Lonicera caerulea polyphenols inhibit fat absorption by regulating Nrf2-ARE pathway mediated epithelial barrier dysfunction and special microbiota

Scope:High-fat diet(HFD)induces imbalance in the small intestine environment,where fat digestion and absorption mainly take place.This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms by which Lonicera caerulea polyphenols(LCP)might inhibit fat absorption,from the perspective of small intestine microbiota and epithelial barrier integrity.Methods and results:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given HFD with or without co-administration of LCP for 8 weeks.The results showed that LCP supplementation significantly decreased the levels of serum triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),and increased the contents of fecal sterols,in HFD rats.LCP also inhibited the dysfunction of the small intestine epithelial barrier,via alleviating the oxidative stress activated by Nrf2-ARE pathway,and by modulating the expressions of pro-inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2),nuclear factor kappa-B p65(NF-κB p65)and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)in the small intestine.Additionally,LCP administration restored the balance in small intestine microbiota and increased the abundance of the specific bacteria,such as Lactobacillus,involved in fat absorption.Conclusion:Our results demonstrated that LCP may be beneficial to inhibit fat absorption.The mechanism seems to be associated with the protection of the epithelial barrier integrity and the modulation of specific bacteria in the small intestine.

Blueberry malvidin-3-galactoside modulated gut microbial dysbiosis and microbial TCA cycle KEGG pathway disrupted in a liver cancer model induced by HepG2 cells

HCC(Hepatocellular Carcinoma)is a critical health issue worldwide.Our previous animal experiment has confirmed that blueberry malvidin-3-galactoside(M3G)can regulate the progression of HCC.In this study,feces samples from the same batch of mice were collected to explore the regulatory mechanism of M3G on intestinal microbiota and microbial TCA cycle metabolism KEGG pathway in HCC mice based on 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomics.Our results showed that blueberry M3G increased the microbial diversity and regulated the structure of intestinal microbiota in mice,such as increasing the abundance of Clostridia(butyric acid-producing bacteria),Oscillospira and Ruminococcus,and reducing the abundance of pathogenic Erysipelotrichi.Compared with the group of liver cancer and 5-fluorouracil,blueberry M3G significantly regulated microbial TCA cycle KEGG pathway via improving the expression of key proteins(porA,DLAT,aceE,PC and OGDH).Additionally,we found which the abundance of Muribaculum intestinale increased by blueberry M3G may be an important factor affecting the microbial TCA cycle KEGG pathway via the pearson correlation(R)analysis of protein and microbiota.Taken together,these results demonstrate that the blueberry M3G has the potential to be an intestinal microbiota regulator and an adjuvant to HCC therapy.

Relationship of Milk Line Position with Grain Weight and Mechanized Harvest of Summer Corn

To investigate the relationship of milk line position with grain weight and mechanized harvest of summer corn in Huang-Huai-Hai Region, 8 varieties （A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H） with large planting areas were selected to measure the grain filling rate, 100-grain weight, water content and milk line position, and the correlation was analyzed. Results showed that when the milk line position was 90%, the grain filling of all the 8 varieties finished and 100-grain weight reached the highest value, which was 43.02 g. The grain filling time was in positive correlation with 100-grain weight. However, when the milk line position completely disappeared, the 100-grain weight was reduced by 8.66% at most. There was no significant difference during the periods of grain weight rising, but in the periods of grain weight falling, the traits of D, E, H were significantly different with the other varieties, and water loss rate of C and A showed significant difference with the other six varieties. The water content of grain was negatively correlated with milk line position. When the milk line percentage was 90% , the grain water content was less than 30% . The key factor influencing the mechanized harvest of summer corn is harvesting time, rather than the varieties. Moreover, milk-line position of 90% is the best time for harvest; if the harvest is too late, the yield will be reduced with varying degrees.

Protective effects of blueberry anthocyanin extracts on hippocampal neuron damage induced by extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field

The protective effects of blueberry anthocyanin extracts against damage induced by extremely lowfrequency electromagnetic field(ELF-EMF)were investigated in a rat model.Wistar rats were exposed to ELF-EMF with or without the administration of blueberry anthocyanin extracts(50,100,and 200 mg/kg per day intragastrically once a day)for 30 days.Blueberry anthocyanin extracts supplementation inhibited the decrease in Nissl substance levels,cell membrane integrity,and mitochondrial membrane potential induced by ELF-EMF;prevented the increase in nitric oxide,malondialdehyde,and Ca2+concentrations;suppressed superoxide dismutase and glutathione depletion;and enhanced the cognitive ability of the rats exposed to ELF-EMF.The protective effects of blueberry anthocyanin extracts against hippocampal neuron injury caused by ELF-EMF were dose-dependent.These results demonstrated that blueberry anthocyanin extracts suppress hippocampal neuron injury caused by ELF-EMF by inhibiting cell membrane damage and oxidative stress pathways,and suggested that blueberry anthocyanin treatment potentially prevents hippocampal neuron injury.