Glyconutrients

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) is caused by a deficiency in iduronate-2-sulfatase (Ids), an enzyme that catabolizes glycosaminoglycan (GAG). Ids insufficiency results in the accumulation of GAG in various organs, ultimately resulting in multisystemic disease. Trehalose, a non-reducing disaccharide, has shown protective effects against various diseases. However, its potential utility through oral administration in MPS II has not yet been explored. In the present study, to investigate the efficacy of oral trehalose in Ids-knock-out (KO) mice, Ids-KO and wild type (WT) mice were treated with 2% trehalose dissolved in distilled water ad libitum for 24 weeks. Histological analysis revealed that almost all tissues from Ids-KO mice exhibited abnormal changes, including large vacuolization, inflammatory cell infiltration, and GAG deposition. However, oral administration of trehalose significantly suppressed GAG levels, vacuolization, inflammation and apoptosis in the spleen and brain. Additionally, oral trehalose considerably improved cognitive functions, such as short-term spatial learning and working memory, alongside limited improvements in walking capacity in Ids-KO mice. These results suggest that oral trehalose can reduce GAG accumulation, vacuolization and the number of apoptotic and inflammatory cells in pathological tissues including the brain, ultimately considerably improving spontaneous alteration behavior and could be a promising treatment option for MPS II.

Fucoidan, a water-soluble polysaccharide derived from marine organisms, has garnered significant attention for its ability to regulate gut microbiota …

Although glucosamine (GlcN) exhibits antitumor effects, its mechanism of action remains controversial. Additionally, its impact on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not well understood. This study ai...

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by hepatic lipid deposition, is one of the most prevalent chronic metabolic disorders globally, and its pharmaceutical treatments are still limited. Excessive lipid accumulation triggers endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy flux dysf …

Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide found in brown seaweed. Due to its reported biological activities, including antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, it has garnered significant attention for potential biomedical applications. However, the direct relationship between fucoidan extracts’ chemical structures and bioactivities is unclear, making it extremely challenging to predict whether an extract will possess a given bioactivity. This relationship is further complicated by a lack of uniformity in the recent literature in terms of the assessment and reporting of extract properties, yield and chemical composition (e.g., sulfate, fucose, uronic acid and monosaccharide contents). These inconsistencies pose significant challenges when directly comparing extraction techniques across studies. This review collected data on extract contents and properties from a selection of available studies. Where information was unavailable directly, efforts were made to extrapolate data. This approach enabled a comprehensive examination of the correlation between extraction techniques and the characteristics of the resulting extracts. A holistic framework is presented for the selection of fucoidan extraction methods, outlining key heuristics to consider when capturing the broader context of a seaweed bioprocess. Future work should focus on developing knowledge within these heuristic categories, such as the creation of technoeconomic models of each extraction process. This framework should allow for a robust extraction selection process that integrates process scale, cost and constraints into decision making. Key quality attributes for biologically active fucoidan are proposed, and areas for future research are identified, such as studies for specific bioactivities aimed at elucidating fucoidan’s mechanism of action. This review also sets out future work required to standardize the reporting of fucoidan extract data. Standardization could positively enhance the quality and depth of data on fucoidan extracts, enabling the relationships between physical, chemical and bioactive properties to be identified. Recommendations on best practices for the production of high-quality fucoidan with desirable yield, characteristics and bioactivity are highlighted.

Glucosamine, a widely used dietary supplement, has been linked to potential cardiovascular risks, including atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed…

D-Allulose, a rare sugar and C3-epimer of D-fructose has been proposed as a candidate for dietary restriction mimetics via inhibition of glycolysis. Anti-hyperglycemic and anti-obesity effects have been reported in rodents and human subjects. Here, ...

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An enriched environment (EE) constitutes a proficient strategy that instigates social, cognitive, and motor faculties, fostering healing and heighteni…

Insufficient dietary fiber intake has become a global public health issue, affecting the development and management of various diseases, including intestinal...

The lipid-lowering activity of fucoidan has been widely reported, but the exploration of its mechanisms is relatively limited, and studies on its dire…

Molecular Neurobiology - There is no acquiesced remedy for the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI)-associated impairment, especially cognitive decline. The first 24 h after TBI is a...

