Increases of Lipophilic Antioxidants and Anticancer Activity of Coix Seed Fermented by Monascus purpureus

Value-added biotransformation of agricultural byproducts by cellulolytic fungi: a review

Agricultural byproducts generally contain abundant bioactive compounds (e.g., cellulose/hemicellulose, phenolic compounds (PCs), and dietary fibers (DFs)), but most of them are neglected and underutilized. Owing to the complicated and rigid structures of agricultural byproducts, a considerable amount of bioactive compounds are entrapped in the polymer matrix, impeding their further development and utilization. In recent years, the prominent performance of cellulolytic fungi to grow and degrade agricultural byproducts has been applied to achieve efficient biotransformation of byproducts to high-value compounds, which is a green and sustainable strategy for the reutilization of agricultural byproducts. This review comprehensively summarizes recent progress in the value-added biotransformation of agricultural byproducts by cellulolytic fungi, including (1) direct utilization of agricultural byproducts for biochemicals and bioethanol production via a consolidated bioprocessing, (2) recovery and biotransformation of bounded PCs from agricultural byproducts for higher bioactive properties, as well as (3) modification and conversion of insoluble DF from agricultural byproducts to produce functional soluble DF. The functional enzymes, potential mechanisms, and metabolic pathways involved are emphasized. Moreover, promising advantages and current bottlenecks using cellulolytic fungi have also been elucidated, shedding further perspectives for sustainable and efficient reutilization of agricultural byproducts by cellulolytic fungi.

Cardiovascular protection of YiyiFuzi powder and the potential mechanisms through modulating mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum interactions

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of death worldwide and represent a major public health challenge. YiyiFuzi Powder (YYFZ), composed of Coicis semen and Fuzi, is a classical traditional Chinese medicine prescription from the Synopsis of Golden Chamber dating back to the Han Dynasty. Historically, YYFZ has been used to treat various CVD, rooted in Chinese therapeutic principles. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that YYFZ may exhibit direct or indirect effects on mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) interactions. This review, focusing on the cardiovascular protective effects of Coicis semen and Fuzi, summarizes the potential mechanisms by which YYFZ acts on mitochondria and the ER. The underlying mechanisms are associated with regulating cardiovascular risk factors (such as blood lipids and glucose), impacting mitochondrial structure and function, modulating ER stress, inhibiting oxidative stress, suppressing inflammatory responses, regulating cellular apoptosis, and maintaining calcium ion balance. The involved pathways include, but were not limited to, upregulating the IGF-1/PI3K/AKT, cAMP/PKA, eNOS/NO/cGMP/SIRT1, SIRT1/PGC-1α, Klotho/SIRT1, OXPHOS/ATP, PPARα/PGC-1α/SIRT3, AMPK/JNK, PTEN/PI3K/AKT, β2-AR/PI3K/AKT, and modified Q cycle signaling pathways. Meanwhile, the MCU, NF-κB, and JAK/STAT signaling pathways were downregulated. The PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP, PERK/SREBP-1c/FAS, IRE1, PINK1-dependent mitophagy, and AMPK/mTOR signaling pathways were bidirectionally regulated. High-quality experimental studies are needed to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms of YYFZ in CVD treatment.

Effects of extracted oil of fermented Tartary buckwheat on lipid-lowering, inflammation modulation, and gut microbial regulation in mice

This study investigated the composition of Tartary buckwheat oil fermented by Monascus purpureus and extracted under supercritical CO2 conditions (FTBO) and evaluated its effects on lipid-lowering, inflammation modulation, and gut microbial regulation in mice that were fed a high-fat diet (MOD). Compared with the raw oil (TBO), the γ-oryzanol content reached 27.09 mg g-1; the monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content (such as oleic acid and palmitic acid) was elevated; and the antioxidant capacities of DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl were improved in FTBO (p < 0.0001). Then, supplementation with FTBO had a remarkable effect on reducing the body weight and visceral obesity as well as alleviating hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, inflammatory reactions, and liver damage. The TC, TG, and LDL-C levels in the liver and plasma were reduced, and the HDL-C levels in the liver were increased (p < 0.05). In particular, the high-dose group (FTBOH) exhibited the most significant effect on reducing the pro-inflammatory cytokines ET, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the liver, which were 18.85, 570.12, 50.47, and 26.22 pg mL-1, respectively (p < 0.05). Moreover, FTBO reversed intestinal disorders and increased the intestinal microbial diversity and richness. The relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus, and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006, were increased, and the relative abundance of the harmful bacteria Staphylococcus and Lachnoclostridium were reduced. In summary, FTBO has potential applications as a dietary supplement or dietary modifier in lowering blood lipids, modulating immune activity, and reversing intestinal disorders. This study provides reference guidance for the subsequent industrialization and development of Tartary buckwheat, the extension of the industrial chain, the development of new products, and the extraction of functional components.

Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Orange-Footed Sea Cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa)-Effect of Different Enzymes on Protein Yield and Bioactivity

While sea cucumber is a food delicacy in Asia, these food resources are less exploited in Europe. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition and potential food applications of the less exploited orange-footed sea cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa). In particular, the antioxidative capacity and free amino acids associated with the umami flavor released by enzymatic hydrolyses by either Bromelain + Papain (0.36%, 1:1) or Alcalase (0.36%) were studied. Fresh C. frondosa contained approximately 86% water, and low levels of ash (<1%) and lipids (<0.5%). The protein content was 5%, with a high proportion of essential amino acids (43%) and thus comparable to the FAO reference protein. The high concentration of free amino acids associated with umami, sour, sweet, and bitter may contribute to flavor enhancement. Hydrolysis by Bromelain + Papain resulted in the highest protein yield, and the greatest concentration of free amino acids associated with umami and sour taste. All samples showed promising antioxidant capacity measured by FRAP, ABTS, DPPH and ORAC compared to previous reports. The inorganic arsenic concentration of fresh C. frondosa ranged from 2 to 8 mg/kg wet weight and was not affected by processing. This is comparable to other seafood and may exceed regulatory limits of consumption.

Inorganic Selenium Transformation into Organic Selenium by Monascus purpureus

Selenium (Se) is a trace element that plays a crucial role in metabolism; a lack of selenium reduces the body's resistance and immunity, as well as causes other physiological problems. In this study, we aim to identify favorable conditions for improving organic selenium production. The functional microbe Monascus purpureus, which is widely used in food production, was employed to optimize selenium-enriched culture conditions, and its growth mode and selenium-enriched features were investigated. Spectrophotometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) were used to determine the effects of various doses of sodium selenite on the selenium content, growth, and metabolism of M. purpureus, as well as the conversion rate of organic selenium. The best culture parameters for selenium-rich M. purpureus included 7.5 mg/100 mL of selenium content in the culture medium, a pH value of 6.8, a culture temperature of 30 °C, and a rotation speed of 180 rpm. Under ideal circumstances, the mycelia had a maximum selenium concentration of approximately 239.17 mg/kg, with organic selenium accounting for 93.45%, monacoline K production reaching 70.264 mg/L, and a secondary utilization rate of external selenium of 22.99%. This study revealed a novel biological route-selenium-rich M. purpureus fermentation-for converting inorganic selenium into organic selenium.

Exploring the Anti-Cancer Effects of Fish Bone Fermented Using Monascus purpureus: Induction of Apoptosis and Autophagy in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Fish bone fermented using Monascus purpureus (FBF) has total phenols and functional amino acids that contribute to its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Colorectal cancer, one of the most prevalent cancers and the third largest cause of death worldwide, has become a serious threat to global health. This study investigates the anti-cancer effects of FBF (1, 2.5 or 5 mg/mL) on the cell growth and molecular mechanism of HCT-116 cells. The HCT-116 cell treatment with 2.5 or 5 mg/mL of FBF for 24 h significantly decreased cell viability (p < 0.05). The S and G2/M phases significantly increased by 88-105% and 25-43%, respectively (p < 0.05). Additionally, FBF increased the mRNA expression of caspase 8 (38-77%), protein expression of caspase 3 (34-94%), poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) (31-34%) and induced apoptosis (236-773%) of HCT-116 cells (p < 0.05). FBF also increased microtubule-associated protein 1B light chain 3 (LC3) (38-48%) and phosphoinositide 3 kinase class III (PI3K III) (32-53%) protein expression, thereby inducing autophagy (26-52%) of HCT-116 cells (p < 0.05). These results showed that FBF could inhibit HCT-116 cell growth by inducing S and G2/M phase arrest of the cell cycle, apoptosis and autophagy. Thus, FBF has the potential to treat colorectal cancer.

