Mulberry leaf aqueous extract ameliorates blood glucose and enhances energy expenditure in obese C57BL/6J mice Publication date: December 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 63 Author(s): Xiaoyun He, Haoyu Li, Ruxin Gao, Chuanhai Zhang, Fei Liang, Yao Sheng, Shujuan Zheng, Jia Xu, Wentao Xu, Kunlun Huang Abstract Mulberry leaf garners much attention from researchers because of its hypoglycemic effect. This study’s objective was to determine the impact of mulberry leaf aqueous extract (MLAE) on decreasing blood glucose and promoting energy expenditure in obese C57BL/6J mice (induced by a high-fat diet). The mice were fed with high fat diet and treated with MLAE for 12 weeks. The results showed that MLAE significantly ameliorated the hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in mice that were induced by their high-fat diet. The improved blood glucose metabolism accompanied by elevated energy expenditure was found. Abundant flavonoids, polyphenols, and alkaloids in MLAE may have contributed to the above results. Also, MLAE restored gut microbiota imbalance in obese mice and was beneficial to their liver and kidney functioning. Together, these results suggest MLAE may be a potent ingredient in dietetics and can serve as a safe hypoglycemic ingredient in health product development. Graphical abstract

Chemopreventive effect of the polysaccharides from Grifola frondosa in colitis-associated colorectal cancer by modulating the Wnt/β-catenin/GSK-3β signaling pathway in C57BL/6 mice Publication date: December 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 63 Author(s): Meng Meng, Mingzhu Guo, Pei Wang, Ran Han, Jiaping Zhou, Chunling Wang Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the preventive effect of water-soluble polysaccharides in the maitake mushrooms (Grifola frondosa) fruiting body (GFP) on colon cancer in high-fat (HF) mice and WIDR cells. In vivo, the administration of GFP decreased colon myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and disease activity index (DAI) compared with HF group (P < 0.05), and GFP was significantly inhibited the nitric oxide (NO) while increased of L-Glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The expression of COX-2、IL-6、TNF-α was decreased in GFP -treated group, and the expression of lnterleukin-10(IL-10) and lnterleukin-4(IL-4) was increased. In addition, GFP can regulate the Wnt/β-catenin/GSK-3β signaling pathway to achieve the inhibitory effect on the survival of colon cancer. And CPS-II had high selectivity to tumor cells in vitro. The results revealed that CPS-II can inhibit colon cancer growth in vitro and in vivo, and may be a novel therapeutic agent for the disease. Graphical abstract

A new procedure to measure cysteine equivalent methylglyoxal scavenging activity (CEMSA) of foods under simulated physiological conditions Publication date: December 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 63 Author(s): Ezgi Doğan Cömert, Vural Gökmen Abstract This study aims at investigating dicarbonyl scavenging potential of foods under simulated physiological conditions using a kinetic approach. Bioaccessible fractions obtained after gastrointestinal digestion were reacted with methylglyoxal for 24 h (pH 7.4, 37 °C). The changes in the percentage of methylglyoxal inhibition with time were plotted for food samples and cysteine. The area under the curves were used to calculate the cysteine equivalent methylglyoxal scavenging activity (CEMSA) of foods. Among foods, nuts, meat, egg, cheese, strawberry, broccoli, garlic, and onion were found to have CEMSA values higher than 15 mmol cysteine equivalent per kg. The CEMSA values were highly correlated with total thiol and amino groups for all foods except fruits. The foods were classified as “rapidly reacting & high capacity”, “slowly reacting & high capacity”, and “slowly reacting & low capacity” based on their MGO inhibition percentage and rate. Graphical abstract

