A long-term high-fat diet (HFD) can cause a range of health problems. Gut microbiota plays a decisive role in the development of HFD-associated inflammation, involved in function of T cells. This study was designed to probe the regulative effects of dietary stachyose, a functional oligosaccharide, on HFD-induced weight gain, inflammation, gut microbiota dysbiosis, and T cell abnormality in C57Bl/6 mice. Mice were divided into three groups which received normal chow, HFD and HFD plus stachyose (400 mg/kg), respectively. Results showed that administration of stachyose diminished the HFD-induced upregulation of serum TNF-α level and elevation of peripheral blood leukocyte populations to alleviate the HFD-caused colonic and hepatic inflammation in mice. Analysis of gut microbiota revealed that stachyose improved the intestinal homeostasis of HFD-fed mice by improving the bacterial diversity with the increases in the relative abundances of the Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, Parasutterella, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, and Anaerovorax, as well as the fecal level of butanoic acid, while decreasing the ratio of Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes and the abundances of the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Desulfovibrio, Anaerotruncus, Mucispirillum, Roseburia, and Odoribacter. Flow cytometric analysis showed that stachyose antagonized the HFD-induced decrease of peripheral CD4+ T cell population in mice. Conclusively, these findings suggest that long-term consumption of stachyose can ameliorate the HFD-associated colonic and hepatic inflammation and its complications by modulating gut microbiota.

The present work was aimed at developing and characterizing biodegradable citrus pectin films incorporated with young apple polyphenols (YAPs). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy analysis (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were performed to get acquaintance with the structure of the pectin/YAP films. An increase of tensile strength (TS) and elastic modulus (EM) accompanied with a decrease in elongation at break (% EB) was observed with YAP. FTIR spectrometry exhibited the emergence of new absorbance peak at 1520 cm −1 , suggesting some interactions between both constituents of films. An increase in thermal stability of films was also observed by the inclusion of YAP into the film. Moreover, SEM analysis revealed that YAPs were homogenously distributed across pectin matrix. The antioxidant potential of the films was amplified by incorporating YAP. The microbiological assessment of the films confirmed the antimicrobial efficiency of newly developed films against three major food-borne pathogens. Películas de pectina de cítricos enriquecidas con polifenoles de manzana jóvenes diluidos para uso potencial como empaque activo de base biológica RESUMEN El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo desarrollar y caracterizar películas biodegradables de pectina de cítricos a las que se incorporaron polifenoles de manzana joven (YAP). Para familiarizarse con la estructura de las películas de pectina/YAP se emplearon espectroscopía infrarroja por Transformadas de Fourier (FTIR), análisis de microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM) y análisis de difracción de rayos X (XRD). Se observó que la adición de YAP provocó un aumento de la resistencia a la tracción (TS) y del módulo elástico (EM), acompañado de una disminución del alargamiento a la rotura (% EB). La espectrometría FTIR exhibió la aparición de un nuevo pico de absorbancia a 1520 cm −1 , lo que sugiere que se produjeron algunas interacciones entre ambos componentes de las películas. Asimismo, la inclusión de YAP en las películas produjo un aumento de la estabilidad térmica de las mismas. Además, el análisis SEM reveló que los YAP se distribuyeron homogéneamente en la matriz de pectina. Al incorporar YAP se amplió el potencial antioxidante de las películas. La evaluación microbiológica de las mismas confirmó la eficacia antimicrobiana de las películas recientemente desarrolladas principalmente contra tres patógenos transmitidos por los alimentos.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the immunomodulatory effect of the purified Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch seed polysaccharide (ASKP-1) in RAW264.7 macrophages. Chemical characteristic analysis revealed that ASKP-1 consisted of 14.1% mannose, 56.9% glucose and 19.6% galactose with the average molecular weight of 9.08 × 10 Da and the mixed glycan backbone structure containing 1→4)-Glcp (39.8%), 1→6)-Galp (18.8%), 1→3,6)-Manp (19.6%), 1→)-Glcp (10.8%), 2→6)-Manp (4.0%) and 2→3,5)-Araf (7.0%). In vitro studies showed that ASKP-1 markedly induced the release of cytotoxic molecules (NO and ROS) and secretion of the cytokines (TNF-α, INF-β, and IL-6) and significantly enhanced the phagocytosis of RAW264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, TLR4 was found to be a recognized target of ASKP-1 and its related mitogen-activated protein (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, including phosphorylated ERK, JNK, p38 and Akt, were rapidly activated by ASKP-1 in RAW264.7 macrophages. Moreover, ASKP-1 was found to cause the nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor NF-κB subunit p65 and the degradation of IκB-α in RAW264.7 macrophages. All these findings suggest that MAPK, PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways are involved in ASKP-1-induced macrophage activation, and ASKP-1 is a potential immunomodulating function food.

Background Kiwifruit ( Actinidia chinensis ) peel has been always considered as useless because of the harsh taste. To promote the full utilization of kiwifruit resources it is essential to explore the nutritional benefits of kiwifruit peel. Objective Our studies explored the difference in polyphenolic composition and biological activity including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative activity of the flesh and peel of kiwifruit. Design Antioxidant activity of the extracted polyphenols of the peel and flesh of A. chinensis was checked by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2’-azino-bis3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), hydroxyl ion reduction, and ion chelating ability. Antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli , Listeria monocytogenes , and Staphylococcus aureus and antiproliferative activity against HepG2 was tested in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) chromatogram of the peel and flesh further differentiated the phenolic acid profile. Results The pericarp of kiwifruit was found to be more abundant in polyphenols and flavonoids than the flesh, with contents of 12.8 mg/g and 2.7 mg/g, respectively. LC/MS analysis revealed that the catachin, quercetin and epigallocatechin content (the main polyphenols in kiwifruit) in the peel was significantly higher than in the flesh ( P < 0.05). The antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the peel was significantly higher when compared to the flesh. Moreover, the proliferation of HepG2 cells was time- and dose-dependently inhibited by kiwifruit polyphenols, with IC 50 values of 170 μg/mL and 291 μg/mL for peel and flesh polyphenols after 72 h of treatment time, respectively. Conclusion Kiwifruit peel, with higher content of phenolics and flavonoids, exerts more potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activity than the flesh. Our study provides scientific evidence for the development of kiwifruit, especially peel-based, novel natural products with excellent bioactivity.

A new acidic polysaccharide (GPTP-3) with a molecular weight of 2.49 × 106 Da was extracted and purified from Gynostemma pentaphyllum tea.

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