Supplementation With Chinese Medicinal Plant Extracts From Lonicera hypoglauca and Scutellaria baicalensis Mitigates Colonic Inflammation by Regulating Oxidative Stress and Gut Microbiota in a Colitis Mouse Model

Colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, is characterized by bloody diarrhea and inflammation in the colon. Lonicera hypoglauca (“Shanyinhua” in Chinese) and Scutellaria baicalensis (“Huangqin” in Chinese) are two traditional Chinese medicinal plants rich in polyphenols, such as chlorogenic acid (CGA) and baicalin (BA), with the effects of anti-inflammation and antioxidation. However, it remains unknown whether extracts from L. hypoglauca and S. baicalensis (LSEs) could mitigate colonic inflammation. In the present study, ICR mice (22.23 ± 1.65 g) were allocated to three groups treated with chow diet without (CON) or with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) (CON+DSS) in water or LSE supplementation in diet with DSS (LSE+DSS), and then inflammatory and oxidative parameters and colonic microbiota were detected. The results showed that LSE (500 mg/kg) treatment mitigated DSS-induced colitis symptoms and restored the shortened colon length, the increased disease activity index (DAI), and the damaged intestinal barrier. In serum, LSE supplementation significantly decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and increased IL-10 level. Meanwhile, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were increased, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were decreased. In the colon tissue, qPCR results showed that LSE supplementation dramatically downregulated the transcriptional expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA and upregulated the expression of SOD1, CAT, and IL-10. Additionally, the damaged gut barriers occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the CON+DSS group were enhanced with LSE supplementation. Furthermore, LSE treatment regulated the gut microbial communities with higher relative abundance of Dubosiella and Ruminococcus torques group and lower relative abundance of Bacteroides and Turicibacter. Moreover, the contents of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as products of gut microbiota were also increased. Correlation analysis showed that the mRNA expression of SOD1 was negatively correlated with TNF-α (r = -0.900, P < 0.05); the mRNA expression of IL-6 (r = -0.779, P < 0.05) and TNF-α (r = -0.703, P < 0.05) had a dramatically negative correlation with Dubosiella. In conclusion, LSE supplementation could effectively ameliorate inflammation by modulating oxidative stress and gut microbiota in a colitis mouse model.

Dose-dependent effect of plants of the Lamiaceae family on the concentration of methane, fatty acids and nitrogen in the ecosystem in vitro

Fermentation processes in the rumen of ruminants determine how much final metabolites and their derivatives will be formed, which are necessary for the full development of the organism, the level of productivity, and also affect the level of formation of endogenous substances, namely, greenhouse gas emissions. These criteria lead us to the search for new feed products that improve the metabolic processes of the rumen and the digestive system as a whole, so phyto-substances can serve as an alternative. The article presents the results of in vitro study of the influence of Salviae folia, Scutellaria baicalensis, Oríganum vulgáre on formation of methane, synthesis of volatile fatty acids and nitrogen, as the main indicator parameters of the enzymatic activity of the rumen of ruminants. It was found that when using phyto- substances: Salviae folia and Scutellaria baicalensis, more acetic and propionic acid was formed, Oríganum vulgare in various dosages shifted towards propionic and valeric acid. Formation of a larger amount of microbial protein (P≤0.05) with use of Salviae folia, Scutellaria baicalensis, Oríganum vulgáre in various dosages was established. Methane production decreased with use of Oríganum vulgáre.

Improvement of Bronchial Immune Hypersensitivity Reaction Using Extracts from Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramatuelle and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi

Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramatuelle and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (skullcap) have been used as safe raw materials for drinking or as traditional medicines in Korea. In this study, we investigated the potential therapeutic effects of ovalbumin-induced asthma in a mouse model. After establishing the model, mice were treated with a mixture of chrysanthemum and skullcap extracts at different mixing ratios (6 : 4, 7 : 3, and 8 : 2). Immune cell counts and the production of various inflammatory cytokines were measured using biochemical tests. Among the mixtures tested, the 7 : 3 ratio (CS73) showed the most pronounced effects. CS73 significantly reduced the levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin- (IL-) 1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-17E in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatic mice. In addition, CS73 treatment significantly increased the production of IL-2 and interferon-γ and decreased the production of immunoglobulin E, histamine, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin in asthmatic mice compared to the control group. Our results suggest that the combination of chrysanthemum and skullcap extracts, especially at a 7 : 3 ratio, can be used to improve bronchial health and contribute to improved public health.

