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Three isolates belonging to the ascomycetous genus Zygotorulaspora were obtained from the fruits of Cornus officinalis and Smilax china, and flowers of Dendranthema zawadskii var. latilobum in Gongju-si, Korea. Phylogenetic Analyses of the LSU D1/D2 domain and ITS region sequences supported the recognition of two new species: Zygotorulaspora cornina sp. nov. (type strain NIBRFGC000500475 = KACC93346PPP) and Zygotorulaspora smilacis sp. nov. (type strain NIBRFGC000500476 = KACC93347PPP). The two novel species revealed no growth on D-Galactose, unlike the other six species in the genus Zygotorulaspora. They are distinguished from each other by their phylogenetic differences and phenotypic characteristics such as assimilation of xylitol, 5-keto-D-gluconate, and ethanol. All species in the genus Zygotorulaspora including the two novel species have phenotypic traits of genus Zygotorulaspora: asci are persistent, sucrose and raffinose are assimilated, and m-inositol is not required for growth, and they are mainly associated with plants.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Smilax china L. flavonoid (SCF) on obesity and changes in gut microbiota high-fat/high-sucrose (HFHS)-fed mice. Male C57BL/6 mice fed either a normal-chow (NC) or a HFHS diet were treated with SCF for 12 weeks. The effect of SCF on the composition of gut microbiota was assessed by 16S rDNA sequencing. SCFA levels in the caecum were quantified by GC-MS. SCF supplementation alleviated the body weight gain, fat accumulation, serum lipid parameters, and hepatic steatosis and improved glucose homeostasis. SCF significantly increased plasma adiponectin level, adiponectin-receptor-gene (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) expression in the liver, activated AMPKα, downregulated the expression of SREBP1-c, FAS, and ACCα, and upregulated the expression of PPARα, CPT-1α, and UCP-1. The anti-obesity effects of SCF might be through upregulation of adiponectin-receptor/AMPK signalling to improve lipid metabolism. SCF reversed HFHS-induced dysbiosis of gut microbiota and decreased SCFA production in the caecum, thus reducing energy absorption and leading to loss of body weight. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed significant correlations between obesity phenotypes, SCFA levels, and changes in gut microbiota. The results showed that SCF may be an effective dietary supplement that is useful for suppressing the development of obesity and associated disorders.

Here, we report an environmentally friendly fabrication strategy of bright yellow fluorescent carbon dots (y-CDs) and construct a rapid and accurate multifunctional sensing platform for the effective detection of temperature and Cu2+. The y-CDs were favorably obtained through a one-step hydrothermal treatment of natural Smilax China for the first time and exhibit long-wavelength emission at 542 nm under an excitation wavelength of 470 nm. Additionally, the obtained y-CDs exhibit superior biocompatibility and distinguished stability under different conditions, and display a respectable fluorescence quantum yield of up to 22.37%. Appealingly, the as-prepared y-CDs were implemented as temperature probes within ranges of 25 °C–40 °C and 45 °C–80 °C. Significantly, based on the static quenching effect, the as-prepared y-CDs were developed as an effective platform for fluorescence sensing of Cu2+, with linear ranges of 0.5 μM–10 μM, 75 μM–225 μM and 250 μM–350 μM, achieving a detection limit of 28 nM. Furthermore, confocal fluorescence imaging of PC12 cells was achieved successfully, which indicated that the as-synthesized y-CDs could visualize Cu2+ fluctuations in living cells.

Chronic alcohol consumption can cause hepatic injury and alcohol-induced toxicities. Extracts from Smilax china root have been widely used in traditional medicine and for their potential pharmacological benefits. We aimed to determine if fermented Smilax china extract (FSC) regulates alcoholic fatty liver and liver injury using two in vivo experiments. Sprague-Dawley rats were administered ethanol (3 g/kg b.w.; po) with or without FSC pretreatment to induce an acute hangover. In another experiment, rats were fed either a normal or Lieber-DeCarli ethanol (6.7%) diet with or without FSC pretreatment (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg b.w.; po) for 28 days. Serum biomarkers, liver histopathology, and the mRNA levels of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, lipogenic, and lipolytic genes were analyzed. FSC pretreatment significantly reduced blood alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations, upregulated the mRNA expression of alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, and superoxide dismutase, and decreased the activities of liver enzymes in a dose-dependent manner. It also downregulated SERBP-1c and upregulated PPAR-α and reduced the gene expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in the liver. The final extract after fermentation had increased GABA content. Furthermore, FSC was found to be safe with no acute oral toxicity in female rats. Thus, FSC increases alcohol metabolism and exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects to induce hepatoprotection against alcohol-induced damage. It may be used as a functional food ingredient after excess alcohol consumption.

