Tiantian Li

Numerous studies have demonstrated that Chlorella pyrenoidosa exerts potent anti-diabetic effects, yet its underlying mechanism remains elusive. Notably, no research has explored the anti-diabetic efficacy of its fermented product to date. In this study, we developed a novel compound probiotic-fermented C. pyrenoidosa product (CH-F), and systematically evaluated its anti-diabetic efficacy and mechanism. Furthermore, untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that fermentation significantly altered the metabolite profile of C. pyrenoidosa, leading to the enrichment of potential anti-diabetic compounds such as acetylcholine and citicoline. In streptozotocin-induced T2DM mice, CH-F effectively ameliorated hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hepatic/pancreatic histological injuries, showing markedly superior efficacy compared to unfermented C. pyrenoidosa. Additionally, CH-F modulated the gut microbiota and improved the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the intestines of T2DM mice. We demonstrate that CH-F exerts anti-diabetic effects via gut microbiota modulation and SCFA regulation, highlighting its great potential as a functional food ingredient and dietary supplement for the adjuvant management of T2DM.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of the traditional Chinese medicinal fungus Sanghuangporus vaninii on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the anti-diabetic and hypolipidemic effects of the S. vaninii combined with Dachaihu decoction formulation (DCHD-SV) in T2DM mice and deeply explore its action mechanisms through network pharmacology, 16S RNA sequencing, and liver metabolomics. The results showed that DCHD-SV can effectively ameliorate relevant symptoms of T2DM in mice, including hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and organ damage. In addition, DCHD-SV modulates the intestinal flora and liver metabolites of T2DM mice, and may exert its anti-diabetic effects through the PPARγ/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. These findings underscore DCHD-SV as a promising candidate for T2DM therapy and lay a theoretical foundation for further investigating its mechanisms.

Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. Fubaiju (CMF) is regarded as one of the three most renowned varieties of white Chrysanthemum in China, and different extraction methods have significant effects on its composition and activities. Therefore, six extractions were used in this study to assess the effects on extracts. The basic chemical composition showed that hot water extract (Hw) had the highest total phenolic content, alkali water immersion-assisted hot water extract (Al) had the highest content of protein, and enzyme-assisted hot water extract (Enz) had the highest content of carbohydrate. The UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS results evinced the presence of 19 small-molecule compounds, including chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, tuberonic acid glucoside, luteolin-7-O-rutinoside, and other substances. In addition, the antioxidant test found that the Hw exhibited the best 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (82.05 ± 1.59 mM TE/mg) and 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) (61.91 ± 0.27 mM TE/mg) scavenging ability. The anti-glycation test demonstrated that Enz possessed the most pronounced inhibitory effect on glycation products, including fructosamine and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Additionally, the Enz also exhibited the most significant inhibitory effect on the protein oxidation product N’-formylkynurenine. The correlation analysis revealed that there was a close relationship between antioxidant properties and glycation resistance of extracts, and tuberonic acid glucoside, 1,3-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 1,4-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, quercetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and isochlorogenic acid B were key small molecule components that affected activities. In summary, the extracts of CMF can be regarded as an excellent antioxidant and anti-glycosylation agent.

Effects of marine microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa 55% ethanol extract (CPE55) on lipid metabolism, gut microbiota and regulation mechanism in high fat diet-fed induced hyperlipidaemia rats were investigated. Structure characterizations of major compounds in CPE55 were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). The compositions of gut microbiota in rats were analyzed by high-throughput next-generation 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Oral administration with CPE55 markedly alleviated dyslipidemia through improving adverse blood lipid profile and inhibiting hepatic lipid accumulation and steatosis. CPE55 has downregulated the gene expression levels of acetyl CoA carboxylase, sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c, and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase and upregulated adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase-α. It has also improved the abundance of bacteria Alistipes, Prevotella, Alloprevotella, and Ruminococcus1 and decreased the abundances of Turicibacter and Lachnospira. Turicibacter and Lachnospira were both positive correlations of metabolic phenotypes. The findings above illustrated that CPE55 might be developed as food ingredients to ameliorate lipid metabolic disorders and hyperlipidaemia.

Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with photo-diode array detector and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry was employed to analyze the major fatty acids in Spirulina platensis 95% ethanol extract (SPL95). The effects of SPL95 on hepatoprotection were evaluated, including liver tissue histopathology, liver, and serum biochemical analysis. The active principle of SPL95 revealed a hypolipidemic effect, as indicated by down-regulating the mRNA and protein levels of sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase, acetyl CoA carboxylase pathway, and upregulating adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase-α in liver. SPL95 enriched the beneficial bacteria, including Prevotella, Alloprevotella, Porphyromonadaceae, Barnesiella, and Paraprevotella. Treatment with SPL95 led to a decrease in microbes, such as Turicibacter, Romboutsia, Phascolarctobacterium, Olsenella, and Clostridium XVIII, which were positively correlated with serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol levels, but negatively correlated with the serum high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol levels. These results provide evidence that the fatty acid from SPL95 may be used as a novel adjuvant therapy and functional food to regulate gut microbiota in obese and diabetic individuals.