Unveiling the molecular mechanisms of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides on intestinal immunity: An integrated study of network pharmacology, molecular dynamics and in vivo experiments.

Intestinal immunity plays a pivotal role in overall immunological defenses, constructing mechanisms against pathogens while maintaining balance with commensal microbial communities. Existing therapeutic interventions may lead to drug resistance and potential toxicity when immune capacity is compromised. Dendrobium officinale, a traditional Chinese medicine, contains components identified to bolster immunity. Employing network pharmacology strategies, this study identified constituents of Dendrobium officinale and their action targets in the TCMSP and Swiss Target Prediction databases, and compared them with intestinal immunity-related targets. Protein-protein interaction networks revealed the core targets of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides, encompassing key pathways such as cell proliferation, inflammatory response, and immune reactions, particularly in association with the Toll-like receptor 4. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation further confirmed the high affinity and stability between Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides and Toll-like receptor 4. In vivo experiments demonstrated that Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides modulates the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 and its downstream key proteins in the colonic mucosa of mice. Consequently, these findings suggest that Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides may serve as a potential modulator for intestinal immune functions, with its mechanism potentially related to the Toll-like receptor 4.

An exopolysaccharide from Lactobacillus pentosus YY-112: structure and effect on the human intestinal microbiota.

The development of novel prebiotics, which could regulate the intestinal microbiota, may help prevent and treat intestinal diseases. Here, we studied a homogeneous polysaccharide, LPE-2, produced by Lactobacillus pentosus YY-112 during fermentation. Methylation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, combined with nuclear magnetic resonance results, suggested that the structural unit of LPE-2 comprises a branched mannan moiety and a linear glucan moiety. In vitro simulated intestinal fermentation showed that LPE-2 reduced harmful intestinal gas production and promoted short-chain fatty acid production (especially propionic acid). Moreover, it reduced the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, increased that of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, and had a stronger regulatory effect on intestinal flora in women than in men. The potential sex-specific prebiotic effects of LPE-2 on human intestinal health, were possibly related to its mannan branch with (1→2) and (1→3) linkages and backbones with flexible α configurations, which are sheared and degraded/utilized easier by Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.

Dendrobium officinale Xianhu 2 polysaccharide helps forming a healthy gut microbiota and improving host immune system: An in vitro and in vivo study.

Dendrobium officinale is widely consumed owing to its numerous beneficial effects. We aimed to characterize polysaccharides of Dendrobium officinale (DOP) from the stems of Dendrobium officinale Xianhu 2 and clarify whether it benefit the intestinal microbiota and the immune system. The DOP weighed 291 kDa and comprised mannose, glucose, galactose, and rhamnose at 59.31:33.31:1.00:0.51 M ratio. In in vitro/vivo studies, DOP significantly increased benign intestinal microbe proportion (Lactobacillus, etc.), but reduced harmful bacteria (Escherichia_Shigella) (P < 0.05), and significantly increased butyric acid production (P < 0.05). Concentrations of 2 g/L DOP for in vitro fermentation and 100 mg/kg body weight for the mouse model were effective. In mice, DOP significantly reduced CRP, CD3, CD4, and TNF-α levels and increased C4 levels (P < 0.05). DOP might influence the immune system indirectly through regulation of the gut microbiota. Its possible regulation mechanism was that DOP reduced CD4+ Th cells proliferation so that reduced the secretion of TNF-α.

Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharides Better Regulate the Microbiota of Women Than Men.

Dendrobium officinale is widely used as a health supplement, but its specific impact on healthy gut microbiota has not yet been clarified, nor has its impact on different human genders. To overcome the problems mentioned above. DOP was extracted and purified with an 8000-12,000 Da dialysis bag. The molecular weight and monosaccharide composition were determined using HPGPC and GC. Gas chromatography was used to detect the content of SCFA. 16S rDNA sequencing was used to analyze the diversity of human microbiota. The results showed that DOP contained two fractions, with an average molecular weight of 277 kDa and 1318 Da, and mainly composed of mannose and glucose. DOP can increase the relative abundance of benign microbiota and decrease the harmful types. Propionic acid content in women was significantly increased after DOP treatment. Finally, the correlation analysis revealed that DOP was beneficial to the microbiota of both men and women. It can be concluded from the results that DOP is a health supplement suitable for humans, and especially women.

Potential prebiotic properties of exopolysaccharides produced by a novel Lactobacillus strain, Lactobacillus pentosus YY-112.

