Yanghui Ou

Pueraria montana is a medicinal and edible plant widely distributed in Asia. It has antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, a novel polysaccharide (PMPS-A₁) was obtained through purification, and its biological activity was investigated. Structural analysis revealed that PMPS-A₁ was composed of fructose and glucose, with a molecular weight of 12168 Da. The main chain structure was →1)-β-D-Fruf-(2→, →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, and →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→. The branched chain of α-D-Glcp-(1→3)-α-D-Glcp-(1→ and α-D-Glcp-(1→ connected to the O-3 and O-6 positions of residue →3,4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→ and →4,6)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, respectively. In vitro, PMPS-A₁ had a favorable scavenging ability of the hydroxyl radical and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and downregulated the expression of interleukin-6 and nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. In addition, the Caenorhabditis model assay demonstrated that PMPS-A₁ decreased the buildup of lipofuscin and reactive oxygen species. Overall, these results enhance our knowledge of the chemical composition and bioactivity of a Pueraria montana polysaccharide and point to the potential use of PMPS-A₁ for antioxidant and anti-aging qualities, providing a theoretical basis for the medicinal and edible application of Pueraria montana polysaccharide.

Background: Oxidative stress is associated with the occurrence and progress of aging. Natural polysaccharides have attracted considerable attention in the field of antioxidants and anti-aging products due to their superior biological activity and low toxicity. Ganoderma leucocontextum is primarily found in the Tibetan plateau region and is classified as a subspecies of Ganoderma. Known as the famous white Ganoderma, it is a precious food and medicine that has potent biological activity, including antitumor, hypoglycemic, and immune regulation. Since available resources are limited, there are few studies on the spore of Ganoderma leucocontextum. Methods: In this work, a polysaccharide (named GLSP) was extracted from the spore of Ganoderma leucocontextum using a fast, simple, efficient, and environmentally friendly extraction process: the three-phase partitioning (TPP) method. Results: The extraction condition was optimized under the Box–Behnken design (BBD): ratio of the solute to the solvent, 1:21.126 (w/v); (NH₄)₂SO₄ concentration, 30% (w/v); ratio of the slurry to tert-butanol, 1:1.945 (v/v); and shaking temperature, 54.136 °C. Furthermore, a polysaccharide termed GLSP-A1 was purified from GLSP by column chromatography. The basic physicochemical properties were analyzed by molecular weight, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, monosaccharide composition, and scanning electron microscopy. Conclusions: GLSP-A1 down-regulated the expression of the pro-inflammation cytokines interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β, indicating favorable in vitro anti-inflammatory properties. In vivo, the effect of GLSP-A1 on aging was examined using the Caenorhabditis model. The results showed that GLSP-A1 reduced reactive oxygen species levels and lipofuscin accumulation. In general, these findings improve our understanding of the chemical content and bioactivity of a polysaccharide from Ganoderma leucocontextum spore and highlight the possibility of GLSP-A1 being utilized in dietary supplements for its anti-aging properties.

Background: Camellia oleifera Abel (C. oleifera) is widely cultivated and serves as an important source of edible oil. Yet, during oil production, pruned branches generate significant waste and contribute to environmental pollution. Objectives: In this work, we obtain a natural polysaccharide from the branches of C. oleifera and optimize its extraction using Box–Behnken design (BBD), which is a statistical method commonly used in response surface methodology. Additionally, we study its properties, such as monosaccharide composition, structural features, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory abilities. Results: BBD was employed to optimize polysaccharide extraction (solid-liquid ratio = 1:40; 90 °C; 130 min) for a higher yield. After purification, the major monosaccharides of branches of C. oleifera’s polysaccharide (CBP) were disclosed as glucose and galactose. Subsequent structural features of CBP were measured. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities were measured. The highly scavenging rates of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl radicals, with the chelating capacity of Fe²⁺, indicate potent antioxidant activity of CBP. Conclusions: In general, CBP demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity with down-regulating the expression of IL-6 and IL-1β in the LPS-induced macrophage RAW264.7 model. This bioactive polysaccharide adds value to waste branches by offering a novel approach to waste recycling and the development of C. oleifera.

One new gliotoxin derivative fumianthrogliotoxin (1), one new indoquizoline alkaloid N3-(methyl propionate) indoquizoline (2), and three novel indole alkaloids, anthroxyindole (3), (±)-asperfumiindole A (4), and (±)-asperfumiindole B (5), together with 16 known compounds (6–21), were isolated from the culture of deep-sea derived fungus Aspergillus fumigatus AF1. Their chemical structures and absolute configurations were determined through the analysis of NMR data in combination with electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations and other spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 2–11 and 13–21 were evaluated for anti-pulmonary fibrosis activity. Compounds 8 and 13 displayed significant downregulation of the mRNA expression levels of all three molecular markers (COL1A1, α-SMA and FN1), with compound 13 exhibiting the best performance among all the tested compounds.