Mixtures of Scutellaria baicalensis and Glycyrrhiza L. Extracts as Antibacterial and Antiviral Agents in Active Coatings

The aim of this study was to develop active packaging materials covered in active coatings (offering antibacterial and antiviral properties) that contain selected plant extracts. In addition, the synergistic effect of the active substances in these extracts was also analysed. The results of the study demonstrated that Scutellaria baicalensis and Glycyrrhiza L. extracts (two of six analysed plant extracts) were the most active agents against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Additionally, the synergistic effect of S. baicalensis and Glycyrrhiza L. extracts was noted, meaning that the effect of these two plant extract mixtures on Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas syringae growth was higher than the activity of individual pure extracts. Mixtures of the extracts were introduced into the coating carrier. A polyethylene (PE) foil was then coated with active layers containing mixtures of S. baicalensis and Glycyrrhiza L. extracts as antimicrobial agents. The results of this research showed that all of the active coatings had a bacteriolytic effect on B. subtilis and a bacteriostatic effect on S. aureus cells. The coatings were found to be inactive against E. coli and P. syringae cells. This means that the coatings could be used as internal coatings to preserve food products against Gram-positive bacteria that may be responsible for food spoilage. The results of this study also demonstrated that the coatings were highly active against phage phi 6 phage particles, used as SARS-CoV-2 surrogate. This means that the coatings could be used as external coatings to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria via human hands.

OPTIMIZATION OF THE EXTRACTION PARAMETERS OF THE COMPLEX OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCES FROM THE DRIED BIOMASS OF CALLUS CROPS

Оптимизированы параметры экстракции растительного сырья – высушенной биомассы каллусных культур клеток лекарственных растений – шлемника байкальского (Scutellaria Baicalensis), лапчатки белой (Potentilla alba), лимонника (Schisandra), любки двулистной (Platanthera bifolia), произрастающих в Сибирском федеральном округе. Варьируемыми параметрами были продолжительность экстракции, температурный режим и соотношение объема органического растворителя к количеству высушенного образца растений – гидромодуль. В качестве органического растворителя для получения экстрактов шлемника байкальского и любки двулистной использовали ацетон, экстрактов лимонника и лапчатки белой – 70%-й этанол. Оптимизацию параметров проводили по максимальному показателю выхода сухого экстракта. Установлено, что оптимальными параметрами экстракции комплекса БАВ из высушенного каллуса лекарственного растения шлемника байкальского является температура 50°С, продолжительность процесса 60 мин и гидромодуль 1 : 10, лапчатки белой – температура 40°С, продолжительность процесса 60 мин и гидромодуль 1 : 20, лимонника – температура процесса 40°С, его продолжительность 60 мин и гидромодуль 1 : 10, любки двулистной – температура 50°С, продолжительность экстракции 120 мин и гидромодуль 1 : 10. Метод экстракции, описанный в настоящей работе, и оптимизированные параметры процесса могут быть использованы как новые инструменты для полного анализа растительного сырья, используемого в пищевой и фармацевтической отраслях. The parameters of the extraction of plant raw materials – dried biomass of callus cultures of medicinal plant cells: Scutellaria Baicalensis, Potentilla alba, Schisandra, Platanthera bifolia, growing in the Siberian federal district, are optimized. The variable parameters were the duration of extraction, the temperature regime, and the ratio of the volume of organic solvent to the amount of dried plant sample-hydromodule. Acetone and was used as an organic solvent to produce extracts of Scutellaria Baicalensis and Platanthera bifolia, 70% ethanol – extracts of Schisandra and Potentilla alba. The parameters were optimized according to the maximum yield of the dry extract. It was found that the optimal parameters for the extraction of the BAS complex from the dried callus of the medicinal plant Scutellaria Baicalensis are the temperature of 50°C for the duration of the process of 60 minutes and the hydromodule of 1 : 10, white Potentilla alba – the temperature of 40°C for the duration of the process of 60 minutes and the hydromodule of 1 : 20, Schisandra – the temperature of the process of 40°C for the duration of 60 minutes and the hydromodule of 1 : 10, Platanthera bifolia – the temperature of 50°C for the duration of the extraction of 120 minutes and the hydromodule of 1 : 10. The extraction method described in this article and the optimized process parameters can be used as new tools for the complete analysis of plant raw materials used in the food and pharmaceutical industries.