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) derived from Lactobacilli have important physiological effects and are commonly used as new prebiotics. We identified and studied a new Lactobacillus strain, YY-112, isolated from waxberry (Myrica rubra). This strain, identified as Lactobacillus pentosus, tolerates acids, bile salts, and artificial digestive fluids. The EPS derived from this strain weighed 5.9 × 104 Da and contained glucose, mannose, glucosamine, galactose, and rhamnose at 62.69 : 85.85 : 2.46 : 2.92 : 1.00 molar ratios. We found that the EPS from this strain increased the ratio of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes and decreased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, especially Escherichia-Shigella, when added to a simulated gastrointestinal system in vitro. After analysing the short-chain fatty acids, we found that this EPS promoted the production of acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid, and reduced the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid. We conclude that Lactobacillus pentosus YY-112 is a potential probiotic strain with EPS that is beneficial for the intestinal microbiota and short-chain fatty acid production.

Enhanced antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of citrus hesperidin by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis.

Hesperidin hydrolysates (HHS) was produced by the hydrolysis of hesperidin (HDN) in previous studies. The potential components in HHS were identified by LC-MS, and minor components (MCS) in HHS were isolated. Antioxidant activities by radical-scavenging capacities, reducing capacity and ß-carotene-linoleate assay, anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting NO production of RAW 264.7 cells, and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects of HDN, HHS, MCS and henperetin (HTN) were investigated in present study. HHS showed higher radical scavenging activities, higher reducing capacity, and higher inhibitory activity in the ß-carotene-linoleate assay than HDN. HHS inhibited the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines of RAW 264.7 cells more strongly than HDN. HHS also intensively inhibited α-glucosidase activity whereas HDN showed little activity. In addition, the effects of MCS on above activities showed it play a synergistic part with HTN. This work suggested that hydrolyzation of HDN enhance the activities, and provided valuable information on effective utilization of HDN.

Effects of post-harvest stigmasterol treatment on quality-related parameters and antioxidant enzymes of green asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.).

The effects of immersion of green asparagus spears in stigmasterol solution (0, 0.5 and 1.0 g l-1, 15 min, 25°C) on weight loss, surface colour, enzyme activities and content of malondialdehyde, total phenol, lignin and chlorophyll were investigated during 40 days of storage at 4 ± 0.5°C. Of the concentrations tested, 0.5 g l-1 treatment was most effective. Stigmasterol (0.5 g l-1) treatment significantly reduced colour changes and losses of fresh weight and chlorophyll content. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were maintained higher in stigmasterol-treated (0.5 g l-1) asparagus, whereas the activity of peroxidase (POD) was significantly reduced. Stigmasterol treatment (0.5 g l-1) also significantly decreased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased total phenol content. Accumulation of lignin was positively correlated to activity of guaiacol-POD (r = 0.960, p < 0.01) in stigmasterol-treated (0.5 g l-1) asparagus. The polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity decreased and showed a significant negative correlation with the chroma L* value (r = -0.899, p < 0.01) in stigmasterol-treated (0.5 g l-1) asparagus. It was concluded that stigmasterol treatment (0.5 g l-1) could inhibit the senescence of green asparagus, and therefore prolong its shelf-life, maintaining the quality of post-harvest green asparagus.

Fatty acid profile, oxidative stability and toxicological safety of bayberry kernel oil.

The fatty acid profile, oxidative stability and toxicological safety of bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) kernel oil (BKO) extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) and solvent of diethyl ether were assessed. Fatty acid profile was determined by gas chromatography, oxidative stability by placing the sample of 25g in a blast oven at 50±1°C to accelerate oxidation and toxicological safety by bacterial reverse mutation (Ames test) and acute oral toxicity in mice. The results demonstrated that in comparison to lard and rapeseed oil, the peroxide values of BKO were higher but the acid values were similar during the incubation test. The Ames test demonstrated no mutagenicity and no obvious acute toxicity were observed, suggesting that the BKO has potential as a novel edible oil.

Isolation and characteristics analysis of a novel high bacterial cellulose producing strain Gluconacetobacter intermedius CIs26.

A strain producing bacterial cellulose (BC) screened from rotten mandarin fruit was identified as Gluconacetobacter intermedius CIs26 by the examination of general taxonomical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum showed that pellicle produced by strain CIs26 was composed of glucan, and had the same functional group as a typical BC. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) analysis indicated that the BC was type I in structure with crystallinity index of 75%. BC yields of strain CIs26 in Hestrin-Schramn (HS), citrus waste modified HS (CMHS) and citrus waste solution (CWS) mediums were 2.1 g/L, 5.7 g/L, and 7.2 g/L, respectively. It was shown that citrus waste could stimulate BC production of strain CIs26 efficiently. Based on the ability of utilization of citrus waste, this strain appeared to have potential in BC manufacture on an industrial scale.