Search Results (222)

Hyaluronan (HA), a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide naturally found in vertebrate tissues such as skin, joints, and the vitreous body, plays a critical role in various biological processes. Its functionality is highly dependent on molecular weight, with high-molecular-weight HA exhibiting anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects, while low-molecular-weight HA promotes inflammation, immunostimulation, and angiogenesis. Due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and tunable properties, HA has gained increasing attention in biomedical applications. This review summarizes recent advances in the encapsulation of HA with other polymers and therapeutic agents in nanosystems, particularly hydrogels and nanoparticles. HA-based formulations demonstrate improved therapeutic outcomes, including drug release sustained up to 7 days, wound closure rates exceeding 90% in animal models, particle size in the range of 50–300 nm, and enhanced bioavailability of encapsulated drugs by 2–3 fold compared with free drugs. Such properties have shown promise in enhancing therapeutic efficacy and targeted drug delivery in the treatment of skin wound healing, diabetes, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ophthalmic diseases. The review emphasizes how HA’s modifications and composite systems optimize drug release profiles and biological interactions, thereby contributing to the development of next-generation biomedical therapies. Full article

This is the first work to screen an optimal extraction method for Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Tankan peel polysaccharides (CPP). The CPP was extracted using hot water extraction (HWE), acid extraction (AAE), enzyme extraction (EAE), high-pressure extraction (HPE), and ultrasound extraction (UAE), named CPP-W, CPP-A, CPP-E, CPP-P, and CPP-U, respectively. Results showed that CPP-A and CPP-P had higher extraction yields than other CPPs. The five CPPs varied chemically in molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and microstructure, but shared similar IR spectra and core glycosidic linkages, indicating differential degradation while preserving core structures during extraction. Among these CPPs, CPP-A, CPP-E, and CPP-U exhibited stronger immunological activities, attributed to high galacturonic acid and low molecular weight. Moreover, CPPs significantly promoted secretion of cytokines (nitric oxide, NO; prostaglandin E₂, PGE₂; interleukin-6, IL-6; tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α) by activating downstream inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-related mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathways. Overall, CPP-E possessed high extraction yield, low molecular weight, and strong immuno-stimulatory activity, suggesting that enzyme-assisted extraction was the optimal approach for extracting CPP. Full article

Dendrobium denneanum Kerr, Dendrobium denneanum Kerr, an orchid in the food-medicine homology catalog, is traditionally used for stomach-nourishing, yin-tonifying, and immunity-enhancing. While its preventive effect on acute gastric ulcers is confirmed, variations among genuine producing areas remain underexplored. This study comparatively analyzed components of D. denneanum from 22 habitats and their polysaccharides’ (DDP) anti-inflammatory/antioxidant activities. Results showed habitat-dependent active components: total sugar (20–51.49%), crude polysaccharide yield (0.29–1.76%), and total phenol (~3%). In vitro, all extracts exhibited dose-dependent scavenging of DPPH (IC₅₀: 0.99–2.11 mg/mL), ABTS (0.61–1.62 mg/mL), and hydroxyl radicals (1.02–2.18 mg/mL), with Habitats 5 and 7 showing the strongest activity. GPC, ion chromatography, and FT-IR revealed DDP had a 5–11 kDa molecular weight, dominated by glucose (49.67–84.73%), plus mannose (8.29–12.25%) and galactose (0.96–16.41%), with shared hydroxyl (3400 cm⁻¹) and β-glycosidic bond (890 cm⁻¹) features. In ethanol-induced gastric ulcer rats, DDP exerted dose-dependent protection: low doses (100 mg/kg/d) reduced ulcer index, increased SOD/GSH-Px (1.5–1.8-fold), decreased MDA (30–35%), and elevated PGE₂; high doses (400 mg/kg/d) further inhibited serum TNF-α/IL-6 (25–40%) and improved histopathology. Conclusion: Despite habitat-dependent component variations, DDP maintains consistent structures. This study first confirms DDP protects gastric mucosa via antioxidant-anti-inflammatory synergism, supporting its development as a natural gastroprotectant. Future work may focus on standardized cultivation and clinical translation. Full article

