Anticancer Activity of Kefir on Glioblastoma Cancer Cell as a New Treatment

Kefir as a therapeutic agent in clinical research: a scoping review

Increasing research has been conducted on the role of probiotics in disease treatment. Kefir, a safe, low-cost probiotic fermented milk drink, has been investigated in many in vitro and animal studies, although parameters for human therapeutic dose or treatment time have not yet been determined. Here we perform a scoping review of clinical studies that have used kefir as a therapeutic agent, compiling the results for perspectives to support and direct further research. This review was based on Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, including studies on the effects of kefir-fermented milk in humans. Using the term KEFIR, the main international databases were searched for studies published in English, Spanish or Portuguese until 9 March 2022. A total of 5835 articles were identified in the four databases, with forty-four eligible for analysis. The research areas were classified as metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, gastrointestinal health/disorders, maternal/child health and paediatrics, dentistry, oncology, women's and geriatric health, and dermatology. The many study limitations hampered generalisation of the results. The small sample sizes, methodological variation and differences in kefir types, dosage and treatment duration prevented clear conclusions about its benefits for specific diseases. We suggest using a standard therapeutic dose of traditionally prepared kefir in millilitres according to body weight, making routine consumption more feasible. The studies showed that kefir is safe for people without serious illnesses.

A medical and molecular approach to kefir as a therapeutic agent of human microbiota

The imbalanced microbial composition called dysbiosis constitutes a tendency related to different kind of human diseases. To overcome the disadvantages of dysbiosis, the consumption of probiotics is an emerging and promising topic of the last decade. Kefir is a probiotic fermented beverage produced from the fermentation of kefir grains with changing varieties of milk and displays a symbiotic association of bacteria and yeast. The discovery of the concept that fermented foods/beverages such as kefir could modify gut microbiota in humans has widened the borders of precision medicine and now microbiome therapeutics can be considered as a significant part of this field. Kefir seems to have potential to guide and manipulate future replacement/complementary therapies with a variety of beneficial biological/medical properties it has. The aim of this review was a comprehensive recapitulation of probiotic beverage kefir's significant properties mainly focusing of antioxidative, immunomodulatory, apoptotic, antitumor and neuroprotective properties. Apoptotic/antimetastatic effects are regulated at the molecular level by increases in TGF-β1, caspase-3, p53, Bax, Bax:Bcl-2 ratio, p21 and decreases in TGF-α, Bcl-2 and MMP polarization. Neuroprotective effects are revealed upon upregulation of SOD/catalase and anti-inflammatory Treg cells, decreases in repetitive behavior and modulation of apoptotic genes. Besides these significant features that may offer advantages in supplementary cancer therapies, the scope was also extended to recent emerging medical topics and also discussed and evaluated the concept of "psychobiotics". The therapeutic potential of psychobiotic effect is majorly attributed to the increased ratios of Clostridium butyricum, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

Camel milk products beyond yoghurt and fresh milk: challenges, processing and applications

Camel (Camelus dromedarius and (Camelus bactrianus) are commonly domesticated in the arid and semi-arid regions because they are well adapted to live in harsh climatic conditions. Camel milk is widely consumed in these regions due to its high nutritional value and medicinal properties. It is rich in protein, minerals and vitamins. Moreover, it possesses therapeutic properties such as anti-microbial, anti-oxidants, anti-viral and anti-cancer. Camel milk can be processed into value added products with the aim of extending shelf life and diversifying its usage. However, there are various challenges experienced in processing of camel milk products. This study aims at reviewing published literature on camel milk products processing, processing challenges, the available solutions and applications. To achieve these aims, literature search was carried out using narrative methodology. Literature review provided information concerning processing of camel milk products, the challenges, how to overcome these processing challenges and applications. From this review of literature on camel milk products it can be concluded that it's possible to process these products with some challenges but scientific and technological solutions are available that are improving over time.

