The potential of postbiotics as a novel approach in food packaging and biopreservation: a systematic review of the latest developments

Postbiotics in inflammatory bowel disease: efficacy, mechanism, and therapeutic implications

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one of the most challenging diseases in the 21st century, and more than 10 million people around the world suffer from IBD. Because of the limitations and adverse effects associated with conventional IBD therapies, there has been increased scientific interest in microbial-derived biomolecules, known as postbiotics. Postbiotics are defined as the preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer a health benefit on the host, comprising inactivated microbial cells, cell fractions, metabolites, etc. Postbiotics have shown potential in enhancing IBD treatment by reducing inflammation, modulating the immune system, stabilizing intestinal flora and maintaining the integrity of intestinal barriers. Consequently, they are considered promising adjunctive therapies for IBD. Recent studies indicate that postbiotics offer distinctive advantages, including spanning clinical (safe origin), technological (easy for storage and transportation) and economic (reduced production costs) dimensions, rendering them suitable for widespread applications in functional food/pharmaceutical. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the definition, classification and applications of postbiotics, with an emphasis on their biological activity in both the prevention and treatment of IBD. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Investigating Chemical Composition and Functionality of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 Postbiotics Prepared in Classic and Cheese Whey Media

This study aimed to characterize two types of postbiotics from Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 prepared in De Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS-Pb) and UF cheese whey (W-Pb). We compared the chemical compositions, functional properties, and toxicities of the prepared probiotics. Assessments included antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, total and individual phenolic compounds, volatile compounds, individual free amino acids, and organic acid contents. Cytotoxicity and potential effects on cell proliferation were assessed using MTT and wound healing assays in HCT-116 intestinal epithelial cancer cells. The results revealed differences in the chemical composition of the two postbiotics. Citric, lactic, and butyric acids were the main organic acids in W-Pb, whereas malic and acetic acids were the main organic acids in MRS-Pb. High levels of hydrocarbons were found in MRS-Pb. W-Pb exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli than MRS-Pb, while the antioxidant potential of MRS-Pb was higher than that of W-Pb. L. acidophilus postbiotics significantly reduced HCT-116 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner (10, 20, and 40 mg/mL for MRS-Pb and 10 and 20 mg/mL for W-Pb). MRS-Pb exhibited more potent effects and cytotoxicity than W-Pb did. Postbiotics did not affect HCT-116 cell proliferation or migration. Both postbiotics increased TAC in a concentration-dependent manner in treated cells, with MRS-Pb showing a stronger effect. These results suggest that the type of culture medium can significantly affect the bioactive properties, chemical composition, and toxicity of postbiotics.

Postbiotics are a candidate for new functional foods

Accumulating studies have highlighted the great potential of postbiotics in alleviating diseases and protecting host health. Compared with traditional functional foods (such as probiotics and prebiotics), postbiotics have the advantages of a single composition, high physiological activity, long shelf life, easy absorption, and high targeting, etc. The development of postbiotics has led to a wide range of potential applications in functional food and drug development. However, the lack of clinical trial data, mechanism analyses, safety evaluations, and effective regulatory frameworks has limited the application of postbiotic products. This review describes the definition, classification, sources, and preparation methods of postbiotics, the progress and mechanism of preclinical and clinical research in improving host diseases, and their application in food. Strengthen understanding of the recognition and development of related products to lay a theoretical foundation.

Antioxidant Properties of Postbiotics: An Overview on the Analysis and Evaluation Methods

Antioxidants found naturally in foods have a significant effect on preventing several human diseases. However, the use of synthetic antioxidants in studies has raised concerns about their potential link to liver disease and cancer. The findings show that postbiotics have the potential to act as a suitable alternative to chemical antioxidants in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. Postbiotics are bioactive compounds generated by probiotic bacteria as they ferment prebiotic fibers in the gut. These compounds can also be produced from a variety of substrates, including non-prebiotic carbohydrates such as starches and sugars, as well as proteins and organic acids, all of which probiotics utilize during the fermentation process. These are known for their antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties that help improve human health. Various methodologies have been suggested to assess the antioxidant characteristics of postbiotics. While there are several techniques to evaluate the antioxidant properties of foods and their bioactive compounds, the absence of a convenient and uncomplicated method is remarkable. However, cell-based assays have become increasingly important as an intermediate method that bridges the gap between chemical experiments and in vivo research due to the limitations of in vitro and in vivo assays. This review highlights the necessity of transitioning towards more biologically relevant cell-based assays to effectively evaluate the antioxidant activity of postbiotics. These experiments are crucial for assessing the biological efficacy of dietary antioxidants. This review focuses on the latest applications of the Caco-2 cell line in the assessment of cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) and bioavailability. Understanding the impact of processing processes on the biological properties of postbiotic antioxidants can facilitate the development of new food and pharmaceutical products.

