In Vitro and In Vivo Antioxidant Activity of Bifidobacterium animalis 01 Isolated from Centenarians

Crosstalk between ROS-inflammatory gene expression axis in the progression of lung disorders

A significant number of deaths and disabilities worldwide are brought on by inflammatory lung diseases. Many inflammatory lung disorders, including chronic respiratory emphysema, resistant asthma, resistance to steroids, and coronavirus-infected lung infections, have severe variants for which there are no viable treatments; as a result, new treatment alternatives are needed. Here, we emphasize how oxidative imbalance contributes to the emergence of provocative lung problems that are challenging to treat. Endogenic antioxidant systems are not enough to avert free radical-mediated damage due to the induced overproduction of ROS. Pro-inflammatory mediators are then produced due to intracellular signaling events, which can harm the tissue and worsen the inflammatory response. Overproduction of ROS causes oxidative stress, which causes lung damage and various disease conditions. Invasive microorganisms or hazardous substances that are inhaled repeatedly can cause an excessive amount of ROS to be produced. By starting signal transduction pathways, increased ROS generation during inflammation may cause recurrent DNA damage and apoptosis and activate proto-oncogenes. This review provides information about new targets for conducting research in related domains or target factors to prevent, control, or treat such inflammatory oxidative stress-induced inflammatory lung disorders.

Targeting Nrf2 by bioactive peptides alleviate inflammation: expanding the role of gut microbiota and metabolites

Inflammation is a complex process that usually refers to the general response of the body to the harmful stimuli of various pathogens, tissue damage, or exogenous pollutants. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that regulates cellular defense against oxidative damage and toxicity by expressing genes related to oxidative stress response and drug detoxification. In addition to its antioxidant properties, Nrf2 is involved in many other important physiological processes, including inflammation and metabolism. Nrf2 can bind the promoters of antioxidant genes and upregulates their expressions, which alleviate oxidation-induced inflammation. Nrf2 has been shown to upregulate heme oxygenase-1 expression, which promotes NF-κB activation and is closely related with inflammation. Nrf2, as a key factor in antioxidant response, is closely related to the expressions of pro-inflammatory factors, NF-κB pathway and cell metabolism. Bioactive peptides come from a wide range of sources and have many biological functions. Increasing evidence indicates that bioactive peptides have potential anti-inflammatory activities. This article summarized the sources, absorption and utilization of bioactive peptides and their role in alleviating inflammation via Nrf2 pathway. Bioactive peptides can also regulate gut microbiota and alter metabolites, which regulates the Nrf2 pathway through novel pathway and supplement the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of bioactive peptides. This review provides a reference for further study on the anti-inflammatory effect of bioactive peptides and the development and utilization of functional foods.

Superoxide-producing associates from gastrointestinal bacteria: stimulation of its growth by exogenous superoxide-producing complex from raspberries

Aerobic organisms including the gut microbiota have an essential antioxidant status, as a result of which these bacteria protect organisms from various pathologies and diseases. The goal of the given investigation is (1) the isolation and purification of the isoforms of endogenous О2--producing associate from gastrointestinal bacteria (Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum); (2) determination of the effective concentrations of exogenous О2- produced by a complex of NADPH-containing protein component and Fe(III) (NPC-Fe(III)) from raspberries on the growth of the gastrointestinal bacteria in a nutrient medium in vitro. Ion-exchange chromatography on cellulose DE-52 and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 at the pH of 9.5 was used to isolate and purify the NLP-Nox isoforms. Specific maximal optical absorption spectra of the Nox isoforms were observed in a weakly opalescent aqueous solution of the NLP-Nox isoforms. The specific contents of these NLP-Nox isoforms, as well as their composition, the stationary concentration of produced О2-, and the mechanism of О2- production were determined. The stimulating effect on the growth of these gastrointestinal bacteria in the nutrient medium of MRS broth and MRS agar in vitro under the influence of О2-, as a product of a new thermostable and acid-stable complex NPC-Fe(III) was determined. The NPC-Fe(III) complex, from raspberries was determined as well. Thus, for the first time, the isolation and purification of О2-- producing thermostable NADPH-containing lipoprotein-NADPH oxidase (NLP-Nox) associate from gastrointestinal bacteria membranes (continuously producing О2- under the aerobic conditions), and the stimulation of these bacteria growth by О2- formed by the complex from raspberries were demonstrated.

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BPL1™ and Its Lipoteichoic Acid Modulate Longevity and Improve Age/Stress-Related Behaviors in Caenorhabditis elegans

Life expectancy has increased globally in recent decades, driving interest in maintaining a healthy life that includes preservation of physical and mental abilities, particularly in elderly people. The gut microbiome becomes increasingly perturbed with aging so the use of probiotics can be a strategy for maintaining a balanced gut microbiome. A previous report showed that Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BPL1™ induces through its lipoteichoic acid (LTA) fat reduction activities via the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway. Here, we have delved into the mechanism of action, eliminating alternative pathways as putative mechanisms. Furthermore, we have identified that BPL1™, its heat treated form (BPL1™ HT) and its LTA prolong longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in an insulin/IGF-1-dependent mechanism, and its consumption improves the oxidative stress response, gut permeability and protection against pathogenic infections. Furthermore, positive effects on C. elegans stress-related behaviors and in the Alzheimer's Disease model were found, highlighting the potential of the strain in improving the cognitive functions and proteotoxicity in the nematode. These results indicate the pivotal role of the IGF-1 pathway in the activity of the strain and pave the way for potential applications of BPL1™, BPL1™ HT and its LTA in the field of longevity and age-related markers.

Gut microbiota metabolites, redox status, and the related regulatory effects of probiotics

Oxidative stress is a state of imbalance between oxidation and antioxidation. It is caused by excess levels of free radicals and leads to the damage of DNA, proteins, and lipids. The crucial role of gut microbiota in regulating oxidative stress has been widely demonstrated. Studies have suggested that the redox regulatory effects of gut microbiota are related to gut microbiota metabolites, including fatty acids, lipopolysaccharides, tryptophan metabolites, trimethylamine-N-oxide and polyphenolic metabolites. In recent years, the potential benefits of probiotics have been gaining increasing scientific interest owing to their ability to modulate gut microbiota and oxidative stress. In this review, we summarise the adverse health effects of oxidative stress and discuss the role of the gut microbiota and its metabolites in redox regulation. Based on the influence of gut microbiota metabolites, the roles of probiotics in preventing oxidative stress are highlighted.

The Effect of Maternal Probiotic or Synbiotic Supplementation on Sow and Offspring Gastrointestinal Microbiota, Health, and Performance

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens has prompted the reduction in antibiotic and antimicrobial use in commercial pig production. This has led to increased research efforts to identify alternative dietary interventions to support the health and development of the pig. The crucial role of the GIT microbiota in animal health and performance is becoming increasingly evident. Hence, promoting an improved GIT microbiota, particularly the pioneer microbiota in the young pig, is a fundamental focus. Recent research has indicated that the sow's GIT microbiota is a significant contributor to the development of the offspring's microbiota. Thus, dietary manipulation of the sow's microbiota with probiotics or synbiotics, before farrowing and during lactation, is a compelling area of exploration. This review aims to identify the potential health benefits of maternal probiotic or synbiotic supplementation to both the sow and her offspring and to explore their possible modes of action. Finally, the results of maternal sow probiotic and synbiotic supplementation studies are collated and summarized. Maternal probiotic or synbiotic supplementation offers an effective strategy to modulate the sow's microbiota and thereby enhance the formation of a health-promoting pioneer microbiota in the offspring. In addition, this strategy can potentially reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the sow and her offspring, enhance the immune potential of the milk, the immune system development in the offspring, and the sow's feed intake during lactation. Although many studies have used probiotics in the maternal sow diet, the most effective probiotic or probiotic blends remain unclear. To this extent, further direct comparative investigations using different probiotics are warranted to advance the current understanding in this area. Moreover, the number of investigations supplementing synbiotics in the maternal sow diet is limited and is an area where further exploration is warranted.

