Preparation, characterization and improvement in intestinal function of polysaccharide fractions from okra

Interactions between intestinal microbial fermentation products of Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharide with gut mucus

Recently, Pleurotus eryngii (P. eryngii) polysaccharide (PEP) has received a lot of attention from many researchers as the primary active substance. The PEP influences the gut microbiota in several ways, including the interaction of fermentation products with the intestinal mucus layer (IML) and intestinal epithelial cells. Herein, we characterized interactions between the IML and PEP after degradation by the gut microbes. Our results showed that fermented P. eryngii polysaccharide (FPEP) can interact with intestinal mucus (IM), and this interaction can reduce the degree of molecular aggregation of polysaccharides. At the same time, the fermentation time of FPEP also affects the interaction between the two. SEM showed that the FPEP solution tended to aggregate into larger particles, while with the addition of IM, the FPEP molecules were dispersed. Particle size measurements unveil substantial differences in the fermented polysaccharides' particle size between the group with supplementary IM (0 hours of fermentation: 485.1 ± 11.3 nm) and the group without IM (0 hours of fermentation: 989.33 ± 21.3 nm). Remarkably, within the group with added IM, the particle size reached its maximum at 24 hours of fermentation (585.87 ± 42.83 nm). Additionally, turbidity assessments demonstrate that, during the 12-hour interaction period, the 24-hour fermented polysaccharides consistently exhibit the highest OD values, ranging between 0.57 and 0.61. This work investigates the interaction between FPEP and IM, predicting the adhesion of polysaccharides to IM. Meanwhile, this provides a theoretical basis for further studies on the absorption and transport pathways of PEP and provides a novel research viewpoint on intestinal digestion and absorption.

The effect of in vitro digestion on the interaction between polysaccharides derived from Pleurotus eryngii and intestinal mucus

Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharides (PEPs) have been proven to display multiple activities through digestive system action, from which the digestion products should first interact with intestinal mucus (MUC), followed by the function of intestinal cells. Hence, possible interacting characterizations between MUC and in vitro simulated digestion products of P. eryngii polysaccharides (DPEPs) and PEP were carried out in the present study. Results showed that both PEP and DPEP could significantly interact with MUC. Moreover, digestion can modify the interaction between polysaccharides and MUC; the degree of interaction also changes with time incrementing. Viscosity could be decreased after digesting. According to the zeta potential and stability analysis result, the digestive behavior could be regular and stable between polysaccharides and MUC interactions. Following fluorescence and infrared spectra, the structure of polysaccharides and mucin might be changed by digestion between polysaccharides and MUC. The study indicates that the interaction formed between DPEP and MUC might indirectly impact the exercise and immune activities of polysaccharides and influence the transportation of other nutrients. Overall, our results, the absorption and transport pathways of PEP, can be initially revealed and may provide a novel research viewpoint on the active mechanism of PEP in the intestinal tract.

The Influence of Polysaccharides on Lipid Metabolism: Insights from Gut Microbiota

SCOPE

Polysaccharides are complex molecules of more than ten monosaccharide residues interconnected through glycosidic linkages formed via condensation reactions. Polysaccharides are widely distributed in various food resources and have gained considerable attention due to their diverse biological activities. This review presented a critical analysis of the existing research literature on anti-obesity polysaccharides and investigates the complex interplay between their lipid-lowering activity and the gut microbiota, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the lipid-lowering properties of polysaccharides and the underlying mechanisms of action.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this review, the study summarized the roles of polysaccharides in improving lipid metabolism via gut microbiota, including the remodeling of the intestinal barrier, reduction of inflammation, inhibition of pathogenic bacteria, reduction of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) production, and regulation of the metabolism of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bile acids (BAs).

CONCLUSION

These mechanisms collectively contributed to the beneficial effects of polysaccharides on lipid metabolism and overall metabolic health. Furthermore, polysaccharide-based nanocarriers combined with gut microbiota have broad prospects for developing targeted and personalized therapies for hyperlipidemia and obesity.