A lot of species of Smilax known as Baqia in China are used in folk medicine for various purposes. Smilax china L., is a small vine that grows in the southern parts of China, known as Jin Gang Ten, which has a long history of indigenous use in China. S. china consists of fat, saponins, glucosides, gum, starch, flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids. S. china has been used in traditional Chinese medicine because it has effective components such as triterpenoid, saponins, flavones, stilbenes, and organic acids. Roots are the most common used part; stems and rhizome can be used also in the form of powder or paste, raw or cooked. The most important health benefits of S. china are energy tonic, impotency and seminal disorders, chronic arthritis and secondary and tertiary syphilis, schizophrenia and epilepsy, pemphigus and skin diseases, ostero-arthritis, leucorrhea or white discharge, relieving joints numbness, diabetes and excretory system. The obtained findings strongly suggest potential of S. china as an additive in pharmaceutical industries. Key words: Health benefits, Smilax china, pharmaceutical industries, traditional Chinese medicine.

Smilax china L. is a traditional Chinese medicine mainly used for the treatment of pelvic inflammation. Polysaccharide might be one of the anti-inflammatory components of Smilax china L. Based on this hypothesis, this work aimed at extraction, purification and structural elucidation of Smilax china L. polysaccharides and their preliminary anti-inflammatory effects were also studied. Two polysaccharides named SCLP1 (Smilax china L. polysaccharide 1, 42.1kDa) and SCLP3-2 (Smilax china L. polysaccharide 3-2, 16.8kDa) were for the first time purified from Smilax china L. The structures of SCLP1 and SCLP3-2 were elucidated by chemical and spectral analysis. The results revealed that SCLP1 was a neutral polysaccharide composed of glucose and mannose (54.5:1.0). Its backbone was 1,4‑linked α‑Glcp interspersed with 1,2‑linked α‑Glcp and Manp; the branches were 1,6‑linked α-Glcp and terminated with α‑Glcp. SCLP3-2 was composed of galacturonic acid, arabinose, galactose and rhamnose (23.3:2.1:1.7:1.0) and was a pectin-type polysaccharide with an α‑1,4‑linked homogalacturonan backbone which was partially methyl-esterified and slightly acetylated. The side chains consisted of α‑Rhap, β‑Galp and α‑Araf. SCLP1 and SCLP3-2 could inhibit the production of NO, IL-6 and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells via NF-κB and MAPKs (ERK1/2, JNK) pathways, indicating that they possessed a potential anti-inflammatory activity.

Smilax china (SC) is a medicinal plant that has been traditionally used for a number of pathological disorders. In current study, its various fractions were assessed for radical scavenging, phenoli...

Two new xanthones smilone A (1), smilone B (2), and a new lignin smilgnin A (3) were isolated from the rhizomes of Smilax china L., together with three known xanthones (4–6), four lignins (7–10), t...

Smilax china L. (SCL) is extensively used in the treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This study aimed to clarify the potential active ingredients of SCL and mechanisms on PID. SCL was widely distributed in Japan, South Korea, and China, which was traditionally considered heat-clearing, detoxicating, and dampness-eliminating medicine. Systems pharmacology revealed that 32 compounds in SCL may interact with 19 targets for immunoenhancement, antiapoptosis, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant activity of the PID model. Molecular docking revealed that isorhamnetin, moracin M, rutin, and oxyresveratrol may have higher binding potential with prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), siderocalin (LCN2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and matrix metalloprotein-9 (MMP9), respectively. Molecular dynamics simulation showed that the binding modes of moracin M-MAPK1, rutin-TNF, and oxyresveratrol-MMP9 complexes were more stable, evidenced by relatively smaller fluctuations in root mean square deviation values. Conclusively, SCL may treat PID by inhibiting inflammatory factors, antitissue fibrosis, and microbial growth.