Latilactobacillus curvatus FFZZH5L isolated from pickled cowpea enhanced antioxidant activity in Caenorhabditis elegans by upregulating the level of glutathione S-transferase

Latilactobacillus curvatus is a potential probiotic that possesses beneficial health properties and fermentation traits; however, the extent of understanding of the antioxidant activities of L. curvatus is limited. This study investigates the antioxidant activities of a new L. curvatus FFZZH5L strain. The strain exhibits broad tolerance to acids, bases and salts and demonstrated good adaption to the gastrointestinal environment, with a survival rate of 45% after 24 h of treatment in artificial gastrointestinal juice. Moreover, L. curvatus FFZZH5L exhibits inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus, with a self-aggregation rate of 34.8% and a co-aggregation rate of 82.2%. In vitro, the DPPH radical scavenging ability and GSH-px enzyme activity of L. curvatus FFZZH5L reach 64.27% and 15.95 U mL-1, respectively. Treatment of C. elegans with L. curvatus FFZZH5L in vivo significantly extended the organism's lifespan. Furthermore, the activity of SOD, GSH-px and T-AOC was increased by 33.6%, 43.4% and 58.3%, respectively. Feeding C. elegans with L. curvatus FFZZH5L decreased the MDA, lipofuscin and ROS levels by 9%-36.4%. L. curvatus FFZZH5L effectively protected C. elegans against juglone-induced oxidative stress damage and led to a significant increase in the organism's survival under heat stress. The RT-qPCR analysis suggests that feeding C. elegans with L. curvatus FFZZH5L upregulates the expression levels of antioxidant-related genes including glutathione S-transferase 4 (gst-4), gst-1, gst-10, sod-3, sod-5, and sod-10 in C. elegans. Our investigation confirms the probiotic and antioxidant properties of L. curvatus, indicating its potential application in functional foods and the pharmaceutical industry.

In Vitro Prebiotic Effects and Antibacterial Activity of Five Leguminous Honeys

Honey is a natural remedy for various health conditions. It exhibits a prebiotic effect on the gut microbiome, including lactobacilli, essential for maintaining gut health and regulating the im-mune system. In addition, monofloral honey can show peculiar therapeutic properties. We in-vestigated some legumes honey's prebiotic properties and potential antimicrobial action against different pathogens. We assessed the prebiotic potentiality of honey by evaluating the antioxidant activity, the growth, and the in vitro adhesion of Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus intact cells. We also tested the honey's capacity to inhibit or limit the biofilm produced by five pathogenic strains. Finally, we assessed the anti-biofilm activity of the growth medium of probiotics cultured with honey as an energy source. Most probiotics increased their growth or the in vitro adhesion ability to 84.13% and 48.67%, respectively. Overall, alfalfa honey best influenced the probiotic strains' growth and in vitro adhesion properties. Their radical-scavenging activity arrived at 83.7%. All types of honey increased the antioxidant activity of the probiotic cells, except for the less sensitive L. plantarum. Except for a few cases, we observed a bio-film-inhibitory action of all legumes' honey, with percentages up to 81.71%. Carob honey was the most effective in inhibiting the biofilm of Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus; it retained almost entirely the ability to act against the bio-film of E. coli, L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus also when added to the bacterial growth medium instead of glucose. On the other hand, alfalfa and astragalus honey exhibited greater efficacy in acting against the biofilm of Acinetobacter baumannii. Indigo honey, whose biofilm-inhibitory action was fragile per se, was very effective when we added it to the culture broth of L. casei, whose supernatant exhibited an anti-biofilm activity against all the pathogenic strains tested. Conclusions: the five kinds of honey in different ways can improve some prebiotic properties and have an inhibitory biofilm effect when consumed.

Dietary pattern in autism increases the need for probiotic supplementation: A comprehensive narrative and systematic review on oxidative stress hypothesis

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are associated with specific dietary habits, including limited food selection and gastrointestinal problems, resulting in an altered gut microbiota. Autistic patients have an elevated abundance of certain gut bacteria associated with increased oxidative stress in the gastrointestinal tract. Probiotic supplementation has been shown to decrease oxidative stress in a simulated gut model, but the antioxidant effects of probiotics on the oxidative stress of the gut in autistic patients have not been directly studied. However, it is speculated that probiotic supplementation may help decrease oxidative stress in the gastrointestinal tract of autistic patients due to their specific dietary habits altering the microbiota. PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases and Google Scholar were searched up to May 2023. This systematic-narrative review aims to present the latest evidence regarding the changes in eating habits of autistic children which may further increase the gut microbiota induced oxidative stress. Additionally, this review will assess the available literature on the effects of probiotic supplementation on oxidative stress parameters.

Biological Characterization and Metabolic Variations among Cell-Free Supernatants Produced by Selected Plant-Based Lactic Acid Bacteria

The aim of this research was to assess the antibacterial and antioxidant properties as well as the variation in metabolites of the cell-free supernatant (CFS) produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from local plants: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ngue16, L. plantarum ng10, Enterococcus durans w3, and Levilactobacillus brevis w6. The tested strains exhibited inhibitory effects against pathogens, including Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, Cronobacter sakazakii, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus using the agar spot assay and well diffusion method. The CFS from all four strains displayed antibacterial activity against these pathogens with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 3.12 to 12.5 mg/mL and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values ranging from 6.25 to 25.0 mg/mL. Moreover, the CFS demonstrated resilience within specific pH (3-8) and temperature (60-100 °C) ranges and lost its activity when treated with enzymes, such as Proteinase K and pepsin. Furthermore, the CFS exhibited antioxidant properties as evidenced by their ability to inhibit the formation of two radicals (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) compared to the negative control, De Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) broth. The use of proton-based nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy revealed the presence and quantification of 48 metabolites in both the CFS and MRS broths. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) effectively differentiated between CFS and MRS broth by identifying the specific metabolites responsible for the observed differences. The partial least squares (PLS) model demonstrated a significant correlation between the metabolites in the LAB supernatant and the tested antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Notably, anserine, GABA, acetic acid, lactic acid, uracil, uridine, propylene glycol, isopropanol, serine, histidine, and indol-3-lactate were identified as the compounds contributing the most to the highest antibacterial and antioxidant activities in the supernatant. These findings suggest that the LAB strains investigated have the potential to be utilized in the production of functional foods and the development of pharmaceutical products.

