Antioxidative activity of probiotics

Role of Synbiotics (Prebiotics and Probiotics) as Dietary Supplements in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Induced Health Complications

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder whose prevalence has become a worrying condition in recent decades. Chronic diabetes can result in serious health conditions such as impaired kidney function, stroke, blindness, and myocardial infarction. Despite a variety of currently available treatments, cases of diabetes and its complications are on the rise. This review article provides a comprehensive account of the ameliorative effect of prebiotics and probiotics individually or in combination i.e. synbiotics on health complications induced by Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Recent advances in the field underscore encouraging outcomes suggesting the consumption of synbiotics leads to favorable changes in the gut microbiota. These changes result in the production of bioactive metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (crucial for lowering blood sugar levels), reducing inflammation, preventing insulin resistance, and encouraging the release of glucagon-like peptide-1 in the host. Notably, novel strategies supplementing synbiotics to support gut microbiota are gaining attraction as pivotal interventions in mitigating T2DM-induced health complications. Thus, by nurturing a symbiotic relationship between prebiotics and probiotics i.e. synbiotics, these interventions hold promise in reshaping the microbial landscape of the gut thereby offering a multifaceted approach to managing T2DM and its associated morbidities. Supporting the potential of synbiotics underscores a paradigm shift toward holistic and targeted interventions in diabetes management, offering prospects for improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life for affected individuals. Nevertheless, more research needs to be done to better understand the single and multispecies pre/pro and synbiotics in the prevention and management of T2DM-induced health complications.

Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Nano-probiotics Versus Free Probiotics Against Gastrointestinal Pathogenic Bacteria

Antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria and the oxidative stress related to their infections are dangerous health problems. Finding new safe, effective antibacterial and antioxidant agents is an urgent global need. Probiotics are a strong candidate for possible antibacterial and antioxidant agents. The delivery of these probiotics without any effect on gastrointestinal digestion is the most important point for their application. The encapsulation of the probiotics on nanoparticles or other supports is a well-known method for the safe delivery of the probiotics. Little information is known about the effect of the probiotic encapsulation on its antibacterial and antioxidant activity. The present study tried to investigate the effect of probiotic encapsulation on nano-chitosan on its antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity against some pathogenic bacteria. We encapsulated some known probiotic species on nano-chitosan and investigated the antibacterial activity of the nano-probiotics and free probiotics against gastrointestinal pathogenic bacteria. The antioxidant characters of the free and encapsulated probiotics were investigated in terms of DPPH radicle scavenging activity, ferric ion chelating activity, hydroxyl radicle scavenging activity, superoxide anion radicle scavenging activity, and anti-lipid peroxidation activity. Results showed the superiority of the encapsulated probiotics as antibacterial and antioxidant agents over the free ones. The encapsulation improved the antibacterial activity of Sporolactobacillus laevolacticus against Bacteroides fragilis by 134% compared to the free one. Also, significantly, the encapsulation increased the hydroxyl radicle scavenging activity of Enterococcus faecium by about 180% compared to the free one. Nano-chitosan encapsulation synergistically increased the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the studied probiotics. This can be promising for controlling pathogenic bacteria.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-023-01140-2.

Development of a functional Greek sheep yogurt incorporating a probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus wild-type strain as adjunct starter culture

Greek yogurt is a fermented dairy product of high nutritional value that can be used as a matrix for the delivery of probiotics. The aim of this study was to develop a new probiotic Greek sheep yogurt with upgraded quality and functional characteristics. To do this, yogurt was manufactured by fermenting pasteurized milk with the commercial starter culture (Streptococcus thermophilus (ST), Lactobacillus bulgaricus (LB)) together with a probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (LR) wild-type strain (probiotic yogurt; PY). As a control, yogurt manufactured with only the starter culture (ST, LB) was used (conventional yogurt; CY) The survival of all three lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species (ST, LB, and LR) was monitored throughout the products' shelf life (storage at 4 °C for 25 days), and also following exposure to a static in vitro digestion model (SIVDM). The population dynamics of total aerobic plate count (APC), Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts and molds grown in both yogurts were also determined. The total antioxidant activity (AA) of yogurts was comparatively determined using in parallel two different assays, whereas the Folin-Ciocalteu assay was used to determine their total phenolic content (TPC). At each sampling day, yogurts were also evaluated for their pH, titratable acidity (TA) and main sensory characteristics. The population of probiotic LR remained stable during the shelf life (and above 108 CFU/g). Yogurt starters (ST, LB) were not detected following SIVDM, whereas LR (in PY) presented a reduction of about only one log. The AA and TPC of PY were found significantly higher than that of CY (P < 0.05). At the end of storage (25th day), neither pH nor TA differed significantly between the two yogurt types, while no fungal growth was observed in the PY. Consumer sensory analysis did not reveal important differences between the two yogurt types during their shelf life. To sum up, the novel yogurt was able to deliver to consumers a high number of probiotic cells (>108 CFU/g), presented increased antioxidant power, had an expanded shelf life, and maintained its good sensory attributes.