This study was to investigate whether Smilax china L. polyphenols (SCLP) could ameliorates high fat/high sucrose (HFHS)-induced obesity and inflammation in mice by modulation of gut microbiota. SCLP was extracted from Smilax china L. rhizome and identified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Then, C57BL/6J mice were fed with Chow diet, HFHS and HFHS supplement with SCLP or Orlistat for 12 weeks. In general, three phenolic acids and three flavonoids were identified from SCLP. The treatment of SCLP efficiently improved glucose tolerance and reduced body weight, fat accumulation, inflammation, and lipid concentrations of serum and liver. Furthermore, SCLP significantly decreased ratios of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes, relative abundance of Desulfovibrionaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Streptococcaceae, and remarkably increased relative abundance of Akkermansiaceae in the gut. These results suggested that SCLP may be used as potential agents to prevent obesity and related metabolic diseases in HFHS-fed mice.

Background. Traditional Chinese medicine Smilax is the rhizome of liliaceous plant Smilax china L., which is used to treat pelvic inflammatory disease and anxieties. Purpose. To investigate the mechanism of anti-inflammatory activity of the extract from Smilax china L. (ES). Methods. The components of ES were identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. The anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated in xylene-induced ear oedema and egg white-induced plantar swelling test. Cell viability was examined by CCK-8 assay. The inflammatory mediators, proinflammatory cytokines, and MAPK and NF-κB signals in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells were determined using ELISA, real-time PCR, and Western blot, respectively. Results. 20 compounds of ES were confirmed by comparing with the reference substance. ES displayed more prominent anti-inflammatory activity than the positive control “Jin Gang Teng” capsule in the in vivo acute inflammatory model. ES suppressed the expression of PGE2 and 6-Keot-PGF1α, and the ratio of IC50 (COX-1)/IC50 (COX-2) of ES was 3.15, which indicated that ES could selectively inhibit COX-2. ES dose-dependently (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/L) decreased the production and mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Furthermore, ES significantly decreased LPS-induced phosphorylation of p38, JNK, ERK1/2, and p65, inhibiting the expression of IKKα and the degradation of IκBα. Conclusion. The results suggested that ES could selectively inhibit the activity of COX-2, and the anti-inflammatory effect of ES was associated with the inhibition of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α via negative regulation of MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways in LPS-induced THP-1 cells.

Smilax china (SC) has pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory activity, but its effects on skin wound healing and skin barrier function have not been investigated. Here, we investigated the effects of absolute extracted from SC flowers (SCF) on skin wound healing-linked responses and functional skin barrier proteins using human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). SCF absolute contained 20 components and was non-toxic to HaCaT cells. The absolute increased the proliferation, migration, and sprout outgrowth of HaCaT cells, and enhanced the activations of serine/threonine-specific protein kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2. In addition, it increased the syntheses of type I and IV collagens and the expressions of skin barrier proteins (filaggrin and loricrin). These results indicate SCF absolute may has positive effects on skin wound healing by accelerating keratinocyte migration and proliferation activities and collagen synthesis, and on skin barrier function by upregulating barrier proteins in keratinocytes. We suggest SCF absolute to be considered as a potential means of promoting skin wound and barrier repair.