Antioxidant and Antiaging Activity of Fermented Coix Seed Polysaccharides on Caenorhabditis elegans

Aging is closely related to many diseases and is a long-term challenge that humans face. The oxidative damage caused by the imbalance of free radicals is an important factor in aging. In this study, we investigate the antioxidant and antiaging activities of fermented coix seed polysaccharides (FCSPs) via in vitro and in vivo experiments. The FCSPs were extracted by fermenting coix seed with Saccharomyces cerevisiae for 48 h and utilizing water-extracted coix seed polysaccharides (WCSPs) as a control. Their antiaging activity and mechanism were evaluated based on the antiaging model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). The results showed that the molecular weight of the FCSPs extracted by fermentation was smaller than that of the WCSPs, making them more easily absorbed and utilized. At a concentration of 5 g/L, the FCSPs' capacity to scavenge the DPPH·, ABTS+·, OH·, and O2-· radicals was greater than the WCSPs' capacity by 10.09%, 14.40%, 49.93%, and 12.86%, respectively. Moreover, C. elegans treated with FCSPs exhibited higher antioxidant enzyme activities and a lower accumulation of malonaldehyde. By inhibiting the expression of the pro-aging genes daf-2 and age-1, and upregulating the expression of the antiaging genes daf-16, sod-3, skn-1, and gcs-1 in the insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IIS) signaling pathway, the FCSPs could effectively enhance stress tolerance and delay C. elegans aging. The lifespan of C. elegans in the FCSPs group was 5.91% higher than that of the WCSPs group. In conclusion, FCSPs exert better antioxidant and antiaging effects than WCSPs, which can act as a potential functional ingredient or supplement in food.

Fungal Pigments: Carotenoids, Riboflavin, and Polyketides with Diverse Applications

Natural pigments and colorants have seen a substantial increase in use over the last few decades due to their eco-friendly and safe properties. Currently, customer preferences for more natural products are driving the substitution of natural pigments for synthetic colorants. Filamentous fungi, particularly ascomycetous fungi (Monascus, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus), have been shown to produce secondary metabolites containing a wide variety of pigments, including β-carotene, melanins, azaphilones, quinones, flavins, ankaflavin, monascin, anthraquinone, and naphthoquinone. These pigments produce a variety of colors and tints, including yellow, orange, red, green, purple, brown, and blue. Additionally, these pigments have a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, including immunomodulatory, anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiproliferative activities. This review provides an in-depth overview of fungi gathered from diverse sources and lists several probable fungi capable of producing a variety of color hues. The second section discusses how to classify coloring compounds according to their chemical structure, characteristics, biosynthetic processes, application, and present state. Once again, we investigate the possibility of employing fungal polyketide pigments as food coloring, as well as the toxicity and carcinogenicity of particular pigments. This review explores how advanced technologies such as metabolic engineering and nanotechnology can be employed to overcome obstacles associated with the manufacture of mycotoxin-free, food-grade fungal pigments.

Monascus Red Pigment Liposomes: Microstructural Characteristics, Stability, and Anticancer Activity

Monascus red pigments (MRPs), which are a kind of natural colorant produced by Monascus spp., are widely used in the food and health supplements industry but are not very stable during processing and storage. Thus, MRPs were embedded into liposome membranes using a thin-film ultrasonic method to improve stability in this study. Monascus red pigments liposomes (MRPL) exhibited spherical unilamellar vesicles (UV) with particle size, polydispersity indexes (PDI), and zeta potential of 20-200 nm, 0.362 ± 0.023, and -42.37 ± 0.21 mV, respectively. pH, thermal, light, metal ion, storage, and in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion stability revealed that, compared with free MRPs, liposomes embedding significantly enhanced the stability of MRPs when exposed to adverse environmental conditions. Furthermore, anticancer assay suggested that MRPL exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect on MKN-28 cells by damaging the integrity of cells, with the IC₅₀ value at 0.57 mg/mL. Overall, MRPLs possess stronger stability in external environment and in vitro simulated digestion with greater anticancer activity, indicating that MRPLs have the potential for promising application in the functional foods and pharmaceutical industries.

Enhanced anti-wrinkle activity of adlay bran fermented with Lactobacillus brevis MJM60390

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to screen the lactic acid bacteria for fermentation of adlay bran and evaluate the anti-wrinkle effect of fermented and non-fermented adlay bran.

