The gut microbiota is closely related to human health, and various gut microbiota health indices have been developed to assist in evaluating the health of the gut microbiota and even the overall health of the human body. Diets are one of the main factors that regulate the gut microbiota, while there is still no good method for evaluating the regulatory effects of dietary factors. To assess the regulatory effects of dietary factors on the gut microbiota of overweight individuals, we conducted an in vitro fermentation experiment based on 17 dietary factors, and developed an evaluation method for the regulatory effects of dietary factors based on the health index with principal component analysis (hiPCA). The results showed that most dietary factors had positive regulatory effects on the gut microbiota of overweight individuals. Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and puerarin were the most significant dietary factors in regulating the gut microbiota of overweight individuals. The analysis of the contribution of species to the hiPCA indicated that GOS and puerarin might inhibit the activities of bacteria associated with overweight by regulating Eubacterium dolichum, Lactobacillus salivarius, Clostridium clostridioforme, Clostridium citroniae, and Lachnospiraceae bacterium 9_1_43BFAA. In addition, GOS may further enhance the inhibition of these activities by regulating Lachnospiraceae bacterium 6_1_63FAA, thereby reducing the gut health risks in overweight individuals. In summary, this study evaluated the health effects of dietary factors based on the hiPCA and specifically analyzed the role of different dietary factors in regulating the gut microbiota of overweight individuals. This provides new ideas and methods for improving gut microbiota health and has potential applications in the field of precision nutrition.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology* ; Isoflavones/pharmacology* ; Overweight/microbiology* ; Diet ; Fermentation ; Oligosaccharides/pharmacology* ; Principal Component Analysis

In this study, the effect of heparin-derived oligosaccharide (HDO) on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and the related signal transduction mechanisms were investigated. MTT assays were used to measure VSMCs proliferation. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. The level of key regulatory proteins in PKC, MAPK and Akt/PI3K pathways were determined by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunocytochemical methods. Meanwhile, mRNA expressions of some proto-oncogenes were assayed by RT-PCR method. Our data showed that HDO (0.01, 0.1 and 1 μmol · L(-1)) inhibited 30 ng · mL(-1) PDGF-induced VSMCs proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, blocked the G1/S transition and inhibited the level of key regulatory proteins and some proto-oncogenes (P < 0.05). The results showed that HDO may decrease the key regulatory proteins expression, hence suppress the transcription of proto-oncogene and G1/S transition, finally inhibiting VSMCs proliferation.
Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Heparin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; Oligosaccharides ; pharmacology ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction

Five compounds (tenuifoliside C, tenuifoliside D, telephiose A, telephiose C and polygalaxanthone III) from polygala tenuifolia wild were incubated together with CYP probe substrate in human liver microsomes to investigate the inhibitory effect towards CYP450 enzyme. Phenacetin (CYP1A2), coumarin (CYP2A6), paclitaxel (CYP2C8), diclofenac (CYP2C9), S-mepheriytoin (CYP2C19), dextromethorphan (CYP2D6), chlorzoxazone (CYP2E1), midazolam (CYP3A) were selected as the isoforfn specific substrate. And the formation of paracetamol, 7-hydroxycoumarin, 6alpha-hydroxy paclitaxel, 4'-hydroxydiclofenac, dextrorphan, 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone, 1'-hydroxymidazolam, 4'-hydroxymephenytoin were detected respectively to measure the effect towards CYP450 by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The result shows that five compounds from polygala tenuifolia willd significantly inhibit chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation catalyzed by CYP2E1, while showed no effect towards CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A. And IC50 value was 38.73, 54.14, 61.77, 62.22, 50.56 micromol x L(-1), respectively.
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; metabolism ; Esters ; pharmacology ; Glycosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Oligosaccharides ; pharmacology ; Polygala ; chemistry ; Xanthones ; pharmacology