Background Colorectal cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract. In recent years, the incidence rate has increased year by year and is showing a younger trend. The application of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is one of the important methods for the treatment of colorectal cancer. CHM refers to the main therapeutic drugs based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is still valued. Many effective anticancer small-molecule compounds are derived from CHMs, and their effective anticancer ingredients and targets must be clarified and to further understand the molecular mechanisms by which CHM affects cancer. Methods We analyzed the ingredients in CHM that were found to be effective against colorectal cancer and constructed an interaction network among these ingredients and the target protein. By analyzing the number of connections in the network and their type of interaction, we identified the key target protein Corticosteroid 11-beta-dehydrogenase isozyme 2, the enzyme encoded by HSD11B2. Analyses of HSD11B2 expression, survival curve, and co-expressed genes helped clarify the correlation between HSD11B2 and colorectal cancer as well as its underlying molecular mechanism. Results We determined that the anticancer ingredients contained in Sanguisorba officinalis, Patrinia scabiosaefolia, and Smilax china had more connections to the target proteins found in colorectal cancer. In the interaction network, eight small-molecule compounds had an activating effect on HSD11B2. The expression of the HSD11B2 was markedly decreased in colorectal cancer tissues and was positively correlated with the overall survival time of patients. In addition, co-expression analyses showed a close relationship between HSD11B2 and tissue-specific genes in colorectal tissues. The expression levels of HSD11B2 in well-, moderately, and poorly differentiated tissues progressively decreased. Conclusion The HSD11B2 protein was a key CHM target for treating colorectal cancer. The key role of CHM may lie in activating HSD11B2 and further promoting tissue differentiation in colorectal cancer.

Cytokines involved in pathogenesis of psoriasis such as interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-22, IL-23), interferon-α, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ can also become therapeutic targets. Research currently uses murine models of imiquimod-induced psoriatic-type dermatitis in order to analyze potentially helpful phytotherapeutics for psoriasis treatment: Curcuma longa, Aloe vera, Nigella sativa, Rubia cordifolia, Smilax china, Thespesia populnea, Wrightia tinctoria, Scutellaria baicalensis, Cassia tora, Pongamia pinnata and various Chinese herbal formulas. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease with complex pathogenic mechanisms that yield abnormal immune responses with clinical and morphological echoes (erythematous, scaly plaques with a histopathological basis made up of alterations i.e. keratinocyte aberrant proliferation, parakeratosis or chronic inflammation). The current therapeutic approach has only been able to manage the disease, without ensuring a certified treatment, thus giving rise to the need for better medications. This novel therapeutic approach has shown promising results in preclinical studies, giving hope for future phytochemical animal-based studies.

A climbing shrub or woody vine, native of southern China, India, Nepal, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand. Tubers are used as food in some parts of China, and in TCM as diuretic, and for the treatment of syphilis, rheumatic arthritis, detoxication, lumbago, gout, tumor, and inflammatory diseases. Chinese often eat the root instead of rice, because it contributes to make them lusty. Muslim writers consider it antirheumatic, antisyphilitic, aphrodisiac and demulcent. In Europe, after the China root produced good effect on the Emperor Charles V, who was suffering from gout, it acquired the status of a celebrity, and several works were written in praise of its virtues. In Indian medicine, the rhizome is described as diaphoretic, stimulant, alterative and resolvent. Its decoction is used as depurative, diaphoretic, stimulant, alterative, antisyphilitic, in leprosy, kidney and bladder diseases, paralysis, headache, convulsions, and as aphrodisiac, and is also described as sudorific and demulcent, and used for rheumatism. In the Philippines, decoction of roots and rhizomes is used as a depurative and as a remedy for herpetism (predisposition to herpes infections), syphilis and similar afflictions. Rhizomes contain crystalline saponin smilacin, tannin, and a resin, a flavonoid compound, astilbin, a triflavanoid, an isonarthogenin glycoside, β-sitosterol, β-daucosterol, resveratrol, β-secretase inhibitors, kaempferol, dihydrokaempferol, rutin, engeletin, isoengeletin, vanillic acid, cytotoxic polyphenols, and dioscin, a synergistic tyrosinase inhibitor. Rhizomes exhibit anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antioxidant activities. Methanol extract of rhizomes and isolated flavonoid quercetin from it showed significant antipsoriatic activity, inhibiting leukocyte migration, producing significant orthokeratosis, and reducing epidermal thickness. Ethanol extract, rich in resveratrol and oxyresveratrol, reduces cellular oxidative stress, increases nicotine metabolism by induction of hepatic CYP2A6, and also exerts antimetastatic effect on human breast cancer cells.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the colon and rectum. Although galectin-3 (Gal-3) has been reported to play a proinflammatory role in UC, it is unknown whether pectic polysaccharide, a Gal-3 inhibitor in tumor metastasis, can alleviate UC by inhibiting Gal-3. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and underlying mechanisms of SCLP, a pectic polysaccharide purified from Smilax china L. in our previous work, on dextran sulfate sodium-induced UC in BALB/c mice. The results showed that SCLP could significantly improve symptoms, alleviate histopathological damage and reduce the secretion of inflammatory mediators in mice with UC. Analysis of the anti-colitis mechanisms indicated that SCLP could inhibit the Gal-3/NLRP3 inflammasome/IL-1β pathway by suppressing the expression of Gal-3 and the interaction of Gal-3 and NLRP3. Our results suggested that SCLP could be a promising candidate for prevention and treatment of UC.