METHODS

Adlay bran was fermented with candidate LAB and extracted with 70% ethanol. The extracts from LAB-fermented adlay bran and non-fermented adlay bran were evaluated for the anti-wrinkle effects by measuring the hyaluronan, collagen, and elastin production in cells using ELISA kit. The molecular anti-wrinkle mechanism was investigated by RT-qPCR. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoid content were also determined.

RESULTS

Among the tested LAB, Lactobacillus brevis MJM60390 was selected for the highest glycosidase activity. Both extracts from adlay bran (NFAB) and L. brevis MJM60390-fermented adlay bran (LBFAB) showed anti-wrinkle effect, and LBFAB showed higher activity. Compared with control, hyaluronan production was increased by 24.73% and 59.38%, collagen production was increased by -13.08% and 34.19%, and the elastin production was increased by 29.78% and 53.73% by NFAB and LBFAB treatment, respectively. Investigation on the mRNA expression showed that LBFAB upregulated the expression of Has 2 and Has 3 and downregulate HYAL1 and HYAL2. LBFAB also upregulated the mRNA expression of COL1A1, COL1A2, ELN and inhibited the expression of collagenase and elastase. However, not all of these genes were regulated by NFAB. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity was significantly increased after fermentation, and the content of the phenolic and flavonoid compounds also increased in the LBFAB.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we demonstrated that fermentation of adlay bran with L. brevis MJM60390 enhanced the anti-wrinkle activity through increasing the hyaluronan synthesis in keratinocytes and improving collagen and elastin production in dermal fibroblasts.

Development of a Reliable ic-ELISA with a Robust Antimatrix Interference Capability Based on QuEChERS Technology for the Rapid Detection of Zearalenone in Edible and Medical Coix Seeds and Subsequent Risk Assessments

Indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) is an ideal immunoassay method for large-scale screenings to detect mycotoxin contaminants. However, the matrix effect of complicated samples has always been challenging when performing immunoassays, as it leads to false-positive or negative results. In this study, convenient QuEChERS technology combined with optimizing the dilution solvent was ingeniously used to eliminate interference from the sample matrix to greatly improve the detection accuracy, and reliable ic-ELISAs for the two official tolerance levels of 60 and 500 μg/kg were developed to screen zearalenone (ZEN) in edible and medical coix seeds without any further correction. Then, the 122 batches of coix seeds were determined, and the positive rate was up to 97.54%. The contaminated distribution was further analyzed, and risk assessment was subsequently performed for its edible and medical purposes. The findings indicated that consumption of coix seeds with higher ZEN contamination levels may cause adverse health effects for both medical and edible consumption in the adult population; even under the condition of average contamination level, ZEN from coix seeds was the more prominent contributor to the total risk compared to other sources when used as food; thus, effective prevention and control should be an essential topic in the future.

Safety Evaluation of Heavy Metal Contamination and Pesticide Residues in Coix Seeds in Guizhou Province, China

The coix seed is a medicinal and edible plant with rich nutritional and medicinal values. With the expansion of the coix seed consumption market, the problem of coix seed safety has attracted attention worldwide. The aims of this work were to evaluate the contamination of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr) and 116 pesticides in coix seeds collected from 12 main producing regions of coix seeds in the Guizhou Province of China and to analyze the major contributors of heavy metal and pesticide contamination in coix seed. The results show that the average contents of Pb, Cd, As and Cr in the 123 coix seed samples were 0.0069, 0.0021, 0.0138 and 0.1107 mg/kg, respectively, while Hg was not detected in all coix seed samples. Among the five heavy metals detected, only the Cr contents of three samples were found to be higher than the contaminant limit of Chinese standard GB2762-2017 (CSGB). A total of 13 pesticides were detected in 29 samples from seven main production regions of coix seeds, accounting for 23.6% of all the samples. The detection rates of chlorpyrifos were the highest (8.13%), followed by fenpropathrin (4.06%), bifenthrin (2.43%) and phoxim (1.62%), while the detection rates of the remaining pesticides were below 1%. Moreover, the residual risk score of dichlorvos was the highest of all the pesticides detected. The pollution index and risk assessment of heavy metals and pesticide residues indicates that coix seeds were at safe levels for consumption. In the production process of coix seeds, the local government should control the soil in areas heavily polluted by heavy metals and strengthen the monitoring and guidance on the scientific and rational use of pesticides.