Wine lees is a semi-solid suspension rich in yeast cells, representing a winemaking by-product that is rarely valorized after distillation. This study focuses on the exploitation of yeast-containing vinasse resulting after wine lees distillation by proposing optimized thermal extractions that can be potentially integrated with the current wine lees distillation workflow. Vinasse with different solids concentrations (10, 30, 50%) were treated at different temperatures (104, 108, 112 °C) and durations (20, 40, 60 min) using a pressure cooker device. The release of proteins, polysaccharides, and oligosaccharides from these pressure-assisted lab extractions were compared with that in untreated vinasse and vinasse treated with a previously proposed autoclave method. The resulting extraction appears to be generally preferable to the autoclave, which would require higher costs for energy and equipment. The obtained extraction process significantly enhanced the recovery of total proteins, oligosaccharides, and medium- to low-molecular-weight polysaccharides. Conversely, all heat treatments reduced the extraction of high-molecular-weight polysaccharides, indicating that these compounds should be directly extracted from untreated vinasse. These outcomes, along with the study of samples’ viscosity, density, and specific heat, allowed us to propose an integrated extraction plant set up that includes a crossflow filter and an industrial cooker. This set up aims to maximize the extraction of each valuable fraction, thereby better exploiting vinasse following a biorefinery approach. Full article

By integrating waste valorization with green extraction, in the current study, the impacts of distinct extraction methods on the extraction yield, structural characterization, in vitro antioxidant abilities and in vitro immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharides from Pholiota nameko residue (PNRP) were determined, providing assistance for the resource utilization of Pholiota nameko. Six PNRPs were obtained by hot water extraction, ultrasonic-assisted extraction, acid-assisted extraction, base-assisted extraction, acid–base extraction and hot water–alkaline-assisted extraction, named PNRP-HWE, PNRP-UAE, PNRP-AE, PNRP-BE, PNAP-ABE and PNRP-HAE, respectively. PNRPs were heteropolysaccharides with similar functional groups, abundant branched chains and a triple helix conformation, but varied monosaccharide molar ratios and molecular weights (382.6–601.7 kDa). PNRP-HAE exhibited the highest yield (3.92%) and superior antioxidant activities, including DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacities, attributed to its low molecular weight and high xylose content. Additionally, PNRP-HAE and PNRP-UAE demonstrated potent immunomodulatory effects by enhancing macrophage phagocytosis and cytokine secretion (NO, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α). These findings highlight HAE as an optimal method for extracting high-quality PNRPs, offering a sustainable strategy for valorizing mushroom residue in functional foods and nutraceuticals. Full article

Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan (UPF), a sulphated polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed, has attracted scientific and clinical interest for its wide-ranging anti-inflammatory and neurodegenerative properties. A growing body of research shows that UPF inhibits NF-κB and MAPK signalling pathways, reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), decreases ROS production, and suppresses iNOS and COX-2 activity, thereby mitigating oxidative and inflammatory damage in vitro. In vivo studies confirm these actions, demonstrating reduced systemic inflammation, promoted antioxidant defence, modulated gut microbiota composition, and improved production of beneficial microbial metabolites. In parallel, emerging evidence highlights UPF’s neuroprotective potential, characterised by protection against neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, the attenuation of amyloid-beta deposition, and improvement in neuronal function. Importantly, low- to medium-molecular-weight and highly sulphated UPF fractions consistently exhibit stronger bioactivities, suggesting a structural basis for its therapeutic potential. This review integrates mechanistic evidence from cellular, preclinical, and emerging clinical studies, highlighting UPF as a versatile marine-derived agent with therapeutic relevance for inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, and outlines future research directions toward clinical translation. Full article