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is one of the main mechanisms used to kill microbes during innate immune response. D-lactic acid, which is augmented during acute ruminal acidosis, reduces platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced ROS production and L-selectin shedding in bovine neutrophils in vitro. This study was conducted to investigate whether acute ruminal acidosis induced by acute oligofructose overload in heifers interferes with ROS production and L-selectin shedding in blood neutrophils. Blood neutrophils and plasma were obtained by jugular venipuncture, while ruminal samples were collected using rumenocentesis. Lactic acid from plasma and ruminal samples was measured by HPLC. PAF-induced ROS production and L-selectin shedding were measured in vitro in bovine neutrophils by a luminol chemiluminescence assay and flow cytometry, respectively. A significant increase in ruminal and plasma lactic acid was recorded in these animals. Specifically, a decrease in PAF-induced ROS production was observed 8 h after oligofructose overload, and this was sustained until 48 h post oligofructose overload. A reduction in PAF-induced L-selectin shedding was observed at 16 h and 32 h post oligofructose overload. Overall, the results indicated that neutrophil PAF responses were altered in heifers with ruminal acidosis, suggesting a potential dysfunction of the innate immune response.
Acidosis/chemically induced/immunology/*veterinary ; Animals ; Blood ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/chemically induced/*immunology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry/veterinary ; *Immunity, Innate ; L-Selectin/metabolism ; Neutrophils/*drug effects ; Oligosaccharides/*pharmacology/toxicity ; Platelet Activating Factor/*pharmacology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rumen

In this study, the effect of heparin-derived oligosaccharide (HDO) on bovine vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and signal transduction mechanism involved were investigated. The levels of PKC-alpha protein and mRNA were determined by cell-based ELISA, RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunocytochemical methods. Meanwhile, mRNA levels of c-jun, c-myc and c-fos were assayed by RT-PCR method. The results showed that HDO inhibited newborn calf serum (NCS)-induced expression of PKC-alpha and proto-oncogenes, which may be one of the mechanisms for the inhibition of VSMC proliferation by HDO. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that HDO blocked NCS-induced cell cycle progression by arresting cells at G0/G1 phase. The results imply that HDO inhibits VSMC proliferation by moderating the gene level of PKC-alpha, eventually inhibiting proto-oncogene mRNA expression and blocking G1/S transition.
Animals ; Cattle ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; G1 Phase ; drug effects ; Heparin ; pharmacology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Oligosaccharides ; pharmacology ; Protein Kinase C-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

This study is designed to investigate the anti-tumor and anti-angiogenesis mechanism of carrageenan oligosaccharides. The effects of carrageenan oligosaccharides on basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) induced cell proliferation, heparanase activity and bFGF binding ability were evaluated in human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Results indicate that, at rational concentrations, carrageenan oligosaccharides showed low cytotoxic effect. At relatively low concentrations (0.2-200 microg x mL(-1)), these oligosaccharides could competitively bind bFGF and inhibit bFGF induced cell proliferation. In these samples, oligo-lambda-carrageenans (dp2-8) were the most potent bFGF antagonists. At concentration of 20 microg x mL(-1), their inhibitory ratio reached to 30%. The heparanase enzyme assay revealed that three kinds of carrageenan oligosaccharides showed different inhibitory activities to two cell lines. For HeLa cell, oligo-lambda-carrageenans showed highest inhibitory effect, but for HUVEC, oligo-kappa-carrageenans (dp9-17) were the best inhibitors. Current observations demonstrated that the biological activities of carrageenan oligosaccharides are closely related to the molecular weight, carbohydrate structure and the content and linking position of sulfur groups. Carrageenan oligosaccharides with high sulfate fraction, 2-8 units saccharide size and suitable molecular structure are able to achieve potent heparin sulfate-like compounds.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Carrageenan ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Glucuronidase ; metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Oligosaccharides ; pharmacology ; Protein Binding

OBJECTIVETo study the angiogenesis promoting effect of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides(MOO) on chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM).

METHODRats blood serum containing low, medium and high doses of MOO was prepared using Chinese herbs serum pharmacology method. 60 chick embryoes were randomly divided into low, medium and high doses of MOO groups, as well as NS group, blank serum group and bFGF group. Each group included 10 embryoes. CAM model was prepared after 7 days incubation. Then NS, blank serum, bFGF (2500 U x mL(-1)), three doses of serum containing MOO were added respectively onto the carriers on the CAM. CAM sample was prepared after 3 days incubation. The state of angiogenesis was observed and the number of new blood vessels was counted.

