This article contains findings obtained from research on animals:
- The results from animal research studies should not be directly applied to humans and the results may not generalise to the human population.
- There may be significant differences between species in terms of physiology, physiology, and pharmacology, as well as differences in the way diseases and treatments are modelled in animals.
- Any conclusions drawn from animal research should be considered with caution and in the context of other types of research studies such as observational studies, clinical trials, and reviews of the literature.
Insights & Discussion
Cooked adzuki beans contribute notably to preventing obesity and regulating gut microbiota composition, while also alleviating systemic inflammation and metabolic disorders.
The methodology involved a controlled experiment where mice were fed diets of varying lipid content: a low-fat diet or a high-fat diet. The specific twist in this experiment was the inclusion or exclusion of cooked adzuki beans to their diet, ensuring 15% of the diet comprised of this. The duration of this dietary regimen was 12 weeks.
In the discussion of results, it was discovered that cooked adzuki beans provided key beneficial effects. This included a significant inhibition of weight gain and hepatic steatosis, a reduction in high levels of specific markers such as serum triacylglycerol, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase, providing a counter to systemic inflammation and metabolism-related endotoxemia commonly found in those consuming a high-fat diet. Moreover, the inclusion of adzuki beans positively affected the gut microbiota composition, reducing fat-inducing bacteria and enriching the gut with beneficial bacteria to help alleviate inflammation and metabolic disorders associated with high-fat diets.
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Goji berry leaves have stronger anti-colitis effects than mulberry leaves, ameliorating tissue damage and better regulating inflammatory responses and gut microbiota.
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Experimental Study Anti-Colitis Anti-Inflammatory Colitis
The research entailed a comparative study conducted on goji berry and mulberry leaves versus their respective fruits. To determine their anti-colitis effects, the experiment was administered to C57BL/6N mice that had been induced with colitis through dextran-sulfate-sodium. Through the utilization of measures such as ELISA and western blotting analysis, researchers were able to observe how each leaf versus its corresponding fruit ameliorated colitic symptoms, tissue damage, and was able to influence the overproduction of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines.
The results showed that both the goji berry leaf and fruit significantly reduced symptoms of colitis and improved tissue damage while the mulberry leaf did not show similar improvements. The goji berry leaf exhibited the strongest performance in restraining the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and further repairing the damaged colonic barrier. It also effectively adjusted gut microbiota equilibrium by increasing beneficial bacteria and decreasing harmful ones. The berries and leaves similarly restored certain dietary fibers to alleviate inflammation, but the mulberry leaf did not achieve this for butyrate. This is the first report to provide a comprehensive contrast of anti-colitis effects between the leaves and fruits of goji and mulberry.
Pomegranate extract and its phytochemicals can potentially inhibit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) and improve gut microbiota, preventing obesity and diabetes.
2022 Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy Medicinal uses, pharmacological activities, phytochemistry, and the molecular mechanisms of Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) plant extracts: A review Maphetu N, Unuofin JO, Masuku NP, Olisah C, Lebelo SL
Review Article COVID-19 Gut Microbiota Obesity
The study employs the use of in silico molecular docking methodologies to demonstrate that extract from pomegranates and their phytochemicals can serve as inhibitors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2's spike protein and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor contact. These findings are further reinforced by clinical trials which suggest that pomegranates can also alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, dental infections, and symptoms of menopause.
This study has also identified numerous active compounds within pomegranates such as alkaloids, anthocyanidins, tannins, flavonoids, phenolics, proanthocyanidins, sterols, terpenes, terpenoids, xanthonoids, fatty acids, organic acids, lignans, saccharides, and vitamin C. This mixture of active compounds is believed to significantly contribute to the broad array of pharmacological activities identified within the pomegranate. This includes anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-malaria, anti-fibrotic, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial effects. The extract from this fruit improves gut microbiota which could potentially aid in the prevention of obesity and diabetes.
Pu-erh tea possesses therapeutic mechanisms potentially beneficial for metabolic diseases due to its interaction with liver and gut microbiome.
2022 Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences Pu-erh tea: A review of a healthful brew Jia W, Rajani C, Lv A, Fan TP, Zheng X
Review Article Gut Microbiota Pu-Erh Tea
The methodology of this research involved reviewing and summarising the processing elements and bioactive components of pu-erh tea. Extensive study of relative human and animal trials was conducted, and the potential therapeutic mechanisms of this tea were examined and extrapolated.
In discussing the results, it was discovered that pu-erh tea evidently has beneficial effects on metabolic diseases, such as hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic effects. The research points to the conclusion that the tea's interaction with the liver and gut microbiome is the major contributing factor to these health benefits. It helps regulate tea biotransformation and endogenous metabolism, underlining the tea's potential use in therapeutic interventions.
Pu-erh tea, through the increase of Cinnabarinic acid, can improve obesity induced by circadian rhythm disorders by enhancing fat metabolism and altering gut microbes.
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In this study, a CRD-induced obesity model in mice was developed and Pu-erh tea was used as an intervention. The effect of Pu-erh tea on obesity was observed and determined to come from its production of Cinnabarinic acid (CA). CA was found to promote adipose tissue lipolysis and heat generation response, increasing the sensitivity of fat cells to hormones and neurotransmitters. This was accomplished by targeting the expression of specific receptor proteins in adipose tissue. These processes improved mitochondrial activity in the fat cells and expedited metabolic processes in the adipose tissue, thereby speeding up glucose and fat metabolism.
In the final stage of the study, CA was found to make changes in the gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids which further helped to improve the lipid accumulation mediated by CRD. The researchers concluded that the increase in CA, caused by drinking Pu-erh tea and reaching the fat tissue through blood circulation, could be a crucial mechanism to reduce obesity induced by circadian rhythm disorders.
Pu-erh tea and its ingredient theabrownin improve liver, jejunum, and adipose tissue functions in metabolic syndrome mice, modulating circadian rhythm, glycerophospholipid, and linoleic acid metabolism.
2022 Food Research International Pu-erh tea and theabrownin ameliorate metabolic syndrome in mice via potential microbiota-gut-liver-brain interactions Hou Y, Zhang Z, Cui Y, Peng C, Fan Y, Tan C, et al.
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In this study, varied technological applications such as metagenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics were utilized to explore the anti-metabolic syndrome mechanism of Pu-erh tea and theabrownin in mice with metabolic syndrome. These scientific technologies allowed the researchers to understand and explore improvements in the physiological functions of liver, jejunum, and adipose tissues in the metabolic syndrome mice as a result of Pu-erh tea and theabrownin interventions. The investigation also focused on changes to the hepatic transcriptome, revealing that both of these interventions had the capacity to regulate the circadian rhythm pathway.
The results showcased that both interventions succeeded in the modulation of glycerophospholipid and linoleic acid metabolism, this was established through a comprehensive analysis of serum and brain metabolome. Further analysis of faecal metagenome demonstrated an increase in the relative abundance of certain bacterium and a decrease in others due to both interventions. However, in comparison to Pu-erh tea, theabrownin exhibited a more pronounced influence as regards upregulating hepatic antioxidants and downregulating hepatic inflammatory factors, although there was only a slight reduction in obesity-linked short-chain fatty acids in faeces of the metabolic syndrome mice. Overall, the experiment provided essential insights into the various ways these two elements function and provide treatment for metabolic syndrome.
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