1
|
Mazzio E, Barnes A, Badisa R, Fierros-Romero G, Williams H, Council S, Soliman K. Functional immune boosters; the herb or its dead microbiome? Antigenic TLR4 agonist MAMPs found in 65 medicinal roots and algae's. J Funct Foods 2023; 107:105687. [PMID: 37654434 PMCID: PMC10469438 DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2023.105687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Humans have been consuming medicinal plants (as herbs/ spices) to combat illness for centuries while ascribing beneficial effects predominantly to the plant/phytochemical constituents, without recognizing the power of obligatory resident microorganism' communities (MOCs) (live/dead bacteria, fungus, yeast, molds etc.) which remain after industrial microbial reduction methods. Very little is known about the taxonomic identity of residual antigenic microbial associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) debris in our botanical over the counter (OTC) products, which if present would be recognized as foreign (non-self) antigenic matter by host pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) provoking a host immune response; this the basis of vaccine adjuvants. As of today, only few research groups have removed the herbal MAMP biomass from herbs, all suggesting that immune activation may not be from the plant but rather its microbial biomass; a hypothesis we corroborate. Purpose The purpose of this work was to conduct a high through put screening (HTPS) of over 2500 natural plants, OTC botanical supplements and phytochemicals to elucidate those with pro-inflammatory; toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) activating properties in macrophages. Study Design The HTPS was conducted on RAW 264.7 cells vs. lipopolysaccharide (LPS) E. coli 0111:B4, testing iNOS / nitric oxide production ( NO 2 - ) as a perimeter endpoint. The data show not a single drug/chemical/ phytochemical and approximately 98 % of botanicals to be immune idle (not effective) with only 65 pro-inflammatory (hits) in a potency range of LPS. Method validation studies eliminated the possibility of false artifact or contamination, and results were cross verified through multiple vendors/ manufacturers/lot numbers by botanical species. Lead botanicals were evaluated for plant concentration of LPS, 1,3:1,6-β-glucan, 1,3:1,4-β-D-glucan and α-glucans; where the former paralleled strength in vitro. LPS was then removed from plants using high-capacity endotoxin poly lysine columns, where bioactivity of LPS null "plant" extracts were lost. The stability of E.Coli 0111:B4 in an acid stomach mimetic model was confirmed. Last, we conducted a reverse culture on aerobic plate counts (APCs) from select hits, with subsequent isolation of gram-negative bacteria (MacConkey agar). Cultures were 1) heat destroyed (retested/ confirming bioactivity) and 2) subject to taxonomical identification by genetic sequencing 18S, ITS1, 5.8 s, ITS2 28S, and 16S. Conclusion The data show significant gram negative MAMP biomass dominance in A) roots (e.g. echinacea, yucca, burdock, stinging nettle, sarsaparilla, hydrangea, poke, madder, calamus, rhaponticum, pleurisy, aconite etc.) and B) oceanic plants / algae's (e.g. bladderwrack, chlorella, spirulina, kelp, and "OTC Seamoss-blends" (irish moss, bladderwrack, burdock root etc), as well as other random herbs (eg. corn silk, cleavers, watercress, cardamom seed, tribulus, duckweed, puffball, hordeum and pollen). The results show a dominance of gram negative microbes (e.g. Klebsilla aerogenes, Pantoae agglomerans, Cronobacter sakazakii), fungus (Glomeracaea, Ascomycota, Irpex lacteus, Aureobasidium pullulans, Fibroporia albicans, Chlorociboria clavula, Aspergillus_sp JUC-2), with black walnut hull, echinacea and burdock root also containing gram positive microbial strains (Fontibacillus, Paenibacillus, Enterococcus gallinarum, Bromate-reducing bacterium B6 and various strains of Clostridium). Conclusion This work brings attention to the existence of a functional immune bioactive herbal microbiome, independent from the plant. There is need to further this avenue of research, which should be carried out with consideration as to both positive or negative consequences arising from daily consumption of botanicals highly laden with bioactive MAMPS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E. Mazzio
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tallahassee, FL 32307, United States
| | - A. Barnes
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tallahassee, FL 32307, United States
| | - R. Badisa
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tallahassee, FL 32307, United States
| | - G. Fierros-Romero
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, School of Environment, Tallahassee, FL 32307, United States
| | - H. Williams
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, School of Environment, Tallahassee, FL 32307, United States
| | - S. Council
- John Gnabre Science Research Institute, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States
| | - K.F.A. Soliman