RESULTCompared with blank serum and NS group, a more specific CAM angiogenesis appearance could be observed in each MOO group and bFGF group. Compared with blank serum group, the number of new blood vessels in each MOO group increased significantly (P < 0.05). But the drug had a lower efficacy than bFGF (P < 0.05). Compared with low dose group, the number of new blood vessels increased significantly in medium and high doses groups (P < 0.05). But there was no significant difference between the latter two groups. The number of new blood vessels showed no significant difference between NS group and blank serum group.

CONCLUSIONMOO can obviously promote angiogenesis of CAM.

Animals ; Chick Embryo ; blood supply ; drug effects ; Chickens ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; blood supply ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Morinda ; chemistry ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Oligosaccharides ; pharmacology

To confirm the inactivating effect of chito-oligosaccharides on Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) par ticles in vitro, the difference of TMV pathogenicity was evaluated according to the decrease of local lesion numbers after inoculating with TMV mixed with chito-oligosaccharides (DP3-10) in Nicotiana glutinosa, and the virion structural change was studied by transmission electron microscopy after mixed with chito-oligosaccharides. In the range of tested concentrations of chito-oligosaccharides (100-1000 microg /mL), the numbers of local lesions were strongly reduced with over 30% decrement, and the 88.4% reduction gained at the concentration of 600g /mL. It revealed that treatment with chito-oligosaccharide solution of 300-500 microg /mL directly broke TMV particles into tiny pieces of 50-150nm long, and that treatment with solutions of 600-1000 microg/mL caused virus particle agglomerated. The data presented here suggested that chito-oligosaccharides exerted strong inactivating effect on plant virus in vitro.
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Oligosaccharides ; pharmacology ; Tobacco Mosaic Virus ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Virion ; drug effects ; ultrastructure

Bacillus pumilus X-6-9 isolated from soil and subsequently identified, produced xylooligosaccharides with long chains from xylan and accumulated them in the culture. By improving the culture conditions and mutating the bacterium, a 3.2-fold increase in the production of the xylooligosaccharides was established, when compared to the original culture conditions of B. pumilus X-6-19. The addition of D-glucose to the culture of the mutant strain U-3 of B. pumilus X-6-9 repressed the synthesis of beta-xylosidase, but not xylanase. Thus, it was revealed that strain U-3 was a good organism for the production and accumulation of xylooligosaccharides with long chains from xylan by a microbial culture. Xylanase produced by strain U-3 was purified to homogeneity and characterized. The hydrolyzates generated by the purified xylanase contained xylobiose, xylotriose, xylotetraose, and xylopentaose, but not xylose.
Bacillus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Mutation ; Oligosaccharides ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Soil Microbiology

To study the anti-proliferation effect of lambda-carrageenan oligosaccharides (lambda-CO) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and expression of apoptotic relevant genes, the influence of lambda-CO on HUVECs proliferation was measured by MTT assay; apoptotic rate, cell cycle distribution and the level of active caspase-3 of HUVECs were analyzed using flow cytometry; the mRNA level of apoptosis related genes was determined by RT-PCR. At a high concentration of 1 mg x mL(-1), lambda-CO significantly inhibited the endothelial cell proliferation. Annexin-V FITC/PI double stain assay showed that when treated with 0, 0.8, 1 mg x mL(-1) of lambda-CO for 24 h, cell apoptotic rates were (1.67 +/- 1.6)%, (11.48 +/- 2.4)% and (13.81 +/- 2.2)%, respectively, when treated for 48 h, cell apoptotic rates were (2.02 +/- 2.3)%, (13.84 +/- 1.9)% and (38.72 +/- 2.5)%, respectively, cell cycle assay showed the decrease of cells in G0/G1 phase, and increase in S phase. Furthermore, we observed the level of active caspase-3 increased in a dose-dependent manner at 24 th and 48 th. RT-PCR results indicated that mRNA of TNFalpha, p53, caspase-8 and caspase-3 in cells increased after treated with lambda-CO. lambda-CO induce apoptosis of HUVECs in a dose-dependent way and arrests cells at S phase, which mainly due to the up-regulation of apoptotic genes such as TNFalpha, p53, caspase-8, caspase-3 and increase the level of active caspase-3.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carrageenan ; pharmacology ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Oligosaccharides ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology