Bamboo shoots are a renewable and abundant biomass containing cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Although many studies have explored the applications of each of these components in the preparation of biochemicals and biopolymers, few studies have evaluated the utility of these components as a dietary fiber supplement. In this study, a powder consisting of the main components of bamboo shoots (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) was prepared from fresh Phyllostachys praecox shoots and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. To evaluate the potential utility of these components as a dietary fiber supplement, we conducted an experiment in which this powder was supplemented in the diet of mice for 7 weeks. The experiment included three diet groups (n = 10/group): a low-fat control diet (LFC), high-fat diet (HFD), and high-fat diet with bamboo shoot powder (HFBSP). Compared with HFD mice, the body weights of LFC and HFBSP mice were lower, indicating that the addition of bamboo shoot powder could reduce the weight gain associated with the HFD. Bamboo shoot powder supplementation could also reduce the levels of triglycerides (TG), blood glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (CHOL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) in HFD mice. The fat histology images indicated that obesity was alleviated in HFBSP mice, and the liver histology images indicated that the addition of bamboo shoot powder to the HFD could reduce the risk of fatty liver disease. The addition of bamboo shoot powder to the HFD might also improve the gut microbiota of mice. Thus, the major components of bamboo shoot powder (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) could be used as beneficial natural additives in the food industry.

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A novel fluorescent composition was firstly isolated from natural winter fresh Moso bamboo shoots, and its optical properties were fully investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. It could emit strong blue light both in solid and solution state, providing high fluorescence intensity in ethanol. The solution's concentration and addition of water greatly affected the fluorescence intensity, high concentration and addition of much water could quench fluorescence. Apoptosis results showed that the fluorescent extract (0-25 mg/L) could not induce apoptosis of Hela cells. Confocal fluorescent microscopic imaging in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) was realized using the fluorescent extract, it could dye the whole cell well which was different from 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) only dying cell nucleus. The fluorescent extract may be candidate for future natural fluorescent bio-imaging agent.

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