Antidepressant-like effect of triterpenoids extracts from Poria cocos on the CUMS rats by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and LC–MS metabolomics

Abstract

Poria cocos is an edible medicinal mushroom with the effects of inducing diuresis, excreting dampness, invigorating the spleen and tranquilizing the mind. The triterpenoids of Poria cocos as the main active ingredients have shown health benefits of the central nervous system of the human body. Accordingly, this study aimed at further understanding the antidepressant-like effect and a potential mechanism of the triterpenoids extracts from Poria cocos (TPC). As a result, the TPC significantly ameliorated depression-like behaviors on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats, and restored the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor in the hippocampus of rats. Gut microiota analysis revealed that TPC could increase the biodiversity and markedly regulate the relative abundance of [Prevotella], Allobaculum and Ochrobactrum of CUMS rats. The cecal contents metabolomics pointed to thirteen biomarkers associated with TPC antidepressant effect, which involved in primary bile acid biosynthesis, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism. Correlation analysis further showed that there was a strong correlation relationship between the gut microbiota and the cecal contents metabolites, especially compounds involved in energy metabolism, inflammation and immunity. In conclusion, TPC showed a potential antidepressant effect, which was possibly mediated the gut microbiota and cecal contents metabolism.     

Biosensors for environmental pollutants and food contaminants

This review article provides an overview of the most recent literature on biosensors for environmental pollutants and food contaminants. Due to the large number of publications, only papers published between 2000 and January 2003 were considered. Also, while not all of the published literature could be reviewed here, over 200 references are cited to provide a good overview of research undertaken in the last two years. Older publications are covered by a number of earlier review articles. This article provides an introduction into the field including specific consideration of the application areas, describes the typical biosensor assay format used, and is subsequently structured according to the biorecognition elements used (i.e., nucleic acids, enzymes, whole cells, tissue and whole organisms, antibodies and receptors, and biomimetic materials). In addition, a section on microbiosensing systems is provided. Since only very few microbiosensors with applications in environmental and food systems have been published, enabling technology is also covered in this article.Abbreviations BOD biological oxygen demand - cfu colony forming units - DNP dinitrophenol - GFP green fluorescent protein - NASBA nucleic acid sequence-based amplification - PCR polymerase chain reaction - ppt parts per trillion - QCM quartz crystal microbalance - SPR surface plasmon resonance     

Dynamic headspace liquid-phase microextraction of alcohols

A method was developed using dynamic headspace liquid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for extraction and determination of 9 alcohols from water samples. Four different solvents, hexyl acetate, n-octanol, o-xylene and n-decane were studied as extractants. The analytes were extracted using 0.8 microl of n-octanol from the headspace of a 2 ml sample solution. The effect of sampling volume, solvent volume, sample temperature, syringe plunger withdrawal rate and ionic strength of the solution on the extraction performance were studied. A semiautomated system including a variable speed stirring motor was used to ensure a uniform movement of syringe plunger through the barrel. The method provided a fairly good precision for all compounds (5.5-9.3%), except methanol (16.4%). Detection limits were found to be between 1 and 97 microg/l within an extraction time of approximately 9.5 min under GC-MS in full scan mode.     

Simple and versatile operational fractionation of Fe and Zn in dietary products by solid phase extraction on ion exchange resins

A simple and versatile protocol, based on use of solid phase extraction on strong ion exchangers and off-line detection by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, was devised to fractionate iron and zinc in common dietary food and beverages products, i.e., bee honeys, fruit juices and tea infusions. In the procedure proposed, cation exchanger Dowex 50Wx4 and anion exchanger Dowex 1x4 were used separately for distinguishing broadly meant the cationic metal fraction and the fraction of stable anionic metal complexes, respectively, after retention of metal species and their exhaustive elution by means of a 4.0 mol l⁻¹ HCl solution. The third fraction, referred to the residual metal species, was retrieved by difference between total soluble metal contents and sum of metal quantities in separated cationic and anionic fractions. The fractionation pattern observed for both metals was described and discussed.     

Detection ofFusarium trichothecenes (nivalenol,deoxynivalenol, fusarenone and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol) by high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary Separation and determination ofFusarium trichothecenes: nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, fusarenone and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, were carried out by highperformance liquid chromatography with UV detection, and methanol—water (30/70) as mobile-phase on Lichrosorb RP-18 column. Detection limits were 2, 3, 3 and 5ng per injection of nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, fusarenone and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, respectively. The method appears to be adequate for detection of the above trichothecenes in contaminated corn and rice as well as in cultures ofFusarium spp. A preliminary TLC purification was necessary for detection of fusarenone in corn.     

Selenium speciation in foods: Preliminary results on potatoes

The present paper deals with the speciation of selenium in potatoes (enriched or not in selenium). The study was carried out by using differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry (DPCSV) for quantifying selenium. Results obtained provide evidence that the selenium content in the protein fraction is rather independent from the selenium added to the plants during their growth. On the contrary, the amount of Se in the non-protein fraction (water and starch) in Se-enriched sample is significantly higher than in non-enriched one, suggesting that it is the main selenium-storing site. In this fraction the Se(VI)/Se(IV) ratio seems independent from selenium application but it may be related to the redox conditions. The accumulation of selenium in the non-protein fraction is tentatively ascribed to the “Se–starch interaction” that should be able to modulate both the Se absorption into proteins and, possibly, its toxic effect for the plant itself.     

Economics of food irradiation

The number of products being radiation processed worldwide is constantly increasing and today includes such diverse items as medical disposables, fruits and vegetables, spices, meats, seafoods and waste products. This range of products to be processed has resulted in a wide range of irradiator designs and capital and operating cost requirements.This paper discusses the economics of low dose food irradiation applications and the effects of various parameters on unit processing costs. It provides a model for calculating specific unit processing costs by correlating known capital costs with annual operating costs and annual throughputs. It is intended to provide the reader with a general knowledge of how unit processing costs are derived.     

“食物相克”的微量元素学说

从微量元素的角度，论述了食物间的相互作用，主要有：转化作用、协同作用和抗作用。     

镉从农业土壤向人类食物链的迁移

综述了镉在环境中的行为，在土壤－植物－人类系统中的迁移，由于粮食作物是镉进入人类食物链的主要来源，因此土壤污染的危害是全球性的，对决定农业系统中镉迁移动力学的关键过程、粮食作物中的镉含量、影响镉植物有效性的各类因子作了综述了讨论。     

有毒汤样中微量农药杀虫环的鉴定

报道了在广东江门市某工厂发生的食物中毒事件中，对致毒汤样品中农药的分析鉴定过程；采用GC－MS联用分析，被分离出的疑为致毒物质的成分在现有的质谱谱库中检索未能鉴定；通过采用综合分析，将可疑成分提取、分离、柱以谱纯化，结合NMR、ICP－AES和元素分析，确证了汤样中的致毒物质是沙蚕毒素类农药“杀虫环”。