Background Smilax china L., a traditional Chinese herb, has been used to treat various inflammatory disorders, particularly pelvic inflammation. The anti-inflammatory activity of the plant extract has been reported in several in vivo experimental models. However, the underlying anti-inflammatory mechanisms and the role of gut microbiota in mice on Smilax china L. flavonoid (SCF) treatment are poorly understand. Purpose To investigate the role of SCF in providing the anti-inflammatory response and the role of gut microbiota in high-fat/high-sucrose (HFHS)-induced obese mice for 12 weeks. Study design and methods C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into seven groups, normal chow (NC), HFHS, Orlistat, SCE, and low-, medium-, high- doses of SCF for 12 weeks. The body weight, liver weight, serum concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and inflammatory cytokines in mice were assessed. The gene and protein expression levels of inflammation-related markers were measured by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Finally, the composition of gut microbiota was detected by analyzing 16S rDNA gene sequences. Results SCF supplement reduced body weight gain, adipose tissue and liver indexes, attenuated serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, LPS, and increased IL-10, and adiponectin. SCF significantly reduced the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and increased the expression of AMPK, PPAR-γ, and IL-10 in mice's liver and adipose tissues. In addition, the TLR4, p-IκBα, NF-κB, and p65 protein expression levels were reduced after the SCF supplement. Moreover, SCF treatment ameliorated HFHS-induced gut dysbiosis, as revealed by an increased intestinal barrier protective species (Akkermansia spp). The relative abundance of Streptococcaceae, Faecalibaculum, and endotoxin-producing Desulfovibrionaceae were significantly decreased on SCF supplements. Conclusion The results showed that SCF effectively inhibits HFHS-induced inflammation by suppressing the LPS-producing bacteria and pro-inflammatory bacteria group. Furthermore, the abundance of gut barrier protective species Akkermansia spp was increased to alleviate inflammatory response, inhibiting the LPS-TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Thus, SCF may be a promising prophylactic for diet-induced inflammatory diseases through the gut-liver axis in mice.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of the leaves of Smilax china.Methodology: The aqueous extract was examined for its anti-infla...

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the pharmacological effect of Smilax china Linn. water extract (SCLWE) on vascular relaxation and its underlying biochemical mechanisms.Met...

최근까지도, 현대사회의 암 발생률은 급격하게 증가하고 있다. 인체 내부에서 내재적 또는 외재적인 요인에 의해 DNA 손상이 발생되고, 세포는 DNA 손상에 대한 방어기작을 통해 스스로를 방어한다. 또한, 비정상적인 DNA 생성 및 결손된 DNA 가닥의 복원은 노화, 암, 염증 등 다양한 질병으로부터 기인한다. 많은 연구자는 이러한 DNA 손상을 억제하기 위하여 적절한 소재 탐색에 많은 관심을 두고 있으며, 특히 합성화합물의 부작용이 알려지면서, 천연물을 기반으로 한 암 예방적 소재에 대한 연구가 많이 이루어지고 있다. 토복령은 백합과(Liliacese)에 속하는 청미래덩굴(Smilax china L.)의 근경이며, 전통적으로 해독과 종기 등의 치료제로 사용되어왔다. 하지만 토복령의 DNA 손상에 대한 억제 효과에 대한 연구는 미흡하다. 본 논문에서는 토복령의 항산화 효과 및 DNA 손상에 대한 억제 효과를 확인하고, 식물이 포함하는 phenolic 화합물의 활성과 연관 관계를 확인하고자 하였다. 항산화 효과를 확인하기 위해, DPPH 라디칼 및 ABTS 라디칼에 대한 소거 활성을 확인하였다. 토복령 추출물은 DPPH 및 ABTS 라디칼을 효과적으로 제거하였으며, 높은 환원력을 나타냈다. HPLC 분석을 통해 phenolic 화합물을 정량 및 동정하였으며, 항산화 효과와 phenolic 화합물의 연관 관계를 확인하였다. 또한, OH- 라디칼 및 Fe2+으로 유발된 plasmid DNA 손상에 대한 방어 효과를 확인하였다. 세포 수준에서, DNA 손상에 대한 저해 효과는 산화적 스트레스로 유발된 NIH 3T3 세포의 γ-H2AX 및 p53 단백질 발현 저해 활성을 확인하였다. 또한, H2AX 및 p53 mRNA 수준의 저해 활성을 확인하였다. 결론적으로, 토복령 추출물의 phenolic 화합물의 항산화 효과 및 DNA 손상에 대한 억제 효과를 확인하였다.

