Cinnamic acid regulates the intestinal microbiome and short-chain fatty acids to treat slow transit constipation

BACKGROUND Slow transit constipation(STC)is a disorder with delayed colonic transit.Cinnamic acid(CA)is an organic acid in natural plants,such as Radix Scrophulariae(Xuan Shen),with low toxicity and biological activities to modulate the intestinal microbiome.AIM To explore the potential effects of CA on the intestinal microbiome and the primary endogenous metabolites-short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)and evaluate the therapeutic effects of CA in STC.METHODS Loperamide was applied to induce STC in mice.The treatment effects of CA on STC mice were assessed from the 24 h defecations,fecal moisture and intestinal transit rate.The enteric neurotransmitters:5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP)were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Hematoxylin-eosin and Alcian blue and Periodic acid Schiff staining were used to evaluate intestinal mucosa's histopathological performance and secretory function.16S rDNA was employed to analyze the composition and abundance of the intestinal microbiome.The SCFAs in stool samples were quantitatively detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.RESULTS CA ameliorated the symptoms of STC and treated STC effectively.CA ameliorated the infiltration of neutrophils and lymphocytes,increased the number of goblet cells and acidic mucus secretion of the mucosa.In addition,CA significantly increased the concentration of 5-HT and reduced VIP.CA significantly improved the diversity and abundance of the beneficial microbiome.Furthermore,the production of SCFAs[including acetic acid(AA),butyric acid(BA),propionic acid(PA)and valeric acid(VA)]was significantly promoted by CA.The changed abundance of Firmicutes,Akkermansia,Lachnoclostridium,Monoglobus,UCG.005,Paenalcaligenes,Psychrobacter and Acinetobacter were involved in the production of AA,BA,PA and VA.CONCLUSION CA could treat STC effectively by ameliorating the composition and abundance of the intestinal microbiome to regulate the production of SCFAs.

Determination of Cinnamic Acid in Stephania longa Lour. by HPLC

[Objectives] To establish a HPLC method for the quantitative determination of cinnamic acid in Stephania longa Lour. [Methods]The chromatographic column: Thermo BDS HYPERSIL C_(18)( 4. 6 mm × 250 mm,5 μm); mobile phase: acetonitrile-0. 1% phosphoric acid( 24∶ 76); flow rate: 1 mL/min; column temperature: 30℃; wavelength: 285 nm. [Results]The cinnamic acid was in a good linear relationship in the range of 0. 021 7-0. 076 μg,the sample recovery rate was 100. 46%,the RSD was 2. 20%,and the content was in the range of 0. 004%-0. 022%. [Conclusions] The method is simple,accurate and reproducible,and can be used for the quality control of S. longa Lour.

Simultaneous Determination of Gallic Acid and Cinnamic Acid Content in Rhubarb by HPLC

[Objective]The paper was to determine the contents of gallic acid and cinnamic acid in Chinese herb rhubarb by HPLC.[Method]High performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)was established with the following conditions:Thermo SCIENTIFIC Hypersil GOLD Dim column(4.6 mm×250 mm,5μm),mobile phase methanol-0.1%phosphoric acid solution,gradient elution,detection wavelength 278 nm,flow rate 1.0 mL/min,column temperature 30℃,injection volume 10 pL.[Result]The content of gallic acid and cinnamic acid in rhubarb was determined by HPLC,and they showed good linear relationship in the linear ranges of 0.125-1.250 pg(E2=0.9998)and 0.0382-0.3820μg(E2=0.9994),respectively.[Conclusion]A HPLC method is established to determine gallic acid and cinnamic acid content in rhubarb.The method will provide a scientific basis for quality control of rhubarb and its traditional Chinese medicine.