Introduction. Larvae of the insect Hermetia illucens can represent an alternative source for low-molecular-weight chitosan (CS) production compared with CS from crustaceans (CS_crustac), making it appealing in terms of pharmaceutical applications. Hence, the performances of CS_larvae and CS_crustac were compared herein by investigating the in vitro features of nanoparticles (NPs) made from each polysaccharide and administered with the antioxidant quercetin (QUE). Methods. X-ray diffraction and FT-IR spectroscopy enabled the identification of each type of CS. Following the ionic gelation technique and using sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin as a cross-linking agent, NPs were easily obtained. Results. Physicochemical data, release studies in PBS, and the evaluation of antioxidant effects via the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test were studied for both CS_larvae and CS_crustac. QUE-loaded NP sizes ranged from 180 to 547 nm, and zeta potential values were between +7.5 and +39.3 mV. In vitro QUE release in PBS was faster from QUE-CS_larvae NPs than from CS_crustac, and high antioxidant activity—according to the DPPH test—was observed for all tested NP formulations. Discussion. The agar diffusion assay, referring to Escherichia coli and Micrococcus flavus, as well as the microdilution assay, showed the best performance as antimicrobial formulations in the case of QUE-CS_larvae NPs. QUE-CS_larvae NPs can represent a promising vehicle for QUE, releasing it in a sustained manner, and, relevantly, the synergism noticed between QUE and CS_larvae resulted in a final antimicrobial product. Conclusions. New perspectives for low-molecular-weight CS are disclosed by adopting renewable sources from insects instead of the commercial CS_crustac. Full article

Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation drives skin photodamage, prompting exploration of natural therapeutics. This study investigated the reparative effects and mechanisms of crude Gastrodia elata polysaccharides (GP) on UVB-induced acute skin damage. GP was extracted from fresh G. elata via water extraction and alcohol precipitation. It is a homogeneous polysaccharide with a weight-average molecular weight of 808.863 kDa, comprising Ara, Glc, Fru, and GalA. Histopathological analysis revealed that topical application of GP on the dorsal skin of mice effectively restored normal physiological structure, suppressing epidermal hyperplasia and collagen degradation. Biochemical assays showed that GP significantly reduced the activities of MPO and MDA following UVB exposure while restoring the enzymatic activities of SOD and GSH, thereby mitigating oxidative stress. Moreover, GP treatment markedly upregulated the anti-inflammatory cytokines TGF-β and IL-10 and downregulated the pro-inflammatory mediators IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, suggesting robust anti-inflammatory effects. Transcriptomics revealed dual-phase mechanisms: Early repair (day 5) involved GP-mediated suppression of hyper inflammation and accelerated necrotic tissue clearance via pathway network modulation. Late phase (day 18) featured enhanced anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and tissue regeneration processes through energy-sufficient, low-inflammatory pathway networks. Through a synergistic response involving antioxidation, anti-inflammation, promotion of collagen synthesis, and acceleration of skin barrier repair, GP achieves comprehensive repair of UVB-induced acute skin damage. Our findings not only establish GP as a potent natural alternative to synthetic photoprotective agents but also reveal novel pathway network interactions governing polysaccharide-mediated skin regeneration. Full article

Low-molecular-weight polypeptides (<3 kDa) were prepared from Periplaneta americana via enzymatic hydrolysis and ultrafiltration, yielding 3.53 ± 0.01 mg/g of peptide-rich extract. The extract was primarily composed of peptides, proteins, polysaccharides, phenolics, and flavonoids. HPLC-MS analysis identified 1402 peptide sequences, 80.51% of which were below 1000 Da, predominantly consisting of tri-, tetra-, and octapeptides. Monosaccharide profiling detected D-(+)-galactose, and quantitative assays determined the contents of total phenolics (12.28 mg/g), flavonoids (15.50 mg/g), proteins (85.84 mg/g), and total sugars (17.62 mg/g). The biological activities of the extract were systematically evaluated. The peptide fraction inhibited hyaluronidase activity by 58% at 5 mg/mL, suggesting protection of extracellular matrix integrity. In HaCaT keratinocytes, it promoted cell proliferation by 62.6%, accelerated scratch wound closure by 54%, upregulated Wnt-10b and β-catenin expression, and reduced intracellular ROS levels under oxidative stress. In LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, the extract decreased TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β production by 30%, 25%, and 28%, respectively, reduced MDA levels by 35.2%, and enhanced CAT and SOD activities by 12.3% and 60.3%. In vivo, complete closure of full-thickness skin wounds in mice was achieved by day 14. Safety evaluations using the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay and human patch tests confirmed the extract to be non-irritating and non-toxic. These findings highlight Periplaneta americana extract as a promising multifunctional bioactive ingredient for cosmetic and dermatological applications. Further studies on its active components, mechanisms of action, and clinical efficacy are warranted to support its development in skin health and aesthetic medicine. Full article

