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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an essential cause of labor loss and disability for people worldwide. Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide (ASPS) is one of the most important active components from A. senticosus, which exhibits various pharmacological activities such as antioxidation and immunomodulation. However, no studies have reported the application of ASPS in treating RA. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect of ASPS on RA and reveal its underlying mechanism. The potential therapeutic effect of ASPS against RA is initially verified in this study using the collagen‐induced arthritis model. Moreover, the protective benefits of ASPS are transmitted through the fecal microbiota and blocked by simultaneous antibiotic cocktail treatment, indicating that gut microbiota may be correlated with ASPS. The 16S rRNA sequencing using feces samples and untargeted UPLC‐MS metabolomics using serum samples further reveal that ASPS reprograms the arthritic progression triggered dysbiosis, enhances the expression of γ‐glutamylcysteine (GGC) synthetase, and enriches the serum concentration of GGC. Furthermore, metabolites GGC is found to be able to effectively interrupt NLRP3 inflammasome activation via inhibiting ASC nucleation and therefore attenuate inflammatory arthritis. Taken together, this work highlights ASPS's therapeutic potential against RA, which mainly exhibits its effects via modulating gut microbiota and regulating GGC production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain Zizania latifolia is produced at scale in China, and the edible swollen culm is exported to many countries, but little attention has been paid to its functional components. In this work, microwave‐assisted enzymatic extraction (MAEE) is used for the first time to extract polysaccharides from mountain Z. latifolia swollen culm (PMZL). MAEE conditions optimized by Box–Behnken design‐response surface methodology were as follows: 2.4% cellulase, microwaving for 6.0 min at 607 W, with a liquid‐to‐solid ratio of 63:1 ml g−1. Under these conditions, a notably high yield of 60.43% ± 1.12% for PMZL was achieved, which was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than from plain‐grown varieties. PMZL are naturally occurring sulfated polysaccharide–protein complexes containing 8.46% ± 0.18% proteins and 7.86% ± 0.73% sulfates. PMZL comprises mannose, glucosamine, rhamnose, glucose, galactose, and arabinose at molar ratios of 3.80:2.68:1.00:17.41:5.12:2.91, with a weight‐average molecular weight of 1569,219 Da and a number‐average molecular weight of 364,088 Da. The surface morphology of PMZL is composed of tightly packed oval particles, and this kind of promising polysaccharides preferentially scavenges reactive nitrogen species. Practical Application: Due to global warming, the land available for planting vegetables is likely to expand to higher areas, so greater attention should now be paid to mountain‐grown vegetables. This study provides an efficient way to obtain novel polysaccharides from mountain Zizania latifolia using microwave‐assisted enzymatic extraction with a remarkably high yield of 60.4%. This promising source of natural carbohydrates has potential uses in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, functional foods, cosmetics, and functional materials industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rich of 3,4-seco-lupane triterpenoids (3,4-SLT), including chiisanoside (CSS), divaroside (DVS), sessiloside-A1 (SSA), chiisanogenin (CSG), sessiligenin (SSG), were isolated from the ethanol extract of the leaves of Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus (LES). The present study was performed to explore the cytotoxic and anti-tumor effects of the isolated five ones, as well as potential molecular mechanisms. The results of a CCK-8 assay demonstrated that these 3,4-SLT can inhibit the growth of HepG2 cells, and SSG showed the most significant cytotoxicity. Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining indicated that 3,4-SLT in LES can induce HepG2 cell apoptosis effectively. The AutoDock Vina program was used to simulate molecular docking of drugs and targets to discuss possible pharmacological mechanisms. Besides, western blot and qRT-PCR results indicated that SSG can inhibit PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through controlling multi-targets. This study suggested that 3,4-SLT might become a new research hotspot for antineoplastic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eleocharis dulcis, an aquatic plant belonging to Cyperaceae family, is indigenous to Asia, and also occurs in tropical Africa and Australia. The edible corm part of E. dulcis is a commonly consumed aquatic vegetable with a planting area of 44.46 × 103 hm2 in China. This work aims to explore the potential of E. dulcis corm for use as a new food source for sufficient nutrients and health benefits by reviewing its nutrients, phytochemicals, functions, processing and food products. Eleocharis dulcis corm contains starches, dietary fibers, non‐starch polysaccharides, proteins, amino acids, phenolics, sterols, puchiin, saponins, minerals and vitamins. Among them, phenolics including flavonoids and quinones could be the major bioconstituents that largely contribute to antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial, antitumor, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and hypolipidemic functions. Peel wastes of E. dulcis corm tend to be enriched in phenolics to a much higher extent than the edible pulp. Fresh‐cut E. dulcis corm can be consumed as a ready‐to‐eat food or processed into juice for beverage production, and anti‐browning processing is a key to prolonging shelf life. Present food products of E. dulcis corm are centered on various fruit and vegetable beverages, and suffer from single categories and inadequate development. In brief, underutilized E. dulcis corm possesses great potential for use as a new food source for sufficient nutrients and health benefits. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sagittaria trifolia is an aquatic plant that is distributed worldwide. The edible tuber part of S. trifolia is a very common and popular vegetable in China. The aim of the present review is to discuss the discovery of nutraceuticals from S. trifolia tuber by reviewing its major constituents, food processing, food products, and health‐promoting benefits. Sagittaria trifolia tuber comprises a series of nutritional and bioactive constituents, including dietary fibers, amino acids, minerals, starches, non‐starch polysaccharides, diterpenoids, colchicine, phenols, and organic acids. Food processing affects its flavor, biocomponents, and bioactivity. Numerous S. trifolia tuber‐based food products and nutraceuticals have been developed, but new categories of products and the anticipated functions still need to be explored. The non‐starch polysaccharides could be the central ingredients that contribute to the plant's antioxidant, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, lipid‐regulating, and immunostimulatory properties. Of these, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects have been thoroughly investigated. Procedures for the extraction and purification of polysaccharides influence their health‐promoting actions. Overall, S. trifolia tuber is an underutilized aquatic vegetable species that is an emerging subject for nutraceutical research. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence has suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs; miRs) are extensively involved in the progression of chondrosarcoma (CHS). However, few studies have investigated the functional role of miR-525 in CHS tissues and cells. In the present study, it was discovered that miR-525 levels were decreased in CHS tissues and cells. Dual luciferase assays indicated that F-spondin 1 (SPON1) is a target gene of microRNA (miR)-525. In addition, miR-525 overexpression suppressed SW1353 cell migration and invasion and enhanced SW1353 cell apoptosis. Increased SPON1 expression levels were identified in CHS tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, miR-525 overexpression significantly suppressed the activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/Src/phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling in CHS cells; this suppression led to SPON1 silencing. In comparison, the SPON1 knockdown-mediated inactivation of FAK/Src/PI3K/Akt signaling was inhibited by inhibiting miR-525. In summary, the present study revealed that decreased miR-525 levels could enhance CHS malignancy as decreased miR-525 binding to the 3′ untranslated region of SPON1 activates FAK/Src/PI3K/Akt signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]