Konjac acts as a natural laxative by increasing stool bulk and improving colonic ecology in healthy adults

Chronic subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of D-galactose (DG) to BL/6J mice has been shown to induce oxidative stress and is considered a model to mimic accelerated ageing. Fructo-oligosaccharide (FO) is a well-defined prebiotic and its fermentation by lactic acid bacteria has been shown to exert antioxidative capacity. The present study was aimed to determine whether FO attenuated DG-induced oxidative stress and hepatopathy in Balb/cJ mice. Mice (12 weeks of age, n 40) were divided into control (s.c. saline), DG (s.c. 1·2 g/kg body weight), DG þ FO (5 %, w/w) and DG þ vitamin E (0·2 %, w/w) groups and were killed after 52 d of treatment. Results indicated that DG significantly decreased the hepatic superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. These alterations were ameliorated both by FO and vitamin E. DG increased the hepatic TAG content approximately by 7·2 % compared with the vehicle control, which was in agreement with the histological alteration. FO, similar to vitamin E, almost normalised the hepatic TAG content and ameliorated the histological characteristics of fatty liver. Similarly, the increased plasma alanine aminotransferase activity induced by DG was normalised by FO and vitamin E, respectively. Faecal bifidobacteria counts were greater in the DG þ FO and DG þ vitamin E groups compared with the DG group, respectively. In conclusion, the present study indicated that FO diminished the altered hepatic antioxidative enzyme activities and morphology caused by chronic DG administration in Balb/cJ mice, partially associated with its prebiotic role in the colon.Key words: D-Galactose: Fructo-oligosaccharide: Antioxidative capacity: Liver: Ageing One of the well-recognised ageing theories indicates that generation of oxidative stress leads to cell and tissue damage and ultimately results in ageing and cell death (1) . Chronic administration of D-galactose (DG) to BL/6J mice has been shown to induce changes which resemble accelerated ageing, such as formation of advanced glycation end products (2,3) , neurological impairment (4,5) , decreased serum antioxidative enzyme activities (4,5) and inflammation in the liver (3,6) . Several antioxidants (3,7,8) and Chinese herbs (9) have been shown to attenuate the ageing damage in C57BL/6J mice treated with DG.Fructo-oligosaccharide (FO), a well-defined prebiotic (10) , has been incorporated into drinks and desserts to improve bowel function in elderly persons (11) . Recent clinical studies have initially shown that the consumption of a prebiotic mix (12) and a FO supplement (13) beneficially reduces the blood indices of peroxidation status. However, the effect of FO in DG-induced hepatic oxidative damage has never been demonstrated.The main goal of the present study was to assess the anti-ageing and hepatoprotective effects of FO in DGadministered Balb/cJ mice, by the determination of antioxidative enzyme activities and the morphology of the liver and the biochemical indices of liver function. Materials and methods Animals and dietsMale B...

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“…Probe fluorescence was detected with a Zeiss Axioskop2 microscope (Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany), as described previously (24) .…”

Section: Quantification Of Faecal Microflora By the Fluorescence In Smentioning

confidence: 99%

Antioxidative and hepatoprotective effects of fructo-oligosaccharide ind-galactose-treated Balb/cJ mice

et al. 2010

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“…It is isolated from the tubers of A. konjac plant, the main crop in mountainous areas in China and Japan. KGM has long been used as a health food to reduce the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease (Li et al, 2005;Chen et al, 2006). CKGM is an anionic polymer produced by the carboxymethylation of KGM.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Semi-permeable nanocapsules of konjac glucomannan–chitosan for enzyme immobilization

Wang

Xia

et al. 2008

International Journal of Pharmaceutics

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“…KF is produced abundantly in the konjac tuber (Amorphophallus konjac), mainly containing konjac glucomannan (KGM) (12), and has been consumed in the form of rubbery jelly, noodles, and other food products by humans in Asia for centuries. KGM is a complex carbohydrate consisting of D-glucose and D-mannose units joined by ␤-1,4 glycosidic bond linkages (13).…”

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confidence: 99%

Inclusion of Konjac Flour in the Gestation Diet Changes the Gut Microbiota, Alleviates Oxidative Stress, and Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Sows

Tan

Wei

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Although dietary fibers contribute to health and physiology primarily via the fermentative actions of the gut microbiota of the hosts, few studies have focused on how these interactions influence the metabolic status of sows. Here, the effects of inclusion of konjac flour (KF) in a gestation diet on oxidative stress status, insulin sensitivity, and gut microbiota were investigated to elucidate the correlation between the microbiota and metabolic changes in sows. Sows were assigned to either control or 2.2% KF dietary treatment during gestation. The gut microbiota population in sows during gestation and lactation was assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The oxidative stress parameters, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) values, and fatty acids in the blood of sows were also assessed. Compared to the control diet group, KF significantly reduced the serum levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) but increased the serum concentrations of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in sows on day 1 in lactation. Additionally, sows in the KF group had a lower HOMA insulin resistance value but a higher HOMA insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IS) value. KF induced changes in the gut microbial composition at the phylum and genus levels. The increased relative abundances of Akkermansia and Roseburia in the KF group were positively correlated with the HOMA-IS. Overall, dietary KF alleviated oxidative stress and improved insulin sensitivity of sows, and the changes in the gut microbiota in response to KF may have been correlated with the host metabolism response. IMPORTANCETo date, the effect of dietary fiber on metabolism responses and gut microbiota in sows has not been investigated. Here, KF supplementation of a gestation diet in sows was found to alleviate oxidative stress and to improve insulin sensitivity. Pyrosequencing analysis revealed that KF treatment induces changes in the gut microbiota composition at the phylum and genus levels. Moreover, the changes of gut microbiota in response to KF may be correlated with the host metabolism response.

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Konjac acts as a natural laxative by increasing stool bulk and improving colonic ecology in healthy adults

Cited by 110 publications

References 27 publications

Antioxidative and hepatoprotective effects of fructo-oligosaccharide ind-galactose-treated Balb/cJ mice

Antioxidative and hepatoprotective effects of fructo-oligosaccharide ind-galactose-treated Balb/cJ mice

Semi-permeable nanocapsules of konjac glucomannan–chitosan for enzyme immobilization

Inclusion of Konjac Flour in the Gestation Diet Changes the Gut Microbiota, Alleviates Oxidative Stress, and Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Sows

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