In Vitro Development of Enteric-Coated Tablets of the Probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum LF-G89: A Possible Approach to Intestinal Colonization

BACKGROUND

Probiotics must be able to withstand the demanding environment of the gastrointestinal system to adhere to the intestinal epithelium, promoting health benefits. The use of probiotics can prevent or attenuate the effects of dysbiosis that have a deleterious effect on health, promoting anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant effects.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to prepare tablets containing Lactobacillus fermentum LF-G89 coated with 20% Acryl-Eze II® or Opadry® enteric polymers.

METHOD

Tablet dissolution was evaluated under acidic and basic pH conditions, and aliquots of the dissolution medium were plated to count the Colony-forming Units (CFU). The free probiotic's tolerance to pH levels of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0, as well as to pepsin, pancreatin, and bile salts, was assessed.

RESULTS

The probiotic was released from tablets coated after they withstood the pH 1.2 acid stage for 45 minutes. The release was higher with the Acry-Eze II® polymer in the basic stage. The amount of CFU of free probiotics at pH 1.0 to 4.0 as well as pepsin reduced over time, indicating cell death. Conversely, the CFU over time with pancreatin and bile salts increased, demonstrating the resistance of L. fermentum to these conditions due to hydrolases.

CONCLUSION

Both coating polymers were able to withstand the acid step, likely ensuring the release of the probiotic in the small intestine, promoting colonization. Coating with enteric material is a simple and effective process to increase the survival of probiotics, offering a promising alternative to mitigate the negative effects of the dysbiosis process.

Natural Sources of Melanogenic Inhibitors: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Melanin gives some natural protection against the harmful effects of UV radiation, however, excessive production of melanin causes skin hyperpigmentation. Depigmenting cosmetics can be used to control this process, however, depigmenting agents commonly used have some disadvantages, such as low bioavailability, photosensitization, cellular toxicity, and insolubility. Natural sources of melanogenic inhibitors have become important alternatives to synthetic ones. The objective of this review was to summarise the results of studies on natural extracts that have been reported in the literature to inhibit the process of melanogenesis, giving a view on their suitability for potential use in new cosmetic formulations for skin-lightening.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic literature search was carried out using the descriptors: "melanogenesis", "tyrosinase", "tyrosinase inhibition", and "natural agents".

STUDY SELECTION

Publications were selected based on our designated inclusion and exclusion criteria and a total of fifteen studies were found which met these criteria.

DATA EXTRACTION

The following were used in the review of each paper which met the criteria: the name of the plant (all of the natural extracts turned out to be from plants), the method used to obtain the plant extract, the method for evaluating anti-tyrosinase activity, the main results and the conclusions.

DATA SYNTHESIS

All evaluated natural agents demonstrated anti-tyrosinase effect. The species Leathesia difformis, Morus alba, Orostachys japonicus, Heracleum moellendorffii, Coix lacryma-jobi (adlay), Inula brittanica, and Gailardia aristata stood out from the others due to their application as potential inhibitors of more than three proteins related to melanogenesis, including the cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (CREB), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), and dopachrome tautomerase (DCT).

CONCLUSION

The plants present an anti-tyrosinase effect that must be better explored in the new cosmetic formulations. The anti-melanogenic effects of the plant are mainly related to presence of phenolic and antioxidant compounds.

Frequency of islet cell autoantibodies (IA-2 and GAD) in young Brazilian type 1 diabetes patients

Type 1 diabetes, as an autoimmune disease, presents several islet cell-specific autoantibodies such as islet cell antibody (ICA), anti-insulin, anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and the antibody (Ab) against tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)-like protein known as ICA-512 (IA-2). In order to determine the frequency of the anti-GAD and anti-IA-2 autoantibodies in Brazilian type 1 diabetes patients we studied 35 diabetes mellitus (DM) type 1 patients with recent-onset disease (</=12 months) and 37 type 1 diabetes patients with long-duration diabetes (>12 months) who were compared to 12 children with normal fasting glucose. Anti-GAD65 and anti-IA-2 autoantibodies were detected with commercial immunoprecipitation assays. The frequency of positive results in recent-onset DM type 1 patients was 80.0% for GADAb, 62.9% for IA-2Ab and 82.9% for GADAb and/or IA-2Ab. The long-duration type 1 diabetes subjects presented frequencies of 54.1% for GADAb and IA-2Ab, and 67.5% for GAD and/or IA-2 antibodies. The control group showed no positive cases. Anti-GAD and IA-2 assays showed a high frequency of positivity in these Brazilian type 1 diabetes patients, who presented the same prevalence as a Caucasian population.

Fetal hemoglobin levels are related to metabolic control in diabetic subjects

We have investigated the relationship between fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels and metabolic control in subjects with insulin-dependent (N = 79) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (N = 242). HbF and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were increased in subjects with type 1 and type 2 diabetes as compared to levels in nondiabetic individuals (P < 0.0001), and were significantly higher in type 1 than in type 2 diabetes subjects. Lower levels of HbA1c and HbF were observed in type 2 diabetes subjects treated by diet, intermediate levels in those treated with oral hypoglycemic agents, and higher levels in those treated with insulin. HbF and HbA1c levels were correlated in type 1 diabetes (R2 = 0.57, P < 0.0001) and type 2 diabetes (R2 = 0.58, P < 0.0001) subjects. Following intense treatment, twelve diabetic patients showed significant improvement both in HbA1c and HbF values. We conclude that increased HbF levels reflect poor metabolic control in subjects with diabetes mellitus.