Exploring the Effects of Probiotic Treatment on Urinary and Serum Metabolic Profiles in Healthy Individuals

Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits when administered in adequate amounts. They are used to promote gut health and alleviate various disorders. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the potential effects of probiotics on human physiology. In the presented study, the effects of probiotic treatment on the metabolic profiles of human urine and serum using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabonomic approach were investigated. Twenty-one healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study, and they received two different dosages of probiotics for 8 weeks. During the study, urine and serum samples were collected from volunteers before and during probiotic supplementation. The results showed that probiotics had a significant impact on the urinary and serum metabolic profiles without altering their phenotypes. This study demonstrated the effects of probiotics in terms of variations of metabolite levels resulting also from the different probiotic posology. Overall, the results suggest that probiotic administration may affect both urine and serum metabolomes, although more research is needed to understand the mechanisms and clinical implications of these effects. NMR-based metabonomic analysis of biofluids is a powerful tool for monitoring host-gut microflora dynamic interaction as well as for assessing the individual response to probiotic treatment.

In vitro screening and characterization of lactic acid bacteria from Lithuanian fermented food with potential probiotic properties

The present work aimed to identify probiotic candidates from Lithuanian homemade fermented food samples. A total of 23 lactic acid bacteria were isolated from different fermented food samples. Among these, only 12 showed resistance to low pH, tolerance to pepsin, bile salts, and pancreatin. The 12 strains also exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028, Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 12384, Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615, and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883. Cell-free supernatants of isolate 3A and 55w showed the strongest antioxidant activity of 26.37 μg/mL and 26.06 μg/mL, respectively. Isolate 11w exhibited the strongest auto-aggregation ability of 79.96% as well as the strongest adhesion to HCT116 colon cells (25.671 ± 0.43%). The selected strains were tested for their synbiotic relation in the presence of a prebiotic. The selected candidates showed high proliferation in the presence of 4% as compared to 2% galactooligosaccharides. Among the strains tested for tryptophan production ability, isolate 11w produced the highest L-tryptophan levels of 16.63 ± 2.25 μm, exhibiting psychobiotic ability in the presence of a prebiotic. The safety of these strains was studied by ascertaining their antibiotic susceptibility, mucin degradation, gelatin hydrolysis, and hemolytic activity. In all, isolates 40C and 11w demonstrated the most desirable probiotic potentials and were identified by 16S RNA and later confirmed by whole genome sequencing as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 11w, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 40C: following with the harboring plasmid investigation. Out of all the 23 selected strains, only Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 11w showed the potential and desirable probiotic properties.

Immunostimulatory Activity of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis CAB701 Isolated from Jeju Cabbage

This study explored the potential of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis CAB701 as a probiotic strain, focusing on its immunostimulatory properties. Despite adverse conditions in the gastrointestinal environment, this strain exhibited remarkable survivability, as evidenced by its tolerance to acid, bile, and pancreatin, coupled with its impressive ability to adhere to Caco-2 cells. It also exhibited significant antioxidant activity, similar to the established probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). Our research elucidates the potent immunostimulatory effects of L. lactis subsp. lactis CAB701. This strain significantly enhanced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7, far exceeding that obtained with LGG. An in-depth examination revealed elevated expression of key inflammatory mediators, including inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, and IL-6. L. lactis subsp. lactis CAB701 increases the expression of critical signaling proteins in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. This prompted a substantial increase in the expression of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinases and extracellular signal-regulated kinases, suggesting their role in modulating these immune-related pathways. Overall, these findings demonstrate the significant immunostimulatory capacity of L. lactis subsp. lactis CAB701, positioning it as a potential candidate for probiotic use, especially in applications that enhance immune responses.

Bifidobacterium longum LBUX23 Isolated from Feces of a Newborn; Potential Probiotic Properties and Genomic Characterization

Bifidobacterium longum is considered a microorganism with probiotic potential, which has been extensively studied, but these probiotic effects are strain dependent. This work aims to characterize the probiotic potential, based on the biochemical and genomic functionality, of B. longum LBUX23, isolated from neonates' feces. B. longum LBUX23 contains one circular genome of 2,287,838 bp with a G+C content of 60.05%, no plasmids, no CRISPR-Cas operon, possesses 56 tRNAs, 9 rRNAs, 1 tmRNA and 1776 coding sequences (CDSs). It has chromosomally encoded resistance genes to ampicillin and dicloxacillin, non-hemolytic activity, and moderate inhibition of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and to some emergent pathogen's clinical strains. B. longum LBUX23 was able to utilize lactose, sucrose, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and lactulose. The maximum peak of bacterial growth was observed in sucrose and FOS at 6 h; in lactose and lactulose, it was shown at 8 h. B. longum LBUX23 can survive in gastrointestinal conditions (pH 4 to 7). A decrease in survival (96.5 and 93.8%) was observed at pH 3 and 3.5 during 120 min. argC, argH, and dapA genes could be involved in this tolerance. B. longum LBUX23 can also survive under primary and secondary glyco- or tauro-conjugated bile salts, and a mixture of bile salts due to the high extracellular bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity (67.3 %), in taurocholic acid followed by taurodeoxycholic acid (48.5%), glycocholic acid (47.1%), oxgall (44.3%), and glycodeoxycholic acid (29.7%) probably due to the presence of the cbh and gnlE genes which form an operon (start: 119573 and end: 123812). Low BSH activity was determined intracellularly (<7%), particularly in glycocholic acid; no intracellular activity was shown. B. longum LBUX23 showed antioxidant effects in DPPH radical, mainly in intact cells (27.4%). In the case of hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity, cell debris showed the highest reduction (72.5%). In the cell-free extract, superoxide anion radical scavenging capacity was higher (90.5%). The genome of B. longum LBUX23 contains PNPOx, AhpC, Bcp, trxA, and trxB genes, which could be involved in this activity. Regarding adherence, it showed adherence up to 5% to Caco-2 cells. B. longum LBUX23 showed in vitro potential probiotic properties, mainly in BSH activity and antioxidant capacity, which indicates that it could be a good candidate for antioxidant or anti-cholesterol tests using in vivo models.

