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A metabolomics method based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) was used to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum NCU116 on the metabolites of hyperlipidaemic rat model feed by high-fat diet. Nine potential biomarkers (Pantothenic Acid, 5-Hydroxyindole acetaldehyde, Glycocholic Acid, Biliverdin IX, l-Leucine, 2-Phenylethanol glucuronide, Taurocholic acid, Indoleacrylic acid and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol) were identified and the pathway features were analyzed by Mass Profiler Professional (MPP) software. Meanwhile, clustering of principal components analysis (PCA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) produces and biological pathways including tryptophan metabolism, bile secretion, fatty acid biosynthesis, glucose homeostasis, protein digestion and absorption were affected by L. plantarum NCU116. This study demonstrated that L. plantarum NCU116 improved hyperlipidaemic rats via metabolism pathways of amino acids, bile, fatty acids and glucose.

In this study, the inhibitory effect of hydroxytyrosol against xanthine oxidase (XOD) by in vivo animal model and in vitro inhibition assay was analysed. The results showed that hydroxytyrosol could reduce uric acid in rat serum, inhibit XOD activity in rat liver, and adjust the mRNA transcription of the renal uric acid transporters URAT1, GLUT9, OAT1, UAT and ABCG2 towards normal in the transcription level. Hydroxytyrosol was observed as an inhibitor of XOD activity, which’s IC50 value of restraining XOD activity was 8.75 mM. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy indicated that the secondary structures of XOD were changed after incubation with hydroxytyrosol. The docking simulation showed that hydroxytyrosol could enter into the active site of XOD and form hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues (such as ARG880, GLU1261 and THR1010). The results suggested that hydroxytyrosol could be a potential XOD inhibitor for hyperuricaemia treatment.

The molecular mechanism underlying the chemoprotective effects of Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice was investigated. In Cy-treated mice, PSG-1 treatment significantly promoted the phagocytosis, and stimulated the production of NO and cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) in peritoneal macrophages. Moreover, PSG-1 elevated the phosphorylation of MAPKs and Akt, as well as expression of NF-κB in peritoneal macrophages. In addition, PSG-1 enhanced the recovery of T and B cell proliferation responses in Cy-treated mice. Furthermore, Ca2+ concentration and PKC activity of spleen lymphocytes in PSG-1 groups dramatically increased as compared with that of the model group. Finally, PSG-1 administration was found to dose-dependently improve the decline of cAMP level and PKA activity caused by Cy. These findings indicated that the chemoprotective effects of PSG-1 may be attributed to its capacity to activate peritoneal macrophages and spleen lymphocytes in Cy-treated mice.

The effect of polysaccharide from Cyclocarya paliurus leaves on mouse colon was examined. Mice were orally given polysaccharide at doses of 0.15, 0.3 and 0.6 mg/g body weight for 30 days. The results showed that colon index in the mice supplemented with the polysaccharide significantly increased as the administration time increased and the length of colon in the polysaccharide group in 30 days was longer than the control. The pH values in caecum, colon and faeces of the polysaccharide group were significantly reduced. The content of faecal moisture was significantly higher in the polysaccharide group. Furthermore, the levels of acetate, propionate and butyrate and total short fatty acids in caecum and colon of mice fed with 0.6 mg/g body weight significantly increased. Thus, polysaccharide from C. paliurus was effective in promoting colonic health.

The cholesterol-lowering effect of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) NCU116 on lipid metabolism of rats fed on a high fat diet was investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal diet (ND) group, a high fat diet (HFD) group, HFD plus L. plantarum NCU116 groups with two different doses (NCU116-L, 108 colony forming units (CFU)/mL; NCU116-H, 109 CFU/mL). After treatment for 5 weeks, L. plantarum NCU116 had the potential ability to regulate lipid metabolism levels, morphology of liver and adipose tissues. In addition, the bacterium significantly improved gene expression of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1). These results suggest that L. plantarum NCU116 was able to alter lipid metabolism and reduce the cholesterol level, in particular, in the rats on a high fat diet through regulating gene expression of key factors relating to LDL receptor and CYP7A1.

A neutral polysaccharide MP-1 was isolated and purified from Mosla chinensis Maxim. cv. Jiangxiangru. The average molecular weight was 587.53 kDa and it was composed of glucose, galactose, arabinose, mannose and rhamnose in a molar ratio of 16.02:10.01:4.92:4.62:2.23, and trace of fucose. Partial characterization of MP-1 was elucidated by methylation analysis. MP-1 was composed of 1,4-Glcp (31.76%), followed by 1,2-Rhap (17.11%), 1,2,4-Rhap (6.47%), 1,3,4-Galp (5.05%), 1,4-Manp (3.61%), 1,2,4-Manp (2.55%), 1,5-Araf (3.10%) and 1,4,6-Glcp (1.53%). The branching points were located at O-2, O-4 or O-6 with α-Araf (4.01%), α-Rhap (4.31%), α-Fucp (2.39%), β-Galp (11.02%) and β-Glcp (4.04%) as terminal residues. MP-1 exhibited a dose-dependent enhancement in antioxidant assays in this study. Immunomodulatory effects of MP-1 were assessed by splenocyte proliferation test and nitric oxide production of mouse peritoneal macrophages.