Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) fiber has been documented to exert an immunomodulatory effect both in vitro and in vivo. However, its beneficial effect against metabolic syndrome remains unknown. This study aimed to reveal whether the jicama fiber (JF) could prevent the development of diabetes and obesity caused by a high-sugar diet (HSD). The JF was isolated from its tuberous part and subsequently used as a supplemental diet for adult male Bagg and Albino (BALB)/c mice fed with a HSD. Four different diet paradigms including normal diet, HSD (30% sucrose), and HSD in combination with 10% and 25% of JF, respectively, were deployed continuously for 8 weeks. Furthermore, the blood glucose level, glucose tolerance, body weight, food and water consumption as well as epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT) and interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) mass were determined. Our results revealed that supplementation of 25% JF could significantly prevent the blood glucose increase, excessive body weight gain, and glucose intolerance in mice fed with HSD. Moreover, 10% and 25% JF blunted the HSD-induced WAT mass gain but failed to counteract the depletion of BAT mass. Furthermore, the fiber supplementation elicited a minimum effect on rhythm and total food and water intake. The JF could effectively sustain blood glucose homeostasis as well as improve body weight and WAT mass profile against the development of diabetes and obesity caused by HSD.

Background and purpose: Canna edulis ( C. edulis) and Maranta arundinacea (M. arundinacea) are potential medicinal plants. This study investigated the preventive effect of dietary fibers from C. edulis and M. arundinacea rhizomes against metabolic diseases and gut dysbiosis promoted by a high-fat diet (HFD). Experimental approach: Twenty-four male mice were divided into 4 groups and fed a low-fat diet, HFD, or HFD combined with 10% C. edulis fiber or M. arundinacea fiber for 12 weeks. Subsequently, the indicators of metabolic syndromes and gut microbiota composition were investigated. Findings/Results: C. edulis fiber effectively prevented obesity and counteracted HFD-induced dyslipidemia. C. edulis and M. arundinacea fibers prevented type 2 diabetes, but C. edulis fiber was more effective in regulating glucose tolerance and insulin than M. arundinacea. C. edulis fiber also reduced steatosis and inflammation in the liver. 16S rRNA sequencing of fecal microbiota revealed that the fibers decreased the abundance of Desulfobacterota , but only C. edulis increased Bacteroidota while decreasing Firmicutes. C. edulis fiber elevated the abundance of beneficial microbiota, including Lactobacilus reuteri, L. johnsonii , and Bacteroides fragilis , while lowering the pathogenic species Mucispirillum sp. Otherwise, M. arundinacea fiber increased the beneficial species L. murinus and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii , and pathogenic species Mucispirillum sp. Conclusion and implications: C. edulis and M. arundinacea fibers exerted ameliorative effects against metabolic diseases and gut dysbiosis caused by HFD. However, C. edulis fiber was more effective than M. arundinacea . Therefore, C. edulis fiber could be a candidate for supplements preventing metabolic diseases and gut dysbiosis.

Background and purpose: Yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus) is a potent medicinal plant exerting therapeutical effects against diseases. However, investigations on the health benefits of its fiber remain limited. This study aimed to investigate the potential of yam bean fiber (YBF) against a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic diseases, inflammation, and gut dysbiosis. Experimental approach: Adult male mice were assigned to four groups (8 each), namely a normal diet-fed group (ND), HFD-fed group, and HFD supplemented with YBF groups (HFD + YBF) at a dose of 2.5% and 10%, respectively. Treatments were implemented for ten weeks. Thereafter, indicators of metabolic diseases, oxidative stress, inflammation, and gut microbiota composition were determined. Findings / Results: A dosage of 10% YBF significantly inhibited excessive body weight gain (2.3 times lower than HFD group) and white adipose tissue (WAT) mass (2.2 times lower than HFD group) while sustaining brown adipose tissue mass. YBF prevented malondialdehyde elevation, catalase activity reduction, and expression of the interleukin-6 increment (2.7 times lower than the HFD group) within the WAT. Furthermore, YBF sustained normoglycaemia, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity while precluding hyperinsulinemia. YBF modulated the gut microbiota community by increasing health-promoting microbiota including Lactobacillus reuteri, L. johnsonii, and inhibiting a pathogenic Mucispirillum sp. YBF prevented histopathology and inflammation of the colon. Conclusion and implications: YBF at the dose of 10% is proved to be useful in the prevention of diet-induced metabolic diseases, microbiota dysbiosis, and inflammation. Hence, YBF is recommended as a potential natural-based remedy to diminish the detrimental effects of high-fat foods.

Context: Excessive swimming can reduce the ability of hippocampus cells and memory function. When hippocampus volume is lost in late adulthood, aerobic exercise can help recover it. This improvement in memory performance is beneficial, but excessive aerobic exercise can harm the hippocampal structure. Vitis gracilis Wall. is a traditional medicinal plant of North Sumatra's Karo people that works well as a stamina booster. Aims: To analyze apoptosis via cytochrome c in serum and brain tissue (hippocampal cells) after oral administration of V. garcilis. Methods: Six treatments were given to rats that were given excessive physical exercise consisting of G-: negative control; G+: Swim rats; G.Vit.C: Swim rats +Vitamin C 0.02 mg/kg BW; G100: Swim rats + V. gracilis 100/kg, G125; Swim rats + V. gracilis 125 mg/kg; G150: Swim rats + V. gracilis 150 mg/kg. Immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and Tunel Assay were used to assess study parameters. Results: There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the expression of cytochrome c and apoptotic neurons in the hippocampus. Administration of V. gracilis could balance superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The higher dose of V. gracilis induced higher SOD levels and lower MDA levels. Conclusions: V. gracilis can improve the histology of brain and hippocampus cells due to physical exercise and reduce cell apoptosis via cytochrome c.

Background and aims: Edible fiber isolated from the tuber of yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus, Leguminosae) has been suggested to prevent the development of metabolic diseases caused by excessively consuming sugary foods. However, it is unclarified whether P. erosus fiber (PEF) is also capable of preventing liver diseases. This study aimed to determine the effectivity of PEF in counteracting the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by excessive intake of high-sugar diet (HSD). Material and method: 25% of PEF in HSD (w/w) was fed in BALB/c mice for eight weeks followed by subsequent morphological and histological examinations of the liver at the end of treatment in comparing with HSD alone. Results: We found that supplementation of 25% PEF sustained the normal morphological feature of the liver in HSD-fed mice. Moreover, PEF also prevented the development of microvesicles in the liver tissue, nuclear shrinkage, and hepatolysis as indicators of liver disease. Macrophages infiltration as a marker of liver inflammation was also less observed in PEF-treated mice. Conclusions: PEF could effectively elicit a beneficial effect against NAFLD caused by HSD. Hence, PEF is suggested to be used as a potent supplemental diet to preclude the metabolic diseases caused by HSD.