Antioxidant evaluation and computational prediction of prospective drug-like compounds from polyphenolic-rich extract of Hibiscus cannabinus L. seed as antidiabetic and neuroprotective targets: assessment through in vitro and in silico studies

BACKGROUND

Reports have implicated diabetes mellitus (DM) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) as some of the global persistent health challenges with no lasting solutions, despite of significant inputs of modern-day pharmaceutical firms. This study therefore, aimed to appraise the in vitro antioxidant potential, enzymes inhibitory activities, and as well carry out in silico study on bioactive compounds from polyphenolic-rich extract of Hibiscus cannabinus seed (PEHc).

METHODS

In vitro antioxidant assays were performed on PEHc using standard methods while the identification of phytoconstituents was carried out with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For the in silico molecular docking using Schrodinger's Grid-based ligand docking with energetics software, seven target proteins were retrieved from the database ( https://www.rcsb.org/ ).

RESULTS

HPLC technique identified twelve chemical compounds in PEHc, while antioxidant quantification revealed higher total phenolic contents (243.5 ± 0.71 mg GAE/g) than total flavonoid contents (54.06 ± 0.09 mg QE/g) with a significant (p < 0.05) inhibition of ABTS (IC₅₀ = 218.30 ± 0.87 µg/ml) and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radicals (IC₅₀ = 227.79 ± 0.74 µg/ml). In a similar manner, the extract demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) inhibitory activity against α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 256.88 ± 6.15 µg/ml) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 183.19 ± 0.23 µg/ml) as well as acetylcholinesterase (IC₅₀ = 262.95 ± 1.47 µg/ml) and butyrylcholinesterase (IC₅₀ = 189.97 ± 0.82 µg/ml), respectively. Furthermore, In silico study showed that hibiscetin (a lead) revealed a very strong binding affinity energies for DPP-4, (PDB ID: 1RWQ) and α-amylase (PDB ID: 1SMD), gamma-tocopherol ( for peptide-1 receptor; PDB ID: 3C59, AChE; PDB ID: 4EY7 and BChE; PDB ID: 7B04), cianidanol for α-glucosidase; PDB ID: 7KBJ and kaempferol for Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP-1); PDB ID: 6BHV, respectively. More so, ADMET scores revealed drug-like potentials of the lead compounds identified in PEHc.

CONCLUSION

As a result, the findings of this study point to potential drug-able compounds in PEHc that could be useful for the management of DM and AD.

Dietary Supplementation of Lactobacillus johnsonii RS-7 Improved Antioxidant and Immune Function of Weaned Piglets

We investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of lactic acid bacteria on the immune and antioxidant performance of weaned pigs. A total of 128 Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire piglets weaned on day 28 with an average body weight of 8.95 ± 1.15 kg were selected and randomly divided into four treatment groups according to body weight and sex for a 28-day study. The four dietary treatments were basal diet (CON), and CON with 0.05% (LJ0.05), 0.1% (LJ0.1), and 0.2% (LJ0.2) Lactobacillus johnsonii RS-7, respectively. The lowest feed-to-gain ratio (F:G) was found when LJ0.1 was added to the diet. The addition of compound lactic acid bacteria to the diet increased the concentrations of TP, ALB, IgA, and IgM on day 14 and IgG, IgA, and IgM on day 28 (p < 0.05) in the blood, with trait values greater for pigs fed LJ0.1 than CON pigs (p < 0.05). Concentrations of antioxidants (CAT, T-AOC, MDA, T-SOD, and GSH) in serum, intestinal mucosa, spleen, liver, and pancreas improved. In summary, dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus johnsonii RS-7 improved the antioxidant and immune function of weaned piglets.