Olive mill wastewater (OMW), a byproduct of the olive oil industry, is a potential source of natural bioactive phenolic polymers. In this work, a column chromatography technique was used for the isolation of a new complex polymer (named OMW-2000XAD) from OMW via fractionation on Amberlite^® XAD16 resin. The developed procedure was simple and proved to be reproducible using OMW from two different sources. OMW-2000XAD was further characterized by elemental, glycosidic, and amino acid composition analysis, as well as spectroscopic techniques. The polymer’s molecular size, which was estimated via gel filtration chromatography, was 1960 kDa, which is significantly larger than other high-molecular weight fractions previously isolated from OMW or other agro-industrial wastes. OMW-2000XAD was mainly composed of phenolic compounds (89.8%). It also contained polysaccharides (16.1%) and proteins (10.3%), with glucose (12.25%) and cysteine (1.71%) being the most abundant sugar and amino acid, respectively, as well as metals (1.29%, primarily potassium). However, due to its low solubility, complexity, and heterogeneous composition, it was not possible to identify all phenolic compounds or elucidate a definitive structure via MS, FTIR, and NMR. OMW-2000XAD exhibited strong radical scavenging antioxidant capacity (ABTS^•+, DPPH^• and peroxyl radicals), with results up to 7415 µmol Trolox equivalent/mol (ORAC method), but showed no antiproliferative effects, highlighting the need for further research. Full article

Wild fruits are distributed worldwide, but are consumed mainly in developing countries, where they are an important part of the diet. Still, in many other countries, they are consumed only locally. Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa L.) is an underutilized species rich in fibres and phenolic compounds, making it suitable as a potential functional food for supporting human health. Cold (Cw) and hot (Hw) water-extracted (poly)phenolic polysaccharide–protein complexes, differing in carbohydrate, phenolic and protein contents, were isolated from blackthorn fruits and characterized. The complexes exhibited molecular weights of 235,200 g/mol (Cw) and 218,400 g/mol (Hw), and were rich in pectic polymers containing galacturonic acid, arabinose, galactose and rhamnose, indicating a dominance of homogalacturonan (HG) [→4)-α-D-GalA(1→4)-α-D-GalA(1→]n and a low content of RGI [→2)-α-L-Rha(1→4)-α-D-GalA(1→2)-α-L-Rha(1→]n sequences associated with arabinan or arabinogalactan. Minor content of glucan, probably starch-derived, was also solubilized. Pectic polysaccharides were highly esterified and partly acetylated. Pharmacological testing was performed in male Dunkin–Hartley guinea pigs, a model with human-like airway reflexes. Both complexes affected airway defense mechanisms. Particularly, Hw significantly suppressed citric acid-induced cough, similar to codeine, and reduced bronchoconstriction comparably to salbutamol in a dose-dependent manner. These findings support further exploration of Hw as a natural antitussive and bronchodilatory agent. Full article

Heparin, a widely used polysaccharidic anticoagulant of animal origin, is associated with risks of contamination and adverse effects, notably bleeding and thrombocytopenia. These limitations have prompted interest in alternative sulfated polysaccharides with anticoagulant properties and improved safety profiles. This study explored the anticoagulant potential of two marine bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS), infernan and diabolican. It assessed whether chemical modifications (depolymerization, oversulfation) could enhance their anticoagulant properties compared to unfractionated and low molecular weight heparins. Native EPS were depolymerized to generate different molecular weights and then chemically oversulfated to increase negative charge density. Anticoagulant activities were evaluated using clotting and thrombin generation assays (TGA). Molecular docking was performed to model interactions with antithrombin and heparin cofactor II. Only highly sulfated derivatives significantly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time while showing negligible effect on thrombin time and anti-factor Xa activity. They present different structures, and their binding to antithrombin is not achieved via the classic pentasaccharide motif. In TGA, these derivatives inhibited thrombin formation at higher doses than heparin but induced a marked delay in clot generation. Docking analyses supported their ability to bind serpins, albeit with lower specificity than heparin. Their limited anti-Xa activity and non-animal origin position them as promising anticoagulant candidates. Full article