TGF-β1/Smad7 signaling pathway and cell apoptosis: Two key aspects of Selenium-biofortified soybean peptide attenuating liver fibrosis Publication date: December 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 63 Author(s): Weiwei Liu, Tao Hou, Xing Zhang, Hui He Abstract Selenium and soybean peptides have been proved to have hepatoprotective effect separately. However, the hepatoprotective effect of selenium-biofortified soybean peptides (SSPs) was few studied and its mechanism was not explored. In this study, the mechanisms of SSPs in anti-fibrosis effect in vivo and in vitro were studied. Liver fibrosis in mice was induced by CCl4 twice a week for 4 weeks and was verified by Masson staining. SSPs administration effectively decreased the extracellular matrix (ECM) and transforming growth factor (TGF-β) content (p < 0.05) compared to the model group. The significant increase of Smad7 gene expression and decrease of apoptosis rate caused by CCl4 in L-O2 cells were observed after SSPs treatment. Moreover, matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) and apoptosis genes expressions increased significantly (p < 0.05) after treated with SSPs in HSC-T6 cells. Overall, SSPs could attenuate liver fibrosis through several pathways and could be considered as a potential therapeutic drug for treating liver fibrosis. Graphical abstract

Tuber indicum polysaccharide relieves fatigue by regulating gut microbiota in mice Publication date: December 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 63 Author(s): Lei Zhong, Ning Ma, Huihua Zheng, Gaoxing Ma, Liyan Zhao, Qiuhui Hu Abstract Excessive exercise-induced fatigue has become a serious health issue and can cause gut dysbiosis. Tuber indicum (T. indicum) polysaccharide can act as prebiotics to regulate gut microbiota and this effect may play an important role in relieving fatigue. Therefore, T. indicum polysaccharide was prepared and mainly consisted of glucose linked with β-glycosidic bonds. Based on a mouse model of exhaustive swimming-induced fatigue, such polysaccharide decreased blood lactic acid content and increased ATPase activity of fatigue mice, which was accompanied by improved short chain fatty acids concentration and gut integrity. Additionally, T. indicum polysaccharide ameliorated gut dysbiosis by decreasing the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes and increasing Bacteroides in fatigue mice. Spearman's correlation analysis suggested that T. indicum polysaccharide-modulated microbiota was significantly correlated with its anti-fatigue effect. These findings suggested the potential of T. indicum polysaccharide as prebiotics, to protect mice against excessive exercise-induced fatigue by regulating gut microbiota. Graphical abstract

Peptides derived from rice α-globulin reduce atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice by inhibiting TNF-α-induced vascular endothelial cells injury Publication date: December 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 63 Author(s): Li-Tao Tong, Zhiyuan Ju, Lili Wang, Ju Qiu, Liya Liu, Xianrong Zhou, Tingting Liang, Donghui Geng, Sumei Zhou Abstract Rice α-globulin has been reported to possess anti-atherosclerotic activity, but the key peptides in the rice α-globulin and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The anti-atherosclerotic effects of the rice α-globulin peptides YYGGEGSSSEQG and SESEM were observed in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice in this study. The synthetic peptides were orally administered to ApoE−/− mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. The lesion area in the aorta and the aortic root were significantly reduced by the peptides. The peptides increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) while decreased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as reducing the serum levels of TNF-α and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). The TNF-α induced vascular endothelial cells injury was decreased significantly by the peptide treatment in vitro. These results demonstrated that the YYGGEGSSSEQG and SESEM can potentially act as anti-atherosclerotic agents through a combination of three mechanisms: anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. Graphical abstract

Leuconostoc citreum isolated from kimchi suppresses the development of collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice Publication date: December 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 63 Author(s): Min-Sung Kwon, Mi-Young Shin, Seul Ki Lim, Jieun Lee, Hyo Kyeong Park, Namhee Kim, Misun Yun, Hee Eun Jo, Young Joon Oh, Hak-Jong Choi Abstract Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation, which can cause severe bone and joint damage. Leuconostoc citreum WiKim56 is a lactic acid bacterium isolated from gatkimchi, fermented mustard leaves. We evaluated the ability of Leu. citreum WiKim56 to modulate T cell responses and suppress RA in a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis. Leu. citreum WiKim56 lowered the incidence of arthritis, attenuated symptom severity, and inhibited RA progression in the mice. Leu. citreum WiKim56 decreased serum levels of collagen-specific IgG and IgG2a, and reduced the expression of collagen-specific pro-inflammatory cytokines in the spleen and peripheral lymph nodes. Moreover, the proportion and function of regulatory T cells in splenocytes was significantly enhanced by WiKim56 treatment. These data suggest that Leu. citreum ameliorates RA symptoms by suppressing inflammatory responses, and that Leu. citreum WiKim56 may prevent or lessen damage due to inflammatory autoimmune reactions, including those associated with RA. Graphical abstract