Effect of Lactobacillus brevis (MG000874) on antioxidant-related gene expression of the liver and kidney in D-galactose-induced oxidative stress mice model

Oxidative stress (OS) is a phenomenon induced by excessive production and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living cells. These increased ROS productions connected, coupled with many neurological and physiological diseases. Several antioxidants were utilized recently to combat OS, and lactic acid bacteria have a potent radical-scavenging activity to minimize OS. The present work was designed to find out the protective effects of Lactobacillus brevis MG000874 (L. brevis MG000874) against oxidative injuries induced by D-galactose (D-gal) in vivo and to explore the gene expression of OS-related gene mice. Sixty male mice were randomly split into six groups. The first four groups were different control groups as no treatment (N), positive (G), probiotic (B), and ascorbic acid (A); the remaining two groups were treatment groups such as probiotic treatment (BG) and ascorbic acid treatment (AG). L. brevis MG000874 (0.2 ml of 1010 CFU/ml) and ascorbic acid (0.2 ml of 25 mg/ml) were administered orally daily for 5 weeks. It was revealed that these significantly affect the weight of treated mice: 40.22 ± 1.5 and 33.0 ± 0.57 g on days 0 and 36, respectively. D-gal induction in mice declined the levels of SOD and CAT determined by spectrophotometer. Administration of L. brevis MG000874 improved the antioxidant status of the stress mice and recovered the antioxidant activities of SOD and CAT enzymes. In addition, L. brevis MG000874-altered gene expression of OS marker at the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels was determined by RT-PCR in the mouse model. L. brevis MG000874 significantly improved the GST, GPX, SOD, CAT, and ß-actin levels in the kidney and the liver of the D-gal-induced mice (p < 0.05). Moreover, the histological investigation indicated that L. brevis MG000874 mitigated damage to the kidney and liver effectively in mice induced by D-gal. Therefore, it could be concluded from the current results that L. brevis MG000874 may act as a powerful antioxidant agent, and this study can provide the baseline data for drug development against OS-linked diseases.

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.

High Antioxidant Capacity of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei TDM-2 and Pediococcus pentosaceus TCM-3 from Qinghai Tibetan Plateau and Their Function towards Gut Modulation

Probiotic supplementation is a key therapeutic strategy for promoting gut health and maintaining gut homeostasis by modulating functional microbiota. In this study, we isolated two lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains, Pediococcus pentosaceus TCM-3 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei TDM-2, from Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, and evaluated their probiotic properties and antioxidant bioactivity. In which, TDM-2 had higher T-AOC activity than either TCM-3 or LGG (4.10 μmol/mL vs. 3.68 and 3.53 μmol/mL, respectively, p < 0.05). These strains have shown high antioxidant activity compared to the LAB strains and were found to be acid and bile salt tolerant, confronting the safety issues of antibiotic resistance and the capability of surviving in simulated gastric and intestinal juices. In vitro fermentation experiments with human gut microbiota revealed significant differences in microbial community composition between samples supplemented with TCM-3 and TDM-2 and those without. The addition of these two strains resulted in an enrichment of beneficial taxa, such as the Pediococcus, Lactobacillus, and Clostridium_sensu_strictos at the genus level, and Firmicutes and Proteobacteria at the phylum level. Notably, the TCM-3 group exhibited higher short-chain fatty acid production than the TDM-2 group and untreated controls (acetic acid at 12 h: 4.54 mmol L^-1 vs. 4.06 mmol L^-1 and 4.00 mmol L^-1; acetic acid at 24 h: 4.99 mmol L^-1 vs. 4.90 mmol L^-1 and 4.82 mmol L^-1, p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that LAB supplementation with high antioxidant capacity and probiotic properties can promote gut health by modulating functional microbiota and is enriching for beneficial taxa. Our study provides guidance for therapeutic strategies that use novel LAB strains to maintain gut homeostasis and functional microbiota modulation.

Evaluation of Potential Probiotic Properties of Limosilactobacillus fermentum Derived from Piglet Feces and Influence on the Healthy and E. coli-Challenged Porcine Intestine

In this work, we evaluated the probiotic properties of Limosilactobacillus fermentum strains (FL1, FL2, FL3, FL4) isolated from feces of healthy piglets. The in vitro auto-aggregation, hydrophobicity, biofilm-forming capacity, survival in the gastrointestinal tract, antimicrobial activity and anti-oxidation capacity were evaluated. Four strains were resistant to simulated gastrointestinal conditions, including low pH, pepsin, trypsin and bile salts. They also maintained strong self-aggregation and cell surface hydrophobicity. Limosilactobacillus fermentum FL4, which had the strongest adhesion ability and antimicrobial effect on Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (ETEC K88), was then tested in porcine intestinal organoid models. The in vitro experiments in basal-out and apical-out organoids demonstrated that L. fermentum FL4 adhered to the apical surfaces more efficiently than basolateral surfaces, had the ability to activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to protect the mucosal barrier integrity, stimulated the proliferation and differentiation of the intestinal epithelium, and repaired ETEC K88-induced damage. Moreover, L. fermentum FL4 inhibited inflammatory responses induced by ETEC K88 through the reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IFN-γ) and higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (TGF-β and IL-10). These results show that L. fermentum FL4 isolated from feces of healthy Tunchang piglets has the potential to be used as an anti-inflammatory probiotic and for mitigation of intestinal damage in piglets.

Both live and heat-killed Bifidobacterium animalis J-12 alleviated oral ulcers in LVG golden Syrian hamsters by gavage by directly intervening in the intestinal flora structure

Live and heat-killed Bifidobacterium has been proven to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, we evaluated the effects of live and heat-killed Bifidobacterium animalis J-12 (J-12) on the oral ulceration of LVG golden Syrian hamsters after buccal membrane injection with methyl viologen dichloride. Results showed that interleukin-1β, glutathione, and malondialdehyde in serum were downregulated by the gavage of live and heat-killed J-12 bacteria. The J-12 live and heat-killed bacteria can reduce the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 by reducing the expression of nuclear factor kappa-B, thus reducing the expression of anti-inflammatory factors lipoxin A4 and prostaglandin E2. Reducing the expression of caspase-3 and adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase resulted in a reduction of ulcer tissue DNA damage. In addition, regulating the structure of the intestinal flora prevented the process of oral ulcer formation. This study shows that J-12 can reduce the risk of oral ulcer formation while also having a positive effect on inhibiting existing oral ulcer growth.

The protective role of nutritional antioxidants against oxidative stress in thyroid disorders

An imbalance between pro-oxidative and antioxidative cellular mechanisms is oxidative stress (OxS) which may be systemic or organ-specific. Although OxS is a consequence of normal body and organ physiology, severely impaired oxidative homeostasis results in DNA hydroxylation, protein denaturation, lipid peroxidation, and apoptosis, ultimately compromising cells' function and viability. The thyroid gland is an organ that exhibits both oxidative and antioxidative processes. In terms of OxS severity, the thyroid gland's response could be physiological (i.e. hormone production and secretion) or pathological (i.e. development of diseases, such as goitre, thyroid cancer, or thyroiditis). Protective nutritional antioxidants may benefit defensive antioxidative systems in resolving pro-oxidative dominance and redox imbalance, preventing or delaying chronic thyroid diseases. This review provides information on nutritional antioxidants and their protective roles against impaired redox homeostasis in various thyroid pathologies. We also review novel findings related to the connection between the thyroid gland and gut microbiome and analyze the effects of probiotics with antioxidant properties on thyroid diseases.

Probiotic Yoghurt Made from Milk of Ewes Fed a Diet Supplemented with Spirulina platensis or Fish Oil

Purpose

Yoghurt is a widely consumed dairy product around the world. It has healing properties and characteristics that are important for human health. Our goal was to see how using ewes' milk fed Spirulina platensis (SP) or fish oil (FO)-supplemented diets affected the chemical, physical, and nutritional properties of yoghurt, as well as the activity and survival of starter and probiotic bacteria during storage.

Methods

The collected milk from each ewe group was preheated to 65 °C and homogenized in a laboratory homogenizer, then heated to 90 °C for 5 min, cooled to 42 °C, and divided into two equal portions. The first portion was inoculated with 2.0% mixed starter culture (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, 1:1), whereas the second was inoculated with 2% mixed starter culture and 1% Bifidobacterium longum as a probiotic bacteria.

