Alcoholic liver disease(ALD), a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, poses a serious threat to human health. Despite the availability of various drugs for treating ALD, their efficacy is often uncertain, necessitating the search for new therapeutic approaches. Traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides have garnered increasing attention in recent years due to their versatility, high efficiency, and low side effects, and they have demonstrated significant potential in preventing and treating ALD. Emerging studies have suggested that these polysaccharides exert their therapeutic effects through multiple mechanisms, including the inhibition of oxidative stress and the regulation of lipid metabolism, gut microbiota, and programmed cell death. This review summarizes the recent research progress in the pharmacological effects and regulatory mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides in treating ALD, aiming to provide a scientific basis and theoretical support for their application in the prevention and treatment of ALD.
Humans ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/metabolism* ; Polysaccharides/administration & dosage* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects*

This study employed 16S r RNA gene high-throughput sequencing and metabolomics to explore the mechanism of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix polysaccharides(RP) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC). A mouse model of UC was induced with 2. 5% dextran sulfate sodium. The therapeutic effects of RP on UC in mice were evaluated based on changes in body weight, disease activity index( DAI), and colon length, as well as pathological changes. RT-qPCR was performed to assess the m RNA levels of interleukin(IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, myeloperoxidase(MPO), mucin 2(Muc2), Occludin, Claudin2, and ZO-1 in the mouse colon tissue. ELISA was employed to measure the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in the colon tissue. The intestinal permeability of mice was evaluated by the fluorescent dye permeability assay. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of Muc2 and occludin in the colon tissue. Changes in gut microbiota and metabolites were analyzed by 16S r RNA sequencing and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry( UPLC-Q-Exactive Plus Orbitrap MS), respectively. The results indicated that low-dose RP alleviated general symptoms, reduced colonic inflammation and intestinal permeability, and promoted Muc2 secretion and tight junction protein expression in UC mice. In addition, low-dose RP increased gut microbiota diversity in UC mice and decreased the relative abundance of harmful bacteria such as Ochrobactrum and Streptococcus. Twenty-seven differential metabolites were identified in feces, and low-dose RP restored the levels of disturbed metabolites. Notably, arginine and proline metabolism were the most significantly altered amino acid metabolic pathways following lowdose RP intervention. In conclusion, RP can ameliorate general symptoms, inhibit colonic inflammation, and maintain intestinal mucosal barrier integrity in UC mice by modulating gut microbiota composition and arginine and proline metabolism.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Colitis, Ulcerative/genetics* ; Mice ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Polysaccharides/administration & dosage* ; Angelica/chemistry* ; Humans ; Colon/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mucin-2/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*

A serum metabolomics analysis method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) was used to investigate the metabolic regulation mechanism of Hericium erinaceus(H. erinaceus) polysaccharides on radiation injury. A mouse model of radiation injury was established by ~(60)Co-γ irradiation. High and low dose groups of H. erinaceus polysaccharide injection were designed, and Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma extract was set as the positive control group to investigate the therapeutic effects and metabolic reaction pathways of H. erinaceus polysaccharides on radiation injury. The metabolites of serum samples were collected by GC-MS, and principal component analysis(PCA) was conducted to establish the metabolic profiles of each group of mice. Partial least squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA), t-test(P<0.05), and variable importance in the projection(VIP>1) were used to screen out the differential metabolite. Metabolite identification and construction of related metabolic pathways and metabolic networks were achieved by using online databases such as HMDB and METLIN. The results showed that 12 differential metabolites in the serum of mice irradiated at 6.5 Gy that were associated with the radiation injury model, including lactic acid, alanine, urea, serine, threonine, glycerol, L-5-oxoproline, L-lysine, stearic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and 1-monopalmitoylglucoside. Two metabolic pathways were enriched: glycerolipid metabolism and metabolism of glycine, serine, and threonine. 18 differential metabolites in the serum of mice irradiated at 8.5 Gy were associated with the radiation injury model, including lactic acid, alanine, urea, L-leucine, glycerol, nonanoic acid, serine, threonine, L-5-oxoproline, phenylalanine, L-ornithine, 1,5-dehydroorbital, L-lysine, L-tyrosine, pectic, oleic, stearic, and cholesterol. Four metabolic pathways were enriched: phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan synthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, glyceride metabolism, and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. It was suggested that H. erinaceus polysaccharides could intervene in radiation injury by altering amino acid and fatty acid synthesis in mice. It was assumed that H. erinaceus polysaccharides regulated the level of metabolic pathways through lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism, thus affecting energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism and exerting its therapeutic effect on radiation damage.
Animals ; Mice ; Metabolomics/methods* ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Polysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Male ; Hericium/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Metabolome/drug effects* ; Gamma Rays/adverse effects*