An overview of fermentation in the food industry - looking back from a new perspective

Fermentation is thought to be born in the Fertile Crescent, and since then, almost every culture has integrated fermented foods into their dietary habits. Originally used to preserve foods, fermentation is now applied to improve their physicochemical, sensory, nutritional, and safety attributes. Fermented dairy, alcoholic beverages like wine and beer, fermented vegetables, fruits, and meats are all highly valuable due to their increased storage stability, reduced risk of food poisoning, and enhanced flavor. Over the years, scientific research has associated the consumption of fermented products with improved health status. The fermentation process helps to break down compounds into more easily digestible forms. It also helps to reduce the amount of toxins and pathogens in food. Additionally, fermented foods contain probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that help the body to digest food and absorb nutrients. In today's world, non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and allergies have increased. In this regard, scientific investigations have demonstrated that shifting to a diet that contains fermented foods can reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases. Moreover, in the last decade, there has been a growing interest in fermentation technology to valorize food waste into valuable by-products. Fermentation of various food wastes has resulted in the successful production of valuable by-products, including enzymes, pigments, and biofuels.

Anti-Diabetic Effect of Lactobacillus Paracasei Isolated from Malaysian Water Kefir Grains

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is alarming because it is always linked to the increase in chronic diseases, mortality, and socioeconomic burden. Water kefir has a wide range of functional and probiotic characteristics attributed to the microorganisms present in the kefir grains. The present study aims to evaluate the in vivo anti-diabetic potential of the isolated Lactobacillus paracasei from Malaysian water kefir grains (MWKG) which was reported to have excellent probiotic properties and high antioxidant activities as reported previously. High-fat diet/streptozotocin (HFD/STZ) induction was used to obtain a T2DM model followed by treatment with the isolated L. paracasei from MWKG. The levels of glucose, insulin, and in vivo liver antioxidants were quantified after 14 weeks. Gene expression analysis of the liver was also carried out using microarray analysis, and several genes were selected for validation using quantitative real-time PCR. Insulin tolerance test demonstrated that the L. paracasei isolated from the MWKG alleviated T2DM by improving the area under the curve of the insulin tolerance test whereby low-dose and high-dose concentrations treated groups showed 2424.50 ± 437.02 mmol/L·min and 2017.50 ± 347.09 mmol/L·min, respectively, compared to untreated diabetic mice which was 3884.50 ± 39.36 mmol/L·min. Additionally, treatment with the isolated L. paracasei from MWKG regulated the expression of several genes related to glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism in diabetic mice. These results suggested that the isolated L. paracasei from MWKG could be a potential dietary supplement for T2DM.

Health Benefits of Consuming Foods with Bacterial Probiotics, Postbiotics, and Their Metabolites: A Review

Over the years, probiotics have been extensively studied within the medical, pharmaceutical, and food fields, as it has been revealed that these microorganisms can provide health benefits from their consumption. Bacterial probiotics comprise species derived from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) (genus Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, and Streptococcus), the genus Bifidobacterium, and strains of Bacillus and Escherichia coli, among others. The consumption of probiotic products is increasing due to the current situation derived from the pandemic caused by COVID-19. Foods with bacterial probiotics and postbiotics are premised on being healthier than those not incorporated with them. This review aims to present a bibliographic compilation related to the incorporation of bacterial probiotics in food and to demonstrate through in vitro and in vivo studies or clinical trials the health benefits obtained with their metabolites and the consumption of foods with bacterial probiotics/postbiotics. The health benefits that have been reported include effects on the digestive tract, metabolism, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and psychobiotic properties, among others. Therefore, developing food products with bacterial probiotics and postbiotics is a great opportunity for research in food science, medicine, and nutrition, as well as in the food industry.

