Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Probiotic Candidate Strains Isolated during Fermentation of Agave (Agave angustifolia Haw)

Targeted Screening of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Strains Isolated from Tomatoes and Its Application in Tomato Fermented Juice

This study explores the functional attributes of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) strains isolated from fermented tomato juice, focusing on their physiological, biochemical, and probiotic characteristics. The identified 66 gram-positive strains included 36 L. plantarum ones, which exhibited robust growth in acidic environments (pH 2.0-5.0) and utilization of various carbohydrates. Notably, seven strains outperformed a commercial strain in extreme acidic conditions. Antioxidant activity varied, with strain A24 showing the highest hydroxyl radical scavenging ability, while strains with high surface hydrophobicity had lower DPPH scavenging activity, indicating no direct correlation between these properties. Strains also showed strain-specific differences in carbohydrate utilization and antibiotic resistance, with some resistant to gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. Survival rates under simulated gastrointestinal conditions were strain-specific, with some strains demonstrating high survival rates, indicating their potential as probiotics. Furthermore, 13 strains used as fermentation starters in tomato juice significantly enhanced antioxidant activity and reduced pH and total soluble solids, indicating efficient sugar utilization and lactic acid production. These findings suggest that L. plantarum strains are well-suited for functional food fermentation and probiotic applications, with strain-specific traits offering versatility for use in acidic food products and probiotic formulations.

Probiotic and Rice-Derived Compound Combination Mitigates Colitis Severity

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the ability of Enterococcus lactis (E. lactis) and Hasawi rice protein lysate (HPL) to suppress colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in miceColitis is characterized by inflammation of the colon, and exploring potential therapeutic agents could lead to improved management strategies.

METHODS

Male mice were subjected to DSS treatment to induce colitis, followed by supplementation with E. lactis and/or HPL. The study assessed various parameters, including disease activity index (DAI) scores, gut permeability measured using FITC-dextran, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in excised colon tissues from both treated and untreated control groups.

RESULTS

E. lactis supplementation significantly alleviated DSS-induced colitis, as evidenced by improved DAI scores and enhanced gut permeability. Notably, E. lactis combined with HPL (0.1 mg/108) exhibited superior tolerance to a 0.5% pancreatin solution compared to E. lactis alone. Both E. lactis and the combination treatment significantly increased SOD activity (5.6 ± 0.23 SOD U/mg protein for E. lactis and 6.7 ± 0.23 SOD U/mg protein for the combination) relative to the Azoxymethane (AOM)/DSS group, suggesting a reduction in oxidative stress. Additionally, pro-inflammatory markers were significantly reduced in the group receiving both E. lactis and HPL compared to the E. lactis-only group. Levels of proteins associated with cell death, such as PCNA, PTEN, VEGF, COX-2, and STAT-3, were significantly decreased by 14.8% to 80% following E. lactis supplementation, with the combination treatment showing the most pronounced effects.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest E. lactis supplementation may be beneficial for colitis, with HPL potential to enhance its effectiveness.

The Plethora of Microbes with Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Inflammation, which has important functions in human defense systems and in maintaining the dynamic homeostasis of the body, has become a major risk factor for the progression of many chronic diseases. Although the applied medical products alleviate the general status, they still exert adverse effects in the long term. For this reason, the solution should be sought in more harmless and affordable agents. Microorganisms offer a wide range of active substances with anti-inflammatory properties. They confer important advantages such as their renewable and inexhaustible nature. This review aims to provide the most recent updates on microorganisms of different types and genera, being carriers of anti-inflammatory activity.

Recent updates on correlation between reactive oxygen species and synbiotics for effective management of ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is presently considered a multifactorial pathology, which may lead to persistent inflammatory action of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) because of an improperly managed immunological reactivity to the intestinal microbiota found in the GIT. The immune response to common commensal microbes plays an essential role in intestinal inflammation related to UC synbiotics, and it is an important element in the optimal therapy of UC. Therefore, synbiotics, i.e., a mixture of prebiotics and probiotics, may help control the diseased state. Synbiotics alleviate the inflammation of the colon by lowering the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and improving the level of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Prebiotic supplementation is not a common practice at the moment, despite numerous research findings proving that the benefits of both probiotics and prebiotics encourage their continued existence and positioning in the GIT, with positive effects on human health by managing the inflammatory response. However, the fact that there have been fewer studies on the treatment of UC with different probiotics coupled with selected prebiotics, i.e., synbiotics, and the outcomes of these studies have been very favorable. This evidence-based study explores the possible role of ROS, SOD, and synbiotics in managing the UC. The proposed review also focuses on the role of alteration of gut microbiota, antioxidant defense in the gastrointestinal tract, and the management of UC. Thus, the current article emphasizes oxidative stress signaling in the GI tract, oxidative stress-based pathomechanisms in UC patients, and UC therapies inhibiting oxidative stress' effects.

The Therapeutic Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids Mediated Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet-Gut Microbiota Relationships in Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

The very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) has been recognized as a promising dietary regimen for the treatment of several diseases. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by anaerobic bacterial fermentation of indigestible dietary fibre in the gut have potential value for their underlying epigenetic role in the treatment of obesity and asthma-related inflammation through mediating the relationships between VLCKD and the infant gut microbiota. However, it is still unclear how VLCKD might influence gut microbiota composition in children, and how SCFAs could play a role in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To overcome this knowledge gap, this review aims to investigate the role of SCFAs as key epigenetic metabolites that mediate VLCKD-gut microbiota relationships in children, and their therapeutic potential in IBD.