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tallahassee, FL 32307, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mannino G, Serio G, Gaglio R, Busetta G, La Rosa L, Lauria A, Settanni L, Gentile C. Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, and Antimicrobial Properties of Rubus idaeus Seed Powder. Foods 2022; 11:foods11172605. [PMID: 36076790 PMCID: PMC9455724 DOI: 10.3390/foods11172605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the context of the contemporary research on sustainable development and circular economy, the quest for effective strategies aimed at revaluation of waste and by-products generated in industrial and agricultural production becomes important. In this work, an ethanolic extract from red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) seed waste (WRSP) was evaluated for its phytochemical composition and functional properties in term of antioxidative, antiproliferative, and antimicrobial activities. Chemical composition of the extract was determined by both HPLC-ESI-MS/MS and spectrophotometric methods. Phytochemical analysis revealed that flavan-3-ols and flavonols were the major phenolic compounds contained in WRSP. The extract demonstrated very high radical-scavenging (4.86 ± 0.06 µmol TE/DW) and antioxidant activity in a cell-based model (0.178 ± 0.03 mg DW/mL cell medium). The WRSP extract also exhibited antiproliferative activity against three different epithelial cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HepG2, and HeLa cells) in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, microbiological assays showed the absence of colonies of bacteria and microscopic fungi (yeasts and molds) and revealed that the WRSP extract has a large inhibition spectrum against spoilage and pathogenic bacteria, without inhibitory activity against pro-technological bacteria. In conclusion, the obtained results show that WRSP is a rich source of phytochemical compounds exerting interesting biological activities. For these reasons WRSP could find applications in the nutritional, nutraceutical, and pharmacological fields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Mannino
- Innovation Centre, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Quarello 15/A, 10135 Turin, Italy
| | - Graziella Serio
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Raimondo Gaglio
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gabriele Busetta
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Lorenza La Rosa
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonino Lauria
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Luca Settanni
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence: (L.S.); (C.G.)
| | - Carla Gentile
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence: (L.S.); (C.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Formulation of a stable water-in-oil nanoemulsion rich in anti-diabetic components of the roselle extract for controlled release. CHEMICAL PAPERS 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11696-021-02030-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
|
4
|
Long N, Liu J, Liao X, Jia B, Liu J, Zhou L, Shi L, Kong W. Fungal communities in Nelumbinis semen characterized by high-throughput sequencing. Int J Food Microbiol 2021; 359:109428. [PMID: 34655921 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2021.109428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
For a long period, Nelumbinis semen has been widely used as a medicinal and edible product. However, it is susceptible to contamination with toxigenic fungi and aflatoxins during the growth, collection, transportation, and storage processes, causing serious health threats to humans and huge economic losses. Effectively monitoring the fungal communities is of great importance to avoid aflatoxins contamination in Nelumbinis semen. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) is a new technology to evaluate fungal communities so as to overcome the limitations of the traditional cultural ways. In this study, the ITS2 based Illumina-MiSeq platform was developed to evaluate the fungal communities in normal and moldy Nelumbinis semen by using the HTS technology. Two different primer pairs were introduced to compare their performance in amplifying the target gene. The primer pair that produced more reads was selected to analyze the results. In all the nine tested Nelumbinis semen samples, 2 phyla, 5 classes, 6 orders, 8 families, 9 genera and 4 species were detected. A total of 9 genera were spotted, of which, Aspergillus (0.04%-72.93%) and Rhizopus (0.002%-48.12%) were the most dominant. ANOISM analysis showed no significant differences in the normal and moldy groups. The use of HTS technology can detect the fungal communities in complex Nelumbinis semen samples, providing an early warning for toxigenic fungi and aflatoxins contamination to warrant their quality and safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nan Long
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jinxin Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Study and Exploitation of Chinese Medicine, Chengde Medical College, Chengde 067000, China
| | - Xiaofang Liao
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Boyu Jia
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiali Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lidong Zhou
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Linchun Shi
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Weijun Kong
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Microbiological contamination of herbal medicinal products marketed in Kenya for chronic diseases: A case study of Nairobi metropolis. J Herb Med 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hermed.2021.100475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|
6
|