This study aims to investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of polysaccharide extract PCP1 from Polygonatum cyrtonema in ameliorating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) injury in rats through modulation of the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3) signaling pathway. In vivo, SD rats were randomly divided into the sham group, model group, PCP1 group, nimodipine(NMDP) group, and TLR4 signaling inhibitor(TAK-242) group. A middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R) model was established, and neurological deficit scores and infarct size were evaluated 24 hours after reperfusion. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Nissl staining were used to observe pathological changes in ischemic brain tissue. Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) assessed ultrastructural damage in cortical neurons. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure the levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-18(IL-18), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-10(IL-10), and nitric oxide(NO) in serum. Immunofluorescence was used to analyze the expression of TLR4 and NLRP3 proteins. In vitro, a BV2 microglial cell oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion(OGD/R) model was established, and cells were divided into the control, OGD/R, PCP1, TAK-242, and PCP1 + TLR4 activator lipopolysaccharide(LPS) groups. The CCK-8 assay evaluated BV2 cell viability, and ELISA determined NO release. Western blot was used to analyze the expression of TLR4, NLRP3, and downstream pathway-related proteins. The results indicated that, compared with the model group, PCP1 significantly reduced neurological deficit scores, infarct size, ischemic tissue pathology, cortical cell damage, and the levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, TNF-α, and NO(P<0.01). It also elevated IL-10 levels(P<0.01) and decreased the expression of TLR4 and NLRP3 proteins(P<0.05, P<0.01). Moreover, in vitro results showed that, compared with the OGD/R group, PCP1 significantly improved BV2 cell viability(P<0.05, P<0.01), reduced cell NO levels induced by OGD/R(P<0.01), and inhibited the expression of TLR4-related inflammatory pathway proteins, including TLR4, myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6), phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappaB dimer RelA(p-p65)/nuclear factor-kappaB dimer RelA(p65), NLRP3, cleaved-caspase-1, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC), GSDMD-N, IL-1β, and IL-18(P<0.05, P<0.01). The protective effects of PCP1 were reversed by LPS stimulation. In conclusion, PCP1 ameliorates cerebral I/R injury by modulating the TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway, exerting anti-inflammatory and anti-pyroptotic effects.
Animals ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury/genetics* ; Male ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Polysaccharides/isolation & purification* ; Polygonatum/chemistry* ; Brain Ischemia/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice ; Humans