Results

SP yoghurt had the highest levels of short chain-FA, medium chain-FA, mostly C10:0, and long chain-FA, namely C16:0, C18:2 and the lowest levels of C18:0 and C18:1, followed by FO yoghurt. The addition of SP or FO to ewes' diets resulted in yoghurt with higher viable counts of L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus, which were still >107 cfu/g at the end of storage, as well as a higher level of acetaldehyde content (P<0.05) as a flavor compound, than the control (C) yoghurt. The viscosity of SP yoghurt was higher than that of FO and C yoghurt; the difference was not significant. The addition of B. longum, a probiotic bacteria, to all yoghurt samples, improved antioxidant activities, particularly against ABTS• radicals, but reduced SP yoghurt viscosity. When B. longum was added, acetaldehyde content increased from 39.91, 90.47, and 129.31 μmol/100g in C, FA, and SP yoghurts to 46.67, 135.55, and 144.1 μmol/100g in probiotic C, FA, and SP yoghurts, respectively. There was no significant difference in sensory qualities among all the yoghurt samples during all storage periods.

Conclusions

Supplementing the ewes' diets with Spirulina platensis or fish oil can change the fatty acid composition of the resulting yoghurt. The starter culture's activity, flavor compounds, and some chemical, physical, and antioxidant properties of milk produced from these diets can all be improved, particularly in yoghurt treated with probiotic bacteria (B. longum).

Antimutagenic Activity as a Criterion of Potential Probiotic Properties

The antimutagenic activity of probiotic strains has been reported over several decades of studying the effects of probiotics. However, this activity is rarely considered an important criterion when choosing strains to produce probiotic preparations and functional food. Meanwhile, the association of antimutagenic activity with the prevention of oncological diseases, as well as with a decrease in the spread of resistant forms in the microbiota, indicates its importance for the selection of probiotics. Besides, an antimutagenic activity can be associated with probiotics' broader systemic effects, such as geroprotective activity. The main mechanisms of such effects are considered to be the binding of mutagens, the transformation of mutagens, and inhibition of the transformation of promutagens into antimutagens. Besides, we should consider the possibility of interaction of the microbiota with regulatory processes in eukaryotic cells, in particular, through the effect on mitochondria. This work aims to systematize data on the antimutagenic activity of probiotics and emphasize antimutagenic activity as a significant criterion for the selection of probiotic strains.

Efficacy of Probiotic Consortium Transplantation on Experimental Necrotizing Enterocolitis

INTRODUCTION

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a promising therapy, but it has not been used to treat neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) due to reports of adverse side effects. Probiotics are considered relatively safe with practicable administrative procedures; however, no systematic research has compared the results of FMT and probiotic consortium transplantation (PCT) on oxidative stress in the intestines of patients with NEC. We conducted this study to provide a basis for optimizing NEC therapy.

METHODS

Eight-day-old newborn C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the following four groups: the dam-fed group (control group); the NEC induction group (NEC group); the NEC induction and transplantation of Lactobacillus reuteri and Bifidobacterium infantis consortium group (NEC + PCT group); and the NEC induction and the FMT group (NEC + FMT). Intestinal injury, oxidative stress indexes, intestinal barrier function, and inflammatory cytokines were assessed in the terminal ileum.

RESULTS

FMT more effectively modulates oxidative stress in the intestine than does PCT; however, the difference between the effects of PCT and FMT was not significant. The protective effect was associated with enhanced antioxidant capacity, regulation of the main components of the mucus layer, reduced inflammatory reactions, and improved intestinal integrity.

CONCLUSIONS

Intestinal dysbiosis affects oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and mucosal integrity. Although FMT is more effective than PCT in regulating oxidative stress, PCT may be preferred in pediatrics because the proportion and dose of transplanted bacteria can be standardized and individualized according to individual conditions.

Bifidobacterium animalis Promotes the Growth of Weaning Piglets by Improving Intestinal Development, Enhancing Antioxidant Capacity, and Modulating Gut Microbiota

In the modern swine industry, weaning is a critical period in the pig’s life cycle. Sudden dietary, social, and environmental changes can easily lead to gut microbiota dysbiosis, diarrhea, and a decrease in growth performance.

Genomic and Biochemical Characterization of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum JCLA3 Isolated from Human Intestine

Bifidobacteria have been investigated due to their mutualistic microbe-host interaction with humans throughout their life. This work aims to make a biochemical and genomic characterization of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum JCLA3. By multilocus analysis, the species of B. pseudocatenulatum JCLA3 was established as pseudocatenulatum. It contains one circular genome of 2,369,863 bp with G + C content of 56.6%, no plasmids, 1937 CDSs, 54 tRNAs, 16 rRNAs, 1 tmRNA, 1 CRISPR region, and 401 operons predicted, including a CRISPR-Cas operon; it encodes an extensive number of enzymes, which allows it to utilize different carbohydrates. The ack gene was found as part of an operon formed by xfp and pta genes. Two genes of ldh were found at different positions. Chromosomally encoded resistance to ampicillin and cephalothin, non-hemolytic activity, and moderate inhibition of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 were demonstrated by B. pseudocatenulatum JCLA3; it can survive 100% in simulated saliva, can tolerate primary and secondary glyco- or tauro-conjugated bile salts but not in a mix of bile; the strain did not survive at pH 1.5-5. The cbh gene coding to choloylglycine hydrolase was identified in its genome, which could be related to the ability to deconjugate secondary bile salts. Intact cells showed twice as much antioxidant activity than debris. B. pseudocatenulatum JCLA3 showed 49% of adhesion to Caco-2 cells. The genome and biochemical analysis help to elucidate further possible biotechnological applications of B. pseudocatenulatum JCLA3.

Ameliorative effect of Lactobacillus plantarum Lp2 against cyclophosphamide-induced liver injury in mice

Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a widely used anticancer drug that can cause liver injury, but there is no effective treatment available at present. The antioxidant properties of Lactobacillus plantarum Lp2 in vitro and its effect on CTX-induced liver injury in mice were investigated thoroughly. The order of antioxidant capacity of the fermentate of Lp2 was as followed: fermented supernatant > cell-free extract > intact cell. BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with 80 mg/kg BW/d CTX for 3 days to build a liver injury model, then treated with Lp2 fermented supernatant (Lp2-s) and Lp2 culture broth (Lp2). After 10 days, the indicators of oxidative stress and liver injury were measured. Both Lp2-s and Lp2 restored the levels of T-SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, MDA, GSH, ALT, and AST. The western blotting results showed that Lp2-s and Lp2 ameliorated CTX-induced oxidative damage and hepatocyte apoptosis via inhibiting MAPKs pathway and strengthening Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 antioxidant defense system, thus inhibiting the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway. Therefore, both Lp2-s and Lp2 had similar protective effects on CTX-induced liver injury.