Flow-injection mass spectrometry (FIMS) coupled with a chemometric method is proposed in this study to profile and distinguish between rhizomes of Smilax glabra (S. glabra) and Smilax china (S. china). The proposed method employed an electrospray-time-of-flight MS. The MS fingerprints were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) with the aid of SIMCA software. Findings showed that the two kinds of samples perfectly fell into their own classes. Further predictive study showed desirable predictability and the tested samples were successfully and reliably identified. The study demonstrated that the proposed method could serve as a powerful tool for distinguishing between S. glabra and S. china.

The current study investigated the effect of replacing wheat flour with starchy root vegetables in dried tofu noodles on texture, color, antioxidant capacity, and starch digestibility. The lotus root was selected as a replacement for wheat flour (5%, 10%) based on antioxidant capacity among various starchy root vegetables such as smilax china, lotus root, taro, and yam. Dried tofu noodles added 5% (W65L5T30) and 10% (W60L10T30) lotus root powder did not show any difference in springiness, but their hardness decreased compared to control (W70T30) after cooking. Changes in lightness (ΔL*) increased while its yellowness (Δb*) decreased according to the added amount of lotus root powder due to the oxidation of phenolic components by polyphenol oxidase. However, the antioxidant capacity expressed as trolox equivalent (TE, μmol TE /g dw) was maintained after cooking. In the enzymatic starch hydrolysis, the lowest amount (11.21 ± 1.25%) of rapidly digestible starch (RDS) and the highest amount (57.80 ± 3.13%) of resistant starch (RS) were observed in W60L10T30. After gelatinizing for 20 min, the content of free glucose was 3.56, 3.39, and 3.17% for W70T30, W65L5T30, and W60L10T30, respectively. Results from the current study suggest that lotus root powder as a replacement for wheat flour in dried tofu noodles could be effective not only in improving texture and antioxidant capacity but also in delaying starch digestion after cooking. Lotus root powder could be a potential ingredient that can replace wheat starch in dried tofu noodles as a low glycemic index food, meal replacement for diabetes.

The elucidation of the oral absorption of natural polysaccharides contributes to their further research and utilization. Herein, to explore the absorption of a pectin-type polysaccharide from Smilax china L. (SCLP), SCLP was respectively fluorescently labeled with fluorescein-5-thioicarbazide (FSCLP) and Cyanine7 amine (Cy7-SCLP) for in vitro and in vivo tracking. The near-infrared imaging demonstrated that Cy7-SCLP was absorbable in the small intestine and distributed in the liver and kidney after oral administration. Subsequently, in vitro intestinal epithelial tissue experiments showed that the jejunum was the dominant site of FSCLP transport. Further transport studies in the Caco-2 cell monolayer illustrated that FSCLP was delivered across the monolayer via transcellular transport by caveolae-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis together with paracellular transport by reversibly affecting tight junctions. In summary, this work presents the oral absorption characteristics and mechanisms of SCLP through the intestinal epithelium, which will facilitate the further development of SCLP and pectin polysaccharides.