Research progress in extraction, purification, structure of fruit and vegetable polysaccharides and their interaction with anthocyanins/starch

Fruits and vegetables contain polysaccharides, polyphenols, antioxidant enzymes, and various vitamins, etc. Fruits and vegetables polysaccharides (FVPs), as an important functional factor in health food, have various biological activities such as lowering blood sugar, blood lipids, blood pressure, inhibiting tumors, and delaying aging, etc. In addition, FVPs exhibit good physicochemical properties including low toxicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility. Increasing research has confirmed that FVPs could enhance the stability and biological activities of anthocyanins, affecting their bioavailability to improve food quality. Simultaneously, the addition of FVPs in natural starch suspension could improve the physicochemical properties of natural starch such as viscosity, gelling property, water binding capacity, and lotion stability. Hence, FVPs are widely used in the modification of natural anthocyanins/starch. A systematic review of the latest research progress and future development prospects of FVPs is very necessary to better understand them. This paper systematically reviews the latest progress in the extraction, purification, structure, and analysis techniques of FVPs. Moreover, the review also introduces the potential mechanisms, evaluation methods, and applications of the interaction between polysaccharides and anthocyanins/starch. The findings can provide important references for the further in-depth development and utilization of FVPs.

Biodegradable and hemocompatible alginate/okra hydrogel films with promising stability and biological attributes

Currently, combinations of natural polymers and semi-synthetic biomolecules have gained attention for food-packaging, drug delivery, coatings, and biomedical applications. In this work, cross-linking property of two biopolymers was employed for the fabrication of hydrogel films. Sodium alginate (SAlg) and Okra gel (OkG) were used in different ratios (95:05, 75:25 and 85:15) to synthesize hydrogel films by solvent-casting method. Formation of the films was confirmed by FTIR and Raman techniques which specified the interaction between biomolecules of SAlg and OkG. XRD pattern has shown the presence of both amorphous and micro-crystalline phases in the hydrogel films and SEM studies have shown porosity, amorphousness and agglomerated morphology. TGA and DSC analyses revealed degradation of the film at 420 °C and stability studies using PBS buffer indicated stability and hydrophilic nature of hydrogel films. In-vitro degradation test was also performed for 10 weeks through the incubation of hydrogel-films in simulated body fluid and the effect of pH and temperature was also studied. Results have shown worth-some influence of okra gel on the fabricated films. Hemolytic and antioxidant activities of the gels were also determined and being non-toxic, all these ratios were found suitable for biomedical applications; especially 85:15 have shown maximum potential.

Polysaccharides from Nitraria retusa Fruit: Extraction, Purification, Structural Characterization, and Antioxidant Activities

Polysaccharides are important bioactive components of Nitraria retusa fruit (NRF). In this study, the ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) conditions of polysaccharides from Nitraria retusa fruit (NRFPs) were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). The structural characteristics and antioxidant activity were investigated. The maximum NRFPs yield of 3.35% was obtained under the following optimal conditions: temperature of 59.5 °C, time of 30.5 min, liquid-to-solid ratio of 19.5 mL/g. Three polysaccharide fractions, NRFP-1 (20.01 kDa), NRFP-2 (28.96 kDa), and NRFP-3 (67.45 kDa), were isolated. Glucose, galactose, and arabinose in different percentages were identified as the primary monosaccharide units. The Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis indicated the presence of α- and β-glycosidic bonds in NRFPs. The NRFP-3 exhibited the highest scavenging activities against DPPH, ABTS, -OH free radicals, and Fe⁺³-reducing activity.

Structural diversity and physicochemical properties of polysaccharides isolated from pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) by different methods

Natural polysaccharides were isolated and purified from Cucurbita moschata by hot water extraction and mild acid-base sequential extraction. Chemical and instrumental studies revealed that hot water-extracted and mild acid-extracted polysaccharides with molecular masses of 48 kDa and 85 kDa were both pectic polysaccharides with homogalacturonan (HG) and rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) domains, while mild acid-extracted polysaccharide was more dominated by branched RG-I with higher contents of galactose (10.59 %) and arabinose (8.08 %). Furthermore, mild acid-extracted polysaccharide exhibited better thickening and emulsifying properties, likely due to its larger molecular mass and higher branching degree. Mild base-extracted polysaccharide with a molecular mass of 18 kDa was a glucan-like polysaccharide. It showed the strongest thermostability and gel behavior among these pumpkin polysaccharides, likely attributed to its unique network structure stabilized by substantial intra/intermolecular hydrogen bonds. This study aimed to establish the structure-property relationships between these structurally diverse pumpkin polysaccharides from different extraction methods and provided theoretical foundations for their targeted application in foods.

