The In Vitro Analysis of Prebiotics to Be Used as a Component of a Synbiotic Preparation

The role of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) extract in medical foods for obese patients: Effects on gut microbiota in a colon model

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.), rich in mitragynine and polyphenols, suppresses and affects the metabolism of macronutrients, making it a functional ingredient in medical food for obese patients. This research focuses on the formulation of a kratom-supplemented medical food (MKT) and its effects on the gut microbiota of obese patients using in vitro fecal fermentation, as well as the production of their metabolites in a simulated human colon system. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing and studies on α- and β-diversity revealed favorable outcomes for MKT, demonstrating the promotion of beneficial bacteria and the suppression of pathogens in obese patients. However, the commercial medical food (MC) resulted in the production of more short-chain fatty acids. In conclusion, the developed kratom-supplemented formula shows potential for use in the diets of obese patients. However, further investigation through animal and human trials is needed to confirm its safety and effectiveness.

Lactic Acid Bacteria from Northern Thai (Lanna) Fermented Foods: A Promising Source of Probiotics with Applications in Synbiotic Formulation

Northern Thai culture offers a rich variety of traditional fermented foods beneficial for gastrointestinal health. In this study, we characterized lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from various indigenous fermented foods as potential probiotic candidates and determined their properties for application in commercial synbiotic formulation. Five isolates demonstrating high tolerance to low pH (2.0) and 0.3% bile salts were collected and characterized. These included three strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum isolated from nham (NB1, NP2, and NP11) and two strains of Limosilactobacillus fermentum isolated from pla-som (PS4 and PS7). All the selected LAB isolates exhibited γ-hemolytic activity, strong antimicrobial activity, and high resistance to gastric and duodenal digestion conditions. Among the LAB isolates, L. plantarum NB1 demonstrated the highest capacity for adhesion to Caco-2 cells, auto-aggregation, and antioxidant activity, differing significantly (p < 0.05) from the other isolates. Furthermore, the NB1 strain exhibited preferential growth in the presence of commercial prebiotics (fructooligosaccharide, lactose, and inulin) and good survival after lyophilization, which is a desirable characteristic for a powdered ingredient. Therefore, the NB1 strain is a suitable probiotic candidate for applications in synbiotic formulation or as a functional food ingredient.

Metabolites Generated from Foods Through Lactic Fermentation and Their Benefits on the Intestinal Microbiota and Health

Metabolites generated in foods with lactic fermentation have been subject of research in recent years due to different beneficial effects attributed to them on the microbiota and health in general, including their properties as antihypertensives, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial, among others. The present review aims to systematically analyze the results of original research that evaluates effects on the microbiota and health in general, mediated by metabolites generated from the lactic fermentation of foods. The review was carried out in the PubMed database, three studies in humans, four in vivo studies in murine models, four in vitro studies, and the rest focused on the quantification of biofunctional qualities in fermented foods were analyzed. The results of the studies compiled in this systematic review reveal the potential of different food matrices and microorganisms to generate metabolites through lactic fermentation with important properties and effects on the intestinal microbiota and other health benefits. Among these benefits is the increase in short chain fatty acids to which anti-inflammatory properties are associated, as well as bioactive peptides with antihypertensive, antithrombotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.

Modulation of gut microbiome in response to the combination of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 and sugars: a pilot study using host-free system reflecting impact on interpersonal microbiome

Introduction

The differential effects of probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic formulations on human health are dictated by the inter-individual gut microbial profile. The effects of probiotics such as Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (ECN) on gut microbiota may vary according to the microbiome profiles of individuals and may be influenced by the presence of certain carbohydrates, which can impact microbial community structure and treatment results.

Method

Processed fecal samples from donors having contrasting lifestyles, dietary patterns, and disease histories were mixed with 5 × 106 CFU/mL ECN with or without 1% (w/v) sugars (glucose, galactose, or rice starch) in a host-free system. Post-incubation, 16 s rRNA sequencing was performed. Microbial diversity and taxonomic abundance were computed in relation to the probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic treatment effects and interpersonal microbiome variance.

Result

Baseline gut microbial profiles showed significant inter-individual variations. ECN treatment alone had a limited impact on the inter-personal gut microbial diversity and abundance. Prebiotics caused a substantial enrichment in Actinobacteria, but there were differences in the responses at the order and genus levels, with enrichment shown in Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, and Megasphaera. Subject B exhibited enrichment in Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria, but subject A showed more diversified taxonomic alterations as a consequence of the synbiotic treatments. Despite negligible difference in the α-diversity, probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic treatments independently resulted in distinct segregation in microbial communities at the β-diversity level. The core microbiota was altered only under prebiotic and synbiotic treatment. Significant correlations primarily for minor phyla were identified under prebiotic and synbiotic treatment.