Pterostilbene and Probiotic Complex in Chemoprevention of Putative Precursor Lesions for Colorectal Cancer in an Experimental Model of Intestinal Carcinogenesis with 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine

Dietary supplementation with pterostilbene (PS) and/or a probiotic (PRO) may ameliorate the intestinal microbiota in disease conditions. This study aims to evaluate PS and PRO for the chemoprevention of putative precursor lesions for colorectal cancer (CRC) in an experimental model of intestinal carcinogenesis with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (1,2-DMH). Sixty male Wistar rats were equally divided into five groups: Sham, 1,2-DMH, 1,2-DMH + PS, 1,2-DMH + PRO, and 1,2-DMH + PS + PRO. PRO (5 × 10⁷/mL) was offered in water, and PS (300 ppm) was provided in the diet ad libitum. 1,2-DMH (20 mg/kg/week) was administered for 15 consecutive weeks. In the 25th week, proctocolectomy was conducted. PRO alone and PRO combined with PS were the best intervention strategies to improve experimental 1,2-DMH-induced CRC regarding several parameters of carcinogenesis. Our findings may contribute to the development of novel preventive strategies for CRC and may help to identify novel modulators of colon carcinogenesis.

Gut microbiome as a therapeutic target for liver diseases

The prominent role of gut in regulating the physiology of different organs in a human body is increasingly acknowledged, to which the bidirectional communication between gut and liver is no exception. Liver health is modulated via different key components of gut-liver axis. The gut-derived products mainly generated from dietary components, microbial metabolites, toxins, or other antigens are sensed and transported to the liver through portal vein to which liver responds by secreting bile acids and antibodies. Therefore, maintaining a healthy gut microbiome can promote homeostasis of this gut-liver axis by regulating the intestinal barrier function and reducing the antigenic molecules. Conversely, liver secretions also regulate the gut microbiome composition. Disturbed homeostasis allows luminal antigens to reach liver leading to impaired liver functioning and instigating liver disorders. The perturbations in gut microbiome, permeability, and bile acid pool have been associated with several liver disorders, although precise mechanisms remain largely unresolved. Herein, we discuss functional fingerprints of a healthy gut-liver axis while contemplating mechanistic understanding of pathophysiology of liver diseases and plausible role of gut dysbiosis in different diseased states of liver. Further, novel therapeutic approaches to prevent the severity of liver disorders are discussed in this review.

Lactic acid bacteria strains reduce in vitro mercury toxicity on the intestinal mucosa

A bicameral model consisting of Caco-2 and HT29-MTX intestinal epithelial cells and THP-1-derived macrophages has been used to test the ability of two strains of Lactobacillus to protect from damage caused by mercury. Exposure to 1 mg/ml mercury [Hg(II) or methyl-Hg] for seven days in this model resulted in an inflammatory and pro-oxidant response mainly driven by macrophages. This led to an impairment in the intestinal barrier, defective tight-junctions, increased permeability and mucus hypersecretion. In addition, the wound-healing capacity of the epithelial monolayer was also diminished. However, the presence of heat-killed Lactobacillus intestinalis or Lactobacillus johnsonii cells during Hg exposure reverted these effects, and most of the parameters recovered values similar to control cells. Both lactobacilli showed the capacity to bind Hg(II) and methyl-Hg under the cell culture conditions. This points to Hg sequestration as a likely mechanism that counteracted Hg toxicity. However, differences in the Hg binding capacity and in the effects between both strains suggest that other probiotic-mediated mechanisms may play a role in the alleviation of the damage elicited by Hg. These results show the potential of the bicameral intestinal epithelial model for screening of effective strains for their use in later in vivo studies.

Safety and Effects of Lactobacillus paracasei TISTR 2593 Supplementation on Improving Cholesterol Metabolism and Atherosclerosis-Related Parameters in Subjects with Hypercholesterolemia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Probiotics have the potential as a multi-target approach to modulate hypercholesterolemia associated with premature atherosclerosis. Various strains of Lactobacillus paracasei have been reported to affect hypercholesterolemia positively. This study aimed to investigate the effects of L. paracasei TISTR 2593 on lipid profile, cholesterol metabolism, and atherosclerosis according to the registration of Thai Clinical Trial Registry as identification number TCTR 20220917002. A total of 50 participants with hypercholesterolemia were randomly and equally assigned to consume L. paracasei TISTR 2593 or a placebo in maltodextrin capsules daily. Biomarkers of lipid profiles, oxidative stress state, inflammatory state, and other biological indicators were examined on days 0, 45, and 90. The results showed that subjects taking the L. paracasei TISTR 2593 could significantly reduce the level of serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (p < 0.05), malondialdehyde (p < 0.001), and tumor necrosis factor-α (p < 0.01). Moreover, L. paracasei TISTR 2593 increased the level of serum apolipoprotein E (p < 0.01) and adiponectin (p < 0.001) significantly. No changes in serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglyceride, total bile acids, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were observed during L. paracasei TISTR 2593 supplementation. Therefore, L. paracasei TISTR 2593 could be an adjuvant probiotic supplement to ameliorate hypercholesterolemia and prevent or delay the development of atherosclerosis.

Development, characterization and probiotic encapsulating ability of novel Momordica charantia bioactive polysaccharides/whey protein isolate composite gels

In this study, a polysaccharide (MP1) with a molecular weight of 38 kDa was isolated from Momordica charantia which contains arabinose, galactose, xylose, and rhamnose. (MP1) was used to formulate composite gels with Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) that were characterized for their functional properties, microstructure, thermal resistance, probiotic encapsulating ability, and potential toward metabolic syndrome (MS). Results showed that the highest complex index was obtained at MP concentration of 2 %. MP-WPIs demonstrated superior (p < 0.05) water holding capacity and emulsifying properties than WPI gels. MP-WPIs also had higher (p < 0.05) thermal stability via TGA and DSC analysis. MP-WPI morphology was observed via SEM whereas protein structure as affected by MP concentration was studied using CLSM. Also, FTIR revealed that MP and WPI bonded mainly through electrostatic, hydrophobic and hydrogen interactions. More, MP-WPIs successfully enhanced probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) survival upon freeze-drying with high encapsulation efficiency (98 %) and improved storage stability. MP-WPIs improved LA survival upon digestion suggesting a potential prebiotic activity. Finally, synbiotic formulation LA-MP-WPIs exhibited effective biological activity against MS. Therefore, MP-WPIs is a propitious strategy for effective probiotic gastrointestinal delivery with potential toward MS.

Effects of a novel probiotic mixture on the modulation of brain and intestine Aquaporin-4 gene expression in rats exposed to Cadmium

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxicant metal that risks human and animal health. Nowadays, the vital role of Aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) in brain and gut cell permeability has gathered too much attention to protecting against heavy metals. Studies have shown that heavy metals can harm the body due to oxidative stress. Probiotics are known for their health-beneficial effects and establish as dietary adjuncts mainly for their antioxidant properties. This study investigated the impact of a novel probiotic combination including Lactobacillus casei IBRC-M10783, Lactobacillus rhamnosus IBRC-M10782, and Lactobacillus helveticus TG-34 on the AQP-4 gene expression in CdCl2-induced Wistar rats. Rats were divided into three groups and received a specific dose of CdCl2 or probiotics. The AQP-4 expression level had estimated by Real-Time PCR in both the intestine and brain. These results showed a significant reduction in AQP-4 gene expression in the probiotic treatment group compared to the CdCl2 control group in the intestine and brain for the first time. Our research showed that consuming a probiotic mixture of L. casei, L. rhamnosus, and L. helveticus can reduce the expression of the aquaporin-4 gene in the brain and intestine of rats exposed to Cadmium, which can be promising in the field of aquaporin-4 regulation.

New Insights into the Gut Microbiota in Neurodegenerative Diseases from the Perspective of Redox Homeostasis

An imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in the body can lead to oxidative stress, which is one of the major causes of neurodegenerative diseases. The gut microbiota contains trillions of beneficial bacteria that play an important role in maintaining redox homeostasis. In the last decade, the microbiota-gut-brain axis has emerged as a new field that has revolutionized the study of the pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, a growing number of studies have found that communication between the brain and the gut microbiota can be accomplished through the endocrine, immune, and nervous systems. Importantly, dysregulation of the gut microbiota has been strongly associated with the development of oxidative stress-mediated neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiota and redox homeostasis will help explain the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases from a new perspective and provide a theoretical basis for proposing new therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we will describe the role of oxidative stress and the gut microbiota in neurodegenerative diseases and the underlying mechanisms by which the gut microbiota affects redox homeostasis in the brain, leading to neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, we will discuss the potential applications of maintaining redox homeostasis by modulating the gut microbiota to treat neurodegenerative diseases, which could open the door for new therapeutic approaches to combat neurodegenerative diseases.

Synbiotics and Their Antioxidant Properties, Mechanisms, and Benefits on Human and Animal Health: A Narrative Review

Antioxidants are often associated with a variety of anti-aging compounds that can ensure human and animal health longevity. Foods and diet supplements from animals and plants are the common exogenous sources of antioxidants. However, microbial-based products, including probiotics and their derivatives, have been recognized for their antioxidant properties through numerous studies and clinical trials. While the number of publications on probiotic antioxidant capacities and action mechanisms is expanding, that of synbiotics combining probiotics with prebiotics is still emerging. Here, the antioxidant metabolites and properties of synbiotics, their modes of action, and their different effects on human and animal health are reviewed and discussed. Synbiotics can generate almost unlimited possibilities of antioxidant compounds, which may have superior performance compared to those of their components through additive or complementary effects, and especially by synergistic actions. Either combined with antioxidant prebiotics or not, probiotics can convert these substrates to generate antioxidant compounds with superior activities. Such synbiotic-based new routes for supplying natural antioxidants appear relevant and promising in human and animal health prevention and treatment. A better understanding of various component interactions within synbiotics is key to generating a higher quality, quantity, and bioavailability of antioxidants from these biotic sources.

