To ameliorate the limitations associated with the processing and utilization of corn starch (CS), Ficus pumila Linn. polysaccharide (FPP) was used to modulate the physicochemical properties of CS. In this study, the influence of FPP on gelatinization, structural properties, antioxidant capacity and digestibility of CS were evaluated. The results showed that the addition of FPP inhibited the short-term retrogradation of CS and delayed the gelation process of CS. Furthermore, FPP decreased the storage modulus and loss modulus, while diminishing the strength and hardness of the gel, and impeding moisture translocation. FPP reduced the formation of ordered structure and thermal stability of the gels by binding to amylose. Notably, in addition to the processing properties, FPP was found to enhance the antioxidant capacity and reduce the digestibility of CS, as demonstrated by the pronounced antioxidant activities in the CS-FPP composites and an increment in resistant starch (RS) content. Collectively, these insights furnish a significant contribution to the potential application of FPP in enhancing the quality of starch-based alimentary products.
Allergic asthma accounts for more than 50 percent of adult asthma in life. Glucocorticoids and leukotriene receptor antagonists are commonly used to treat asthma, but these drugs not only have high side effects but also cannot cure the disease. In contrast, natural active ingredients are relatively safe to the organism and show great potential for improving the organism. Polysaccharides, as the main active ingredient in aqueous extract, may be equally beneficial for biological activity. The aim of this study is to investigate the alleviating effect and mechanism of action of Ficus pumila fruit polysaccharide (FPP) and aqueous extract of Ficus pumila fruit (FPW) on mice with allergic asthma. The results showed that FPP and FPW could regulate the secretion of the cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-γ. FPP and FPW also reduced the inflammation, mucus secretion, and collagen deposition in mouse lung tissue, and down-regulated the expression of matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) proteins. In addition, FPP and FPW modulated the intestinal microbiota by augmenting the alpha diversity and adjusting the taxonomic composition at the phylum and family levels, thereby ensured the sustenance of regular physiological processes in the body. This study demonstrated that FPP and FPW may attenuate asthma by inducing beneficial microbiota in the gut-lung axis and provide an effective basis for the future clinical treatment of allergic asthma with Ficus pumila and the development and utilization of new anti-asthma drugs.
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）