Micropropagation of Seed-Derived Clonal Lines of the Endangered Agave marmorata Roezl and Their Compatibility with Endophytes

Simple Summary

The wild Agave marmorata Roezl has been classified as an endangered species. Extracting these plants from the forest for commercial purposes and long maturation periods of close to 30 years have contributed to their loss. A. marmorata interacts with pollinators and other Agaves species to maintain genetic variability. Thus, the conservation and restoration of the agave ecosystem is an ecological challenge. Typically, agave micropropagation use meristem or leaves as explants to rapidly produce uniform agave plants in age and size on a large scale leading to homogeneous plantations. However, introducing these clones to the field reduces genetic variability. This study evaluated in vitro micropropagation of A. marmorata from seeds to generate clonal lines. The selected seedlings exhibited variations in multiplication capacity and stable tissue formation. Variations in clonal lines could be exploited to produce high-quality plants with different capacities, such as faster propagation, enhanced stress adaptation, and continued growth under nutrient limitation conditions, consequently maintaining genetic variability. Furthermore, some clonal lines were inoculated with four endophytic bacteria to identify other differences among these plants, including endophyte-host compatibility. Variable responses to inoculation were observed among clonal lines. We found that Achromobacter xylosoxidans was compatible, unlike Enterobacter cloacae which caused plant death.

Abstract

A. marmorata is the raw material used for tepextate mescal production but is classified as an endangered species. In the present study, we obtain and multiply clonal lines of Agave marmorata Roezl by selecting seedlings derived from seeds. Ten seedlings from two lots of 400 germinated seeds were selected for axillary bud proliferation induced by BAP 5 mg/L in vitamin-free Murashige and Skoog’s medium. Differences in shoot numbers, heights and senescent tissue formation were observed. Notably, the AM32 line formed 84 shoots and presented low senescent tissue after 60 d of culture. We also selected the AM31 and AM33 clonal lines. Four-month shoots were extracted with 80% methanol in water to determine the total content of saponins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids and compare the three clonal lines. Some bioactive molecules were identified using HPLC techniques and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry none showed significant differences in content. Additionally, plants derived from the clonal lines were inoculated with four endophytic bacteria. Among these, Achromobacter xylosoxidans supported plant growth of AM32. A notable effect of plant death was observed after inoculation with Enterobacter cloacae, an endophyte of A. tequilana. Additionally, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an endophyte from A. marmorata, reduced biomass. Our results demonstrate the incompatibility of A. marmorata to E. cloacae and specialization between the host plant and its endophytes. The compatibility of the plant-endophyte could be exploited to boost the establishment and stability of mutualisms to benefit plant development, stress tolerance and pathogen resistance. The differences in multiplication capacity, stable tissue formation, and endophyte biotization responses may indicate genetic variability. Clonal selection and micropropagation from seed-derived plants could contribute to conserving the endangered A. marmorata plant for reforestation in their natural habitats, thus, assuring mass propagation for sustainable industrial production of mescal, bioactive compounds, and prebiotics.

Strategies for the Identification and Assessment of Bacterial Strains with Specific Probiotic Traits

Early in the 1900s, it was proposed that health could be improved and senility delayed by manipulating gut microbiota with the host-friendly bacteria found in yogurt. Later, in 1990, the medical community reconsidered this idea and today probiotics represent a developed area of research with a billion-dollar global industry. As a result, in recent decades, increased attention has been paid to the isolation and characterization of novel probiotic bacteria from fermented foods and dairy products. Most of the identified probiotic strains belong to the lactic acid bacteria group and the genus Bifidobacterium. However, current molecular-based knowledge has allowed the identification and culture of obligatory anaerobic commensal bacteria from the human gut, such as Akkermansia spp. and Faecalibacterium spp., among other human symbionts. We are aware that the identification of new strains of these species does not guarantee their probiotic effects and that each effect must be proved through in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies before clinical trials (before even considering it as a probiotic strain). In most cases, the identification and characterization of new probiotic strain candidates may lack the appropriate set of in vitro experiments allowing the next assessment steps. Here, we address some innovative strategies reported in the literature as alternatives to classical characterization: (i) identification of alternatives using whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing, metabolomics, and multi-omics analysis; and (ii) probiotic characterization based on molecular effectors and/or traits to target specific diseases (i.e., inflammatory bowel diseases, colorectal cancer, allergies, among others).

Looking inside Mexican Traditional Food as Sources of Synbiotics for Developing Novel Functional Products

Currently, emerging alimentary alternatives are growing, leading to the consumption of natural products including bio, fermented, and traditional foods. The studies over functional properties of food matrices and their derived compounds have resulted in the development of new functional alimentary items. However, most of the population still has limited access to, and information about, suitable foods. Analyzing traditional fermented products, we found fermented food matrices containing beneficial bacteria, with the possibility of exerting effects on different substrates enhancing the bioavailability of short-chain fatty acids (SFCAs), antioxidants, among other food-derived products. Maize (Zea mays L.), agave varieties, nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica), and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were key foods for the agricultural and nutritional development of Mesoamerica. We believe that the traditional Mexican diet has relevant ingredients with these functionalities and their association will allow us to develop functional food suitable for each population and their current needs. In this review, the functional properties of maize, agave, nopal, and frijol are detailed, and the functional food innovation and development opportunities for these food matrices are analyzed, which may be an important precedent for future basic and applied research.