Allergic Inflammation: Effect of Propolis and Its Flavonoids

The incidence of allergic diseases and their complications are increasing worldwide. Today, people increasingly use natural products, which has been termed a "return to nature". Natural products with healing properties, especially those obtained from plants and bees, have been used in the prevention and treatment of numerous chronic diseases, including allergy and/or inflammation. Propolis is a multi-component resin rich in flavonoids, collected and transformed by honeybees from buds and plant wounds for the construction and adaptation of their nests. This article describes the current views regarding the possible mechanisms and multiple benefits of flavonoids in combating allergy and allergy-related complications. These benefits arise from flavonoid anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and wound healing activities and their effects on microbe-immune system interactions in developing host responses to different allergens. Finally, this article presents various aspects of allergy pathobiology and possible molecular approaches in their treatment. Possible mechanisms regarding the antiallergic action of propolis on the microbiota of the digestive and respiratory tracts and skin diseases as a method to selectively remove allergenic molecules by the process of bacterial biotransformation are also reported.

Potential application of the probiotic Bacillus licheniformis as an adjuvant in the treatment of diseases in humans and animals: A systematic review

The use of Bacillus licheniformis as a probiotic has increased significantly in recent years. Published reports demonstrate that it provides multiple benefits for health. Although there are already studies in humans and is marketed, it is mostly used in the veterinary industry still. However, its benefits could be extrapolated to humans in future. This review addresses the application of B. licheniformis, its sporulation, mechanisms of action, and its role in the resolution, treatment, and prevention of different conditions and diseases. It focuses on scientific advances from 2016 to mid-2022 and emphasizes the most common diseases in the general population. Most of the 70% of published studies about the health benefits of B. licheniformis have been published from 2016 until now. The intake of B. licheniformis has been related to the effects of modulation of the intestinal microbiota, antimicrobial activity, growth promotion, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulatory effects, promotion of the regulation of the lipid profile, increase of neurotransmitters, and stress reduction, among others. These results provide novel possible applications of this and other probiotics in general. Although many benefits can be reported on a microorganism, the combination with others could provide a better effect. Further studies like this need to be done to understand the specific advantages of each probiotic and its strains and therefore achieve a better selection of them for a specific disease or disorder.

Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Propolis and Its Polyphenolic Compounds against Cancer

In recent years, interest in natural products such as alternative sources of pharmaceuticals for numerous chronic diseases, including tumors, has been renewed. Propolis, a natural product collected by honeybees, and polyphenolic/flavonoid propolis-related components modulate all steps of the cancer progression process. Anticancer activity of propolis and its compounds relies on various mechanisms: cell-cycle arrest and attenuation of cancer cells proliferation, reduction in the number of cancer stem cells, induction of apoptosis, modulation of oncogene signaling pathways, inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases, prevention of metastasis, anti-angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory effects accompanied by the modulation of the tumor microenvironment (by modifying macrophage activation and polarization), epigenetic regulation, antiviral and bactericidal activities, modulation of gut microbiota, and attenuation of chemotherapy-induced deleterious side effects. Ingredients from propolis also "sensitize" cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents, likely by blocking the activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB). In this review, we summarize the current knowledge related to the the effects of flavonoids and other polyphenolic compounds from propolis on tumor growth and metastasizing ability, and discuss possible molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the modulation of inflammatory pathways and cellular processes that affect survival, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis of the tumor.

Probiotic treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: Its extent and intensity

Free radicals (reactive oxygen species, superoxides and hydroxyl radicals) lead to the development of oxidative stress because of imbalance in the amount of antioxidants. Continued development of oxidative stress leads to chronic diseases in humans. The instability in the antioxidant activities and accumulation of oxidative stress due to free radicals may occur in diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Antioxidants are substances that inhibit or delay the mechanism of oxidation of molecules mediated by free radicals and also transform into lesser-active derivatives. Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that show beneficial effects on inflamed intestine and balance the inflammatory immune responses in the gut. Probiotic strains have been reported to scavenge hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions that are abundantly produced during oxidative stress. The most widely studied probiotic strains are Streptococcus, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Probiotics cultured in broth have shown some amount of antioxidant activities. Fermented milk and soy milk, which possess starter microorganisms (probiotics), tends to increase the antioxidant activities many-fold. This review aims to discuss the in vivo and in vitro antioxidant activities of specific probiotics with various assays with respect to IBD.

Characterization of Some Microorganisms from Human Stool Samples and Determination of Their Effects on CT26 Colorectal Carcinoma Cell Line

The present study aimed to isolate and identify the potential probiotic, pathobiont, and pathogenic microorganisms in the stool samples of 12 healthy individuals and evaluate their in vitro effects on cancer formation. A total of 83 strains were isolated from the stool samples and identified using MALDI-Biotyper. Fourteen of the isolates were identified as Candida spp., three isolates were identified as Cryptococcus neoformans, 55 isolates were identified as lactic acid bacteria, and the remaining isolates belonged to different 11 bacterial genera. Important microbial properties for cancer prevention and some probiotic properties were examined. All strains maintained their viability under acidic conditions and in media containing bile salts. Of the bacterial strains, 62.5% were resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, erythromycin, kanamycin, penicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, and vancomycin. All yeast strains were resistant to ketoconazole and susceptible to nystatin. The susceptibility of the strains to fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B, and itraconazole varied. Fifty-nine percent of the strains produced EPS and 21.7% showed proteolytic activity (PA). Of the strains, 15.7% both produced exopolysaccharides (EPS) and had PA. The antioxidant activity (AOA) varied depending on the strains. The pathobiont and pathogenic microorganisms promoted tumor formation, while potential probiotic microorganisms had a suppressive effect on tumor formation (P > 0.01). One yeast (Candida kefyr MK17) and three lactic acid bacteria strains (Lacticaseibacillus paracasei MK73, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MK55, Limosilactobacillus mucosae MK45) have superior potential thanks to their anticarcinogenic properties as well as tolerance to gastrointestinal tract conditions. Stool samples of each individual contain various potential probiotic, pathobiont, and pathogenic microorganisms.