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder with a complex etiology, characterized by intestinal inflammation and barrier dysfunction. Platycodon grandiflorus polysaccharides (PGP), the primary component of Platycodon grandiflorus, and hesperidin (Hesp), a prominent active component in Citrus aurantium L. (CAL), have both demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties. This study aims to elucidate the underlying mechanism of the synergistic effect of PGP combined with Hesp on UC, focusing on the coordinated interaction between the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathways. A mouse model of UC induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and a cell model using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7/IEC6 cells were employed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of PGP combined with Hesp on UC and its potential mechanism of action. The results indicated that compared to the effects of either drug alone, the combination of PGP and Hesp significantly modulated inflammatory factor levels, inhibited oxidative stress, regulated colonic mucosal immunity, suppressed apoptosis, and restored intestinal barrier function in vitro and in vivo. Further in vitro studies revealed that PGP significantly inhibited the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, while Hesp significantly inhibited the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. The use of inhibitors and activators targeting both pathways validated the synergistic effects of PGP combined with Hesp on the PI3K/AKT and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways. These findings suggest that PGP combined with Hesp exhibits a synergistic effect on DSS-induced colitis, potentially mediated through the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/PI3K/AKT and interleukin-6 (IL-6)/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways.
Animals ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/genetics* ; Janus Kinase 2/genetics* ; Polysaccharides/administration & dosage* ; Colitis, Ulcerative/chemically induced* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Drug Synergism ; Male ; Hesperidin/administration & dosage* ; Platycodon/chemistry* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Disease Models, Animal ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Plant polysaccharides are effective components that widely present in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), exhibiting rich biological activities. However, as most plant polysaccharides cannot be directly absorbed and utilized by the human digestive system, it is now believed that their mode of action mainly involves interaction with intestinal microbiota, leading to the production of functional small molecules. The efficacy of Astragalus polysaccharide(APS) is extensive, including weight loss, improvement of fatty liver, reduction of blood lipids, and enhancement of insulin sensitivity, which may also be related to the regulation of intestinal microbiota. Adipose tissue senescence is an important characteristic of the physiological aging process in the body, often occurring prior to the aging of other important organs. Its main features include the accumulation of senescent cells and exacerbation of inflammation within the tissue. Therefore, to explore the potential protective effects of APS on aging, the improvement of adipose tissue aging phenotype in naturally aging mice was observed using APS, and combined with metagenomic metabolomics, corresponding microbial metabolic functional molecules were identified. Furthermore, functional tests in cell aging models were conducted. The results showed that APS significantly improved the adipocyte aging characteristics of naturally aging mice: specifically reducing aging-induced adipocyte hypertrophy; decreasing the protein expression of aging markers cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(P21) and multiple tumor suppressor 1(P16); lowering the tissue inflammation reaction. Metagenomic metabolomic analysis of serum from mice in each group revealed that APS significantly increased the content of indole-3-lactic acid(ILA) in naturally aging mice. Further in vitro studies showed that ILA could improve the aging of 3T3-L1 mouse embryonic fibroblasts induced by bleomycin, reduce the protein expression of the aging marker P21, alleviate inflammation, and enhance the ability of preadipocytes to mature. Therefore, APS had the efficacy of protecting naturally aging mice, and its action may be related to the increase in the intestinal microbiota metabolite ILA. This study suggested that TCM may serve as an important entry point for explaining the mechanism of action of TCM by regulating intestinal microbiota and their functional metabolites.
Animals ; Mice ; Aging/drug effects* ; Adipose Tissue/metabolism* ; Polysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Indoles/pharmacology* ; Male ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; 3T3-L1 Cells ; Humans ; Adipocytes/cytology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Cellular Senescence/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects*

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of patients' memory and their cognitive abilities and the mechanism is not completely clear. Although a variety of drugs have been approved for the AD treatment, substances which can prevent and cure AD are still in great need. The effect of polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on anti-AD has gained great progress and attained more and more attention in recent years. In this review, research advances in TCM-polysaccharides on AD made in this decade are summarized.
Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage

Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Sw., an herb of the Orchidaceae family, has long been used in traditional medicine to strengthen bones, nourish the stomach, and promote the production of bodily fluid. Recently, polysaccharides isolated from Dendrobium have been used in functional foods and nutraceutical products. A traditional method to process Dendrobium is to soak fresh stems in an ethanol solution, which is the most important factor to ensure high yields of aqueous-extractable polysaccharides. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential acute toxicity of D. moniliforme aqueous extract (DMAE), by a single oral dose in Sprague-Dawley rats. The test article was orally administered once by gavage to male and female rats at doses of 0, 2,500, and 5,000 mg/kg body weight (n=5 male and female rats for each dose). Throughout the study period, no treatment-related deaths were observed and no adverse effects were noted in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, serum biochemistry, organ weight, or gross findings at any dose tested. The results show that a single oral administration of DMAE did not induce any toxic effects at a dose below 5,000 mg/kg in rats, and the minimal lethal dose was considered to be over 5,000 mg/kg body weight for both sexes. With respect to cytotoxicity, the cell viability of human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells was less than 50% when the cells were treated with 10 mg/mL aqueous extract for 24 h.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Biochemistry ; Body Weight ; Cell Survival ; Dendrobium* ; Dietary Supplements ; Ethanol ; Female ; Functional Food ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Kidney ; Male ; Medicine, Traditional ; Methods ; Orchidaceae ; Organ Size ; Polysaccharides ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stomach

