Our previous study revealed that the bone anabolic effects of the lignan-rich fraction (SWCA) from Sambucus williamsii Hance was involved in modulating the metabolism of tryptophan in vivo and inhibiting serotonin (5-HT) synthesis in vitro. This study aimed to determine how SWCA modulates bone metabolism via serotonin in vivo. The effects of SWCA were evaluated by using 4-month-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) ovariectomized rats. The serum levels of 5-HT and kynurenine, the protein expressions of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH-1) and TPH-2, the genes and proteins related to the 5-HT signaling pathway as well as gut microbiota composition were determined. SWCA treatment alleviated bone loss and decreased serum levels of serotonin, which was negatively related to bone mineral density (BMD) in rats. It suppressed the protein expression of TPH-1 in the colon, and reversed the gene and protein expressions of FOXO1 and ATF4 in the femur in OVX rats, while it did not affect the TPH-2 protein expression in the cortex. SWCA treatment escalated the relative abundance of Antinobacteria and modulated several genera relating to BMD. These findings verified that the bone protective effects of lignans were mediated by serotonin, and provided evidence that lignans might be a good source of TPH-1 inhibitors.

Alcoholic beverages are among the most widely enjoyed leisure drinks around the world. However, irresponsible drinking habits can have detrimental effects on human health. Therefore, exploring strategies to alleviate discomfort following alcohol consumption would be beneficial for individuals who inevitably need to consume alcohol. In this study, three different models were used to determine the efficacy of a patented alcohol degradation protein (ADP) extracted from Bos taurus on ethanol metabolism. In an ethanol-challenged HepG2 cell model, ADP significantly protected the cell from ethanol-induced toxicity. Subsequently, results demonstrated that ADP significantly alleviated the effect of ethanol, as reflected by the increased distance and activity time of zebrafish during the testing period. Additionally, in a rat model, ADP promoted ethanol degradation at 1 and 2 h after ethanol consumption. Mechanistic studies found that ADP treatment increased ADH and ALDH activity in the gastrointestinal tract. ADP also exhibited potent antioxidation effects by lowering HO-1 expression in the liver. In conclusion, we believe that ADP is a promising product for relieving hangover symptoms after ethanol consumption, with demonstrated safety and effectiveness at the recommended dosage.

Sarcopenia is a progressive muscle condition characterised by the degenerative decline in skeletal muscle mass and function which arises from immobility and ageing. It has become a global health crisis with the growing older population. Cistanches Herba (Rou Cong-Rong), holoparasitic plant of Cistanche deserticola, is classified as a kidney-tonifying agent in traditional Chinese medicine and is commonly used to treat infertility and muscle weakness. It has various pharmacological activities, such as anti-osteoporotic, antioxidative and neuroprotective effects. Acteoside is one of the bioactive compounds found in Cistanches Herba that may account for its protective effects in skeletal muscle. The aim of this study is to determine the myogenic effect of acteoside in C2C12 myoblasts. Acteoside at 500 nM could promote myogenic differentiation significantly in differentiating C2C12 myoblasts by increasing the number and area of myotubes by 17% and 18% respectively (p < 0.05). These results provide evidence for supporting the use of acteoside for and the management of sarcopenia. Further study will be needed to determine the in vivo effects of acteoside and Cistanches Herba in sarcopenic animal model and to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of their protective effects in skeletal muscle.