The Microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum Is Well Suited as a Food with Positive Effects on the Intestinal Microbiota and the Generation of SCFA: Results from a Pre-Clinical Study

Microalgae such as Phaeodactylum tricornutum (PT) are a sustainable source of nutrients, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), fucoxanthin (Fx), and chrysolaminarin (Chrl), the concentrations of which can vary depending on the culture conditions. We generated three types of diets containing either an EPA- and Fx-rich (EPA/Fx) or Chrl-rich microalgae (with 5, 15, or 25% added to the diet) or an isocaloric control diet (CD). These diets were evaluated over 14 days in young C57BL/6J mice for safety and bioavailability, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and microbiome analysis. Both microalgae diets increased body weight gain dose-dependently compared to the CD. Microalgae-derived EPA was well absorbed, resulting in increased liver and fat tissue levels and a decrease in the n-6:n-3 ratio in liver tissue. Both microalgae diets increased the production of selected SCFA and decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteriodota ratio, whereas the Chrl-rich diet led to an increase in Akkermansia. Doses of up to 4621 mg Chrl, 920 mg EPA, and 231 mg Fx per kg body weight daily were tolerated without adverse effects. This pre-clinical study shows that PT is suitable for mouse feed, with positive effects on microbiota composition and SCFA production, suggesting beneficial effects on gut health.     

The effects of Xanthigen™ in the weight management of obese premenopausal women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and normal liver fat

Aim: To investigate the effects of Xanthigen (brown marine algae fucoxanthin + pomegranate seed oil (PSO)) on body weight, body fat, liver lipids, and blood biochemistry; and Xanthigen and its individual components on resting energy expenditure (REE) in obese, non-diabetic female volunteers with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and normal liver fat (NLF) content.
Methods: Sixteen-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Food record data, body composition, REE (only 41 volunteers with NAFLD) and blood sample analysis were assessed weekly for 16 weeks in 151 non-diabetic, obese premenopausal women with liver fat content above 11% (NAFLD) n = 113, and below 6.5% (NLF) n = 38.
Results: Xanthigen-600/2.4 mg (300 mg PSO + 300 mg brown seaweed extract containing 2.4 mg fucoxanthin) resulted in statistically significant reduction of body weight (5.5 ± 1.4 kg NAFLD group and 4.9 ± 1.2 kg NLF group, p < 0.05), waist circumference (NAFLD group only), body (3.5 ± 1.9 kg NAFLD group, p < 0.001; 3.6 ± 0.7 kg NLF group, p < 0.05) and liver fat content, liver enzymes (NAFLD group only), serum triglycerides and C-reactive protein. Weight loss and reduction in body and liver fat content occurred earlier in patients with NLF than in patients with NAFLD. Fucoxanthin ( > 2.4 mg) and Xanthigen-400/1.6 mg (200 mg PSO + 200 mg brown seaweed extract containing 1.6 mg fucoxanthin) significantly increased REE in NAFLD subjects compared to placebo.
Conclusions: Xanthigen promoted weight loss, reduced body and liver fat content, and improved liver function tests in obese non-diabetic women. Xanthigen and Fucoxanthin also increased REE. This product may be considered a promising food supplement in the management of obesity.     

岩藻黄质对高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠胰岛素抵抗的影响

研究岩藻黄质对高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠胰岛素抵抗的作用及其分子机制.将50只C57BL/6J雄性小鼠随机分为正常组(10只)、高脂组(40只),高脂组经高脂饲料喂养12周形成肥胖胰岛素抵抗模型,将其随机分为模型组、岩藻黄质0.2％剂量组、岩藻黄质0.4％剂量组和二甲双胍组,每组10只,连续喂养含有相应药物饲料6周后,测定...     

Effects of fucoxanthin on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in vitro and in vivo

The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of fucoxanthin on endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in rats. The effects of fucoxanthin on endotoxin-induced leucocyte and protein infiltration, nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin (PG)-E2 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha concentrations in rat aqueous humour, as well as on the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression in a mouse macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7 cells) were studied. EIU was induced in male Lewis rats by a footpad injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Immediately after the LPS injection, either 0.1, 1 or 10mgkg(-1) of fucoxanthin was injected intravenously. The aqueous humour was collected 24hr later from both eyes, and both the number of cells infiltrating into the aqueous humour and the aqueous humour protein concentration were measured. The levels of PGE2, NO and TNF-alpha were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The RAW 264.7 cells were pretreated with various concentrations of fucoxanthin for 24hr and subsequently incubated with LPS for 24hr. COX-2 and iNOS protein expression was analysed by the Western blotting method. Levels of PGE2, NO and TNF-alpha production were determined. Fucoxanthin suppressed the development of EIU in a dose-dependent fashion. Treatment with fucoxanthin resulted in a reduction in PGE2, NO and TNF-alpha concentrations in the aqueous humour. The expression of COX and iNOS protein in the fucoxanthin treated RAW264.7 cells decreased significantly compared to that the LPS group. It also significantly reduced the concentration of PGE2, NO and TNF-alpha production in the medium of cells. The present result indicate fucoxanthin suppresses the inflammation of EIU by blocking the iNOS and COX-2 protein expression and its anti-inflammatory effect on eye is comparable with the effect of predinisolone used in similar doses.     