Conclusion

The interindividual microbiome composition strongly influences the effectiveness of personalized diet and treatment plans. The responsiveness to dietary strategies varies according to individual microbiome profiles influenced by health, diet, and lifestyle. Therefore, tailored approaches that consider individual microbiome compositions are crucial for maximizing gut health and treatment results.

In Vitro Screening of Trehalose Synbiotics and Their Effects on Early-Lactating Females and Offspring Mice

Activities such as childbirth and breastfeeding can cause severe oxidative stress and inflammatory damage to the mother during early lactation, and can affect animal milk production, and the growth and development of offspring. Trehalose alleviates damage to the body by endowing it with stress resistance. In this study, we used trehalose combined with Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium longum, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to explore whether dietary intervention can alleviate oxidative stress and inflammatory damage in early lactation and to evaluate the growth ability, acid production ability, antioxidant ability, non-specific adhesion ability, antibacterial ability, and other parameters to determine the optimal combinations and proportions. The results showed that the synbiotics composed of 2.5% trehalose and 1 × 107 cfu/g of Bifidobacterium longum could regulate the gut microbiota, and promote mammary gland development in dams by reducing progesterone (PROG) content in the blood, increasing prolactin (PRL) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) content, enhancing their antioxidant and immune abilities, and effectively increasing the weight and lactation of early lactating dams. In addition, it can also affect the growth of offspring and the development of the intestinal barrier. These results indicate that trehalose synbiotics have great potential in alleviating oxidative stress and inflammatory damage in early lactation.

Anticandidal Activity of Various Probiotic Lactobacillus Strains and Their Efficacy Enhanced by Prebiotic Supplementation

Probiotics and prebiotics have been considered as alternative approaches for promoting health. This study aimed to investigate the anticandidal potential of various probiotic Lactobacillus strains and their cell-free supernatants (CFSs). The study assessed the impact of inulin and some fruits as prebiotics on the growth of selected probiotic strains in relation to their anticandidal activity, production of short-chain fatty acids, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. Results revealed variations in anticandidal activity based on the specific strains and forms of probiotics used. Non-adjusted CFSs were the most effective against Candida strains, followed by probiotic cells and adjusted CFSs (pH 7). Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus SD4, L. rhamnosus SD11 and L. rhamnosus GG displayed the strongest anticandidal activity. Non-adjusted CFSs from L. rhamnosus SD11, L. rhamnosus SD4 and L. paracasei SD1 exhibited notable anticandidal effects. The adjusted CFSs of L. rhamnosus SD11 showed the highest anticandidal activity against all non-albicans Candida (NAC) strains, whereas the others were ineffective. Supplementation of L. rhamnosus SD11 with prebiotics, particularly 2% (w/v) mangosteen, exhibited positive results in promoting probiotic growth, short-chain fatty acids production, total phenolic contents, and antioxidant activity, and the subsequent enhancing anticandidal activity against both C. albicans and NAC strains compared to conditions without prebiotics. In conclusion, both live cells and CFSs of tested strains, particularly L. rhamnosus SD11, exhibited the best anticandidal activity. Prebiotics supplementation, especially mangosteen, enhanced probiotic growth and beneficial metabolites against Candida growth. These finding suggested that probiotics and prebiotic supplementation may be an effective alternative treatment for Candida infections.

Coffee Husk By-Product as Novel Ingredients for Cascara Kombucha Production

Kombucha, a fermented beverage, is gaining popularity due to its numerous beneficial health effects. Various substrates such as herbs, fruits, flowers, and vegetables, have been used for kombucha fermentation in order to enhance the flavor, aroma, and nutritional composition. This study aims to investigate the potential suitability of cascara as a novel ingredient for kombucha production. Our findings suggested that cascara is a suitable substrate for kombucha production. Fermentation elevated the total phenolic and flavonoid content in cascara, which enhanced the antioxidant, antibacterial, and prebiotic characteristics of the product. Furthermore, the accumulation of acetic acid-induced the pH lowering reached 2.7 after 14 days of fermentation, which achieved the microbiological safety of the product. Moreover, 14 days of fermentation resulted in a balanced amalgamation of acidity, sweetness, and fragrance according to sensory evaluation. Our findings not only highlight the potential of cascara kombucha as a novel substrate for kombucha production but also contribute to repurposing coffee by-products, promoting environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural development.

Growth kinetics of Lactococcus lactis and Lactobacillus casei in liquid culture medium containing as prebiotics inulin or fructose

BACKGROUND

Predictive microbiology is a tool that allows us to evaluate the behavior of the concentration of biomass and estimated cells under extrinsic conditions, providing scientific and industrial benefits. In the present study, the growth of L. lactis and L. casei combined with inulin and fructose was modeled using the Gompertz sigmoidal growth functions and plotted using data obtained from batch culture in relation to biomass and cell concentration expressed as estimates in ln N (OD600nm and cells mL-1 ) as a function of time.