Lactic acid bacteria alleviate di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced liver and testis toxicity via their bio-binding capacity, antioxidant capacity and regulation of the gut microbiota

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticiser that, if absorbed into the human body, can cause various adverse effects including reproductive toxicity, liver toxicity and gut microbiota dysbiosis. So far, some studies have proved that the toxicity of DEHP can be reduced by using antioxidants. However, these candidates all show potential side effects and cannot prevent the accumulation of DEHP in the body, making them unable to be used as a daily dietary supplement to relieve the toxic effects of DEHP. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have antioxidant capacity and the ability to adsorb harmful substances. Herein, we investigated the protective effects of five strains of LAB, selected based on our in vitro assessments on antioxidant capacities or bio-binding capacities, against the adverse effects of DEHP exposure in rats. Our results showed that LAB strains with outstanding DEHP/MEHP binding capacities, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis CCFM1018 and Lactobacillus plantarum CCFM1019, possess the ability to facilitate the elimination of DEHP and its metabolite mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) with the faeces, decrease DEHP and MEHP level in serum further. Meanwhile, DEHP-induced liver and testicular injuries were effectively alleviated by CCFM1018 and CCFM1019. In addition, CCFM1018 effectively alleviated the DEHP-induced oxidative stress with its strong antioxidant ability. Furthermore, both CCFM1018 and CCFM1019 modulated the gut microbiota, which in turn increased the concentrations of faecal propionate and butyrate and regulated the pathways related to host metabolism. Correlation analysis indicate that DEHP/MEHP bio-binding capacity of LAB plays a crucial role in protecting the body from DEHP exposure, and its antioxidant capacity and the ability to alleviate the gut microbiota dysbiosis are also involved in the alleviation of damage. Thus, LAB with powerful bio-binding capacity of DEHP and MEHP can be considered as a potential therapeutic dietary strategy against DEHP exposure.

Protecting Effect of Bacillus coagulans T242 on HT-29 Cells Against AAPH-Induced Oxidative Damage

The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antioxidant potential of Bacillus coagulans T242. B. coagulans T242 showed better antioxidant activities, including the 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging ability, lipid peroxidation inhibiting ability and reducing ability, than those exerted by Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). B. coagulans T242 positively regulated the expression of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-relatedfactor 2/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Nrf2/Keap1) pathway-related proteins (Nrf2, Keap1, heine oxygenase-1 (HO-1)); increased antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD)); reduced the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) level; decreased the expression of inflammatory-related cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); and thus increased the survival rate in 2,2'-azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-damaged HT-29 cells. This study proved that B. coagulans T242 exerted antioxidative effects by quenching oxygen free radicals and activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway in HT-29 cells.

An agar-based bioassay for accurate screening of the total antioxidant capacity of lactic acid bacteria cell-free supernatants

This study aims to develop a new, simple, and efficient method for estimating the total antioxidant capacity of lactic acid bacteria-free supernatant. The bioassay is based on diffusion and reduction of permanganate in agar medium under acidic conditions where the Mn7+ ions are quantitatively oxidized to Mn2+ and shift from an intense purple color to colorless. Hence, the reaction enables fast detection of the bleaching diameter during diffusion of the sample in permanganate agar. This bleaching diameter is correlated to the reducing power of the substance tested. The method was tested and validated to quantify the total antioxidant capacity of culture supernatants of probiotic strains (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LGG and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v) and 25 lactic acid bacteria isolated from a human intestinal origin and compared to the PRAC and DPPH methods. The results were treated statistically by analysis of variance. This method proved to be linear (R² in the linear experiment of ascorbic acid was 0,99), precise with repeatability intraday RSD of 2.07 to 5.5% and intermediate precision RSD of 2.95 to 5.53%, and accurate (100.29 to 108.58%) at 30 min, 1 h, and 4 h in the selected range of 1.5-5.5 mM of ascorbic acid. The developed permanganate agar reduction bioassay is a fast, reliable, and cost-effective technique for the prescreening and detecting the total antioxidant capacity of supernatants of lactic acid bacteria and possibly other sources of natural antioxidants.

Balancing reactive oxygen species generation by rebooting gut microbiota

Reactive oxygen species (ROS; free radical form O₂ ^•‾ , superoxide radical; OH^• , hydroxyl radical; ROO^• , peroxyl; RO^• , alkoxyl and non-radical form ¹ O₂ , singlet oxygen; H₂ O₂ , hydrogen peroxide) are inevitable companions of aerobic life with crucial role in gut health. But, overwhelming production of ROS can cause serious damage to biomolecules. In this review, we have discussed several sources of ROS production that can be beneficial or dangerous to the human gut. Microorganisms, organelles and enzymes play crucial role in ROS generation, where, NOX1 is the main intestinal enzyme, which produce ROS in the intestine epithelial cells. Previous studies have reported that probiotics play significant role in gut homeostasis by checking the ROS generation, maintaining the antioxidant level, immune system and barrier protection. With current knowledge, we have critically analyzed the available literature and presented the outcome in the form of bubble maps to suggest the probiotics that help in controlling the ROS-specific intestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colon cancer. Finally, it has been concluded that rebooting of the gut microbiota with probiotics, postbiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can have crucial implications in the structuring of gut communities for the personalized management of the gastrointestinal (GI) diseases.

The potential of probiotics in the amelioration of hyperuricemia

Hyperuricemia is a common disease caused by metabolic disorders or the excessive intake of high-purine foods. Persistent hyperuricemia in extreme cases induces gout, and asymptomatic hyperuricemia is probably linked to other metabolic diseases, such as hypertension. The typical damage caused by asymptomatic hyperuricemia includes inflammation, oxidative stress and gut dysbiosis. Probiotics have broad potential applications as food additives, not as drug therapies, in the amelioration of hyperuricemia. In this review, we describe novel methods for potential hyperuricemia amelioration with probiotics. The pathways through which probiotics may ameliorate hyperuricemia are discussed, including the decrease in uric acid production through purine assimilation and XOD (xanthine oxidase) inhibition as well as enhanced excretion of uric acid production by promoting ABCG2 (ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 2) activity, respectively. Three possible probiotic-related therapeutic pathways for alleviating the syndrome of hyperuricemia are also summarized. The first mechanism is to alleviate the oxidation and inflammation induced by hyperuricemia through the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome, the second is to restore damaged intestinal epithelium barriers and prevent gut microbiota dysbiosis, and the third is to enhance the innate immune system by increasing the secretion of immunoglobulin A (sIgA) to resist the stimulus by hyperuricemia. We propose that future research should focus on superior strain resource isolation and insight into the cause-effect mechanisms of probiotics for hyperuricemia amelioration. The safety and effects of the application of probiotics in clinical use also need verification.

Antioxidant and antimutagenic properties of probiotic Lactobacilli determined using LUX-biosensors

The initial screening of probiotic strains in vitro, carried out by different methods, may omit strains that are promising from the point of view of biotechnology or, conversely, mark as promising strains those that will lose activity when transferred in vivo. It is known that the release of metabolites by probiotic bacteria, in particular, lactobacilli, is highly dependent on the biochemical context. In this work, we modified the method that was previously successfully used for the selection of probiotics for poultry, based on their antioxidant and DNA-protective properties. A comparison was made of this activity on standard media and on an artificial intestinal medium that mimics the intestines of a bird. As a result, three Lactobacillus strains were selected, which not only exhibit antioxidant and DNA-protective properties but also do not lose these activities in an artificial intestinal medium.