Cheah HY, Merican SE, Nor Khaizura MAR, Bakar AZA, Omar S, Sanny M. Assessing the Performance of Food Safety Management System Using Food Safety Management System Diagnostic Tools and Microbial Assessment Scheme: A Case of Powdered Beverage Manufacturers. Malays J Med Sci 2021; 28:129-142. [PMID: 34285651 PMCID: PMC8260068 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.3.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The objective of the study is to assess the performance of the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) among powdered beverage manufacturers using Food Safety Management System Diagnostic Tools (FSMS-DI) and Microbial Assessment Scheme (MAS). Methods FSMS-DI was used to evaluate the context factors, core control and core assurance activities of five powdered beverage manufacturers with different types of FSMS certification. Manufacturer A is not certified with any FSMS, while manufacturers B, C, D and E are complied with MeSTI, GMP, HACCP and ISO 22000, respectively. For MAS, samples were collected from the selected critical sampling locations of two manufacturers who complied FSMS with the least (manufacturer B) and the most stringent (manufacturer E) requirements. The samples consisted of two different types of powdered beverage products were analysed for total plate count (TPC), Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, yeast and mould count (YMC). Results: The food safety (FS) output of powdered beverages for manufacturer E was better (overall score of 3) than manufacturer B (overall score of 2-3). Manufacturer E was able to achieve their FS objectives. The FSMS activities of manufacturer C, D and E were better (overall score of 2-3) than manufacturer A and B (overall score of 1-2). Conclusion The study demonstrated that FSMS-DI and MAS can be used to differentiate the FSMS performance of powdered beverage manufacturers with different types of FSMS certification. Higher scores of FSMS activities obtained by the manufacturer who complied with stringent FSMS certifications contributed to better microbiological safety performance of powdered beverages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hua Yen Cheah
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Mindsky Enterprise, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Suhaila Emma Merican
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mahmud Ab Rashid Nor Khaizura
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ainul Zakiah Abu Bakar
- Department of Food Service Management, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Syaliza Omar
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Maimunah Sanny
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Laboratory of Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agricultural and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
AlAli M, Alqubaisy M, Aljaafari MN, AlAli AO, Baqais L, Molouki A, Abushelaibi A, Lai KS, Lim SHE. Nutraceuticals: Transformation of Conventional Foods into Health Promoters/Disease Preventers and Safety Considerations. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26092540. [PMID: 33925346 PMCID: PMC8123587 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26092540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutraceuticals are essential food constituents that provide nutritional benefits as well as medicinal effects. The benefits of these foods are due to the presence of active compounds such as carotenoids, collagen hydrolysate, and dietary fibers. Nutraceuticals have been found to positively affect cardiovascular and immune system health and have a role in infection and cancer prevention. Nutraceuticals can be categorized into different classes based on their nature and mode of action. In this review, different classifications of nutraceuticals and their potential therapeutic activity, such as anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-lipid activity in disease will be reviewed. Moreover, the different mechanisms of action of these products, applications, and safety upon consumers including current trends and future prospect of nutraceuticals will be included.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mudhi AlAli
- Health Sciences Division, Abu Dhabi Women’s College, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi 41012, United Arab Emirates; (M.A.); (M.A.); (M.N.A.); (A.O.A.); (L.B.); (K.-S.L.)
| | - Maream Alqubaisy
- Health Sciences Division, Abu Dhabi Women’s College, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi 41012, United Arab Emirates; (M.A.); (M.A.); (M.N.A.); (A.O.A.); (L.B.); (K.-S.L.)
| | - Mariam Nasser Aljaafari
- Health Sciences Division, Abu Dhabi Women’s College, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi 41012, United Arab Emirates; (M.A.); (M.A.); (M.N.A.); (A.O.A.); (L.B.); (K.-S.L.)
| | - Asma Obaid AlAli
- Health Sciences Division, Abu Dhabi Women’s College, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi 41012, United Arab Emirates; (M.A.); (M.A.); (M.N.A.); (A.O.A.); (L.B.); (K.-S.L.)
| | - Laila Baqais
- Health Sciences Division, Abu Dhabi Women’s College, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi 41012, United Arab Emirates; (M.A.); (M.A.); (M.N.A.); (A.O.A.); (L.B.); (K.-S.L.)
| | - Aidin Molouki
- Department of Avian Disease Research and Diagnostic, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj 31585-854, Iran;
| | - Aisha Abushelaibi
- Dubai Colleges, Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai 16062, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Kok-Song Lai
- Health Sciences Division, Abu Dhabi Women’s College, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi 41012, United Arab Emirates; (M.A.); (M.A.); (M.N.A.); (A.O.A.); (L.B.); (K.-S.L.)
| | - Swee-Hua Erin Lim
- Health Sciences Division, Abu Dhabi Women’s College, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi 41012, United Arab Emirates; (M.A.); (M.A.); (M.N.A.); (A.O.A.); (L.B.); (K.-S.L.)