In Vitro Assessment of Bio-Functional Properties from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Strains

In recent years, alongside the conventional screening procedures for the evaluation of probiotics for human usage, the pharmaceutical and food industries have encouraged scientific research towards the selection of new probiotic bacterial strains with particular functional features. Therefore, this study intended to explore novel functional properties of five Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains isolated from bee bread. Specifically, antioxidant, antimicrobial and β-glucosidase activities, exopolysaccharides (EPS) production and the ability to synthesize γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were evaluated. The results demonstrated that the investigated L. plantarum strains were effective in inhibiting the growth of some human opportunistic pathogens in vitro (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus). Moreover, the evaluation of antioxidant and β-glucosidase activity and of EPS and GABA production, revealed a different behavior among the strains, testifying how these properties are strongly strain-dependent. This suggests that a careful selection within a given species is important in order to identify appropriate strains for specific biotechnological applications. The results highlighted that the five strains of L. plantarum are promising candidates for application as dietary supplements in the human diet and as microbial cultures in specific food productions.

Probiotic and paraprobiotic derivates exhibit anti-inflammatory and genoprotective effects in induced stress

AIMS

The literature highlights the pathology of inflammation and its role in carcinogenesis, aging, and related diseases. Inflammatory processes induce oxidative stress and reduce antioxidant capacity. This study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of probiotic bacteria isolated from fermented whey under conditions of induced stress.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Functional antioxidant characterization of potential probiotic bacteria Lactiplantibacillus plantarum S1 was performed under different growth conditions (aerobic, respiratory, and anaerobic) and under stress to find the conditions that yield the most effective cells. Since aerobic growth yielded the most potent cells, the free radical scavenging ability of live and heat-killed cells was measured before and after exposure to gastrointestinal conditions. For heat-killed cells and extracted probiotic metabolites, the reduction of DNA damage to immune cells was determined in the hydrogen peroxide exposure comet assay. The combination of inactivated cells and metabolites showed the best reduction in DNA damage. Finally, in the LPS inflammation model, the aforementioned probiotic metabolites significantly reduced TNF-α levels in immune cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Whey-derived potential probiotic bacteria exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and based on this study, we propose a model combining inactivated cells and metabolites to reduce inflammatory and oxidative stress-related adverse effects.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY

In this study, a new probiotic model is proposed for continuous use to reduce oxidative and inflammatory stress in the gut.

Improvement of antioxidant properties of jujube puree by biotransformation of polyphenols via Streptococcus thermophilus fermentation

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Streptococcus thermophilus enriched polyphenols in fermented jujube puree.

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Fermentation improved jujube puree DPPH scavenging capability by 26%.

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12 phenolics were identified as differential metabolites.

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Fermentation could be a promising approach to improve jujube phenolic quality.

To investigate the effect of lactic acid bacteria fermentation on jujube bioactivity, Streptococcus thermophilus was used to ferment jujube puree. The number of viable bacteria cells, physicochemical properties, phenolics profile and antioxidant capacity were analyzed, and their correlation were investigated. Streptococcus thermophilus exhibited a high growth capacity in jujube puree, and significantly (p < 0.05) increased the total phenolics content, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity and reducing power after 48 h fermentation, while 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) scavenging activity was decreased. 12 differentially metabolized polyphenols were identified in fermented jujube puree. Upregulated phenolics exhibited a positive correlation with DPPH radical-scavenging ability and reducing power. This work demonstrated that Streptococcus thermophilus fermentation can be an effective method with great practical application potential to improve the antioxidant activity in jujube puree by modifying the phenolic compositional quantity and quality.

Therapeutic Anti-Depressant Potential of Microbial GABA Produced by Lactobacillus rhamnosus Strains for GABAergic Signaling Restoration and Inhibition of Addiction-Induced HPA Axis Hyperactivity

The role of the microbiota–gut–brain (MGB) axis in mood regulation and depression treatment has gained attention in recent years, as evidenced by the growing number of animal and human studies that have reported the anti-depressive and associated gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic (GABAergic) effects of probiotics developed from Lactobacillus rhamnosus bacterial strains in the gut microbiome. The depressive states attenuated by these probiotics in patients suffering from clinical depression also characterize the severe and relapse-inducing withdrawal phase of the addiction cycle, which has been found to arise from the intoxication-enabled hyperregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, the body’s major stress response system, and a corresponding attenuation of its main inhibitory system, the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling system. Therefore, the use of probiotics in the treatment of general cases of depression provides hope for a novel therapeutic approach to withdrawal depression remediation. This review discusses potential therapeutic avenues by which probiotic application of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains can be used to restore the central GABAergic activity responsible for attenuating the depression-inducing HPA axis hyperactivity in addiction withdrawal. Also, information is provided on brain GABAergic signaling from other known GABA-producing strains of gut microbiota.

