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Polysaccharides are the essential active constituents of Radix Pueraria lobata. Numerous studies have shown that polysaccharides can play important roles in ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to determine the protective effects of Radix Pueraria lobata polysaccharide (PPL) against UC. The pharmacological effects of PPL on the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mice, changes in gut microbiota and metabolism, and DSS-induced Caco-2 cell injury were assessed in this study. Both the PPL inhibited the DSS-induced inflammation both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, PPL inhibited inflammation by decreasing the activation of p-PI3K. Knocking down the PI3K gene resulted in abolishing the inhibitory effects of PPL on mouses and Caco-2 cells. The study concluded that the effects of PPL were completely dependent on PI3K.

Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1), a bioactive ingredient of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, has the effects of anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, and cardiovascular protection. The present study aims to explore the effects and potential mechanisms of GRb1 on UC. GRb1 suppressed the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β in both cells and mice models. GRb1 showed antioxidant effects and inhibited NLR family pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation by decreasing ROS production and directly targeting Nrf2 to activate Nrf2/HO-1/Keap-1 signaling pathway. In addition, GRb1 suppressed pyroptosis by inhibiting inflammasome activation and Ca2+ level through the calcium-related phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) signaling pathway. For the DSS-induced UC mice model, GRb1 improved the length and pathological damage to the colon to repair intestinal barrier integrity via modulating the inflammatory response. Taken together, GRb1 has therapeutic effects on UC in vitro and in vivo through regulating the Nrf2/PIP2/NLRP3 pathway, suggesting that GRb1 targeting Nrf2 is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of UC.

Coriander, Coriandrum Sativum L., is one of the commonest food and medicinal plants in many countries, but its chemical ingredients and pivotal role in anti-inflammatory activity have not been fully explored. The present study aimed to identify new compounds in the fruits of coriander and explore their anti-inflammatory activity. The compounds were isolated by chromatographic seperations and identified using spectroscopic and spectrometric methods. RAW264.7 macrophage cells were used to detect the anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds via Griess assay, western blotting, ELISA, and flow cytometry methods. The study resulted in the discovery of four new compounds, which were identified as: 4α-(furo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-6′-ylmethyl)-9α-propylnonolactone (1), 4-(formyloxy)-4-(6′-methylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)butanoate(2), (7α,8α)-3α-hydroxyl-12,13α-dimethyl-5(6)-en-bicyclo[5,3,0]caprolactone (3), 7-methoxy-4-methyl-5,6-dihydro-7H-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)furo[2,3-f] coumarin (4). Compound 3 showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 of 6.25 μM for an inhibitory effect on nitrite oxide (NO) level. In addition, compound 3 decreased the lipopolysaccharides-stimulated generations of ROS and the inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α). Mechanism exploration indicated that compound 3 suppressed inflammatory mediators’ expression, like iNOS and COX-2. Furthermore, the NF-κB and MAPK pathways were involved in the anti-inflammatory process of compound 3.

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer is extensively used as a food additive because of its medicinal and nutritional properties. This study investigated the inhibitory activity of eight ginsenosides against α-glycosidase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). Results showed the anti-hyperglycaemic activities of the eight ginsenosides were in the order of 20(R)-dammarane-3β, 6α, 12β, 20, 25-pentol (25-OH-PPT) > 20(R)-25-methoxydammarane-3β, 12β, 20-tetrol (25-OCH3-PPT) > 20(R)-protopanaxatriol (PPT) > 20(S)-panaxatriol (PT) > 20(R)-dammarane-3β, 12β, 20, 25-tetrol (25-OH-PPD) > 20(R)-25-methoxydammarane-3β, 12β, 20-triol (25-OCH3-PPD) > 20(R)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) > 20(S)-panaxadiol (PD), and 25-OH-PPT exerted stronger inhibitory activity than acarbose and Na3VO4. Meanwhile, simultaneous quantitative estimation results of eight ginsenosides suggested good linear regression within test ranges, precision, accuracy. 25-OH-PPT of the stems (leaves), flowers, and fruits contained 2.69, 3.31 and 7.20%, respectively. High performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light-scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) method was proven to be simple, fast, and effective.