Combined Effects of Dietary Bacillus subtilis and Trans-cinnamic Acid on Growth Performance,Whole Body Compositions,Digestive Enzymes and Intestinal bacteria in Rainbow Trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss)

In this study,the combined effects of dietary Bacillus subtilis(BS,107 g/cfu)and different levels(0.025%,0.050%,0.075%and 0.150%)of trans-cinnamic acid(CA)on fish growth performance,whole body compositions,digestive enzymes,intestinal bacteria and internal organ index of rainbow trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss)were investigated.Six different experimental groups including control group(C),C+BS,0.025%CA+BS,0.050%CA+BS,0.075CA+BS,0.150%CA+BS)were established.According to the results obtained,growth performance,whole body compositions and digestive pH were not statistically significant among groups.Further,no significant differences were found between experimental groups in terms of the intestinal enzymes(trypsin,alkaline phosphatase and lipase)and gastric pepsin.Significantly higher levels of intestinal amylase were found in the control+BS,0.025%CA+BS,0.050%CA+BS,and 0.075%CA+BS compared to the control and 0.150%CA+BS groups.Moreover,coliform and Enterobacteriaceae counts were highest in the control+B.subtilis and lowest in the 0.150%CA+B.subtilis groups.

Solvent-Free Synthesis of Carboxylic Acids and Amide Analogs of CAPE(Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester)under Infrared Irradiation Conditions

A convenient and easy method is described for the formation of carboxamides from carboxylic acids and primary amines in solventless conditions using infrared (IR) light. Thus, under IR light, cinnamic acid derivatives and amines can produce yields ranging from 50% to 85% of the resulting amide.

NMR used to study the side-reactions between peroxides and antioxidants during the reactive extrusion process of the impact polypropylene

Side reaction pathways are observed to occur between antioxidants and peroxide during the processing of multiple resin grades mediated by controlled peroxide-induced degradation of impact polypropylene.In the present work,the reaction mechanism and main by-products between antioxidants and peroxides were investigated.The results demonstrate that peroxides greatly accelerate the decomposition reactions,and the free radicals formed from peroxide decomposition react with,for example,the antioxidant AO1010 to produce dehydrogenation of phenyl propionic unit(s)at the a position(cinnamic acid ester moiety),which generates a conjugated system leading to the increased color of the product.It is the first time to confirm the cinnamic acid moiety's existence and report its NMR data.Further,this work confirms the dehydrogenation mechanism by comparison with different sterically hindered phenolic antioxidants.It also systematically summarizes the oxidation and degradation mechanism of AO168 and AO1010 under air and peroxide environments,respectively.Based on present study,clear guidelines are obtained to improve the quality of polymeric products,especially the appearance and stability,during product development.

Strong Allelopathic Activities of Leaves and Cultured Cells of <i>Spiraea thunbergii</i>Assayed by the Protoplast Co-Culture Method with Digital Image Analysis: Evaluation of <i>Cis</i>- and <i>Trans</i>-Cinnamic Acid as Allelochemicals

The inhibitory allelopathic activities of leaves and leaf-origin suspension cultured cells of Spiraea thunbergii, and putative allelochemicals, cis- and trans-cinnamic acid, were investigated by the protoplast co-culture method with digital image analysis (DIA-PP method) using lettuce as a recipient. The optimal conditions of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and benzyladenine (BA) for the cell division of S. thunbergii protoplasts were first examined using 50 μL liquid MS basal medium containing 3% sucrose, and 0.8 M mannitol in a 96-well culture plate. The hormonal condition for co-culture, 1 μM 2,4-D plus 0.1 μM BA, which was optimal for lettuce protoplast growth, was sub-optimal for S. thunbergii protoplasts. Effects of co-culture on the three stages of lettuce protoplast growth, i.e., cell wall formation, cell division, and yellow pigment accumulation, were examined. Protoplasts of leaf and suspension cells of S. thunbergii strongly inhibited lettuce protoplast growth at the cell division stage (100% inhibition at 80 - 100 × 103 mL-1), but not so much at the other two stages. Both cis- and trans-cinnamic acid, showed the strongest inhibition at the cell wall formation stage, and 100% inhibition at the cell division stage at 100 μM. These results were compared with those obtained in a lettuce seedling growth test, using different allelopathic plants, and their allelochemicals were studied by the DIA-PP method.