The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Dendrobium officinale crude polysaccharides (DOPS) and D. officinale purified polysaccharides (DOPS100) in attenuating immune dysfunction in subfertile mice. The results of the study revealed several noteworthy findings. First, DOPS and DOPS100 treatments led to significant improvement in weight gain and reversal of fatigue-related behaviors compared to the normal group. Second, both DOPS and DOPS100 showed effectiveness in reducing immune organ swelling, modulating immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels, and restoring complement (C3c and C4) levels. In addition, they demonstrated a significant ability to enhance the integrity of the intestinal mechanical barrier by differentially upregulating the tight junction proteins Occludin and Zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1). In addition, it was found that DOPS100 specifically enhanced the CD4⁺-T helper 17 cell (Th17)/ regulatory T cell (Treg) immune axis in the gut, as evidenced by increased expression of forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) as well as decreased expression of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt), and further modulation of interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin 22 (IL-22), and interleukin 17A (IL-17A) expression levels of inflammatory factors. These findings collectively suggest that DOPS100 holds significant potential in improving sub-healthy status by repairing the intestinal barrier, restoring local immune homeostasis, and activating the intestinal immune regulatory network. The study's outcomes provide valuable insights into the therapeutic implications of DOPS and DOPS100 in addressing immune dysfunction in sub-healthy conditions.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a global health issue, making early prevention and treatment are crucial. Atractylodes macrocephala, as a functional food, holds potential in improving liver metabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Atractylodes macrocephala water extract (AMW) has a preventive effect on NAFLD induced by high-fat, high-sugar (HSHF) diet. Initially, the components of AMW were analyzed, revealing the high content of polysaccharides and lactones as its main constituents. Mice were then subjected to HSHF diet and administered AMW for 12 weeks to observe its effects on glucose and lipid metabolism, hepatic lipid accumulation, oxidative damage, inflammatory injury, and apoptosis. The results indicated that AMW significantly improved glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in mice, reduced hepatic lipid accumulation, oxidative damage, and inflammatory injury. Specifically, AMW notably decreased the release of TNF-α, thereby inhibiting the activation of the hepatic TRAF1/ASK1/JNK pathway, which alleviated the progression of inflammatory responses. Additionally, JNK phosphorylation was reduced, inhibiting the activation of downstream factor AKT, which in turn led to decreased expression of apoptosis-related factors such as Bax, Cyt C, and Cleaved Caspase-3, while increasing Bcl-2 expression. These findings suggest that AMW may protect against HSHF-induced NAFLD by reducing hepatic oxidative damage, inhibiting inflammation, and preventing apoptosis, potentially through inhibition of the TRAF1/ASK1/JNK pathway.