With the ulcerative colitis (UC) incidence increasing worldwide, it is of great importance to prevent and treat UC. However, efficient treatment options for UC are relatively limited. Due to the potentially serious adverse effects of existing drugs, there is an increasing demand for alternative candidate resources derived from natural and functional foods. Astragalin (AG) is a type of anti-inflammatory flavonoid, with Moringa oleifera and Cassia alata being its main sources. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of AG on mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Our results suggested that AG treatment reduced weight loss and the disease activity index (DAI), prevented colon shortening and alleviated colonic tissue damage. AG treatment reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and related mRNAs (such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β), inhibited colonic infiltration by macrophages and neutrophils, ameliorated metabolic endotoxemia, and improved intestinal mucosal barrier function (increased expression levels of mRNAs such as ZO-1, occludin, and Muc2). Western blot analysis revealed that AG downregulated the NF-κB signaling pathway. Moreover, AG treatment partially reversed the alterations in the gut microbiota in colitis mice, mainly by increasing the abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria (such as Ruminococcaceae) and decreasing the abundance of potentially harmful bacteria (such as Escherichia-Shigella). Ruminococcaceae and Enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia-Shigella) were thought to be the key groups affected by AG to improve UC. Therefore, AG might exert a good anti-UC effect through microbiota/LPS/TLR4/NF-kB-related pathways in mice. The results of this study reveal the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of AG and provide an important reference for studying the mechanisms of natural flavonoids involved in preventing inflammation-driven diseases.

Insufficient intake of n -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is an important issue in modern Western-style diets. A large amount of evidence now suggests that a balanced intestinal microecology is considered an important part of health. Our results show that α-linolenic acid administration significantly improved the host metabolic phenotype and gut microbiota of mice fed a high-fat diet, and there was a correlation between the improved gut microbiota and metabolic phenotype. Some specific bacteria may play a unique regulatory role. Here, we have established correlation networks between gut microbiota and multitissue homeostasis, which may provide a new basis for further elucidating the relationship between the gut microbiota and host metabolism.

Moringa oleifera Lam. (MO) is called the “Miracle Tree” because of its extensive pharmacological activity. In addition to being an important food, it has also been used for a long time in traditional medicine in Asia for the treatment of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. In this study, by constructing a library of MO phytochemical structures and using Discovery Studio software, compounds were subjected to virtual screening and molecular docking experiments related to their inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP-IV), an important target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. After the four-step screening process, involving screening for drug-like compounds, predicting the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADME/T) of pharmacokinetic properties, LibDock heatmap matching analysis, and CDOCKER molecular docking analysis, three MO components that were candidate DPP-IV inhibitors were identified and their docking modes were analyzed. In vitro activity verification showed that all three MO components had certain DPP-IV inhibitory activities, of which O-Ethyl-4-[(α-l-rhamnosyloxy)-benzyl] carbamate (compound 1) had the highest activity (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC₅₀] = 798 nM). This study provides a reference for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-diabetic activity of MO. The obtained DPP-IV inhibitors could be used for structural optimization and in-depth in vivo evaluation.

Background: Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge), also known as Chinese red sage, is a member of Lamiaceae family. It is valued in traditional Chinese medicine, primarily for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Because of its pharmacological potential, ongoing research aims to identify novel bioactive compounds in danshen, and their biosynthetic pathways. To date, only expressed sequence tag (EST) and RNA-seq data for this herbal plant are available to the public. We therefore propose that the construction of a reference genome for danshen will help elucidate the biosynthetic pathways of important secondary metabolites, thereby advancing the investigation of novel drugs from this plant. Findings: We assembled the highly heterozygous danshen genome with the help of 395 × raw read coverage using Illumina technologies and about 10 × raw read coverage by using single molecular sequencing technology. The final draft genome is approximately 641 Mb, with a contig N50 size of 82.8 kb and a scaffold N50 size of 1.2 Mb. Further analyses predicted 34,598 protein-coding genes and 1,644 unique gene families in the danshen genome. Conclusions: The draft danshen genome will provide a valuable resource for the investigation of novel bioactive compounds in this Chinese herb.

In recent years, obesity has become a key factor affecting human health. Moringa oleifera Lam. is a perennial tropical deciduous tree, which is widely used in human medicine due to its nutritional and unique medicinal value. It has a cholesterol-lowering effect, but its mechanism of action is unclear. In this study, we elucidated the inhibitory effect of M. oleifera leaf petroleum ether extract (MOPEE) on lipid accumulation by in vitro and in vivo experiments, and we described its mechanism of action. MOPEE suppressed adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner and had no effect on cell viability at doses up to 400 μg/ml. Furthermore, MOPEE (400 μg/ml) significantly downregulated the expression of adipogenesis-associated proteins [peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins α and β (C/EBPα and C/EBPβ), and fatty acid synthase (FAS)] and upregulated the expression of a lipolysis-associated protein [hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL)] in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Additionally, MOPEE (400 μg/ml) significantly increased the degree of phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). An AMPK inhibitor reversed the MOPEE-induced activation of AMPKα and ACC in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Animal experiments showed that, in high-fat diet (HFD) mice, MOPEE [0.5 g/kg body weight (BW)] effectively decreased BW; relative epididymal, perirenal, and mesenteric fat weight and fat tissue size; and hepatic fat accumulation. Furthermore, MOPEE markedly reduced the serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Moreover, MOPEE significantly downregulated the expression of adipogenesis-associated proteins (PPARγ and FAS) and upregulated the expression of a lipolysis-associated protein [adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL)] in HFD mice hepatic and epididymal fat tissue. Additionally, MOPEE markedly increased the degree of phosphorylation of AMPKα and ACC in HFD mice hepatic and epididymal fat tissue. Following ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) analysis, three phytocompounds (isoquercitrin, chrysin-7-glucoside, and quercitrin) were identified as compounds with relatively high levels in MOPEE. Among them, quercitrin showed excellent fat accumulation inhibitory activity, and the three compounds had synergistic effects in inhibiting adipogenesis. Taken together, MOPEE inhibits fat accumulation by inhibiting the adipogenesis and promoting the lipolysis, and this process is related to AMPK activation.