Exploring the Potential of Postbiotics for Food Safety and Human Health Improvement

Food safety is a global concern, with millions suffering from foodborne diseases annually. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports significant morbidity and mortality associated with contaminated food consumption, and this emphasizes the critical need for comprehensive food safety measures. Recent attention has turned to postbiotics, metabolic byproducts of probiotics, as potential agents for enhancing food safety. Postbiotics, including organic acids, enzymes, and bacteriocins, exhibit antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that do not require live organisms, and this offers advantages over probiotics. This literature review critically examines the role of postbiotics in gut microbiome modulation and applications in the food industry. Through an extensive review of existing literature, this study evaluates the impact of postbiotics on gut microbiome composition and their potential as functional food ingredients. Research indicates that postbiotics are effective in inhibiting food pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, and Escherichia coli, as well as their ability to prevent oxidative stress-related diseases, and they also show promise as alternatives to conventional food preservatives that can extend food shelf life by inhibiting harmful bacterial growth. Their application in functional foods contributes to improved gut health and reduced risk of foodborne illnesses. Findings suggest that postbiotics hold promise for improving health and preservation by inhibiting pathogenic bacteria growth and modulating immune responses.

Postbiotics in the Bakery Products: Applications and Nutritional Values

In recent years, the consumption of postbiotics has gained significant attention due to their potential health benefits. However, their application in the bakery industry remains underutilized. This review focuses on recent advances in the use of postbiotics, specifically the metabolites of lactic acid bacteria, in bakery products. We provide a concise overview of the multifaceted benefits of postbiotics, including their role as natural antioxidants, antimicrobials, and preservatives, and their potential to enhance product quality, extend shelf-life, and contribute to consumer welfare. This review combines information from various sources to provide a comprehensive update on recent advances in the role of postbiotics in bakery products, subsequently discussing the concept of sourdough as a leavening agent and its role in improving the nutritional profile of bakery products. We highlighted the positive effects of postbiotics on bakery items, such as improved texture, flavor, and shelf life, as well as their potential to contribute to overall health through their antioxidant properties and their impact on gut health. Overall, this review emphasizes the promising potential of postbiotics to revolutionize the bakery industry and promote healthier and more sustainable food options. The integration of postbiotics into bakery products represents a promising frontier and offers innovative possibilities to increase product quality, reduce food waste, and improve consumer health. Further research into refining techniques to incorporate postbiotics into bakery products is essential for advancing the health benefits and eco-friendly nature of these vital food items.

Feasibility of lactiplantibacillus plantarum postbiotics production in challenging media by different techniques

The postbiotic derived from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum bacteria was produced in three culture media: milk, MRS, and whey, and its antibacterial and antifungal properties were evaluated. To investigate the production efficiency of postbiotics, three methods, heating, sonication and centrifugation, were utilized to prepare postbiotics in MRS broth culture medium. The antibacterial potency of the postbiotic was evaluated using the agar well-diffusion method, and MIC and MBC tests were conducted for different treatments. The results of the study showed that the postbiotic prepared in food environments such as milk and cheese whey can have antibacterial and antifungal properties similar to the postbiotic prepared in the MRS culture medium. However, it is possible to enrich food matrices such as milk and cheese whey and make further adjustments in terms of pH settings. Additionally, the thermal process was able to create a nanoscale postbiotic, which is a significant achievement for the application of postbiotics in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The future outlook of postbiotics clearly indicates that the emergence of this generation of probiotics can have an attractive and functional position in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, future research focusing on this subject will contribute to the development of this generation of postbiotics.

Metabolite profiling and bioactivity guided fractionation of Lactobacillaceae and rice bran postbiotics for antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium growth suppression

Probiotic-fermented supplements (postbiotics) are becoming increasingly explored for their activity against antibiotic-resistant enteropathogens. Prebiotics are often incorporated into postbiotics to enhance their efficacy, but due to strain differences in probiotic activity, postbiotic antimicrobial effects are poorly understood. To improve postbiotic antimicrobial efficacy, we investigated and compared metabolite profiles of postbiotics prepared with three lactic acid bacteria strains (L. fermentum, L. paracasei, and L. rhamnosus) cultured with and without rice bran, a globally abundant, rich source of prebiotics. At their minimum inhibitory dose, L. fermentum and L. paracasei postbiotics + rice bran suppressed S. Typhimurium growth 42-55% more versus their respective probiotic-alone postbiotics. The global, non-targeted metabolome of these postbiotics identified 109 metabolites increased in L. fermentum and L. paracasei rice bran postbiotics, including 49 amino acids, 20 lipids, and 12 phytochemicals metabolites. To identify key metabolite contributors to postbiotic antimicrobial activity, bioactivity-guided fractionation was applied to L. fermentum and L. paracasei rice bran-fermented postbiotics. Fractionation resulted in four L. fermentum and seven L. paracasei fractions capable of suppressing S. Typhimurium growth more effectively versus the negative control. These fractions were enriched in 15 metabolites that were significantly increased in the global metabolome of postbiotics prepared with rice bran versus postbiotic alone. These metabolites included imidazole propionate (enriched in L. fermentum + rice bran, 1.61-fold increase; L. paracasei + rice bran 1.28-fold increase), dihydroferulate (L. fermentum + rice bran, 5.18-fold increase), and linoleate (L. fermentum + rice bran, 1.82-fold increase; L. paracasei + rice bran, 3.19-fold increase), suggesting that they may be key metabolite drivers of S. Typhimurium growth suppression. Here, we show distinct mechanisms by which postbiotics prepared with lactic acid bacteria and rice bran produce metabolites with antimicrobial activity capable of suppressing S. Typhimurium growth. Probiotic strain differences contributing to postbiotic antimicrobial activity attract attention as adjunctive treatments against pathogens.

