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The American Journal of Clinical... Mar 2024Weight loss is the most effective treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). There is evidence that the Mediterranean diets rich in unsaturated fatty acids... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Weight loss is the most effective treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). There is evidence that the Mediterranean diets rich in unsaturated fatty acids and fiber have beneficial effects on weight homeostasis and metabolic risk factors in individuals with NAFLD. Studies have also shown that higher circulating concentrations of pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) are associated with a lower risk for NAFLD.
OBJECTIVES
To examine the effects of a Mediterranean-like, culturally contextualized Asian diet rich in fiber and unsaturated fatty acids, with or without C15:0 supplementation, in Chinese females with NAFLD.
METHODS
In a double-blinded, parallel-design, randomized controlled trial, 88 Chinese females with NAFLD were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 groups for 12 wk: diet with C15:0 supplementation (n = 31), diet without C15:0 supplementation (n = 28), or control (habitual diet and no C15:0 supplementation, n = 29). At baseline and after the intervention, body fat percentage, intrahepatic lipid content, muscle and abdominal fat, liver enzymes, cardiometabolic risk factors, and gut microbiome were assessed.
RESULTS
In the intention-to-treat analysis, weight reductions of 4.0 ± 0.5 kg (5.3%), 3.4 ± 0.5 kg (4.5%), and 1.5 ± 0.5 kg (2.1%) were achieved in the diet-with-C15:0, diet without-C15:0, and the control groups, respectively. The proton density fat fraction (PDFF) of the liver decreased by 33%, 30%, and 10%, respectively. Both diet groups achieved significantly greater reductions in body weight, liver PDFF, total cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and triglyceride concentrations compared with the control group. C15:0 supplementation reduced LDL-cholesterol further, and increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium adolescentis. Fat mass, visceral adipose tissue, subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (deep and superficial), insulin, glycated hemoglobin, and blood pressure decreased significantly in all groups, in parallel with weight loss.
CONCLUSION
Mild weight loss induced by a Mediterranean-like diet adapted for Asians has multiple beneficial health effects in females with NAFLD. C15:0 supplementation lowers LDL-cholesterol and may cause beneficial shifts in the gut microbiome.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
This trial was registered at the clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05259475.
Topics: Female; Humans; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Diet, Mediterranean; Liver; Weight Loss; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Cholesterol; Fatty Acids
PubMed: 38035997
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.11.013 -
Phytomedicine : International Journal... Jan 2024Astragali Radix (AR) is a widely used herbal medicine. The quality of AR is influenced by several key factors, including the production area, growth mode, species, and...
BACKGROUND
Astragali Radix (AR) is a widely used herbal medicine. The quality of AR is influenced by several key factors, including the production area, growth mode, species, and grade. However, the markers currently used to distinguish these factors primarily focus on secondary metabolites, and their validation on large-scale samples is lacking.
PURPOSE
This study aims to discover reliable markers and develop classification models for identifying the production area, growth mode, species, and grade of AR.
METHODS
A total of 366 batches of AR crude slices were collected from six provinces in China and divided into learning (n = 191) and validation (n = 175) sets. Three ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) methods were developed and validated for determining 22 primary and 10 secondary metabolites in AR methanol extract. Based on the quantification data, seven machine learning algorithms, such as Nearest Neighbors and Gradient Boosted Trees, were applied to screen the potential markers and build the classification models for identifying the four factors associated with AR quality.
RESULTS
Our analysis revealed that secondary metabolites (e.g., astragaloside IV, calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, and ononin) played a crucial role in evaluating AR quality, particularly in identifying the production area and species. Additionally, fatty acids (e.g., behenic acid and lignoceric acid) were vital in determining the growth mode of AR, while amino acids (e.g., alanine and phenylalanine) were helpful in distinguishing different grades. With both primary and secondary metabolites, the Nearest Neighbors algorithm-based model was constructed for identifying each factor of AR, achieving good classification accuracy (>70%) on the validation set. Furthermore, a panel of four metabolites including ononin, astragaloside II, pentadecanoic acid, and alanine, allowed for simultaneous identification of all four factors of AR, offering an accuracy of 86.9%.
CONCLUSION
Our findings highlight the potential of integrating large-scale targeted metabolomics and machine learning approaches to accurately identify the quality-associated factors of AR. This study opens up possibilities for enhancing the evaluation of other herbal medicines through similar methodologies, and further exploration in this area is warranted.
Topics: Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Chromatography, Liquid; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Astragalus propinquus; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Astragalus Plant; Alanine
PubMed: 37976693
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155201 -
Nutrients Oct 2023Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) is an essential odd-chain saturated fatty acid with broad activities relevant to protecting cardiometabolic, immune, and liver health. C15:0...
Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) is an essential odd-chain saturated fatty acid with broad activities relevant to protecting cardiometabolic, immune, and liver health. C15:0 activates AMPK and inhibits mTOR, both of which are core components of the human longevity pathway. To assess the potential for C15:0 to enhance processes associated with longevity and healthspan, we used human cell-based molecular phenotyping assays to compare C15:0 with three longevity-enhancing candidates: acarbose, metformin, and rapamycin. C15:0 (n = 36 activities in 10 of 12 cell systems) and rapamycin (n = 32 activities in 12 of 12 systems) had the most clinically relevant, dose-dependent activities. At their optimal doses, C15:0 (17 µM) and rapamycin (9 µM) shared 24 activities across 10 cell systems, including anti-inflammatory (e.g., lowered MCP-1, TNFα, IL-10, IL-17A/F), antifibrotic, and anticancer activities, which are further supported by previously published in vitro and in vivo studies. Paired with prior demonstrated abilities for C15:0 to target longevity pathways, hallmarks of aging, aging rate biomarkers, and core components of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, our results support C15:0 as an essential nutrient with activities equivalent to, or surpassing, leading longevity-enhancing candidate compounds.
Topics: Humans; Longevity; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Fatty Acids, Essential; Sirolimus
PubMed: 37960259
DOI: 10.3390/nu15214607 -
Microorganisms Oct 2023The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens creates public health challenges, prompting a continuous search for effective novel antimicrobials. This study aimed to...
The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens creates public health challenges, prompting a continuous search for effective novel antimicrobials. This study aimed to isolate marine actinomycetes from South Africa, evaluate their in vitro antimicrobial activity against and Shiga toxin-producing , and characterize their mechanisms of action. Marine actinomycetes were isolated and identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the chemical constituents of bioactive actinomycetes' secondary metabolites. Antibacterial activity of the secondary metabolites was assessed by the broth microdilution method, and their mode of actions were predicted using computational docking. While five strains showed antibacterial activity during primary screening, only strain SOD(B)ST2SA2 exhibited activity during secondary screening for antibacterial activity. GC-MS identified five major bioactive compounds: 1-octadecene, diethyl phthalate, pentadecanoic acid, 6-octadecenoic acid, and trifluoroacetoxy hexadecane. SOD(B)ST2SA2's extract demonstrated minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration, ranging from 0.78-25 mg/mL and 3.13 to > 25 mg/mL, respectively. Diethyl phthalate displayed the lowest bacterial protein-binding energies (kcal/mol): -7.2, dihydrofolate reductase; -6.0, DNA gyrase B; and -5.8, D-alanine:D-alanine ligase. Thus, marine SOD(B)ST2SA2 is a potentially good source of antibacterial compounds that can be used to control STEC and .
PubMed: 37894198
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102539 -
BMC Genomics Oct 2023The Q-426 strain isolated from compost samples has excellent antifungal activities against a variety of plant pathogens. However, the complete genome of Q-426 is still...
BACKGROUND
The Q-426 strain isolated from compost samples has excellent antifungal activities against a variety of plant pathogens. However, the complete genome of Q-426 is still unclear, which limits the potential application of Q-426.
RESULTS
Genome sequencing revealed that Q-426 contains a single circular chromosome 4,086,827 bp in length, with 4691 coding sequences and an average GC content of 46.3%. The Q-426 strain has a high degree of collinearity with B. velezensis FZB42, B. velezensis SQR9, and B. amyloliquefaciens DSM7, and the strain was reidentified as B. velezensis Q-426 based on the homology analysis results. Many genes in the Q-426 genome have plant growth-promoting activity, including the secondary metabolites of lipopeptides. Genome mining revealed 14 clusters and 732 genes encoding secondary metabolites with predicted functions, including the surfactin, iturin, and fengycin families. In addition, twelve lipopeptides (surfactin, iturin and fengycin) were successfully detected from the fermentation broth of B. velezensis Q-426 by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS), which is consistent with the genome analysis results. We found that Q-426 produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) at 1.56 mg/l on the third day of incubation, which might promote the growth of plants. Moreover, we identified eighteen volatile compounds (VOCs, including 2-heptanone, 6-methylheptan-2-one, 5-methylheptan-2-one, 2-nonanone, 2-decanone, 2-undecanone, 2-dodecanone, 2-tridecanone, 2-tetradecanone, 2-nonadecanone, pentadecanoic acid, oleic acid, dethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, methyl (9E,12E)-octadeca-9,12-dienoate), pentadecane, (6E,10E)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,9,12,12a-decahydro-1,4-methanobenzo[10]annulene, and nonanal) based on gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC/MS) results.