Actional Mechanisms of Active Ingredients in Functional Food Adlay for Human Health

Medicinal and food homologous adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) plays an important role in natural products promoting human health. We demonstrated the systematic actional mechanism of functional ingredients in adlay to promote human health, based on the PubMed, CNKI, Google, and ISI Web of Science databases from 1988 to 2022. Adlay and its extracts are rich in 30 ingredients with more than 20 health effects based on human and animal or cell cultures: they are anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-obesity, liver protective, anti-virus, gastroprotective, cardiovascular protective, anti-hypertension, heart disease preventive, melanogenesis inhibiting, anti-allergy, endocrine regulating, anti-diabetes, anti-cachexia, osteoporosis preventive, analgesic, neuroprotecting, suitable for the treatment of gout arthritis, life extending, anti-fungi, and detoxifying effects. Function components with anti-oxidants are rich in adlay. These results support the notion that adlay seeds may be one of the best functional foods and further reveal the action mechanism of six major functional ingredients (oils, polysaccharides, phenols, phytosterols, coixol, and resistant starch) for combating diseases. This review paper not only reveals the action mechanisms of adding adlay to the diet to overcome 17 human diseases, but also provides a scientific basis for the development of functional foods and drugs for the treatment of human diseases.

Metabolomics Analysis Coupled with Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis Unravels the Associations of Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle-Intermediates with Edible Pigments Produced by Monascus purpureus (Hong Qu)

Monascus azaphilones pigments (MonAzPs) produced by microbial fermentation are widely used as food chemicals for coloring and supplying beneficial biological attributes. In this study, a fermentation perturbation strategy was implemented by separately adding different amino acids, and detecting the intracellular metabolome via UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS. With the aid of weighted gene co-expression network analysis, two metabolic intermediates, fumarate and malate, involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, were identified as the hub metabolites. Moreover, exogenous addition of fumarate or malate significantly promoted red pigment production, and reduced orange/yellow pigment production. The importance of the tricarboxylic acid cycle was further emphasized by detecting intracellular levels of ATP, NAD(P)H, and expression of oxidoreductase-coding genes located in the MonAzPs synthetic gene cluster, suggesting a considerable effect of the energy supply on MonAzPs synthesis. Collectively, metabolomics is a powerful approach to position the crucial metabolic regulatory factors, and facilitate the development of engineering strategies for targeted regulation, lower trial-and-error cost, and advance safe and controllable processes for fermented food chemistry industries.

Identification of the high-yield monacolin K strain from Monascus spp. and its submerged fermentation using different medicinal plants

BACKGROUND

Medical plants confer various benefits to human health and their bioconversion through microbial fermentation can increase efficacy, reduce toxicity, conserve resources and produce new chemical components. In this study, the cholesterol-lowering monacolin K genes and content produced by Monascus species were identified. The high-yield monacolin K strain further fermented with various medicinal plants. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, red pigment and monacolin K content, total phenolic content, and metabolites in the fermented products were analyzed.

RESULTS

Monacolin K was detected in Monascus pilosus (BCRC 38072), and Monascus ruber (BCRC 31533, 31523, 31534, 31535, and 33323). It responded to the highly homologous mokA and mokE genes encoding polyketide synthase and dehydrogenase. The high-yield monacolin K strain, M. ruber BCRC 31535, was used for fermentation with various medicinal plants. A positive relationship between the antioxidant capacity and total phenol content of the fermented products was observed after 60 days of fermentation, and both declined after 120 days of fermentation. By contrast, red pigment and monacolin K accumulated over time during fermentation, and the highest monacolin K content was observed in the fermentation of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, as confirmed by RT-qPCR. Moreover, Monascus-fermented medicinal plants including Paeonia lactiflora, Alpinia oxyphylla, G. uralensis, and rice were not cytotoxic. Only the product of Monascus-fermented G. uralensis significantly exhibited the anti-inflammatory capacity in a dose-dependent manner in lipopolysaccharide-induced Raw264.7 cells. The metabolites of G. uralensis with and without fermentation (60 days) were compared by LC/MS. 2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol, and 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoate were considered to enhance the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ability.