Postbiotics-enriched flaxseed mucilage coating: A solution to improving postharvest quality and shelf life of strawberry

This research aimed to assess the effects of flaxseed mucilage (Mu) coatings supplemented with postbiotics (P) obtained from Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 on various physical, biochemical, and microbial characteristics of strawberry fruits. Strawberry fruits were immersed for 2 min in Mu2.5 (2.5 % mucilage in distilled water), Mu5 (5 % mucilage in distilled water), P-Mu2.5 (2.5 % mucilage in undiluted postbiotics) and P-Mu5 (5 % mucilage in undiluted postbiotics) solutions and were stored at 4 °C and 85 RH for 12 days. All coatings were effective in reducing fungal count compared to the uncoated control fruits. Mu5 coating exhibited the highest efficacy, reducing fungal count by 2.85 log10 CFU/g, followed by Mu2.5 (1.47 log10 CFU/g reduction) and P-Mu2.5 groups (0.90 log10 CFU/g reduction). The fruits coated with edible coatings showed significant delays in the change of weight loss, pH, and total soluble solids as compared to the uncoated fruits. The coating containing postbiotics i.e., P-Mu5 also showed a significant increase in the total phenolic contents, total flavonoid content, antioxidant capacity, and total anthocyanin content at the end of storage relative to the uncoated fruits. Thus, Mu and P-Mu coatings may be a useful approach to maintaining the postharvest quality of strawberry fruits during cold storage.

Beyond probiotics: Exploring the potential of postbiotics and parabiotics in veterinary medicine

Postbiotics and parabiotics (PP) are emerging fields of study in animal nutrition, preventive veterinary medicine, and animal production. Postbiotics are bioactive compounds produced by beneficial microorganisms during the fermentation of a substrate, while parabiotics are inactivated beneficial microbial cells, either intact or broken. Unlike probiotics, which are live microorganisms, PP are produced from a fermentation process without live cells and show significant advantages in promoting animal health owing to their distinctive stability, safety, and functional diversity. PP have numerous beneficial effects on animal health, such as enhancing growth performance, improving the immune system and microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract, aiding ulcer healing, and preventing pathogenic microorganisms from colonizing in the skin. Moreover, PP have been identified as a potential alternative to traditional antibiotics in veterinary medicine due to their ability to improve animal health without the risk of antimicrobial resistance. This review comprehensively explores the current research and applications of PP in veterinary medicine. We aimed to thoroughly examine the mechanisms of action, benefits, and potential applications of PP in various species, emphasizing their use specifically in livestock and poultry. Additionally, we discuss the various routes of administration to animals, including feed, drinking water, and topical use. This review also presents in-depth information on the methodology behind the preparation of PP, outlining the criteria employed to select appropriate microorganisms, and highlighting the challenges commonly associated with PP utilization in veterinary medicine.

Innovative Biobased and Sustainable Polymer Packaging Solutions for Extending Bread Shelf Life: A Review

Sustainable packaging has been steadily gaining prominence within the food industry, with biobased materials emerging as a promising substitute for conventional petroleum-derived plastics. This review is dedicated to the examination of innovative biobased materials in the context of bread packaging. It aims to furnish a comprehensive survey of recent discoveries, fundamental properties, and potential applications. Commencing with an examination of the challenges posed by various bread types and the imperative of extending shelf life, the review underscores the beneficial role of biopolymers as internal coatings or external layers in preserving product freshness while upholding structural integrity. Furthermore, the introduction of biocomposites, resulting from the amalgamation of biopolymers with active biomolecules, fortifies barrier properties, thus shielding bread from moisture, oxygen, and external influences. The review also addresses the associated challenges and opportunities in utilizing biobased materials for bread packaging, accentuating the ongoing requirement for research and innovation to create advanced materials that ensure product integrity while diminishing the environmental footprint.