Scope: The proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) are the basis of intestinal renewal and regeneration, and gut microbiota plays an important role in it. Dietary nutrition has the effect of regulating the activity of ISCs; however, the regulation effect of 𝜶-linolenic acid (ALA) has seldom been reported. Methods and Results: After intervening mice with different doses of ALA for 30 days, it is found that ALA (0.5 g kg −1 ) promotes small intestinal and villus growth by activating the Wnt/𝜷-catenin signaling pathway to stimulate the proliferation of ISCs. Furthermore, ALA administration increases the abundance of the Ruminococcaceae and Prevotellaceae, and promotes the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Subsequent fecal transplantation and antibiotic experiments demonstrate that ALA on the proliferation of ISCs are gut microbiota dependent, among them, the functional microorganism may be derived from Ruminococcaceae. Administration of isobutyrate shows a similar effect to ALA in terms of promoting ISCs proliferation. Furthermore, ALA mitigates 5-fluorouracil-induced intestinal mucosal damage by promoting ISCs proliferation. Conclusion: These results indicate that SCFAs produced by Ruminococcaceae mediate ALA promote ISCs proliferation by activating the Wnt/𝜷-catenin signaling pathway, and suggest the possibility of ALA as a prebiotic agent for the prevention and treatment of intestinal mucositis.

Moringa oleifera Lam. (M. oleifera) is valuable plant distributed in many tropical and subtropical countries. It has a number of medicinal uses and is highly nutritious. M. oleifera has been shown to inhibit tumor cell growth, but this effect has not been demonstrated on prostate cancer cells. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of M. oleifera alkaloids (MOA) on proliferation and migration of PC3 human prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we elucidated the mechanism of these effects. The results showed that MOA inhibited proliferation of PC3 cells and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, MOA suppressed PC3 cell migration and inhibited the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-9. In addition, MOA significantly downregulated the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), β-catenin, phosphorylated glycogen synthase 3β, and vascular endothelial growth factor, and suppressed production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Furthermore, FH535 (β-catenin inhibitor) and MOA reversed PGE2-induced PC3 cell proliferation and migration, and the effects of MOA and FH535 were not additive. In vivo experiments showed that MOA (150 mg/kg) significantly inhibited growth of xenograft tumors in mice, and significantly reduced the protein expression levels of COX-2 and β-catenin in tumor tissues. These results indicate that MOA inhibits the proliferation and migration, and induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of PC3 cells. Additionally, MOA inhibits the proliferation and migration of PC3 cells through suppression of the COX-2 mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

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Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 2022, 66, 202100408 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202100408 Dietary nutrition has the effect of regulating the activity of intestinal stem cells (ISCs), however, the regulation effect of α‐linolenic acid (ALA) has seldom been reported. In article number 2100408, Jun Sheng and co‐workers observe SCFAs produced by Ruminococcaceae mediates ALA promote ISCs proliferation by activating Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway and suggest the possibility of ALA as a prebiotic agent for the prevention and treatment of intestinal mucositis.