Identification, Characterization, and Antioxidant Potential of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum Strains Isolated From Feces of Healthy Infants

Increasing evidence has indicated that oxidative stress is associated with the health of infants. Bifidobacterium, especially B. longum subsp. longum strains, are abundant in the gut microbiota of infants, which may have the potential to ameliorate oxidative damage. Thus, this study aimed to isolate and screen B. longum subsp. longum strains with probiotic characters and antioxidant properties as infants’ dietary supplements. In this study, 24 B. longum subsp. longum strains were isolated from 15 healthy infants identified via 16S rRNA and heat shock protein 60 (hsp60) sequences. B. longum subsp. longum B13, F2, K4, K5, K10, K13, and K15 strains were selected based on high values obtained from autoaggregation, hydrophobicity, and adhesion assays to HT-29 cells. Among these seven strains, B. longum subsp. longum F2, K5, K10, and K15 were selected according to the high tolerance of gastrointestinal tract conditions compared to Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12. Among these four strains, B. longum subsp. longum K5 was susceptible to common antibiotics and showed the highest intestinal epithelial cell proliferation of CCD 841 CoN. Additionally, B. longum subsp. longum K5 showed a strong antioxidant capacity, and its supernatant exhibited better activity of reducing power, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and DPPH radical scavenging than that of the intact cells with cell-free extracts. The findings indicated that B. longum subsp. longum K5 could be used as a probiotic candidate in infant nutrition.

Daily ingestion of Akkermansia mucciniphila for one month promotes healthy aging and increases lifespan in old female mice

The ingestion of certain probiotics has been suggested as a promising nutritional strategy to improve aging. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of the daily intake, for a month, of a new probiotic Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK) (2 × 10⁸ cfu/100µL PBS) on behavior, as well as function and redox state of immune cells of old female ICR-CD1 mice (OA group). For this, several behavioral tests were performed, and function and oxidative-inflammatory stress parameters of peritoneal leukocytes were analyzed in OA group, in a group of the same age that did not take AKK (old control, OC group) and in another adult control (AC) group. The results showed, in OA group, a significant improvement of several behavioral responses (coordination, balance, neuromuscular vigor, exploratory ability and anxiety like-behaviors), as well as in immune functions (chemotaxis, phagocytosis, NK activity and lymphoproliferation) and in oxidative stress parameters (glutathione peroxidase and reductase activities, oxidized glutathione and lipid oxidation concentrations) of the peritoneal leukocytes in comparison to those observed in OC group. In addition, peritoneal immune cells from the OA group released lower basal concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α) compared to those from the OC group. The values of parameters in OA were similar to those in AC group. These improvements in the old mice receiving the probiotic were reflected in an increase in their lifespan. In conclusion, our data indicate that AKK supplementation for a short period could be a good nutritional strategy to promote healthy longevity.

Probiotics and gut microbiome - Prospects and challenges in remediating heavy metal toxicity

The gut microbiome, often referred to as "super organ", comprises up to a hundred trillion microorganisms, and the species diversity may vary from person to person. They perform a decisive role in diverse biological functions related to metabolism, immunity and neurological responses. However, the microbiome is sensitive to environmental pollutants, especially heavy metals. There is continuous interaction between heavy metals and the microbiome. Heavy metal exposure retards the growth and changes the structure of the phyla involved in the gut microbiome. Meanwhile, the gut microbiome tries to detoxify the heavy metals by altering the physiological conditions, intestinal permeability, enhancing enzymes for metabolizing heavy metals. This review summarizes the effect of heavy metals in altering the gut microbiome, the mechanism by which gut microbiota detoxifies heavy metals, diseases developed due to heavy metal-induced dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, and the usage of probiotics along with advancements in developing improved recombinant probiotic strains for the remediation of heavy metal toxicity.

Multipotent antioxidant and antitoxicant potentiality of an indigenous probiotic Bifidobacterium sp. MKK4

Probiotic bacteria are now becoming an effective natural medicine for alleviating many non-communicable lifestyle-related diseases. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and antitoxicant properties of a foodborne probiotic Bifidobacterium sp. MKK4 and its rice fermented beverage. The extracts of culture broth, whole cells, fermented beverage, and it's heat-inactivated counterparts subjected to in vitro antioxidant/antiradical assays by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP analysis. Except for heat-inactivated states, all samples exhibited strong antioxidant activity. In the experimental rat model, both Bifidobacterium sp. MKK4 and its rice fermented beverage significantly prevented arsenic toxicity by inducing a higher level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione and preventing lipid peroxidation (LPO) and DNA fragmentation, and transmembrane mitochondrial potential. Besides, the organism supported systematic protection by improving the level of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, urea, creatinine, and uric acid. The inherent antioxidant nature of the isolate can be exploited as an ingredient in functional food and an effective antidote against arsenic toxicity.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 Prevents Escherichia coli-Induced Apoptosis Through PINK1/Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy in Bovine Mastitis

Escherichia coli is one of the most important pathogens that cause clinical mastitis in dairy cattle worldwide and lead to severe economic losses. Antibiotics are often used to treat this inflammatory disease; however, antimicrobial resistance and environmental pollution cannot be ignored. Probiotic is the best alternative; however, its mechanisms of action to prevent mastitis remain unclear. Moreover, the role of probiotics in regulating mitophagy, a selective autophagy that maintains mitochondrial quality, needs to be explored. E. coli infection induced NOD-like receptor family member pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome assembly, Caspase-1 activation, and apoptosis in MAC-T cells. Infection also resulted in mitochondrial damage and subsequent increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Moreover, inhibition of ROS release by scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) abrogated the importance of ROS in NLRP3 assembly and apoptosis in MAC-T cells. Pretreatment with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 (LGR-1), a probiotic, alleviated E. coli-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and apoptosis via ROS inhibition. Besides, E. coli infection inhibited mitophagy while LGR-1 pretreatment augmented PINK1/Parkin–mediated mitophagy activation, which further blocked ROS generation. To explore the effect of LGR-1 in vivo, a mouse mastitis model was established. The results showed that LGR-1 pretreatment had preventive and protective effects on E. coli induced mastitis, and could reduce cytokines levels such as IL-1β and TNF-α. In accordance with the results in vitro, E. coli can inhibit mitophagy and activate NLRP3 inflammasome and apoptosis, while LGR-1 can weaken the effect of E. coli. Taken together, our data indicated that LGR-1 pretreatment induced PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy that eliminated damaged mitochondria and reduced ROS production and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which subsequently decreased E. coli-induced apoptosis. To conclude, our study suggests that therapeutic strategies aiming at the upregulation of mitophagy under E. coli-induced mastitis may preserve mitochondrial function and provide theoretical support for the application of probiotics in bovine mastitis.

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.

Biodegradation and Removal of PAHs by Bacillus velezensis Isolated from Fermented Food

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous in the environment. They are highly toxigenic and carcinogenic. Probiotic bacteria isolated from fermented foods were tested to check their ability to degrade and/or detoxify PAHs. Five probiotic bacteria with distinct morphologies were isolated from a mixture of 26 fermented foods co-cultured with benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) containing Bushnell Haas minimal broth. Among them, B. velezensis (PMC10) significantly reduced the abundance of BaP in the broth. PMC10 completely degraded BaP presented at a lower concentration in broth culture. B. velezensis also showed a clear zone of degradation on a BaP-coated Bushnell Haas agar plate. Gene expression profiling showed significant increases of PAH ringhydroxylating dioxygenases and 4-hydroxybenzoate 3-monooxygenase genes in B. velezensis in response to BaP treatment. In addtion, both live and heat-killed B. velezensis removed BaP and naphthalene (Nap) from phosphate buffer solution. Live B. velezensis did not show any cytotoxicity to macrophage or human dermal fibroblast cells. Live-cell and cell-free supernatant of B. velezensis showed potential anti-inflammatory effects. Cell-free supernatant and extract of B. velezensis also showed free radical scavenging effects. These results highlight the prospective ability of B. velezensis to biodegrade and remove toxic PAHs from the human body and suggest that the biodegradation of BaP might be regulated by ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase-initiated metabolic pathway.

