseudo-ginsenoside HQ (R-PHQ), and (24S)-pseudo-ginsenoside HQ (S-PHQ) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression-like behavior were evaluated using the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) in mice. Pretreatment with Rh2, R-PHQ, and S-PHQ significantly decreased immobility time in FST and TST with clear dose-dependence, and significantly downregulated levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, and upregulated superoxide dismutase activity in the hippocampus of LPS-challenged mice. Furthermore, R-PHQ and S-PHQ significantly increased the expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB), sirtuin type 1 (Sirt1), and nuclear-related factor 2, and inhibited the phosphorylation of inhibitor of κB-α and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the hippocampus of LPS-challenged mice. Additionally, the antidepressant-like effect of R-PHQ was found related to the dopaminergic (DA), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic, and noradrenaline systems, while the antidepressive effect of S-PHQ was involved in the DA and GABAergic systems. Taken together, these results suggested that Rh2, R-PHQ, and S-PHQ produced significant antidepressant-like effects, which may be related to the BDNF/TrkB and Sirt1/NF-κB signaling pathways.

Immunomodulatory Effects of (24R)-Pseudo-Ginsenoside HQ and (24S)-Pseudo-Ginsenoside HQ on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression and Their Anti-Tumor Effects Study.

(24R)-pseudo-ginsenoside HQ (R-PHQ) and (24S)-pseudo-ginsenoside HQ (S-PHQ) are the main metabolites of (20S)-ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2) in vivo. In this study, we found that Rh2, R-PHQ, and S-PHQ upregulated the innate and adaptive immune response in cyclophosphamide (CTX) induced-immunocompromised mice as evidenced by the number of leukocytes, cellular immunity, and phagocytosis of macrophages. Spleen T-lymphocyte subpopulations and the serum cytokines level were also balanced in these immunosuppressed mice. Furthermore, co-administration with R-PHQ or S-PHQ did not compromise the antitumor activity of CTX in the hepatoma H22-bearing mice. Treatment with R-PHQ and S-PHQ clearly induced the apoptosis of tumor cells, significantly increased the expression of Bax, and remarkably inhibited the expression of Bcl-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in H22 tumor tissues. The anti-tumor activity of R-PHQ and S-PHQ could be related to the promotion of tumor apoptosis and inhibition of angiogenesis and may involve the caspase and VEGF signaling pathways. This study provides a theoretical basis for further study on R-PHQ and S-PHQ.

Effects of Schisandra chinensis polysaccharides on rats with antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Schisandra chinensis (S. chinensis), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is comprised of polysaccharides as its main active component. In this study, water-soluble polysaccharides from S. chinensis (WSP) were extracted, and their effects on rats with antibiotic-associated diarrhea were investigated. The rats were treated with lincomycin hydrochloride, followed by saline (natural recovery [NR] group) or WSP (WSP group). The body weight and water intake of rats were analyzed, as well as histological data. Other experiments involving a measurement of cytokine levels, 16s rRNA sequencing analysis of caecal contents, and a measurement of the concentration of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were also performed. Compared to rats of the NR group, WSP decreased the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the ileum and colon; decreased the levels of IL-4, IL-17A and TNF-α; increased the serum IL-2 and IL-10 levels; increased the relative abundance of Blautia, Intestinibacter and Lachnospiraceae-UCG-008, but decreased the relative abundance of Ruminococcus-1, Ruminococcaceae-UCG-014 and Erysipelatoclostridium at the genus level; and significantly increased the contents of total SCFAs, acetate and propionate. In conclusion, WSP affected rats with antibiotic-associated diarrhea by improving the ultrastructure of the gut, adjusting cytokine levels and modifying the gut microbial community and SCFAs production.