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +971-56-389-3757
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Antibiotic Resistance, Biofilm Formation, and Presence of Genes Encoding Virulence Factors in Strains Isolated from the Pharmaceutical Production Environment. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020130. [PMID: 33513933 PMCID: PMC7911615 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The spread of bacterial resistance to antibiotics affects various areas of life. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other bacteria mainly from orders Enterobacterales and Staphylococcus in the pharmaceutical production sites, and to characterize isolated strains in the aspects of antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, and presence of genes encoding virulence factors. Genes encoding selected virulence factors were detected using PCR techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was applied in accordance with the EUCAST recommendations. A total of 46 P. aeruginosa strains were isolated and 85% strains showed a strong biofilm-forming ability. The qualitative identification of genes taking part in Quorum Sensing system demonstrated that over 89% of strains contained lasR and rhlI genes. An antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed nine strains resistant to at least one antibiotic, and two isolates were the metallo-β-lactamase producers. Moreover, the majority of P. aeruginosa strains contained genes encoding various virulence factors. Presence of even low level of pathogenic microorganisms or higher level of opportunistic pathogens and their toxic metabolites might result in the production inefficiency. Therefore, the prevention of microbial contamination, effectiveness of sanitary and hygienic applied protocols, and constant microbiological monitoring of the environment are of great importance.
Collapse
|
9
|
Burns EK, Perez-Sanchez A, Katta R. Risks of Skin, Hair, and Nail Supplements. Dermatol Pract Concept 2020; 10:e2020089. [PMID: 33150030 DOI: 10.5826/dpc.1004a89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Skin, hair, and nail supplements, sometimes referred to as "beauty supplements" or "ingestible skin care," are a large and growing industry. These products may contain vitamins and minerals, sometimes in very high doses. They may also contain herbs, hormones, microbes, or animal derivatives such as fish oils and collagen powders. Dietary supplements are regulated as foods, not as drugs, by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Therefore, manufacturers do not need to provide any proof of safety, efficacy, or quality prior to sale. This is of serious concern, as many adverse effects due to supplement components have been reported. The potential risks cover multiple categories. These include acute toxicities, such as choking, as well as chronic toxicities, such as increased risk of diabetes. Teratogenicity and interactions with drugs and laboratory testing have been documented in research studies. Other risks include potentially increased risk of cancer with long-term use, allergic reactions, and others. It is vital that physicians educate their patients on these risks. As no post-marketing surveillance programs are required for supplements, our understanding of supplement risks is incomplete. Physicians should be wary of these risks and encourage further research and regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ariadna Perez-Sanchez
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Rajani Katta
- Department of Dermatology, McGovern Medical School at UT Health, Houston, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ratajczak M, Kaminska D, Światły-Błaszkiewicz A, Matysiak J. Quality of Dietary Supplements Containing Plant-Derived Ingredients Reconsidered by Microbiological Approach. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17186837. [PMID: 32962120 PMCID: PMC7558626 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Dietary supplements cover a wide range of products, the most popular are those containing plant-based ingredients. Supplements are consumed by consumers of all ages as well as by both healthy and sick people. The lack of unified regulation in this sector increases the probability that supplements are poor chemical and microbiological quality and can be dangerous for patients. The aim of this paper is to highlight selected issues associated with the microbiological quality of dietary supplements containing plant materials. We focus on the most recent reports referring to bacterial and fungal contaminations as well as the presence of mycotoxins. Dietary supplements containing plant ingredients commonly show a variety of microbial contaminants, which might be crucial for consumer safety. They often contain microorganisms potentially pathogenic to humans. Metabolites produced by microorganisms may pose a threat to the health of consumers. Because of that, in this review, we emphasize the risk that may be associated with the lack of appropriate studies of the quality of the supplements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Ratajczak
- Chair and Department of Genetics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Swiecickiego 4, 60-781 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Dorota Kaminska
- Chair and Department of Genetics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Swiecickiego 4, 60-781 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Agata Światły-Błaszkiewicz
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Grunwaldzka 6, 60-780 Poznan, Poland; (A.Ś.-B.); (J.M.)