Polysaccharides from Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (jackfruit) pulp improves intestinal barrier functions of high fat diet-induced obese rats

Polysaccharides show protective effects on intestinal barrier function due to their effectiveness in mitigating oxidative damage, inflammation and probiotic effects. Little has been known about the effects of polysaccharides from Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. pulp (jackfruit, JFP-Ps) on intestinal barrier function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of JFP-Ps on intestinal barrier function in high fat diet-induced obese rats. H&E staining and biochemical analysis were performed to measure the pathological and inflammatory state of the intestine as well as oxidative damage. Expression of the genes and proteins associated with intestinal health and inflammation were analyzed by RT-qPCR and western blots. Results showed that JFP-Ps promoted bowel movements and modified intestinal physiochemical environment by lowering fecal pH and increasing fecal water content. JFP-Ps also alleviated oxidative damage of the colon, relieved intestinal colonic inflammation, and regulated blood glucose transport in the small intestine. In addition, JFP-Ps modified intestinal physiological status through repairing intestinal mucosal damage and increasing the thickness of the mucus layer. Furthermore, JFP-Ps downregulated the inflammatory genes (TNF-α, IL-6) and up-regulated the free fatty acid receptors (GPR41 and GPR43) and tight junction protein (occludin). These results revealed that JFP-Ps showed a protective effect on intestinal function through enhancing the biological, mucosal, immune and mechanical barrier functions of the intestine, and activating SCFAs-GPR41/GPR43 related signaling pathways. JFP-Ps may be used as a promising phytochemical to improve human intestinal health.

Physicochemical and functional characteristics of polysaccharides from okra extracted by using ultrasound at different frequencies

In this study, single- (SFU) and dual-frequency (DFU) ultrasounds were used to extract polysaccharides from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) pods (OPSs), and the physicochemical characteristics, functional properties, and in vitro biological activities of the OPSs were comparatively evaluated. Results showed that ultrasonic extractions at different frequencies led to remarkable variations in extraction yields, chemical components, monosaccharide compositions, molecular weights (MWs), surface morphologies, and rheological properties of the OPSs but hardly affected their preliminary structural features and thermal stabilities. The OPS obtained through DFU at 40/60 kHz with the lowest MWs (0.85-14.93 × 10⁵ Da) and highest polyphenol content (7.38%) as well as loosest network structures showed superior antioxidant, cholesterol absorption and nitrite ion absorption capacities than the other OPSs, and the OPS extracted through SFU at 20 kHz with the highest carboxylate content (76.08%), MWs (7.28-32.83 × 10⁵ Da) and degree of esterification (30.7%) exhibited higher bile acid-binding capacity than the other OPSs.

Physicochemical characterization and the hypoglycemia effects of polysaccharide isolated from Passiflora edulis Sims peel

One polysaccharide, designated as WPEP-A, was isolated from Passiflora edulis Sims peel and its hypoglycemic effects on diabetic db/db mice were evaluated. Physicochemical characterization showed that WPEP-A was composed of galactose, glucose, xylose, rhamnose, galacturonic acid and glucuronic acid with a molecular weight of 9.51 × 104 Da. We observed an inhibition in weight gain and blood glucose levels. Glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance improved after the administration of WPEP-A. In addition, our data showed increased antioxidant enzyme activities. Furthermore, the levels of serum insulin and triglyceride decreased with the recovery of liver damage. Meanwhile, positive changes in short chain fatty acid content were observed, and the mRNA levels of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor, glucagon and prohormone convertase 3 were up-regulated in the intestinal tract. In summary, our results showed that WPEP-A had hypoglycemic activity and improved intestinal function in diabetic mice, which may contribute to the attenuation of the hypoglycemia effects.