Beneficial Effects of Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) and Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) Extract on Rat Health

Polyphenols of Laurel and Myrtle exhibit structural diversity, which affects bioavailability, metabolism, and bioactivity. The gut microbiota plays a key role in modulating the production, bioavailability and, thus the biological activities of phenolic metabolites, particularly after the intake of food containing high-molecular-weight polyphenols. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the polyphenolic components of Laurel and Myrtle aqueous extract have beneficial effects on rat health. The growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), β-glucuronidase, β-glucosidase, β-galactosidase activity, pH value, body weight change and food efficacy ratio after intragastric treatment of rats with Laurel and Myrtle extract at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg for two weeks were investigated. The endogenous populations of colonic probiotic bacteria (Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria) were counted on selective media. According to the obtained data, Laurel extract in the applied dose of 50 and 100 and Myrtle extract (100 mg/kg) positively affects the rats health by increasing the number of colonies of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria compared to the control group, causes changes in glycolytic enzymatic activity and minor change in antioxidative tissue activity. In addition, high doses of Laurel increase food efficiency ratio, while Myrtle has the same effect at a lower dose.

Characterization of Streptococcus salivarius as New Probiotics Derived From Human Breast Milk and Their Potential on Proliferative Inhibition of Liver and Breast Cancer Cells and Antioxidant Activity

Breast milk is well known as the abundant source of beneficial bacteria. A new alternative source of human probiotic origin from breast milk is in demand and currently of interest for both the functional food industry and biopharmaceuticals. The aim in this study was to investigate the anticancer and antioxidant efficacies of the new potential probiotics isolated from human breast milk. Three strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have shown their potential probiotic criteria including antimicrobial activity, non-hemolytic property, and survival in acid and bile salt conditions. These strains showed high abilities on cell surface hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, and co-aggregation. The genera identification by 16S rRNA sequencing and comparison revealed that they were Streptococcus salivarius BP8, S. salivarius BP156, and S. salivarius BP160. The inhibition of liver cancer cells (HepG2) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7) proliferation by these probiotic strains using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was 44.83–59.65 and 29.85–37.16%, respectively. The probiotic action mode was inducted via apoptotic mechanisms since they stimulate the liver and breast cancer cell death through DNA fragmentation and positive morphological changes by acridine orange (AO) and propidium iodide (PI) staining. The antioxidant activity of these probiotics in the form of intact cells, cell free supernatant (CFS), and heat-killed cells was evaluated by a 2,2–diphenyl–1–picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, resulting in the scavenging activity rates of 16.93–25.43, 15.47–28.03, and 13.67–23.0%, respectively. These S. salivarius probiotic strains protected the L929 mouse fibroblasts against oxidative stress with very high survival rates at 94.04–97.77%, which was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than L-ascorbic acid at 75.89–78.67% in the control groups. The results indicated that S. salivarius BP8 and S. salivarius BP160 probiotic strains could be applied as functional foods or new alternative bioprophylactics for treating liver and breast cancers.

The risk of essential fatty acid insufficiency in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: fatty acid profile of phospholipids in serum and in colon biopsy specimen

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to address the fatty acid (FA) status and its relationship with disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

FA levels of the phospholipid fraction in serum and a colon biopsy specimen were measured in 17 patients with IBD.

RESULTS

A negative correlation between the histological activity of inflammation of the disease and the ratio of polyunsaturated FAs/no polyunsaturated FAs was observed. Moreover, the level of that ratio was lower in patients with IBDs as compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The FA profile in serum and in a colon biopsy specimen in patients with IBD is characteristic for essential fatty acid insufficiency.

Biomarkers and Utility of the Antioxidant Potential of Probiotic Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria as Representatives of the Human Gut Microbiota

Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are an important part of human gut microbiota. Among numerous benefits, their antioxidant properties are attracting more and more attention. Multiple in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, along with their cellular components, possess excellent antioxidant capacity, which provides a certain degree of protection to the human body against diseases associated with oxidative stress. Recently, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria have begun to be considered as a new source of natural antioxidants. This review summarizes the current state of research on various antioxidant properties of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. Special emphasis is given to the mechanisms of antioxidant activity of these bacteria in the human gut microbiota, which involve bacterial cell components and metabolites. This review is also dedicated to the genes involved in the antioxidant properties of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria strains as indicators of their antioxidant potential in human gut microbiota. Identification of the antioxidant biomarkers of the gut microbiota is of great importance both for creating diagnostic systems for assessing oxidative stress and for choosing strategies aimed at restoring the normal functioning of the microbiota and, through it, restoring human health. In this review, the practical application of probiotic strains with proven antioxidant properties to prevent oxidative stress is also considered.