| | - Jan Matysiak
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Grunwaldzka 6, 60-780 Poznan, Poland; (A.Ś.-B.); (J.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Dias FRS, Lourenço FR. Top-down evaluation of the matrix effects in microbial enumeration test uncertainty. J Microbiol Methods 2020; 171:105864. [PMID: 32044306 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2020.105864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Microbial contamination may compromise the efficacy and safety of pharmaceutical products. Microbial enumeration tests are required by most of the pharmacopeial compendia and consist in conventional pour-plate inoculation of a sample aliquot followed by incubation under appropriate conditions. Despite of this, the measurement uncertainty evaluation for microbial enumeration tests is rarely considered. Thus, the aim of this paper was to assess the matrix effects in microbial enumeration tests and their top-down uncertainty evaluation. Microbial counting methods for eighteen pharmaceutical products were validated concerning the trueness (mean recovery) and precision (repeatability and intermediate precision) using seven test microorganisms. Uncertainty factors values were found to be between 1.1 and 3.3, based on trueness and precision results. Trueness uncertainty component was the most relevant in 59% of the cases. This issue can be explained due to the matrix interference cause by preservatives or antimicrobial agents, particularly for lower dilutions when compared to higher dilutions. Thus, we concluded that the higher the matrix interference the higher the uncertainty factor, and consequently, the higher the asymmetry for the interval around the measurement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Felipe Rebelo Lourenço
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Characterizing fungal communities in medicinal and edible Cassiae Semen using high-throughput sequencing. Int J Food Microbiol 2019; 319:108496. [PMID: 31911209 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2019.108496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cassiae Semen (CS) has been widely used as roasted tea and traditional Chinese medicine for decades. However, CS is easily contaminated by fungi and mycotoxins during pre-harvest and post-harvest process, thus posing a potential threat to consumer health. In this study, we used the Illumina MiSeq PE300 platform and targeted the internal transcribed spacer 2 sequences to survey the occurrence of fungi in raw and roasted CS samples. Results showed the fungal contamination in all 12 test samples. Ascomycota was the prevailing fungus at the phylum level, with the relative abundance of 66.50%-99.42%. At the genus level, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium were the most dominant genera, accounting for 0.66%-85.51%, 0.20%-29.11%, and 0.11%-32.92% of the fungal reads, respectively. A total of 68 species were identified, among which six potential toxigenic fungi belonging to Aspergillus, Penicillium, Candida, and Schizophyllum genera were detected. Moreover, differences in fungal communities were observed in raw and roasted CS samples. In conclusion, amplicon sequencing is feasible for analyzing fungal communities in CS samples, which provides a new approach to investigate the fungal contamination in edible-medicinal herb, thereby ensuring food safety and drug efficacy.
Collapse
|
13
|
Fenclova M, Novakova A, Viktorova J, Jonatova P, Dzuman Z, Ruml T, Kren V, Hajslova J, Vitek L, Stranska-Zachariasova M. Poor chemical and microbiological quality of the commercial milk thistle-based dietary supplements may account for their reported unsatisfactory and non-reproducible clinical outcomes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11118. [PMID: 31366891 PMCID: PMC6668463 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47250-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Herbal-based dietary supplements have become increasingly popular. The extract from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), is often used for the treatment of liver diseases. However, serious concerns exist regarding the efficacy, composition, as well as the safety of these over-the-counter preparations. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the composition as well as chemical and biological safety of 26 milk thistle-based dietary supplements purchased from both the U.S. and Czech markets between 2016 and 2017. The study was focused on a determination of the composition of active ingredients, as well as analyses of possible contaminants including: mycotoxins, plant alkaloids, and pesticide residues, as well as the microbial purity. High-throughput analyses were performed using advanced U-HPLC-HRMS techniques. Large differences in the silymarin content were observed among individual milk thistle preparations, often in contrast with the information provided by the manufacturers. In addition, substantial inter-batch differences in silymarin content were also demonstrated. In all milk thistle preparations tested, large numbers and high concentrations of mycotoxins and several pesticides, as well as the substantial presence of microbiological contamination were detected, pointing to serious safety issues. In conclusion, our results strongly indicate the need for strict controls of the composition, chemical contaminants, as well as the microbiological purity of commercial milk thistle extracts used for the treatment of liver diseases. Poor definition of these preparations together with contamination by biologically active substances may not only account for the inconsistency of clinical observations, but also be responsible for possible herbal-based dietary supplements-induced liver injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie Fenclova
- Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Novakova
- Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Viktorova
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Jonatova
- Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Zbynek Dzuman
- Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Ruml
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Kren
- Laboratory of Biotransformation, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1082, 14000, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Hajslova
- Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Libor Vitek
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics and 4th Department of Internal Medicine, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Katerinska 32, 12108, Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Milena Stranska-Zachariasova
- Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technicka 3, 16628, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|