Preparation, characterization, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of acid-soluble pectin from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

Currently, there are few studies on acid-soluble pectin from okra, especially in biological activity for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. In this study, the antioxidant properties of acid-soluble okra pectin components and their anti-inflammatory were explored. Firstly, two acid-soluble okra pectic fractions, namely crude acid-soluble okra pectin (CAOP) and acid-soluble okra pectin (AOP), were obtained and exhibited structural and compositional variation. The two pectic fractions contained a low degree of esterification (42.0-46.5%) and a relatively high uronic acid content (31.6-37.3%). AOP was composed of galacturonic acid (79.1 mol/%), galactose (4.3 mol/%), rhamnose (14.5 mol/%) and xylose (2.1 mol/%), and the molecular weight was 92.8 kDa. Morphological and thermal properties of acid-soluble okra pectin components were also investigated. Compared to CAOP, AOP expressed better antioxidant activity, and suppressed the NO production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. All the above results indicated that AOP had the potential to act as a natural antioxidant or a functional anti-inflammatory food, which would broaden the development and utilization of okra resources.

Okra pectin relieves inflammatory response and protects damaged intestinal barrier in caerulein-induced acute pancreatic model

BACKGROUND

Protecting the intestinal mucosa from being destroyed helps reduce the inflammation caused by acute pancreatitis (AP). In this study, whether okra pectin (OP) could attenuate the inflammation of AP through protecting the intestinal barrier was investigated.

RESULTS

OP was obtained from crude okra pectin (COP) through the purification by DEAE cellulose 52 column. Supplementation with OP or COP in advance reduced the severity of AP, as revealed by lower serum amylase and lipase levels, abated pancreatic edema, attenuated myeloperoxidase activity and pancreas histology. OP or COP inhibited the production of pancreatic proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6. In addition, the upregulation of AP-related proteins including ZO-1, occludin, the antibacterial peptide-defensin-1 (DEFB1) and cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP), as well as the histological examination of colon injuries, demonstrated that OP or COP provision could effectively maintain intestinal barrier function. Ultimately, dietary OP or COP supplementation could inhibit AP-induced intestinal inflammation. For the above, the effect of OP was better than COP.

CONCLUSION

Dietary OP supplementation could be considered as a preventive method that effectively interferes with intestinal damage and attenuates inflammatory responses trigged by AP. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Structural Properties, Bioactivities, and Applications of Polysaccharides from Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]: A Review

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench], as a kind of nutritive vegetable, is rich in flavonoids, polyphenols, polysaccharides, amino acids, and other bioactive substances and has various biological activities. As one of main bioactive components, okra polysaccharides (OPs), mainly comprising pectic polysaccharides, have various biological activities. OPs have been extensively investigated in recent years. Many studies characterized structures of OPs obtained by different extraction methods, which were confirmed to be rhamnogalacturonan-I-type polysaccharides in most cases. OPs have a thick and slimy texture, suggesting that they can be a promising source of texture modifiers for complex food matrices. They have various biological activities, such as antioxidant activity, immunomodulatory activity, hypoglycaemic activity, and improving intestinal function. Therefore, OPs may potentially serve as novel immunomodulators or an adjuvant for diabetic nephropathy. Up to now, there is no specific summary on the research progress of OPs. In this paper, the latest research progress on the extraction, purification, characterization, rheological properties, biological activities, and applications of OPs is reviewed, to provide the reference for the processing and comprehensive utilization of OPs in the future.

Effects of polysaccharides from Yingshan Yunwu tea on meat quality, immune status and intestinal microflora in chickens

The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of the addition of Yingshan Yunwu green tea polysaccharide conjugates (GTPC) on meat quality, immune response and gut microflora in chickens. A total of 200 chickens with average initial body weight were randomly allotted to 4 groups. Intestinal samples were collected at the end of experiment for bacterial culture and microbial community analysis by 16S rDNA gene sequencing using Illumina MiSeq. Chicken breast muscle and serum were also sampled for analysis of meat quality and immune function. The results showed that dietary GTPC addition increased (P < 0.05) chicken breast muscle pH and redness-greenness (a*) value and decreased (P < 0.05) the values of lightness (L*), yellowness-blueness (b*), hardness, toughness and adhesiveness. In addition, dietary supplementation of GTPC increased (P < 0.05) the weight of thymus and bursa and serum concentrations of IgA and IgG. Furthermore, of the 10 bacterial phyla, the predominant taxa across all sampling time-points were Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Deferribacteres, representing >97% of all sequences. GTPC increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Lactobacillus, and decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria. These findings provided some references of the application of GTPC in the poultry industry.

