Search

Constipation is a common clinical manifestation of digestive system disorders and occurs worldwide. This study investigated the ability of Lactobacillus plantarum KSFY06 (LP‐KSFY06) to promote the action of geniposide in preventing montmorillonite‐induced constipation in Kunming mice, with the aim of providing a successful solution. The effects of LP‐KSFY06 and geniposide on constipation were measured, and the results showed that the protective effect of geniposide on constipation was enhanced by LP‐KSFY06 and that the combination resulted in increased weight, moisture content, and particle number of feces. The first black stool defecation time was decreased from 182 min to 87 min, which clearly indicates that defecating difficulty was alleviated in constipated mice. The synergic intervention of LP‐KSFY06 and geniposide (LP + G) assisted in maintaining the body weight of constipated mice. The LP + G intervention significantly increased serum levels of motilin (MTL, 167.8 pg/ml), acetylcholinesterase (AChE, 45.3 pg/ml), substance P (SP, 61.0 pg/ml), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP, 70.5 pg/ml), endothelin‐1 (ET‐1, 16.1 pg/ml), and gastrin (73.0 pg/ml) and remarkably decreased somatostatin (SS, 35.2 pg/ml) when compared to those indexes in the LP‐KSFY06 group and geniposide group. The LP + G treatment also significantly increased the mRNA expression of cluster of differentiation 117 (c‐Kit), stem cell factor (SCF), glial cell‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and remarkably downregulated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), transient receptor potential vanilloid‐1 (TRPV1), and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2). The experimental results showed that the combination treatment has the strongest prevention effect against constipation, and LP‐KSFY06 promotes the ability of geniposide to prevent constipation. Therefore, LP‐KSFY06 is a potential probiotic strain with the capacity to prevent montmorillonite‐induced constipation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yogurt from Xinjiang, China, is a traditional Chinese fermented food rich in beneficial microorganisms, such as Lactobacillus plantarum KSFY06. In this study, the effect of KSFY06 on oxidative aging was investigated using live animal experiments. Molecular biological methods were used to analyze the serum and tissues of mice with oxidative aging induced by d‐galactose, which showed that KSFY06 can inhibit the decline of heart, liver, spleen, and kidney caused by aging. The KSFY06 strain increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) in serum and liver of aging mice, while the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) is reduced. Pathological observation showed that KSFY06 alleviated damage to the liver, spleen, and skin of oxidative aging mice. qPCR showed that, at high dose (2 × 109 cfu/kg per day), KSFY06 upregulates copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1), manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), catalase (CAT) mRNA expression, and its downstream inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression in liver and spleen tissues induced by d‐gal. To a certain extent, these findings indicate that L. plantarum KSFY06 is able to protect against oxidative stress in the d‐gal‐induced aging model. In conclusion, L. plantarum KSFY06 may provide a potential research value in the prevention or alleviation of related diseases caused by oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wushan Shencha (Malus doumeri leaf) is a unique tea‐like drink. Herein, the effect of flavonoids from Wushan Shencha (FWSSC) on carbon tetrachloride‐induced liver injury was studied. The serum and liver tissues of experimental mice were analyzed by kits, a slice technique, and qPCR assay. The liver index is a calculated liver‐to‐body weight ratio, and the experimental results showed that FWSSC reduced the liver index of the model group with liver injury, which was the highest. Sections stained with H&E showed that FWSSC reduced stem cell necrosis caused by liver injury. FWSSC reduced the serum levels of AST, ALT, TG, and TC, as well as the levels of IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IFN‐γ cytokines in the serum of mice with liver injury. Liver biochemical tests also showed that FWSSC increased the SOD activity and decreased TC, TG, and MPO levels in mice with liver injury. It was found that FWSSC upregulated the expression of Cu/Zn‐SOD, Mn‐SOD, CAT, and IκB‐α, and downregulated the expression of NF‐κB, COX‐2, TNF‐α, and IL‐1β in the liver tissue of mice with liver injury by detecting the expression of mRNA in liver tissue. It is concluded that FWSSC is an active substance with hepatoprotective effects. The activity of FWSSC increased with increasing concentration, and the hepatoprotective effect of FWSSC at 100 mg/kg concentration was stronger than that of silymarin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study mainly investigated the influences of Lactobacillus plantarum CQPC05 (CQPC05) isolated from pickled vegetables on mouse constipation caused by activated carbon water. We used 16S rDNA technology to identify the microorganism, and activated carbon to establish a mouse constipation model. After the mice received L. plantarum (109 CFU/mL) by gavage, small intestine tissue sections were collected. The serum indices and small intestine-related mRNA expression were obtained. A strain of L. plantarum was identified, and named CQPC05. The body weight and activated carbon progradation rate in the mice of the CQPC05 treatment groups were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the excretion time of the first tarry stool was earlier than that of the control group. The results of serum indices indicated that serum gastrin (Gas), endothelin (ET), and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) levels in the CQPC05 treatment groups were significantly higher than those in the control group, while the somatostatin (SS) level was significantly lower. Compared to the constipation control group, the result of q-PCR demonstrated that CQPC05 could up-regulate the mRNA expression of c-Kit (stem cell factor receptor), SCF (stem cell factor), and GDNF (glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor) genes, and down-regulate the expression of TRPV1 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1) and iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase). In conclusion, L. plantarum CQPC05 can effectively alleviate constipation, and has good probiotic potential and application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shuidouchi is a traditionally fermented soybean product in China. Shuidouchi production requires a variety of processes; however, the production process has not been standardized. It can be developed into high-quality products with enhanced health effects by improving the design of its fermentation process and increasing the content of its active ingredients. In this study, a single-factor experiment was conducted that established different process conditions to determine the fermentation conditions that achieve the highest content of active ingredients and the best in vitro antioxidant effect. The effect of Shuidouchi on the prevention of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice was also observed. The obtained results indicated that the optimal process conditions involved soaking for 12 h, placement in a glass container, and fermentation at 35 °C for 48 h. Shuidouchi that was fermented under such conditions had the highest level of soybean isoflavones and exerted greater antioxidant effects than if fermented under other conditions. The Shuidouchi extract (soaking twice the quantity of water for 12 h, placing in a glass container, and fermenting at 35 °C for 48 h) obtained by using the optimal fermentation process can prevent the shortening of the colon and increase the weight-to-length ratio of the colon that is caused by colitis. Shuidouchi extraction not only effectively reduces the disease activity index and the levels of serum endothelin (ET), substance P (SP), and interleukin-10 (IL-10), it also increases the levels of somatostatin (SS), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and interleukin-2 (IL-2) of mice with colitis. In addition, Shuidouchi extraction increased the levels of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in colitis mice; in contrast, Shuidouchi decreased the levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the colon of mice with colitis. Further detection of mRNA in colon tissues showed that Shuidouchi extraction can upregulate the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), c-Kit, and the stem cell factor (SCF). Furthermore, it can downregulate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CXCR2) in the colon of mice with colitis. Further experimental results showed that Shuidouchi could reduce the protein expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in colitic mice. Therefore, the improved processing of Shuidouchi inhibits colitis, which is directly related to the high content of soybean isoflavones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]