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Plant polysaccharides have prebiotic properties for gut microbiota and immune modulation. This study aimed to investigate the prevention abilities of edible Rhinacanthus nasutus polysaccharide (RNP) and okara polysaccharide (OP) in Sprague–Dawley rats with acetic acid‐induced colitis. The characterizations of RNP and OP were analyzed, including Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and monosaccharide composition. The prebiotic properties of RNP and OP were determined in vitro. In addition, the pathological features of colon length and inflammatory cytokine levels in acetic acid‐induced colitis were improved by intragastric preadministration of RNP and OP for 3 weeks. There was no nephrotoxicity or hepatotoxicity in rats via histopathological assessment after RNP and OP intake. Moreover, the abundance of short‐chain fatty acids‐producing bacteria (Lachnospiraceae, Lactobacilli, and Prevotellaceae) were increased after RNP supplementation. In conclusion, intragastric gavage of RNP and OP significantly modulated the gut microbiota and immune response, consequently alleviating the symptoms of colitis. This novel finding provides an alternative strategy and potential application of these two polysaccharides for colitis prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S‐allyl cysteine (SAC), which is the most abundant bioactive compound in black garlic (BG; Allium sativum), has been shown to have antioxidant, anti‐apoptotic, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐obesity, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities. Sulfur compounds are the most distinctive bioactive elements in garlic. Previous studies have provided evidence that the concentration of SAC in fresh garlic is in the range of 19.0–1736.3 μg/g. Meanwhile, for processed garlic, such as frozen and thawed garlic, pickled garlic, fermented garlic extract, and BG, the SAC content increased to up to 8021.2 μg/g. BG is an SAC‐containing product, with heat treatment being used in nearly all methods of BG production. Therefore, strategies to increase the SAC level in garlic are of great interest; however, further knowledge is required about the effect of processing factors and mechanistic changes. This review explains the formation of SAC in garlic, introduces its biological effects, and summarizes the recent advances in processing methods that can affect SAC levels in garlic, including heat treatment, enzymatic treatment, freezing, fermentation, ultrasonic treatment, and high hydrostatic pressure. Thus, the aim of this review was to summarize the outcomes of treatment aimed at maintaining or increasing SAC levels in BG. Therefore, publications from scientific databases in this field of study were examined. The effects of processing methods on SAC compounds were evaluated on the basis of the SAC content. This review provides information on the processing approaches that can assist food manufacturers in the development of value‐added garlic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gemcitabine (GEM) resistance in pancreatic adenocarcinoma mediated by the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) has been demonstrated. Therefore, investigating the safety and the potential of new auxiliary methods for pancreatic cancer treatment is urgent. Ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid found in apple peels, rosemary, and thyme, has been reported to have anticancer capacity. This study aimed to reveal the underlying mechanisms of UA in cell death and drug enhancement, especially in GEM-resistant pancreatic cancer cells. First, GEM-resistant cells (MIA Paca-2GEMR cells) were established by incrementally increasing GEM culture concentrations. UA treatment reduced cell viability through cell cycle arrest and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, resulting in apoptosis and autophagy in a dose-dependent manner in MIA Paca-2 and MIA Paca-2GEMR cells. High RAGE expression in MIA Paca-2GEMR cells was suppressed by UA treatment. Interestingly, knocking down RAGE expression showed similar UA-induced effects in both cell lines. Remarkably, UA had a drug-enhancing effect by decreasing cell viability and increasing cell cytotoxicity when combined with GEM treatment. In conclusions, UA triggered ER stress, subsequently regulating apoptosis- and autophagy-related pathways and increasing GEM chemosensitivity in pancreatic cancer cells by inhibiting the expression of RAGE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Ustilago maydis is a biotrophic fungus causing smut disease in corn. The infectious forms are dikaryotic hyphae. Here we analyze mutants lacking the nlt1 transcription factor and investigate why these mutants are unable to induce leaf tumors.The study involved reverse genetics, complementation, epistasis analysis, microscopy, gene expression analysis by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and virulence assays.We show that nlt1 mutants colonize maize