Different effects of soybean protein and its derived peptides on the growth and metabolism of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis JCM 1190

Bifidobacterium is a common probiotic that plays a vital role in the intestinal tract. This study aimed to explore the different effects of soybean protein and soybean peptides on the growth and metabolism of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis JCM 1190. Soybean protein and soybean peptides were digested in vitro, after which different nitrogen source containing media were prepared and used for the monoculture of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis JCM 1190 and the co-culture of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis JCM 1190 and Escherichia coli JCM 1649. During the culture process, the viable cell number and lactic acid and acetic acid contents were measured, while non-targeted metabonomics was used to detect the differential metabolites and metabolic pathways. The results showed that soybean protein and soybean peptides promoted the growth and metabolism of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis JCM 1190, while digested soybean peptides had a better effect. Digested soybean peptides increased the viable cell number and lactic acid and acetic acid contents in the monoculture by regulating glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, as well as pyruvate metabolism, the TCA cycle, glycolipid metabolism, and other metabolic pathways, balanced the ability of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis JCM 1190 and Escherichia coli JCM 1649 to utilize nitrogen sources during the early period and enhanced the competitiveness of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis JCM 1190 during the later period in co-culture.

In Vitro Properties of Potential Probiotic Indigenous Yeasts Originating from Fermented Food and Beverages in Taiwan

Probiotics are live microorganisms that may be able to help prevent and treat some illnesses. Most probiotics on the market are bacterial, primarily Lactobacillus. Yeast are an inevitable part of the microbiota of various fermented foods and beverages and have several beneficial properties that bacteria do not have. In this study, yeast strains were isolated from fermented food and beverages. Various physiological features of the candidate probiotic isolates were preliminarily investigated, including bile salt and acid tolerance, cell surface hydrophobicity, autoaggregation, antioxidant activity, and β-galactosidase activity. Several yeast strains with probiotic potential were selected. Overall, Kluyveromyces marxianus JYC2614 adapted well to the bile salt and acid tolerance test; it also had favorable autoaggregation and good cell-surface hydrophobicity. Klu. marxianus JYC2610 grew well according to the bile salt and acid tolerance test and performed well regarding cell surface hydrophobicity and β-galactosidase activity. Selected yeast species can survive in a gastrointestinal environment and should be further evaluated in vivo as probiotics in the future. Our findings should encourage further studies on the application of the strains in this study as food and feed supplements.

Clostridium butyricum alone or combined with 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 improved early-stage broiler health by modulating intestinal flora

AIM

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Clostridium butyricum in isolation or in combination with 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ in early-stage broilers.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 360 half male and half female Cobb broilers (1 day old) were randomly divided into four groups: Con (basal diet), Anti (basal diet+75 mg/kg chlortetracycline), Cb (basal diet+10⁹  CFU per kg C. butyricum) and CD (basal diet+10⁹  CFU per kg C. butyricum+25 μg/kg 1,25(OH)₂ D₃ ). The results were as follows: (1) Compared with Con, CD significantly increased ADG (p < 0.05). (2) Contrast with Con and Anti, Cb and CD significantly increased glutathione peroxidase and SOD in the serum and liver, and decreased malondialdehyde content in serum (p < 0.05). (3) In addition, the content of immunoglobulin (IgA, IgY and IgM) in Cb and CD birds was higher than that in Con birds (p < 0.05); the Cb supplementation decreased (p < 0.05) the contents of IL-8, IL-1β and TNF-α than those in Con. (4) Cb and CD had lower caecal acetic and propionic content than the Anti group (p < 0.05). (5) The community richness of Con was significantly higher than that of Anti (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Alistipes and Ruminococcaceae-UCG-014 in Cb and CD supplemented birds were lower than those in Con (p < 0.05). The relative abundant of Escherichia-Shigella in CD was higher than Con and Anti (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicated that dietary C. butyricum and 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ can improve the growth performance, immunity responses, antioxidation, bone development and intestinal microflora in early-stage broilers.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Oral administration of C. butyricum or C. butyricum combined with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ enhanced immunity and antioxidant activity in early-stage birds.

Lactobacillus reuteri TSR332 and Lactobacillus fermentum TSF331 stabilize serum uric acid levels and prevent hyperuricemia in rats

Background

Uric acid (UA) is the end product of purine metabolism in the liver and is excreted by the kidneys. When purine metabolism is impaired, the serum UA level will be elevated (hyperuricemia) and eventually lead to gout. During evolution, humans and some primates have lost the gene encoding uricase, which is vital in UA metabolism. With the advances of human society, the prevalence of hyperuricemia has dramatically increased because of the refined food culture. Hyperuricemia can be controlled by drugs, such as allopurinol and probenecid. However, these drugs have no preventive effect and are associated with unpleasant side effects. An increasing number of probiotic strains, which are able to regulate host metabolism and prevent chronic diseases without harmful side effects, have been characterized. The identification of probiotic strains, which are able to exert beneficial effects on UA metabolism, will provide an alternative healthcare strategy for patients with hyperuricemia, especially for those who are allergic to anti-hyperuricemia drugs.

Methods

To elicit hyperuricemia, rats in the symptom control group (HP) were injected with potassium oxonate and fed a high-purine diet. Rats in the probiotic groups received the high-purine diet, oxonate injection, and supplements of probiotic strains TSR332, TSF331, or La322. Rats in the blank control group (C) received a standard diet (AIN-93G) and oxonate injection.

Results

Purine-utilizing strains of probiotics were screened using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in vitro, and the lowering effect on serum UA levels was analyzed in hyperuricemia rats in vivo. We found that Lactobacillus reuteri strain TSR332 and Lactobacillus fermentum strain TSF331 displayed significantly strong assimilation of inosine (90%; p = 0.00003 and 59%; p = 0.00545, respectively) and guanosine (78%; p = 0.00012 and 51%; p = 0.00062, respectively) within 30 min in vitro. Further animal studies revealed that serum UA levels were significantly reduced by 60% (p = 0.00169) and 30% (p = 0.00912), respectively, in hyperuricemic rats treated with TSR332 and TSF331 for 8 days. Remarkably, TSR332 ameliorated the occurrence of hyperuricemia, and no evident side effects were observed. Overall, our study indicates that TSR332 and TSF331 are potential functional probiotic strains for controlling the development of hyperuricemia.

Protective Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on TiO2 Nanoparticles-Induced Oxidative Stress Damage in the Liver of Young Rats

The potential toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) to mammals has become a widespread concern. Young individuals exposed to TiO₂ NPs have a higher risk than adults. In this study, the protective effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) on liver toxicity in young rats induced by TiO₂ NPs were explored. Results show that the four-week-old rats that underwent LGG after the oral intake of TiO₂ NPs could prevent weight loss, reduce hematological indicators (WBC and NEUT) and serum biochemical indicators (AST, ALT, AST/ALT, and ALP). Moreover, it alleviated the pathological damage of the liver (as indicated by the disordered hepatocytes, more eosinophilic, ballooning degeneration, and accompany with blood cells), but it did not reduce the Ti contents in the liver. In addition, RT-qPCR results indicated that LGG restored the expression of anti-oxidative stress-related genes, such as SOD1, SOD2, CAT, HO-1, GSH, GCLC, and GCLM in the liver. In summary, the hepatotoxicity of TiO₂ NPs in young rats is closely related to oxidative stress, and the antioxidant effect of LGG might protect the harmful effects caused by TiO₂ NPs.

