Ginseng Polysaccharides and its Effective Subfraction Protects Against Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis via Regulating NF-κB Signaling Pathway, Recovering Intestinal Barrier and Adjusting Gut Microbiota

Background: Polysaccharides from Panax ginseng is a natural carbohydrates with multiple activities. Our previous work found that ginseng polysaccharide could recover the gut microbiota dysbiosis caused by antibiotic. However, it was little known about its functions on colitis. In this study, we aim to investigate the protective effects of ginseng polysaccharide (WGP), its neutral fraction (WGPN) and acidic fraction (WGPA) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced colitis and the potential mechanisms with pharmacological experiments.Methods: Animal model of DSS-induced colitis was constructed by male Wistar rats. Disease activity index (DAI) scores, weight increment, colon weights, and colon length were recorded. Physiological and histological parameters, tight junctions proteins, inflammatory factors, gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and NF-kB signalling pathway related proteins were compared among the five experimental groups, which were treated with a normal diet (Con group), DSS (DSS group), WGP (WGP group), WGPN (WGPN group), and WGPA (WGPA group), respectively. Results: Both WGP and WGPA alleviated the colitis symptoms and colon structure changes of colitis rats. They can decreased the DAIs and improved colon health; reduced colon damage and recovered intestinal barrier via regulating the tight-junction related proteins (ZO-1 and Occludin); downregulated inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-17) and inhibited the TLR4/MyD88/NF-kB signalling pathway in the colon; regulated the diversity and composition of gut microbiota, especially the relative abundance of Ruminococcus; enhanced the production of SCFAs. Conclusions: WGP exerted had a protective effect against colitis through regulating NF-kB signaling pathway, recovering intestinal barrier and adjusting gut microbiota, with its acidic fraction (WGPA) primarily contributing to this activity. The results support to the utilization and investigation of ginseng polysaccharides as potential intervention strategy for the prevention of colitis.

The Acidic Fraction of Isatidis Radix Regulates Inflammatory Response in LPS-Stimulated RAW264.7 Macrophages through MAPKs and NF-κB Pathway

Isatidis Radix, the dried root of Isatidis indigotica Fort, is a traditional heat-clearing and detoxicating herb, which has the antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity and immune regulation. It has been widely used to treat cold, fever, sore throat, mumps, and tonsillitis in clinics. A previous study demonstrated that the acidic fraction of Isatidis Radix (RIAF) had strong anti-inflammatory activity, but the mechanism of action was not well elucidated. Lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced RAW264.7 cells were employed to observe the anti-inflammatory activity of RIAF. The level of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Western blot was performed to quantify the expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, c-jun NH2-termianl kinase (JNK), p38, inducible NO synthetase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, andnuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Immunofluorescence assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) were used to quantify the translocation and the binding-DNA activity of NF-κB. RIAF could inhibit the secretion of inflammatory cytokines (PGE2, IL-6, IL-1β, and NO, other than TNF-α) in a dose-dependent manner. Further investigation showed that the expression of iNOS and COX-2 induced by LPS were downregulated by treatment with RIAF. Meanwhile, data from the signal pathway exhibited that RIAF significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 and reduced the translocation of NF-κB from the cytoplasm to nucleus, as well as the binding-DNA activity. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of RIAF was to reduce inflammation-associated gene expression (iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6) by regulating the phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway and interventing the activation of the NF-κB pathway, which partly illustrated the basis of treatment of Isatidis Radix on cold, fever, sore throat, mumps, and tonsillitis in clinics.

Characterization of extracellular polysaccharides from suspension cultures of apple (Malus domestica)

The polymers secreted by suspension-cultured apple cells were composed of 85% carbohydrate (76% neutral sugar and 9% uronic acid) and 15% w/w protein. The extracellular polysaccharides (ECPs) contain 23% XG and 59% AGPs. The monosaccharide composition of the ECPs consisted of Gal, Ara, Glc and Xyl, with smaller amounts of Rha, Fuc and Man. Fractionation of the ECPs by anion-exchange chromatography yielded an unbound neutral fraction and a bound acidic fraction. Monosaccharide and linkage compositions of each fraction were determined. The neutral fraction (48% recovered carbohydrate) was composed of xyloglucan (XG;>90 mol%) which was purified by selective precipitation with Fehling's solution to yield pure XG. The purified XG had a Glc:Xyl:Gal:Fuc ratio of 4.0:2.5:0.8:0.5; the XG was not O-acetylated. The structure of the secreted XG was similar to that extracted from apple-pomace. The acidic fraction (52% recovered carbohydrate) was composed primarily of arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs) as detected by the β-glucosyl Yariv diffusion test. The AGP had a Gal:Ara ratio of 1.3: 1.0. Minor amounts of arabinan, xylan and mannan were also detected in the ECPs. This study is the first examination of the polysaccharides secreted by apple cells grown in suspension culture.

Characterization of extracellular polysaccharides from suspension cultures of apple (Malus domestica)

The polymers secreted by suspension-cultured apple cells were composed of 85% carbohydrate (76% neutral sugar and 9% uronic acid) and 15% w/w protein. The extracellular polysaccharides (ECPs) contain 23% XG and 59% AGPs. The monosaccharide composition of the ECPs consisted of Gal, Ara, Glc and Xyl, with smaller amounts of Rha, Fuc and Man. Fractionation of the ECPs by anion-exchange chromatography yielded an unbound neutral fraction and a bound acidic fraction. Monosaccharide and linkage compositions of each fraction were determined. The neutral fraction (48% recovered carbohydrate) was composed of xyloglucan (XG;>90 mol%) which was purified by selective precipitation with Fehling's solution to yield pure XG. The purified XG had a Glc:Xyl:Gal:Fuc ratio of 4.0:2.5:0.8:0.5; the XG was not O-acetylated. The structure of the secreted XG was similar to that extracted from apple-pomace. The acidic fraction (52% recovered carbohydrate) was composed primarily of arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs) as detected by the β-glucosyl Yariv diffusion test. The AGP had a Gal:Ara ratio of 1.3: 1.0. Minor amounts of arabinan, xylan and mannan were also detected in the ECPs. This study is the first examination of the polysaccharides secreted by apple cells grown in suspension culture.