The polysaccharides from Stemona tuberosa Lour, a kind of plant used in Chinese herbal medicine, have various pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, the effects of the extraction methods and the activity of polysaccharides from different parts are still unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of different extraction methods on the yields, chemical compositions, and bioactivity of polysaccharides extracted from different parts of Stemona tuberosa Lour. Six polysaccharides were extracted from the leaves, roots, and stems of Stemona tuberosa Lour through the use of hot water (i.e., SPS-L1, SPS-R1, and SPS-S1) and an ultrasound-assisted method (i.e., SPS-L2, SPS-R2, and SPS-S2). The results showed that the physicochemical properties, structural properties, and biological activity of the polysaccharides varied with the extraction methods and parts. SPS-R1 and SPS-R2 had higher extraction yields and total sugar contents than those of the other SPSs (SPS-L1, SPS-L2, SPS-S1, and SPS-S2). SPS-L1 had favorable antioxidant activity and the ability to downregulate MUC5AC expression. An investigation of the anti-inflammatory properties showed that SPS-R1 and SPS-R2 had greater anti-inflammatory activities, while SPS-R2 demonstrated the strongest anti-inflammatory potential. The results of this study indicated that SPS-L1 and SPS-L2, which were extracted from non-medicinal parts, may serve as potent natural antioxidants, but further study is necessary to explore their potential applications in the treatment of diseases. The positive anti-inflammatory effects of SPS-R1 and SPS-R2 in the roots may be further exploited in drugs for the treatment of inflammation.

Four new sorbicillinoids, named trichodermolide E (1), trichosorbicillin J (2), bisorbicillinolide B (3), and demethylsorbiquinol (5), together with eight known compounds (4, 6–12), were isolated from the cultures of the mangrove-derived fungus Trichoderma reesei BGRg-3. The structures of the new compounds were determined by analyzing their detailed spectroscopic data, while the absolute configurations were further determined through electronic circular dichroism calculations. Snatzke’s method was additionally used to determine the absolute configurations of the diol moiety in 1. In a bioassay, compounds 7 and 10 performed greater inhibitory activities on interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β than the positive control (dexamethasone) at the concentration of 25 μM. Meanwhile, compounds 5 and 6 showed potent effects with stronger inhibition than dexamethasone on IL-1β at the same concentration.

Oral ulcer is a common inflammatory disease of oral mucosa, causing severe burning pain and great inconvenience to daily life. In this study, compound 3J with anti-inflammatory activity was synthesized beforehand. Following that, an intelligent composite hydrogel supported 3J was designed with sodium alginate, carboxymethyl chitosan, and chitosan quaternary ammonium salt as the skeleton, and its therapeutic effect on the rat oral ulcer model was investigated. The results show that the composite hydrogel has a dense honeycomb structure, which is conducive to drug loading and wound ventilation, and has biodegradability. It has certain antibacterial effects and good anti-inflammatory activity. When loaded with 3J, it reduced levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in inflammatory cells by up to 50.0%. It has excellent swelling and water retention properties, with a swelling rate of up to 765.0% in a pH 8.5 environment. The existence of a large number of quaternary ammonium groups, carboxyl groups, and hydroxyl groups makes it show obvious differences in swelling in different pH environments, which proves that it has double pH sensitivity. It is beneficial to adapt to the highly dynamic changes of the oral environment. Compared with single hydrogel or drug treatment, the drug-loaded hydrogel has a better effect on the treatment of oral ulcers.

Seven new polyketides, including four indenone derivatives, cytoindenones A–C (1, 3–4), 3′-methoxycytoindenone A (2), a benzophenone derivative, cytorhizophin J (6), and a pair of tetralone enantiomers, (±)-4,6-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-α-tetralone (7), together with a known compound (5) were obtained from the endophytic fungus Cytospora heveae NSHSJ-2 isolated from the fresh stem of the mangrove plant Sonneratia caseolaris. Compound 3 represented the first natural indenone monomer substituted by two benzene moieties at C-2 and C-3. Their structures were determined by the analysis of 1D and 2D NMR, as well as mass spectroscopic data, and the absolute configurations of (±)-7 were determined on the basis of the observed specific rotation value compared with those of the tetralone derivatives previously reported. In bioactivity assays, compounds 1, 4–6 showed potent DPPH· scavenging activities, with EC₅₀ values ranging from 9.5 to 16.6 µM, better than the positive control ascorbic acid (21.9 µM); compounds 2–3 also exhibited DPPH· scavenging activities comparable to ascorbic acid.