Dietary Probiotics or Synbiotics Supplementation During Gestation, Lactation, and Nursery Periods Modifies Colonic Microbiota, Antioxidant Capacity, and Immune Function in Weaned Piglets

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary probiotics or synbiotics supplementation on colonic microbiota, antioxidant capacity, and immune function in weaned piglets. A total of 64 pregnant Bama mini-sows and then 128 of their weaned piglets were randomly assigned into control group, antibiotics group, probiotics group, or synbiotics group. The results showed that colonic Firmicutes and Bifidobacterium abundances in the probiotics group and total bacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Lactobacillus abundances in the synbiotics group were increased (P < 0.05), while Escherichia coli abundance in the synbiotics group was decreased (P = 0.061) compared with the control group. Firmicutes, Bifidobacterium, and total bacteria abundances were increased (P < 0.05) in the probiotics and synbiotics groups compared with the antibiotics group. Probiotics supplementation up-regulated (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression of GPR109A compared with the control and antibiotics groups. Dietary probiotics or synbiotics supplementation improved the antioxidant capacity by increasing (P < 0.05) the colonic CAT, GSH-Px, SOD, and T-AOC levels and plasma CAT, GSH, GSH-Px, and SOD levels and by decreasing (P < 0.05) the colonic and plasma MDA and H₂O₂ levels. Compared to the control group, the colonic IL-10, IFN-α, and sIgA concentrations and plasma IgA and IgM concentrations were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the probiotics and synbiotics groups. Spearman's correlation analysis showed that the changed colonic microbiota, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were correlated with the alteration of antioxidant indexes, cytokines, and immunoglobulins. In conclusion, dietary probiotics or synbiotics supplementation during gestation, lactation, and nursery periods could be used as an alternative for antibiotics in terms of gut health of weaned piglets.

Oxidative stress tolerance and antioxidant capacity of lactic acid bacteria as probiotic: a systematic review

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the most frequently used probiotics in fermented foods and beverages and as food supplements for humans or animals, owing to their multiple beneficial features, which appear to be partially associated with their antioxidant properties. LAB can help improve food quality and flavor and prevent numerous disorders caused by oxidation in the host. In this review, we discuss the oxidative stress tolerance, the antioxidant capacity related herewith, and the underlying mechanisms and signaling pathways in probiotic LAB. In addition, we discuss appropriate methods used to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of probiotic LAB. The aim of the present review is to provide an overview of the current state of the research associated with the oxidative stress tolerance and antioxidant capacity of LAB.

Dietary Mannan-oligosaccharides potentiate the beneficial effects of Bifidobacterium bifidum in broiler chicken

This study investigated the effects of dietary Bifidobacterium bifidum (BFD) and mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS), as a synbiotic, on the production performance, gut microbiology, serum biochemistry, antioxidant profile and health indices of broiler chicken. Six dietary treatments were T1 (negative control), T2 (positive control-20 mg antibiotic BMD kg^-1 diet; BMD: bacitracin methylene disalicylate), T3 (0·1% MOS + 10⁶  CFU BFD per g feed), T4 (0·1% MOS + 10⁷  CFU BFD per g feed), T5 (0·2% MOS + 10⁶  CFU BFD per g feed) and T6 (0·2% MOS + 10⁷  CFU BFD per g feed). Significantly (P < 0·01) better growth performance and efficiency was observed in birds supplemented with 0·2% MOS along with 10⁶  CFU BFD per g of feed compared to BMD and control birds. Supplementation with 0·2% MOS along with either 10⁶ or 10⁷  CFU BFD per g feed reduced (P < 0·01) the gut coliform, Escherichia coli, total plate count, and Clostridium perfringens count and increased the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium count. Significantly (P < 0·01) higher serum and liver antioxidant enzyme pool, serum HDL cholesterol and lower serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, cardiac risk ratio, atherogenic coefficient and atherogenic index of plasma were observed in birds supplemented with 0·2% MOS along with 10⁶  CFU BFD per g of feed compared to control or BMD supplemented birds. Better production performance, gut microbial composition, serum biochemistry, antioxidant profile and health indices were depicted by broiler chicken supplemented with 0·2% MOS and 10⁶  CFU BFD per g of feed.

Lyophilized Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria Viability in Potato Chips and Its Impact on Oil Oxidation

To produce a new probiotic-containing food product, potato chips, as the most preferred fast food, were chosen. Preferably, it should be preserved for a long period without oxidation. The presented study aimed to compare potato chips containing two lyophilized probiotic lactic acid bacteria (Bifidobacterium longum ATCC 15708 and Lactobacillus helveticus LH-B02) in order to retard lipid oxidation. Lyophilization of probiotics was carried out into two cryoprotective media-skim milk (SM) and gelatin/glycerol (GG) as lactose-free medium. Results revealed that GG and SM media were the most suitable for lyophilization of B. longum and L. helveticus, respectively. . The lyophilized live cells were incorporated in potato chips, packed and their effect on oil oxidation was assessed. . Results showed that the lyophilized B. longum in SM remained alive at 6.5 log CFU/g for 4 months at 30 °C. Interestingly, potato chip bags containing B. longum lyophilized in SM medium exhibited a decrease in peroxide value (PV) and acid value (AV) of the extracted oil by 40.13% and 25%, respectively, compared to the control bags. The created probiotic potato chips containing B. longum fulfill the criteria of the probiotic product besides the prime quality and sensory attributes.

Dietary synbiotic supplementation improves the growth performance, body antioxidant pool, serum biochemistry, meat quality, and lipid oxidative stability in broiler chickens

The present study investigated the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LBA) and mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) supplementation on the production performance, serum biochemistry, antioxidant profile, health indices, meat quality, and lipid oxidative stability of broiler chicken. A total of 252 commercial broiler chickens at 1 d old of uniform body weight were randomly allocated to 6 maize-soybean-based dietary treatments: T₁ (control diet), T₂ ( antibiotic bacitracin methylene di-salicylate [BMD] at 20 mg/kg diet), T₃ (MOS at 0.1% + LBA at 10⁶ CFU/g feed), T₄ (MOS at 0.1% + LBA at 10⁷ CFU/g feed), T₅ (MOS at 0.2% + LBA at 10⁶ CFU/g feed), and T₆ (MOS at 0.2% + LBA at 10⁷ CFU/g feed). Each treatment was assigned to 6 replicates of 7 birds. The samples for meat quality and serum biochemistry analysis were taken from 12 birds per treatment (2 birds/replicate). The results revealed better (P < 0.01) growth performance and production efficiency of birds fed either T₅ or T₆ diet compared to control or BMD supplemented diet and BMD-supplemented birds superseded the control birds. Higher (P < 0.01) serum and liver antioxidant enzyme activities, meat antioxidant capacity (2, 2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid [ABTS] and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] assays], serum total protein, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol (P < 0.05), and globulin levels (P < 0.01) were observed in birds fed either T₅ or T₆ diet compared to control or BMD supplemented birds, whereas, lower lipid oxidation (P < 0.01), cardiac risk ratio, atherogenic coefficient, atherogenic index of plasma, serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol levels (P < 0.01), and serum albumin-to-globulin ratio (P < 0.05) were observed in the chickens. The pH of meat from birds fed T₄, T₅ or T₆ diet was lower (P < 0.01) compared to control and other treatments. The extract release volume (ERV), water holding capacity (WHC), and protein content of meat were higher (P < 0.05) in birds fed either T₅ or T₆ diet compared to control or BMD supplemented birds. Thus, it was concluded that the supplementation of 0.2% MOS along with LBA at 10⁶ CFU/g is optimum for better growth performance, serum biochemistry, antioxidant profile, health indices, meat quality, and lipid oxidative stability of broiler chickens.