Anthocyanin Addition to Kefir: Metagenomic Analysis of Microbial Community Structure

The addition of anthocyanin to kefir for the production of more functional and bio-diversified kefir beverages has the potential to increase kefir's healthful activities. In the present study, anthocyanin extracts, obtained from black carrots, were added into kefir mixture during the fermentation process in different concentrations (1% and 5%, w/v). These kefir samples were then analyzed in terms of their microbiological qualities by metagenomic analysis. The results of the analyses show that the addition of anthocyanin has significant impacts on the community structure of kefir microbiome which in turn directly affects the expected health impacts of the beverage. Kefir with no anthocyanin included predominantly probiotic bacteria such as Lactococcus lactis (34%) and Lactobacillus kefiri (34%). On the other hand, kefir with 1% anthocyanin demonstrated a more balanced distribution of probiotic species like Lb. kefiri (17%), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (9%), and Lc. lactis (5%) at similar abundance rates. 5% anthocyanin kefir demonstrated the highest polarity in the community with a strong dominance of probiotic Lb. kefiri (72%), and distinctly less abundant bacteria such as Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus (3%). These findings provide that fortification with anthocyanins can be utilized to enhance the quality, composition, and beneficial functions of kefir.

Bifidobacterium lactis combined with Lactobacillus plantarum inhibit glioma growth in mice through modulating PI3K/AKT pathway and gut microbiota

Glioma is a common primary aggressive tumor with limited clinical treatment. Recently, growing research suggests that gut microbiota is involved in tumor progression, and several probiotics can inhibit tumor growth. However, evidence for the effect of probiotics on glioma is lacking. Here, we found that Bifidobacterium (B.) lactis combined with Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum reduced tumor volume, prolonged survival time and repaired the intestinal barrier damage in an orthotopic mouse model of glioma. Experiments demonstrated that B. lactis combined with L. plantarum suppressed the PI3K/AKT pathway and down-regulated the expression of Ki-67 and N-cadherin. The glioma-inhibitory effect of probiotic combination is also related to the modulation of gut microbiota composition, which is characterized by an increase in relative abundance of Lactobacillus and a decrease in some potential pathogenic bacteria. Additionally, probiotic combination altered fecal metabolites represented by fatty acyls and organic oxygen compounds. Together, our results prove that B. lactis combined with L. plantarum can inhibit glioma growth by suppressing PI3K/AKT pathway and regulating gut microbiota composition and metabolites in mice, thus suggesting the potential benefits of B. lactis and L. plantarum against glioma.

Probiotic-derived heptelidic acid exerts antitumor effects on extraintestinal melanoma through glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity control

Background

Several microorganisms inhabit the mammalian gastrointestinal tract and are associated with the pathogenesis of various diseases, including cancer. Recent studies have indicated that several probiotics produce antitumor molecules and inhibit host tumor progression. We demonstrated that heptelidic acid (HA), a sesquiterpene lactone derived from the probiotic Aspergillus oryzae, exerts antitumor effects against pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. In this study, the antitumor effects of HA against extraintestinal melanoma were assessed in vitro and in vivo.

Results

Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay revealed that the growth of B16F10 cells was significantly inhibited by HA in a concentration-dependent manner. The enzymatic activity of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) decreased in proportion with the growth inhibition effect of HA. Moreover, oral HA administration significantly suppressed the growth of transplanted B16F10 tumors without any significant changes in biochemical test values. Moreover, GAPDH activity in the transplanted tumor tissues in the HA group significantly decreased compared with that in the PBS group.

Conclusion

This study suggests that orally administered HA was absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, reached the cancer cells transplanted in the skin, and inhibited GAPDH activity, thereby inhibiting the growth of extraintestinal melanoma cells. Thus, this study proposes a novel system for extraintestinal tumor regulation via gut bacteria-derived bioactive mediators.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-022-02530-0.

Importance of Bioactive Substances in Sheep's Milk in Human Health

Sheep's milk is an important source of bioactive substances that have health-promoting functions for the body. The valuable composition of sheep's milk is due to the high content of fatty acids, immunoglobulins, proteins, hormones, vitamins and minerals. Many biopeptides found in milk have antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. The bioactive substances of sheep's milk also show anticancer properties. Sheep's milk, thanks to its content of CLA and orotic acid, prevents the occurrence of type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Sheep's milk, as a product rich in bioactive substances, can be used as a medical aid to support the body in the fight against neurological and cancer diseases.