To address the underutilization of Schizochytrium limacinum meal, polysaccharides from Schizochytrium limacinum meal (SLMPs) were prepared via ultrasonic-assisted eutectic-solvent-based extraction. Although polysaccharides exhibit promising application potential, the structural ambiguity of SLMPs necessitates systematic investigation to elucidate their structure–activity relationships, thereby providing a scientific foundation for their subsequent development and utilization. Using response-surface methodology (RSM), the optimized extraction conditions were determined as follows: ultrasonic temperature of 52 °C, ultrasonic duration of 31 min, ultrasonic power of 57 W, water content of 29%, and a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:36 g/mL. Under these conditions, the maximum polysaccharide yield reached 9.25%, demonstrating a significant advantage over the conventional water extraction method (4.18% yield). Following purification, the antioxidant activity and structural characteristics of SLMPs were analyzed. The molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, reducing groups, and higher-order conformation were systematically correlated with antioxidant activity. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), monosaccharide composition analysis, and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy revealed characteristic polysaccharide functional groups (C–O, O–H, and C=O). Monosaccharides such as glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), and arabinose (Ara) were found to enhance antioxidant activity. High-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) indicated a molecular weight of 20.7 kDa for SLMPs, with low-molecular-weight fractions exhibiting superior antioxidant activity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) further demonstrated that ultrasonically extracted polysaccharides possess porous structures capable of chelating redox-active functional groups. These findings suggest that ultrasonic-assisted eutectic-solvent-based extraction is an efficient method for polysaccharide extraction while preserving antioxidant properties. Full article

As the average age of the population increases, memory impairment has become an increasingly prevalent issue. This study investigates the effects of 14 days of oral birch sap administration on memory functions in healthy rats using the Morris water maze (MWM) test and explores the underlying mechanisms. A compositional analysis revealed that birch soap is rich in polysaccharides, specifically a low-molecular weight polysaccharide (MW 1.29 kDa), and exhibits no hepatotoxicity or renal toxicity at the tested dose. The results from the MWM test demonstrated that the time and distance required to reach the platform were significantly shorter in the birch sap-treated group compared to the control group, suggesting that birch sap supports memory preservation. Moreover, rats treated with birch sap showed improved cerebral blood flow compared to the control rats. Additionally, in hippocampal nerve terminals (synaptosomes), rats treated with birch sap exhibited a significant increase in evoked glutamate release, as well as elevated levels of presynaptic proteins, including vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGluT1), synaptophysin, synaptobrevin, synaptotagmin, syntaxin, synapsin I, and the 25 kDa synaptosome-associated protein (SNAP-25). Transmission electron microscopy also revealed a notable increase in the number of synaptic vesicles in hippocampal synaptosomes of the birch-sap-treated rats. These findings suggest that birch sap enhances hippocampal presynaptic glutamatergic functions and cerebral blood flow, contributing to its memory-preserving effects in rats. Full article

Background: Pectic polysaccharides exhibit therapeutic potential against intestinal inflammation. However, the influence of structural variations on their efficacy remains largely unexplored. Methods: This study investigated the structural and anti-inflammatory relationships of okra pectin (OP), citrus pectin (CP), apple pectin (AP), and hawthorn pectin (HP). Based on FT-IR spectra, CP was identified as a high-methoxyl pectin, with a degree of methyl esterification (DM) of 72.07 ± 3.86%. OP, AP, and HP were low-methoxyl pectins with the following DM values: 19.34 ± 3.04%, 32.11 ± 1.71%, and 38.67 ± 2.75%, respectively. Results: Monosaccharide composition analysis revealed that OP exhibited the highest abundance of RG-I regions among all the samples. Homogalacturonan (HG) was the predominant structural region in AP and HP, while CP contained both of the aforementioned structural regions. Our findings demonstrated that OP and CP significantly ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in the wild-type Drosophila melanogaster strain w¹¹¹⁸, as evidenced by improved intestinal morphology, reinforced intestinal barrier function, and enhanced locomotor and metabolic activity. These effects were mediated by the inhibition of JAK/STAT signaling and the activation of the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway. Notably, reducing the molecular weight of CP to 18.18 kDa significantly enhanced its therapeutic efficacy, whereas a reduction in OP molecular weight to 119.12 kDa extended its median lifespan. Conclusions: These findings first suggest that abundant RG-I structures and low molecular weight endowed pectins with significant anti-inflammatory activity. Full article