CONCLUSIONS
We mined secondary metabolite-related genes from the genome based on whole-genome sequence results. Our study laid the theoretical foundation for the development of secondary metabolites and the application of B. velezensis Q-426. Our findings provide insights into the genetic characteristics responsible for the bioactivities and potential application of B. velezensis Q-426 as a plant growth-promoting strain in ecological agriculture.
Topics: Humans; Genome, Bacterial; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Anti-Infective Agents; Lipopeptides; Genomics
PubMed: 37794314
DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09662-1 -
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology May 2024Polymers of hydroxy alkanoates (PHA), also known as biodegradable, biocompatible plastic, are potential alternatives to petrochemical-based plastics. PHA is synthesized...
Polymers of hydroxy alkanoates (PHA), also known as biodegradable, biocompatible plastic, are potential alternatives to petrochemical-based plastics. PHA is synthesized by microbes in their cytoplasm in the form of inclusion bodies in stress conditions such as nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus with excessive amounts of carbon. Sugar extracted from potato peel in the form of hydrolysate was employed as a carbon source for PHA production after acidic hydrolysis. The acid hydrolysis conditions are optimized for dilute acid concentrations and temperatures. The highest sugar-yielding condition (2% 15 min at 121 ℃) was used for submerged fermentation for PHA production by Bacillus circulans MTCC 8167. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and differential scanning calorimetry were used for polymer characterization. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry confirmed the monomers such as hexadecenoic acid 3-hydroxy, methyl esters, pentadecanoic acid 14 methyl esters, and tetradecanoic acid 12- methyl esters. Crotonic acid assay was used for quantification of PHA and it was found highest (0.232 ± 0.04 g/L) at 37 °C and 36 h of incubation. Hence, potato peel waste could be a potential feedstock for waste to valuable production.
Topics: Solanum tuberosum; Bacillus; Polyhydroxyalkanoates; Fermentation; Hydrolysis; Waste Products; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
PubMed: 37776440
DOI: 10.1007/s12010-023-04741-1 -
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Sep 2023Vitellaria paradoxa is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases in tropical countries; however, nothing is known about its anti-trypanosomal...
BACKGROUND
Vitellaria paradoxa is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases in tropical countries; however, nothing is known about its anti-trypanosomal activity. Human African trypanosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease of Sub-Saharan Africa's poorest rural regions, and the efficacy of its treatment remains a challenge. This study investigates the as-yet-unknown trypanocidal activity of this plant.
METHODS
V. paradoxa, commonly known as shea tree, was selected for study based on an ethnobotanical investigation. Ultrasonicated extracts from bark and seeds were successively treated with ethyl acetate and water. Column chromatography, NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry were used to identify isolated compounds. Purified trypanosomes (Trypanosoma brucei brucei) were incubated with serial dilutions of the extracts and isolated compounds at 37 °C in 5% CO for 24 h. Parasite viability was evaluated under a microscope.
RESULTS
The ethyl acetate extracts of the bark showed the higher in vitro trypanocidal activity against T. brucei brucei with median inhibitory concentration (IC) of 3.25 µg/mL. However, the triterpene 1α,2β,3β,19α-tretrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid and the pentadecanoic acid isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the seeds showed in vitro trypanocidal activity with IC of 11.30 and 70.1 µM, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The results obtained contribute to the validation of the traditional medicinal use of V. paradoxa. Our results encourage further investigations of this plant, mainly with respect to its in vivo efficacy and toxicity.
Topics: Humans; Plants, Medicinal; Plant Extracts; Trypanocidal Agents; Trypanosoma brucei brucei
PubMed: 37770899
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04175-6 -
Microorganisms Sep 2023Rhizosphere microorganisms and the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by them take part in the regulation of the chemotaxis of nematodes. A total of 150 strains...
Rhizosphere microorganisms and the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by them take part in the regulation of the chemotaxis of nematodes. A total of 150 strains of rhizosphere bacteria were screened via a chemotaxis experiment with . Some isolates affected the behavior of the nematodes, including attraction, randomness, and repulsion. Volatile metabolites produced via the selected bacteria were associated with the chemotaxis of nematodes. was highly attracted to decanal. In addition, dimethyl disulfide, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, pentadecanoic acid, and palmitic acid were found to attract weakly . Furthermore, the chemotaxis of was tested in a pot experiment. The bacteria sp. 1-50, 2-35, 5-14, 6-4, and VOC decanal could regulate the movement of M. incognita in the pot with or without plants. The results provide insights into rhizosphere microorganisms and their VOCs and how they regulate the chemotaxis of the nematodes.
PubMed: 37764115
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092271