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Osteoporosis (OP) represents a global health challenge. Certain functional food has the potential to mitigate OP. Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) solution has medicinal effects, such as anti-inflammatory and immune enhancement, and can be used in functional foods such as health drinks and functional snacks. The composition of honeysuckle changed significantly after fermentation, and 376 metabolites were enriched. In this study, we used dexamethasone to induce OP in the rat model. Research has confirmed the ability of FS (fermented Lonicera japonica solution) to enhance bone mineral density (BMD), repair bone microarchitectural damage, and increase blood calcium levels. Markers such as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRACP-5b) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) were notably decreased, whereas osteocalcin (OCN) levels increased after FS treatment. FS intervention in OP rats restored the abundance of 6 bacterial genera and the contents of 17 serum metabolites. The results of the Spearman correlation analysis showed that FS may alleviate OP by restoring the abundance of 6 bacterial genera and the contents of 17 serum metabolites, reducing osteoclast differentiation, promoting osteoblast differentiation, and reducing the inflammatory response. This study revealed that Lactobacillus plantarum-fermented honeysuckle alleviated OP through intestinal bacteria and serum metabolites and provided a theoretical basis for the development of related functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: β‐Glucans are widely sourced and have various physiological effects, including anti‐inflammatory effects. However, the strength of the anti‐inflammatory activity of β‐glucans from different sources remains unknown due to the lack of rapid and effective biomarkers. This study therefore aimed to screen out the β‐glucans with strong anti‐inflammatory activity from five different sources and to further screen out possible biomarkers in metabolites after fermenting the β‐glucans with gut microorganisms. RESULTS: The results showed that all five β‐glucans inhibited the production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced pro‐inflammatory mediators and suppressed the mRNA expression level of TLR4/MyD88. Their anti‐inflammatory mechanisms involved the inhibition of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and suppression of mRNA expression of the NF‐κB pathway and JNK pathway. Among them, barley β‐glucan exhibited the strongest anti‐inflammatory effect, followed by Ganoderma lucidum β‐glucan. Enhanced anti‐inflammatory activity of β‐glucan was found after fermentation and may be related to the increased abundance of metabolites such as vanillin, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, caffeic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, and lactic acid. They were strongly positively correlated to the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Blautia, suggesting that the production of those metabolites may be responsible for the flourishing of the beneficial bacteria. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, barley was a preferred raw material for the preparation of β‐glucans with strong anti‐inflammatory activity. Vanillin, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, caffeic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, and lactic acid were the possible biomarkers that could be utilized to evaluate the anti‐inflammatory effect of β‐glucans. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible fungi polysaccharides are widely sourced and have various physiological activities, including hypoglycemic. Current studies mainly focus on the hypoglycemic activity of polysaccharides themselves, while the strength of the hypoglycemic activity of edible fungi polysaccharides from different sources remained elusive. This study compared the hypoglycemic activity of different edible fungi polysaccharides after in vitro fermentation by fecal bacteria, combined with non-targeted metabolomics and 16S rDNA analysis, to screen out potential key metabolites related to the hypoglycemic activity. The results show that the fermentation supernatants of all four edible fungi polysaccharides significantly increased the glucose consumption and glycogen synthesis of IR-HepG2, also up-regulated the level of hexokinase and down-regulated the level of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. All fermentation supernatants could alleviate the insulin resistance of IR-HepG2 cells by regulating the expression levels of genes related to the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Gingerglycolipid A, sphinganine 1-phosphate, matricin, tricarballylic acid, N-carbamoylputrescine, nomega-acetylhistamine, tyramine, and benzamide could be considered as potential key metabolites to evaluate the hypoglycemic effects. Their levels were strongly positively correlated with the abundance of Candidatus_Stoquefichu, Faecalibacterium, Coprococcus, Bacteroides, Eubacterium_ventriosum_group, Anaerostipes, Parabacteroides, and Agathobacter. These metabolites and microorganisms are closely related to the hypoglycemic activity of edible fungi polysaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing scientific view that the improvement of cancer by nonstarch polysaccharides (NSPs) is mediated by intestinal microbiota. Intestinal bacteria affect the supply of methyl donor substances and influence N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation. As one of the epigenetic/epitranscriptomic modifications, m6A RNA methylation is closely related to the initiation and progression of cancers. This review summarizes the cancer-improving effects of NSPs through modulation of intestinal microbiota. It also summarizes the relationship between intestinal bacteria and the supply of methyl donor substances. Moreover, it also provides a summary of the effects of m6A RNA methylation on various types of cancer. The proposed mechanism is that, dietary consumed NSPs are utilized by specific intestinal bacteria and further reshape the microbial structure. Methyl donor substances will be directly or indirectly generated by the reshaped-microbiota, and affect the m6A RNA methylation of cancer-related and pro-carcinogenic inflammatory cytokine genes. Therefore, NSPs may change the m6A RNA methylation by affecting the methyl donor supply produced by intestinal microbiota and ameliorate cancer. This review discussed the possibility of cancer improvement of bioactive NSPs achieved by impacting RNA methylation via the intestinal microbiota, and it will offer new insights for the application of NSPs toward specific cancer prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]