leaves efficiently but fail to undergo karyogamy and are attenuated in late proliferation. Nlt1 activates transcription of ros1, a transcription factor controlling karyogamy, and represses see1, an effector previously shown to contribute to leaf tumor induction. In mononuclate solopathogenic strains, nlt1 mutants cause attenuated leaf tumor formation. In actively dividing maize organs, nlt1 mutants undergo karyogamy and induce tumor formation. Sporisoriumreilianum, a smut fungus unable to induce leaf tumors, possesses an ortholog of nlt1 that controls the fusion of dikaryotic nuclei late in infection during cob colonization.Our results have established a regulatory connection between nlt1, ros1 and see1 and suggest the existence of two stages contributing to leaf tumor formation, one before nuclear fusion and involving nlt1 and one after karyogamy that is nlt1 independent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cover image is based on the Original Article I S-Allyl cysteine in garlic (Allium sativum): Formation, biofunction, and resistance to food processing for value-added product development i by Chang-Wei Hsieh et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12937. [Extracted from the article]

We have successfully prepared PVP/LiCoO nanofibers using an electrospinning route. These fibers were composed of very small crystalline grains uniformly linked with an average size. After annealing of the above precursor fibers at 700°C for 12 h, LiCoO nanofibers with 95 nm in diameter were composed of crystalline nanoparticles were successfully obtained. The morphology, crystal structure, and particle size of fibers has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD). The viscosities of solutions were measured with a LVDV Brookfield viscometer. Experimental results showed that the LiCoO with good crystalline and uniform diameter were obtained. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this preliminary clinical trial was to assess the safety and therapeutic trend of Raffinee, a mixture of free radical scavengers derived from natural products, on subacute spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI patients (three females and seven males) were enrolled from three medical centers in Taiwan. Their ages ranged from 18 to 76 years, with an average of 47.6 ± 19.0 years. There were four incomplete and six complete cases in this study. Standard regimens for SCI at acute stage were given at each hospital. Approximately 7 weeks (35.4 ± 13.9 days) after SCI, 2 U of Raffinee was given orally before meals three times a day for 6 weeks. Patients received motor, sensory, and activities of daily living (ADL) assessments before and after the treatment with Raffinee every week for 6 weeks. The Wilcoxon signed-ranks test was used for statistical analysis. Significant motor and sensory recovery began in the second week of Raffinee treatment, and significant ADL recovery was also noted in the third week. Functional recovery was more prominent in incomplete cases. Raffinee appeared to be safe in the subacute stage of SCI and may be an effective adjuvant therapy for enhancing functional recovery. Further clinical studies including double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trials with follow-up for more than 1 year are necessary to validate the effectiveness of Raffinee in SCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is used by many bacteria to engage in social behavior and can affect the health of its host plant or animal. Because activities associated with T6SSs are often costly, T6SSs must be tightly regulated. However, our knowledge regarding how T6SS assembly and contraction are regulated remains limited. Using the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens, we show that effectors are not just passengers but also impact on T6SS assembly. The A. tumefaciens strain C58 encodes one T6SS and two Tde DNase toxin effectors used as major weapons for interbacterial competition. Here, we demonstrate that loading of Tde effectors onto their cognate carriers, the VgrG spikes, is required for active T6SS secretion. The assembly of the TssBC contractile sheath occurs only in the presence of Tde effectors. The requirement of effector loading for efficient T6SS secretion was also validated in other A. tumefaciens strains. We propose that such a mechanism is used by bacteria as a strategy for efficacious T6SS firing and to ensure that effectors are loaded onto the T6SS prior to completing its assembly. Synopsis: Bacterial effectors impact on the assembly of the type VI secretion machinery. Their attachment to VgrG spikes is required for active secretion, which ensures that cargo is loaded onto the T6SS prior to completing its assembly. The presence of VgrG cargo effectors is required for T6SS sheath assembly and secretion.Effector loading onto the VgrG spike activates firing of the T6SS.Effector loading is a common mechanism for regulating type VI secretion systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]