Background/Objectives: Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide derived from marine algae, is known for its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a protein associated with cardiovascular fibrosis, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target in cardiac remodeling. This study aimed to evaluate whether fucoidan could inhibit Gal-3 activity and mitigate cardiac remodeling in a mouse model of pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Methods: To test this hypothesis, we used transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery to induce pressure overload in normotensive mice, replicating the pathological features of cardiac hypertrophy. Mice were treated with fucoidan at a dose of 1.5 or 7.5 mg/kg/day. In vivo assessments of cardiac function, fibrosis, inflammation, and Gal-3 expression were performed. Results: Pressure overload led to significant upregulation of serum Gal-3 levels, increased cardiac collagen deposition, and elevated markers of fibrosis and inflammation. In mice treated with fucoidan, these effects were significantly attenuated. Fucoidan treatment prevented the upregulation of Gal-3, reduced collagen deposition, and decreased inflammatory cell infiltration, suggesting an inhibition of both fibrosis and inflammation. Conclusions: Fucoidan effectively mitigated the adverse effects of pressure overload in this mouse model, including reduced Gal-3 expression, fibrosis, and inflammation. These findings suggest that fucoidan holds promise as a therapeutic agent for preventing or delaying cardiac remodeling and associated complications, such as fibrosis and inflammation, in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and clinical applicability of fucoidan in cardiac disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by hepatic lipid deposition, is one of the most prevalent chronic metabolic disorders globally, and its pharmaceutical treatments are still limited. Excessive lipid accumulation triggers endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy flux dysfunction, which are important mechanisms for NAFLD. Trehalose (Tre), a natural disaccharide, has been identified to reduce hepatic steatosis and glucose intolerance. However, its underlying mechanisms for NAFLD remain unclear. In this study, a high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced mouse NAFLD model and a saturated fatty acid palmitic acid (PA)-stimulated cell model were constructed. The results indicated that Tre supplementation ameliorated hepatocyte lipid deposition in vitro, as well as hepatic steatosis and hyperlipidemia in vivo. Mechanistically, Tre alleviated both autophagy flux dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Under the stimulation of HFD or PA, Tre remarkably increased the expression and nucleic translocation of the lysosomal master protein transcription factor EB (TFEB), while decreasing the accumulation of p62 and also decreasing the ER stress markers (inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1α), XBP-1, CHOP, and BIP). Similar results were observed in an ER stressor tunicamycin (TM)-induced in vivo and in vitro models. In addition, the transcriptomic analysis of NAFLD patients revealed significant differences in ER stress-related and autophagy-related biomarkers, including TFEB, ATG7, IRE1α, and CHOP. Molecular docking results demonstrated a strong affinity between Tre and both IRE1α and TFEB. Overall, Tre protected hepatocytes from lipotoxicity-related ER stress and autophagy dysfunction, and its regulatory effect on the IRE1α–TFEB signaling pathway may be a critical mechanism. These findings suggest that Tre, as a bioactive substance with significant medicinal potential, holds considerable promise for drug development and clinical application in treating NAFLD.

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Comprehensive analysis of the lipid content in Cordyceps sinensis samples is essential for optimizing their effective use. Understanding the lipid profile can significantly enhance the application of this valuable fungus across various fields, including nutrition and medicine. However, to date, there is limited knowledge regarding the effects of different drying methods on the quality of lipids present in Cordyceps sinensis. In this study, we employed a broadly targeted lipidomic strategy to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the lipid composition in Cordyceps sinensis subjected to various drying methods. A comprehensive analysis identified a total of 765 distinct lipid species from fresh Cordyceps sinensis (FC), vacuum-freeze-dried Cordyceps sinensis (VG), oven-dried Cordyceps sinensis (OG), and air-dried Cordyceps sinensis (AG). Among these, glycerophospholipids (GP) were the most abundant, followed by glycerides (GL) and sphingolipids (SP). In this study, a total of 659 lipids demonstrated statistically significant differences, as indicated by a p-value (p) < 1. Among these lipids, triglycerides (TG) exhibited the highest concentration, followed by several others, including ceramide-ascorbic acid (Cer-AS), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and phosphatidylserine (PS). OG was the fastest drying method; however, PCA and OPLS-DA analyses indicated that the most significant changes in the lipids of Cordyceps sinensis were observed under the OG method. Specifically, 517 differentially accumulated lipids were significantly down-regulated, while only 10 lipids were significantly up-regulated. This disparity may be attributed to the degradation and oxidation of lipids. The metabolic pathways of glycerolipid, glycerophospholipid, and cholesterol are critical during the drying process of Cordyceps sinensis. This study provides valuable insights that can enhance quality control and offer guidelines for the appropriate storage of this medicinal fungus.

Background: Aloe vera, often dubbed the "plant of immortality," has been cherished for its healing properties throughout history.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto-immune condition resulting in the formation of autoantibodies that cause joint and systemic inflammation. Different si…

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) represents one of the most common side effects of cancer treatment. Currently, scalp cooling systems are utilized to treat CIA, but their safety and effectiveness remain limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of fucoidan on CIA and to e …

Background: Evidence indicates a negative link between glucosamine and age-related cognitive decline and sarcopenia. However, the causal relationship remains...

Prediabetes is characterized as a transitional phase between normal blood glucose and diabetes, and the potential role of fucoidan in the progression …

Dietary polysaccharides affect the intestinal microorganisms and their metabolites in the host. Clarifying the relationship among polysaccharides, int…

Gum arabic is widely used in the food and beverage industries for its emulsifying, stabilizing, and prebiotic effects, which promote Bifidobacterium g…

D-allulose, a rare sugar recognized as Generally Recognized as Safe, has emerged as a potential alternative to sucrose. Despite its growing popularity…

and Methods: Ninety patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into the single treatment group and the combined treatment group, which received the treatment using single glucosamine hydrochloride and glucosamine hydrochloride combined with celecoxib for three months, respectively. Results: After treatment, compared with the single treatment group, in the combined treatment group the total effective rate was increased, the Visual Analogue Scale score was decreased, the Lysholm score was increased, the serum tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6 and interleukin 1β levels were decreased, the serum β-C-telopeptides of type I collagen level was decreased, and the serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin levels were increased. The incidence of adverse reactions during treatment had no significant difference between two groups. Conclusions: Glucosamine hydrochloride combined with celecoxib has a good therapeutic efficacy for patients with knee osteoarthritis, and it can improve the bone metabolism and reduce the inflammatory response in patients....

For over forty years, a sugar of rare configuration known as trehalose (two molecules of glucose linked at their 1-carbons), has been recognised for m…