EPSAH is an exopolysaccharide from Aphanothece halophytica GR02. The present study was designed to evaluate its toxicity and adjuvant potential in the specific cellular and humoral immune responses in ovalbumin (OVA) in mice. EPSAH did not cause any mortality and side effects when the mice were administered subcutaneously twice at the dose of 50 mg·kg(-1). Hemolytic activity in vitro indicated that EPSAH was non-hemolytic. Splenocyte proliferation in vitro was assayed with different concentrations of EPSAH. The mice were immunized subcutaneously with OVA 0.1 mg alone or with OVA 0.1 mg dissolved in saline containing Alum (0.2 mg) or EPSAH (0.2, 0.4, or 0.8 mg) on Day 1 and 15. Two weeks later, splenocyte proliferation, natural killer (NK) cell activity, production of cytokines IL-2 from splenocytes, and serum OVA-specific antibody titers were measured. Phagocytic activity, production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-12 in mice peritoneal macrophages were also determined. EPSAH showed a dose-dependent stimulating effect on mitogen-induced proliferation. The Con A-, LPS-, and OVA-induced splenocyte proliferation and the serum OVA-specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a antibody titers in the immunized mice were significantly enhanced. EPSAH also significantly promoted the production of Th1 cytokine IL-2. Besides, EPSAH remarkably increased the killing activities of NK cells from splenocytes in the immunized mice. In addition, EPSAH enhanced phagocytic activity and the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-12 in macrophages. These results indicated that EPSAH had a strong potential to increase both cellular and humoral immune responses, particularly promoting the development of Th1 polarization.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Cyanobacteria ; chemistry ; Female ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunization ; Interleukin-12 ; immunology ; Interleukin-2 ; immunology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Ovalbumin ; immunology ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the nerve regeneration mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with polysaccharide of gastrodia elate blume (PGB) for secondary thalamic damage of focal cerebral ischemia.

METHODSForty Sprague-Dawley adult rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a model group, an EA group, a PGB group and an EA + PGB group, 8 rats in each group. The rat model of right middle cerebral artery occlusion was prepared by suture-occluded method. Two weeks after model establishment, rats in the normal control group and model group received no treatment; rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Baihui" (GV 20) and left "Zusanli" (ST 36), 30 min per treatment, once a day for 14 successive days; rats in the PGB group were treated with intragastric administration of PGB (100 mg/kg) , once a day for 14 days; rats in the EA + PGB group were treated with EA and PGB treatment, once a day for totally 14 days. The expressions of nestin and stem cell factor (SCF) in thalamic ventroposterolateral nucleus (VPL) were detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSThere were positive cells of nestin in ischemia VPL in the model group, and the number of SCF positive cells was increased compared with that in the normal control group (P<0.05). The number of positive cells of nestin and SCF in ischemia VPL in the EA group, PGB group and the EA + PGB group was increased compared with that in the model group (all P<0.05), and the average gray value of immune positive product was all reduced (all P<0.05). The number of positive cells of nestin and SCF in the EA + PGB group was higher than that in the EA group or the PGB group (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA combined with PGB can significantly increase the SCF expression in ischemia VPL and promote the proliferation of neural stem cells, which is likely to be one of the nerve regeneration mechanism of acupuncture and medication tor secondary thalamic damage of local cerebral isctemia.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Electroacupuncture ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Nestin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cell Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Thalamic Nuclei ; metabolism