Physiological Activities of Perilla Frutescens Var. Frutescens Leaf Extracts and Storage Stability in Kneaded Noodles

<p><em>P</em><em>erilla </em><em>(Perilla frutescens var. frutescens) </em><em>lea</em><em>ves</em><em> w</em><em>ere</em><em> fractionated</em><em> based </em><em>on their chemical </em><em>properties</em><em>, and the physiological activities of the fractions were evaluated</em><em>.</em><em> </em><em>T</em><em>he acidic fraction had high </em><em>radical scavenging </em><em>ability</em><em>, whereas the superoxide dismutase-like activities of all fractions were low</em><em>.</em><em> A positive correlation was observed between scavenging activity and polyphenol content. The inhibitory effects of the extracts on </em><em>a</em><em>-amylase and on </em><em>a</em><em>-glucosidase activities were low, indicating a weak suppressive effect of the leaf extracts on diabetes. The acidic and phenolic fractions suppressed pancreatic lipase activity and accelerated lipid hydrolysis in adipocytes differentiated from 3T3-L1 cells. F</em><em>lour noodles kneaded </em><em>with </em><em>lea</em><em>f</em><em> powder</em><em> </em><em>were prepared, and storage stability was </em><em>examine</em><em>d</em><em>. The functional compounds in the leaves were heat-sensitive in the flour noodles. We fractionated perilla leaves to isolate and identify valuable components to provide functionality to processed food and determined that some conditions, such as storage temperature, must be considered to effectively use the compounds.</em><em></em></p>

ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY OF HUMIC ACIDS FROM A NEOGENE LIGNITE SAMPLE, BULGARIA

Humic substances naturally occur in Miocene/Pliocene-aged lignite at very high concentrations. Here biomarkers in the bitumen-free extract of humic acids from Thracian lignite, Bulgaria, are studied. Applying methods of organic geochemistry a broad range of compounds are isolated and characterised. Species are classified according to abundance, possible source input and diagenetic transformation. A feature of humic acids derived from Thracian coal is the extremely high content of 16α(H)Phyllocladane, ~60% of aliphatic fraction, or 1.6 wt.% of initial lignite. The high diterpenoids content, especially with abietane skeleton, proved the conifer contribution to the peat-forming helophytes, i.e. Cupressaceae s. str., Podocarpaceae, Araucariaceae, Taxodiaceae, Phyllocladus, Piceae. Tightly-trapped, linear long-chain fatty acids (FAs) are the main constituents of the acidic fraction of humic acids. Their distribution patterns indicate a dominant higher plant origin. The presence of αOH-FAs and hopanoid acids assumes bacterial activity in the plant material reworked. A hint for the input of plant biopolymers, i.e. cutin, suberin, is the relative high content of “even” carbon numbered ωΟΗFAs and α,ω-alkanedioic FAs. “Even” numbered short-chain ωΟΗFAs could originate from cutin-derived constituents of the needles of numerous species of gymnospermous families.

Structure Elucidation of Soluble Dietary Fiber from Cauliflower

Arabinogalactan and rhamnogalactglucuronan were isolated from soluble dietary fiber (SDF) of cauliflower. The isolated SDF was fractioned into neutral and acidic parts by ion-exchange column chromatography using DEAESepharose Cl-6B gel. Structure elucidation of the isolated SDF polysaccharides were determined sugar analysis, 1HNMR, H-H COSY and TOCSY spectroscopic studies. Neutral fraction of cauliflower was found to be composed of galactose, arabinose and rhamnose whereas the acidic part was found to contain rhamnose, galactose, galacturonic and glucuronic acids. The main chain of the neutral fraction was found to be a 1,4-?-galactan where terminal rhamnose and arabinose residues were attached to the main chain at the 3-position of by ?-linkage.The main chain of the acidic fraction was composed of 1,4-b-linked galacturonic acid and 1,2-b-linked rhamnopyranose residues. ?- Glucuronic acid and ?-galactose were attached to the main chain of galacturonic acid at its 3-position.Dhaka Univ. J. Sci. 64(1): 83-88, 2016 (January)

Monitoring of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) and correlation with other fouling indicators

The occurrence of Transparent Exopolymer Particles (TEP), an acidic fraction of polysaccharides, was monitored for more than six months in the activated sludge of three MBR units, and the relationship between TEP and other fouling indicators was studied. These compounds consist mainly of exopolysaccharides of a sticky nature, a characteristic which makes them a group of interesting substances in processes like sedimentation, flocculation and membrane fouling. The relationship between capillary suction time (CST) and polysaccharides (PS) was linear for the three tested sludges, although the correlation with TEP concentrations was stronger. A slight linear correlation of both TEP and PS was found with the critical flux (CF) measured with a small filtration test cell, which was submerged in the membrane tank to assess the filterability performance of the sludge in situ. However, the correlation CF-PS was clearer. The relationship between TEP, polysaccharides and sludge filterability highlights the potential of this parameter for the monitoring of membrane systems.