CONCLUSIONS

Given that highly homologous monacolin K and citrinin genes can be observed in Monascus spp., monacolin K produced by Monascus species without citrinin genes can be detected through the complementary methods of PCR and HPLC. In addition, the optimal fermentation time was important to the acquisition of antioxidants, red pigment and monacolin K. These bioactive substances were significantly affected by medicinal plants over fermentation time. Consequently, Monascus-fermented G. uralensis had a broad spectrum of biological activities.

Multiple Approaches to Improve the Quality of Cereal-Based Foods

The interest in improving the health benefits of cereal foods is continuously increasing [...]

Coix seed polysaccharides alleviate type 2 diabetes mellitus via gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids activation of IGF1/PI3K/AKT signaling

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become a worldwide concern in recent years. Coix seed (CS) as a homologous substance of traditional Chinese medicine and food, its polysaccharides can improve the symptoms of patients with metabolic disorders. Since most plant polysaccharides are difficult to digest and absorb, we hypothesized that Coix seed polysaccharides (CSP) exert hypoglycemic effects through the gut. In this study, the underlying mechanisms regulating hypoglycemic effects of CSP on a T2DM mouse model were investigated. After treatment with CSP, serum insulin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased, while total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were decreased in T2DM mice. In addition, CSP treatment helped repair the intestinal barrier and modulated the gut microbial composition in T2DM mice, mainly facilitating the growth of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, Spearman's analysis revealed these bacteria were positively related with the hypoglycemic efficacy of CSP. Colonic transcriptome analysis indicated the hypoglycemic effect of CSP was associated with the activation of the IGF1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Correlative analysis revealed that this activation may result from the increase of SCFAs-producing bacteria by CSP. GC-MS detection verified that CSP treatment increased fecal SCFAs levels. Molecular docking revealed that SCFAs could bind with IGF1, PI3K, and AKT. Our findings demonstrated that CSP treatment modulates gut microbial composition, especially of the SCFAs-producing bacteria, activates the IGF1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, and exhibits hypoglycemic efficacy.

Enhancement of Anti-Proliferative Activity of the Extracts from Dehulled Adlay by Fermentation with Bacillus&nbsp;subtilis

Dehulled adlay was fermented with Bacillus subtilis BJ3-2, the anti-proliferative activities of the extracts from fermented dehulled adlay were investigated with six types of tumor cells, and then the bioactive components and the anti-proliferative mechanism were primarily explored. Results showed that all the extracts of B.subtilis-fermented dehulled adlay (BDA) and dehulled adlay (DA) had no inhibition effect on human embryonic kidney 239T cells. The anti-proliferative activities of the extracts from BDA against six types of tumor cells were almost always significantly higher than DA. Compared with others, the n-butanol extract of BDA (BDA-Nb) exhibited stronger anti-proliferative activities against human leukemia K562 cells and human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. Importantly, the anti-proliferative activity of fermented dehulled adlay against K562 cells was firstly discovered. Meanwhile, BDA-Nb was rich in tetramethylpyrazine, γ-aminobutyric acid, protocatechuic, 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzoic, chlorogenic, p-hydroxybenzoic, caffeic, trans-cinnamic, ferulic acids, and rutin. BDA-Nb induced the proliferative inhibition of K562 and A549 cells due to abnormal cell morphology, the increased cell population in G1 phase and apoptosis rate, the downregulation of Bcl-2, and the upregulation of Bax and caspase-3/8/9. These results indicate that dehulled adlay fermented with B.subtilis could be a potential therapeutic agent for leukemia and lung cancer.

Microbial pigments as an alternative to synthetic dyes and food additives: a brief review of recent studies

Synthetic coloring agents have been broadly utilized in several industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetic and textile. Recent surveys on the potential of teratogenicity and carcinogenicity of synthetic dyes have expressed concerns regarding their use in foods. Worldwide, food industries have need for safe, natural and new colorings to add variety to foods and make them appealing to consumers. Natural colorings not only expand the marketability of the food product, but also add further healthful features such as antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer and antiviral properties. Novel microbial strains should be explored to meet the increasing global search of natural pigments and suitable techniques must be developed for the marketable production of new pigments, using microbial cultures, viz., fungi, and bacteria. To address the issue of the natural coloring agents, this review presents the recent trends in several studies of microbial pigments, their biological properties and industrial applications.