Dandelion is an edible and medicinal plant that has beneficial effects in various complex disorders. In this study, we investigated the regulatory effects of dandelion leaf aqueous extract (DAE) on mice with hyperuricemia (HUA) and explored its underlying mechanisms. DAE exhibited a high total phenolic content (363.31 ± 0.61 mg GAC/g) and contained 20 identified polyphenolic compounds. The administration of DAE significantly reduced serum uric acid levels and exerted protective effects on both liver and kidney function in mice with HUA. Mechanistically, DAE inhibited the NLRP3/Caspase-1 and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathways, leading to the downregulated mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), thereby alleviating renal inflammation. Additionally, DAE modulated the gut microbiota composition and increased SCFA-producing bacteria, along with increases in fecal SCFA contents. These findings suggest that DAE effectively mitigates HUA and its associated renal complications by regulating uric acid metabolism, suppressing renal inflammation, and restoring gut microbial homeostasis. Thus, DAE holds promise as a natural adjuvant therapy for HUA and related kidney inflammation.

The aging population highlights the urgency of interventions targeting oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. This study investigated the anti-aging potential of Zhuyeqing Liquor Extract (ZLE) using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced HT-22 cells and D-galactose-induced aging mice model. Results demonstrated that ZLE exhibited free radical scavenging activity, mitigated neuronal oxidative damage, and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Meanwhile, ZLE alleviated age-related physiological deterioration, improved spatial learning and memory ability, and protected hippocampal neurons in aging mice. Mechanistic analysis revealed that ZLE exerted the bioactivity by activating the SIRT1-Nrf2-HO-1 antioxidant pathway while inhibiting the NF-κB inflammatory pathway. This study suggested that ZLE may have potential as a neuroprotective functional food ingredient, providing a scientific basis for its further development.

2′-Fucosyllactose (2′-FL) represents a significant constituent within human milk oligosaccharides, and its benefits for intestinal health and neurodevelopment in infants and young children have been widely recognized. However, the mechanism by which 2′-FL influences early-life behavioral development through the gut–brain axis remains incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of neonatal 2′-FL supplementation on behavioral development in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and explored its potential microbiota-metabolite regulatory mechanisms. After 4 consecutive weeks of oral gavage beginning on postnatal day 2, rats receiving 2′-FL showed significantly increased average movement speed and central-area exploration time in the open field test. From a systemic perspective, 2′-FL lowered blood diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactic acid (D-LA) concentrations while elevating colonic mRNA levels of tight junction protein-related genes, consequently enhancing intestinal barrier stability. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing showed that 2′-FL reshaped the gut microbiota structure and significantly enriched Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-associated taxa represented by Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group. Untargeted metabolomics revealed that 2′-FL induced systemic metabolic remodeling, characterized by upregulation of the bioactive metabolites dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and deoxycholic acid (DCA), and downregulation of the glucocorticoid-related corticosterone. Western blot validation further showed higher hippocampal protein expression of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and synaptophysin in the 2′-FL group, supporting enhanced synaptic plasticity-related signaling. In summary, neonatal 2′-FL intervention enhanced exploratory behavior and was accompanied by increased hippocampal synaptic plasticity-related protein expression in rats, potentially through coordinated regulation of gut microbiota composition and systemic metabolism.