Effect of banana pulp dietary fibers on metabolic syndrome and gut microbiota diversity in high-fat diet mice

Banana (Musa nana Lour.) have the effect of anti-obesity and lipid modulating properties. However, the influences of banana pulp dietary fibers (BP-DF) on metabolic syndrome (MetS) and gut microbiota (GM) are unknown. In this research, we explore a novel strategy for dietary BP-DF on attenuation of lipid metabolic disease, GM disorder, and associated mechanisms in high-fat diet (HFD) mice. BP-DF can strongly suppress on HFD caused body weight and epididymal fat mass gain, and significantly improved serum lipid profiles, liver lipid profiles, and intestinal function. BP-DF also significantly improved fecal short-chain fatty acids formation and fecal ammonia content. BP-DF impacted the intestinal microorganism at all kinds of taxonomic levels by increasing the proportions of beneficial Lactobacillus, Bacteroidales _S24_7_group, and Alloprevotella and decreasing the disease or obesity associated Sutterella, Streptococcaceae, and Erysipelotrichaceae. The experiments show that BP-DF may use as a functional ingredient for preventing obesity, MetS, and intestinal microorganism imbalance. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Obesity result in many metabolic complications, and it poses a great threat to people's health. Nowadays, the introduction of DF may lead to the development of a new strategy in the treatment of obesity and its metabolic syndrome. Our experiments findings show that BP-DF may use as a functional ingredient for preventing obesity, MetS, and intestinal microorganism imbalance. Therefore, BP-DF can be applied to the development and production of functional food, and can also be used as an important food functional ingredient, which can be added to various food, such as bread, noodles, baked goods, cakes, etc., to improve its nutritional value.

Effects of simulated saliva-gastrointestinal digestion on the physicochemical properties and bioactivities of okra polysaccharides

This study was to investigate the effects of in vitro simulated saliva-gastrointestinal digestion on the physicochemical properties and bioactivities of okra polysaccharides (OPS). Results showed that the digestibilities of OPS were about 5.1%, 37.5%, and 41.3% after saliva digestion (SD), saliva-gastric digestion (SGD), and saliva-gastrointestinal digestion (SGID), respectively. The SGID significantly changed the physicochemical properties of OPS, such as total uronic acids, total flavonoids, monosaccharide composition, rheological properties, and molecular weights (M_w). Especially, M_w changes resulted in the breakdown of glycosidic bonds during SGD, and the degradation of OPS during SGID was mainly caused by disrupting aggregates. Furthermore, the bioactivities of OPS were also affected by SGID. After SGID, OPS still possessed strong antioxidant activities, binding capacities, and prebiotic activities, but the α-glucosidase inhibitory effect was obviously decreased. Overall, results can provide valuable and scientific support on the oral administration of OPS as functional foods and medicines in the future.

Anti-proliferation activities of Oryza sativa L. anthocyanins-Hohenbuehelia serotina polysaccharides complex after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

In order to improve the bioavailability of Oryza sativa L. anthocyanins, we fabricated Oryza sativa L. anthocyanins-Hohenbuehelia serotina polysaccharides (OSA-HSP) complex and investigated its anti-proliferation activities taking into account its changes along simulated gastrointestinal digestion in vitro. Results showed that OSA mainly composed by delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, malvidin and their derivatives was combined with HSP through electrostatic interaction. OSA-HSP complex belonged to non-crystalline substance, and had compact and laminar structural characteristics. Under simulated gastrointestinal digestion, OSA-HSP complex significantly prevented the degradation of anthocyanins, and presented sustain release effect. However, the anti-proliferation activities of OSA-HSP complex digested by different gastrointestinal process were remarkably changed, especially after small intestinal digestion. HeLa cells treated with OSA-HSP complex exhibited pro-apoptosis characteristics by triggering endogenous mitochondrial apoptosis pathway through activating the expressions of Bax, cytochrome c and Caspase-3 as well as inhibiting the expression of Bcl-2. These findings provided new insight to improve the bioavailability of anthocyanins in functional foods and tumor therapy.