Purification and characterization of turanose, a sucrose isomer and its anti-inflammatory effects in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model Publication date: December 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 63 Author(s): Eunju Kim, Jaehun Bae, Jihye Lee, Jae-Ho Shin, Pu Reum Seok, Yuri Kim, Sang-Ho Yoo Abstract The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing worldwide, and the key risk factor is high sugar diet. The objective of this study was to investigate anti-inflammatory effects of turanose on IBD in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. An amylosucrase from Neisseria sicca (NsiAS) was newly identified and successfully expressed. This enzyme exhibited optimal activity at 45 °C and pH 8.5. By utilizing this recombinant enzyme expressed in the E. coli host, turanose yield maximally reached 47% from 2.0 M sucrose. Colitis was induced with two 5-d cycles of 2.5% DSS in drinking water with a 10-d inter-cycle interval. Mice were fed AIN93G diet with 25% and 50% turanose replacement. Improved disease activity index scores, colon length, histopathological features, and myeloperoxidase activity were observed in the turanose supplemented group. Meanwhile, decreases in micro RNA (miR)-21 expression, histone acetylation, expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and phosphorylated ERK and STAT3 were observed in colon tissues. Notably, miR-21 and histone acetylation levels were found to positively correlated with expression of tumor necrosis factor α. In conclusion, turanose can attenuate colitis via regulatory effects on miRNA-21 expression and histone acetylation-related proinflammatory mediators. These findings also support further exploration of turanose as a potential therapeutic sugar substitute for patients with IBD. Graphical abstract

Anti-proliferative bioactivity against HT-29 colon cancer cells of a withanolides-rich extract from golden berry (Physalis peruviana L.) calyx investigated by Foodomics Publication date: December 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 63 Author(s): Diego Ballesteros-Vivas, Gerardo Alvarez-Rivera, Carlos León, Sandra Johanna Morantes, Elena Ibánez, Fabián Parada-Alfonso, Alejandro Cifuentes, Alberto Valdés Abstract A comprehensive Foodomics study was carried out in this work to investigate the changes induced at gene and metabolite expression levels on HT29 colon cancer cell lines upon treatment with a bioactives-enriched extract from goldenberry calyx. As a result of the proposed multi-omics approach, the tested extract induced transcriptional activation of pro-apoptotic genes, and altered the expression of several genes related to the oxidative stress response in treated cancer cells. Metabolomics data confirm altered cellular redox homeostasis, providing additional evidence to transcriptomic results. Foodomics data integration also revealed alteration on relevant metabolic processes, suggesting inactivation of aminoacyl tRNA charging pathway, dysfunction on carnitine shuttle and beta-oxidation of fatty acids, and pyrimidine ribonucleotide interconversion impairment. These observations are in line with functional analysis and anti-proliferative activity results, where the viability of HT-29 colon cancer cells was notably reduced after 48 h treatment without affecting the viability of normal human colon fibroblast cells. Graphical abstract

Raspberry supplementation reduces lipid accumulation and improves insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle of mice fed a high-fat diet Publication date: December 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 63 Author(s): Tiande Zou, Yifei Kang, Bo Wang, Jeanene M. de Avila, Jinming You, Mei-Jun Zhu, Min Du Abstract Raspberry promotes adipose tissue browning and increases lipid oxidation, but its effect on intramyocellular lipid accumulation and insulin sensitivity is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of raspberry on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced skeletal muscle lipid accumulation and insulin resistance in mice. Mice were fed a control diet or a HFD diet with or without 5% raspberry for 12 weeks. Dietary raspberry alleviated skeletal muscle inflammatory response by decreasing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and p65 phosphorylation, a key mediator of inflammatory nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling. Meanwhile, raspberry reduced muscle triglyceride content and improved insulin signaling in HFD mice. Raspberry intake increased mitochondrial biogenesis and phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) α impaired due to HFD. Our results suggest that raspberry reduces lipid accumulation and improves insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle of HFD-fed mice, which is associated with suppressed inflammation and increased mitochondrial biogenesis and AMPKα activity. Graphical abstract