岩藻黄素在振荡剪切应力致EPCs功能改变及衰老中的影响作用

目的探讨岩藻黄素(Fucoxanthin, FUCO)对振荡剪切应力作用下内皮祖细胞(Endothelial progenitor cells,EPCs)生物学功能及细胞衰老的影响作用。方法采用Flexcell STR-4000平行板流动系统模拟体内扰动流剪切应力(振荡剪切应力,Oscillatory shear stress,OSS,±4 dynes/cm2,1 Hz)并加载于EPCs;利用结晶紫染色法观察OSS作用后EPCs的形态学改变;应用Boyden小室、自发性细胞贴壁及Matrigel基质胶分别检测细胞迁移、黏附和体外血管形成能力的变化;采用Western blot检测促沉默信息调节因子1(Silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog-1,SIRT1)蛋白和β-半乳糖苷酶法检测细胞衰老程度的改变;通过Dihydroethidium(DHE)荧光探针法检测细胞内超氧化物阴离子。结果与静态培养组相比,OSS导致EPCs形态学发生明显改变,表现为细胞长宽比降低,细胞之间间距增加;而FUCO对OSS导致的EPCs形态学改变无显...     

超声提取裙带菜中岩藻黄素的工艺研究

目的运用超声提取法对裙带菜Undaria pinnatifida中岩藻黄素的提取工艺进行研究。方法以HPLC法检测岩藻黄素的量,通过单因素实验考察了提取溶剂、乙醇体积分数、提取时间、提取液料比、提取温度对岩藻黄素提取率的影响;并用正交试验得到超声波法提取岩藻黄素的最佳工艺。结果超声提取的最佳工艺是：乙醇体积分数为90%,超声时间为30min,提取温度为40℃,液料比10∶1。此条件下测得岩藻黄素的提取量为1.362mg/g。结论裙带菜中岩藻黄素的含量丰富,超声法提取岩藻黄素操作简单、方便快捷。     

Fucoxanthin treatment inhibits nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell proliferation through induction of autophagy mechanism

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) arises from the epithelium of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. Elderly people above the age of 65 years are more susceptible to NPC. Nasopharyngectomy is the renowned treatment procedure to NPC; however, it is too risky due to its complicated surgical procedure. Other treatment methods also reported with serious side effects such brain injury; hence, the alternative anticancer drug without any side effects was needed. Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid derived from marine algae with the numerous pharmacological functions. This study aims to examine the inhibitory potential in NPC cell proliferation via apoptosis and autophagy. The cytotoxicity of fucoxanthin on C666‐1 cells was observed by the MTT assay. The expression of autophagy‐linked proteins was assessed with immunoblotting analysis. The expression of autophagy protein LC3 was estimated using immunocytochemical analysis in C666‐1 and GFP‐LC3 transfected cells. Furthermore, the fucoxanthin‐treated C666‐1 cells were analyzed with TUNEL assay. The apoptotic level in the fucoxanthin‐treated C666‐1 cells was evaluated using acridine orange staining. Fucoxanthin significantly increased the expression of autophagy‐linked proteins which is clearly depicted in the immunoblotting analysis and immunocytochemical analysis of GFP‐tagged LC3 protein. The results of TUNEL assay of fucoxanthin‐treated C666‐1 in the presence autophagy inhibitors demonstrated the induction of autophagy by fucoxanthin. Acridine orange staining results of C666‐1 confirmed fucoxanthin decreases the expression of autophagy‐linked proteins during stressed condition thereby causes apoptosis. Our overall results authentically conclude that fucoxanthin induces autophagy and apoptosis in NPC cell line, and it can be ideal agent to treat nasopharyngeal cancer in future with further investigations.     

Consumption of Low Dose Fucoxanthin Does Not Prevent Hepatic and Adipose Inflammation and Fibrosis in Mouse Models of Diet-Induced Obesity

Fucoxanthin (FCX) is a xanthophyll carotenoid present in brown seaweed. The goal of this study was to examine whether FCX supplementation could attenuate obesity-associated metabolic abnormalities, fibrosis, and inflammation in two diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse models. C57BL/6J mice were fed either a high-fat/high-sucrose/high-cholesterol (HFC) diet or a high-fat/high-sucrose (HFS) diet. The former induces more severe liver injury than the latter model. In the first study, male C57BL/6J mice were fed an HFC diet, or an HFC diet containing 0.015% or 0.03% (w/w) FCX powder for 12 weeks to develop obesity-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In the second study, mice were fed an HFS diet or an HFS diet containing 0.01% FCX powder for 8 weeks. FCX did not change body weight gain and serum lipid profiles compared to the HFC or HFS controls. No significant differences were present in liver triglyceride and total cholesterol, hepatic fat accumulation, and serum alanine aminotransferase levels between control and FCX-fed mice regardless of whether they were on an HFC or HFS diet. FCX did not mitigate mRNA abundance of genes involved in lipid synthesis, cholesterol metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis in the liver and white adipose tissue, while hepatic fatty acid β-oxidation genes were significantly elevated by FCX in both HFC and HFS feeding studies. Additionally, in the soleus muscle, FCX supplementation significantly elevated genes that regulate mitochondrial biogenesis and fatty acid β-oxidation, concomitantly increasing mitochondrial DNA copy number, compared with HFC. In summary, FCX supplementation had minor effects on hepatic and white adipose inflammation and fibrosis in two different DIO mouse models.