Influences of different drying methods on the structural characteristics and multiple bioactivities of polysaccharides from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

In this study, in order to evaluate the influences of drying methods on the chemical structures and bioactivities of polysaccharides from okra (OPPs), four drying methods, including microwave drying at 400 W, 600 W, and 800 W, freezing drying, hot air drying, and vacuum drying, were applied to dry okra fruits. Six different OPPs were extracted from okra dried by different drying methods. Results showed that physicochemical characteristics and bioactivities of OPPs varied by different drying methods. Noticeable variations in extraction yields, molecular weights, rheological properties, molar ratios of constituent monosaccharides, contents of uronic acids, degrees of esterification, and contents of total phenolics were observed in OPPs obtained by different drying methods. In addition, results showed that OPPs, especially OPP-H and OPP-V obtained by hot air drying and vacuum drying, respectively, exhibited remarkable antioxidant activities (ABTS, DPPH, and nitric oxide radical scavenging activities, and ferric reducing antioxidant powers), strong in vitro binding capacities (fat, cholesterol, and bile acids binding capacities), and obvious inhibitory activities on α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Results suggested that the hot air and vacuum drying techniques could be appropriate drying methods before extraction of OPPs with high bioactivities for applications in the functional food and medicine industries.

Structural characteristics, rheological properties, and biological activities of polysaccharides from different cultivars of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) collected in China

In order to well understand the physicochemical characteristics and biological activities of polysaccharides (OPPs) from different cultivars of okra collected in China, the chemical characteristics, rheological properties, antioxidant activities, in vitro binding properties, and in vitro inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase of polysaccharides from five representative okra cultivars, including 'Lvjian', 'Kalong8', 'Shuiguo', 'Taiwanwufu', and 'Kalong3', were investigated and compared. Results showed that the constituent monosaccharides of OPPs were similar, which composed of rhamnose, galacturonic acid, galactose, and arabinose. However, their weight-average molecular weights varied from 2.76 × 10³ to 4.20 × 10³ kDa, and from 0.11 × 10³ to 0.90 × 10³ kDa, respectively. The uronic acids and degrees of esterification of OPPs ranged from 39.32% to 61.68%, and from 21.66% to 30.02%, respectively. OPPs exhibited typical shear-thinning behavior and viscoelastic properties. Furthermore, OPPs exhibited remarkable antioxidant activities, in vitro binding capacities, and inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase, which might be attributed to their relatively high content of uronic acids, high degrees of esterification, and high molecular weights. Results are helpful for better understanding of the physicochemical structures and bioactivities of OPPs, and OPPs had good application prospects as functional food ingredients for industrial applications.

Preparation and characterization of selenium enriched-Bifidobacterium longum DD98, and its repairing effects on antibiotic-induced intestinal dysbacteriosis in mice

The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of a novel selenium-enriched Bifidobacterium longum DD98 (Se-B. longum DD98) supplement food and its repairing effects on the intestinal ecology of mammals. We assessed the growth, Se accumulation, and Se biotransformation of B. longum DD98 and its effects on antibiotic-induced intestinal dysbacteriosis in mice. The viable bacterial count at the end of fermentation was not significantly affected by the presence of Se. Bifidobacterium longum DD98 took up inorganic Se from the medium and biotransformed it into Se-containing proteins and selenoamino acids. The dominant Se species was selenomethionine (SeMet), which comprised 87% of the total Se in Se-B. longum DD98. Furthermore, Se-B. longum DD98 showed better regulation of the disrupted intestinal microbiota back to normal levels and repaired damaged colon tissues compared to the natural recovery and B. longum DD98 treatments. These findings suggest that B. longum DD98 efficiently biotransformed inorganic Se into more bioactive organic Se forms and may have therapeutic potential for the restoration of antibiotic-induced intestinal dysbacteriosis.