Lycopene Maintains Mitochondrial Homeostasis to Counteract the Enterotoxicity of Deoxynivalenol.

The intestinal tract is a target organ for Deoxynivalenol (DON) absorption and toxicity. Mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance is the gut toxicity mechanism of DON. Lycopene (LYC) has intestinal protective effects and can maintain mitochondrial homeostasis in response to various danger signals. The purpose of this study was to explore the protective effect of LYC on DON-induced IPEC-J2 cells damage. These results showed that DON exposure induced an increase in the levels of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in IPEC-J2 cells. DON impaired IPEC-J2 cell barrier function and caused mitochondrial dysfunction by inducing mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) reducing, destroying mitochondrial fission factors, mitochondrial fusion factors, and mitophagy factors expression. However, adding LYC can reduce the toxic effects of DON-induced IPEC-J2 cells and decrease cellular oxidative stress, functional damage, mitochondrial dynamics imbalance, and mitophagy processes. In conclusion, LYC maintains mitochondrial homeostasis to counteract the IPEC-J2 cells' toxicity of DON.

Application of a novel and green temperature-responsive deep eutectic solvent system to simultaneously extract and separate different polar active phytochemicals from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill.

In the present study, a novel and green temperature-responsive deep eutectic solvent (TRDES) system was developed and applied for the simultaneous extraction and separation of different polar active phytochemicals from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. The TRDES, consisting of amino alcohols and phenolic compounds, was chosen as the switching medium, and an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) type switchable solvent was obtained by adding an inorganic salt solution. The switchable phase diagram was plotted based on the relationship between the phase change temperature, the concentration and the amount of sodium chloride solution. Under optimal parameters, the yields with TRDES for different polar active phytochemicals (lignanoids and polysaccharides) from the dried fruit of Schisandra chinensis (DFSC) were 1.62 âˆ¼ 1.17-fold and 1.39-fold to those with conventional solvents. Also, the TRDES system was still effective on extraction of DFSC lignanoids and polysaccharides after four cycles of extraction. The separated polysaccharides and lignanoids both had strong antioxidant activities with IC50 values of 1.92 mg/ mL and 0.10 mg/ mL against 2,2'-Azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS), respectively. The extraction mechanism of TRDES was postulated by Density functional theory (DFT) calculations the hydrogen bonding in TRDES was the main factor to the higher extraction yield. This temperature-responsive deep eutectic solvent could be widely used for the efficient extraction and separation of multi-polar components. As a green and recyclable solvents, TRDES has great potential for the lower cost production from plants.

Deoxynivalenol triggers porcine intestinal tight junction disorder: Insights from mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is universally detected trichothecene in most cereal commodities, which is considered as a major hazardous material for human and animal health. Intestine is the most vulnerable organ with higher concentration of DON than other organs, owing to the first defense barrier function to exogenous substances. However, the underling mechanisms about DON-induced intestinal toxicity remain poorly understood. Here, DON poisoning models of IPEC-J2 cells was established to explore adverse effect and the potential mechanism of DON-induced enterotoxicity. Results showed that DON exposure destroyed IPEC-J2 cells morphology. Results showed that DON exposure destroyed IPEC-J2 cells morphology. Intestinal epithelial barrier injury was caused by DON with increasing LDH release, decreasing cell viability as well decreasing tight junction protein expressions (Occludin, N-Cad, ZO-1, Claudin-1 and Claudin-3). Moreover, DON caused mitochondrial dysfunction by opening mitochondrial permeability transition pore and eliminating mitochondrial membrane potential. DON exposure upregulated protein and mRNA expression of mitochondrial fission factors (Drp1, Fis1, MIEF1 and MFF) and mitophagy factors (PINK1, Parkin and LC3), downregulated mitochondrial fusion factors (Mfn1, Mfn2, except OPA1), resulting in mitochondrial dynamics imbalance and mitophagy. Overall, these findings suggested that DON induced tight junction dysfunction in IPEC-J2 cells was related to mitochondrial dynamics-mediated mitophagy.

Biflavonoids from Ginkgo biloba leaves as a novel anti-atherosclerotic candidate: Inhibition potency and mechanistic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ginkgo biloba L. is one of the oldest trees on earth, and its leaves have been used since ages as herbal medicine to treat cerebrovascular disorders. It is worth noting that in addition to the widely concerned flavonoids and terpenoids, it also contains various thus far neglected biflavonoids. In fact, biflavonoids are flavonoids consisting of apigenin or its derivatives as monomeric scaffold, and are linked via C-C or C-O-C bond. PURPOSE: Based on the structural similarity of flavonoids, we hypothesized that biflavonoids may play a potential role in the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. Here, we describe the effectiveness and underlying mechanisms for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis (AS) by biflavonoids. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Four main biflavonoids in Ginkgo biloba leaves were screened by oleic acid-induced lipid production in HepG2 cells. The non-covalent effects of biflavonoids on the potential targets of atherosclerosis were screened by reverse targeting and molecular dynamics simulation. The interactions between biflavonoids and potential targets were evaluated by an exogenous cell model, which verified the consistency of the simulation results. CONCLUSION: Among all four biflavonoids, ginkgetin significantly inhibited oleic acid-induced lipid production in HepG2 cells and reduced total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The interaction of ginkgetin with CDK2 through π-alkyl and hydrogen bonds increased the binding of molecules and proteins. Ginkgetin arrested the cells in the G1-S phase, which significantly inhibited abnormal cell growth which closely related to the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis. Biflavonoids could be a promising natural medicine for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Botanical characteristics, phytochemistry and related biological activities of Rosa roxburghii Tratt fruit, and its potential use in functional foods: a review.

Due to the growing global population, reduction in arable land and effects of climate change, incongruity between food supply and demand has become increasingly severe. Nowadays, with awareness of the elementary nutrients required for human growth, increasing attention is being paid to the health and medical functions of food. Along with increased food production achieved by modern agricultural techniques, underutilised functional foods are an important strategy for solving food security problems and maintaining the nutritional quality of the human diet. Rosa roxburghii Tratt (RRT) is a natural fruit that contains unique functional and nutritional constituents, which are characterised by a high anti-oxidant potential. This review summarises the biological characteristics, chemical composition, health-promoting properties and development status of RRT products to inspire investigations on the use of RRT fruit as a functional food, dietary supplement and pharmaceutical additive. The nutrients and functional ingredients of RRT fruit are described in detail to provide more reference information for nutritionists and pharmacists.