RESULTS

The results of the kinetic modeling indicated that (T1) A1B1 = L. lactis + fructose and (T4) A2B2 = L. casei + inulin presented the best function coefficients and best fits in most cases compared to the rest. The specific growth rate of the maximum acceleration was from 0.364 to 0.473 h-1 and 0.100 to 0.129 h-1 , the concentration of bacterial cells (A) was from 0.556 to 0.713 and 0.425 to 0.548 respectively and the time where (μ) occurred with a greater magnitude (L) fluctuated between 0.854 and 0.802 and when this time in (L) is very fast, it presents values of ≤0.072 to ≤0.092. Its coefficient of determination and/or multiple regression (R2 ) obtained in the two adjustments was 0.97.

CONCLUSION

It was possible to predict the influence of the carbon source on the behavior of maximum growth rates, higher consumption due to nutrient affinity and shorter growth time. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Lactobacillus plantarum modulate gut microbiota and intestinal immunity in cyclophosphamide-treated mice model

Gut microbiota (GM) contributes to the production of immune-regulatory molecules and cytokines. However, our understanding regarding intricate relationship between Lactobacillus plantarum and GM on regulation of immune function remained limited. To investigate the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum on an immunosuppressed mouse model, we employed cyclophosphamide treatment and conducted various analysis including H&E (hematoxylin-eosin staining), immunohistochemistry, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and RT-PCR. Our results demonstrated that the administration of Lactobacillus plantarum had significant immunoenhancing effects in the immune-suppressed mice, as evidenced by the restoration of functional expression of specific immune markers in the spleen and an increase in the number of goblet cells in intestine (P < 0.05). Microbial taxonomic analysis revealed alterations in the gut microbiota composition, characterized by a decrease in the richness of Firmicutes and an increase in the proportion of Verrucomicrobia and Actinobacteria following cyclophosphamide treatment. Furthermore, cyclophosphamide treatment significantly suppressed the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (P < 0.05), which were subsequently restored after administration of Lactobacillus plantarum. These observations provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between probiotics, gut microbiota, and immune system functioning.

In vitro screening and characterization of lactic acid bacteria from Lithuanian fermented food with potential probiotic properties

The present work aimed to identify probiotic candidates from Lithuanian homemade fermented food samples. A total of 23 lactic acid bacteria were isolated from different fermented food samples. Among these, only 12 showed resistance to low pH, tolerance to pepsin, bile salts, and pancreatin. The 12 strains also exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028, Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 12384, Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615, and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883. Cell-free supernatants of isolate 3A and 55w showed the strongest antioxidant activity of 26.37 μg/mL and 26.06 μg/mL, respectively. Isolate 11w exhibited the strongest auto-aggregation ability of 79.96% as well as the strongest adhesion to HCT116 colon cells (25.671 ± 0.43%). The selected strains were tested for their synbiotic relation in the presence of a prebiotic. The selected candidates showed high proliferation in the presence of 4% as compared to 2% galactooligosaccharides. Among the strains tested for tryptophan production ability, isolate 11w produced the highest L-tryptophan levels of 16.63 ± 2.25 μm, exhibiting psychobiotic ability in the presence of a prebiotic. The safety of these strains was studied by ascertaining their antibiotic susceptibility, mucin degradation, gelatin hydrolysis, and hemolytic activity. In all, isolates 40C and 11w demonstrated the most desirable probiotic potentials and were identified by 16S RNA and later confirmed by whole genome sequencing as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 11w, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 40C: following with the harboring plasmid investigation. Out of all the 23 selected strains, only Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 11w showed the potential and desirable probiotic properties.

Persistence of maternal milk derived Lactobacillus plantarum in the infant feces and its antagonistic activity against Escherichia coli O157:H7

The diversity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in maternal milk and feces from Thai mother-infants pairs were revealed through nested PCR-DGGE. LAB species residing in maternal milk drawn from each individual demonstrated high uniqueness, yet shared similarity to her infant. Multiple strains of L. plantarum, L. fermentum, L. rhamnosus, L. mucosae, L. casei were continuously detected, suggesting direct transfer from a mother to her infant via breastfeeding. L. plantarum, the most commonly found species with many strain variants, remained persistent in infant's feces up to six months postpartum. Such success could be achieved through its ability to utilize fructooligosaccharides (FOS)/inulin together with antibacterial activity and competitive adhesion. With FOS/inulin, the prebiotic utilizing L. plantarum (M117 and M118) isolated from maternal milk effectively inhibited E. coli O157:H7 under highly microflora competitive and glucose-limited environments of colon model. The results introduce the potential trend for development of effective anti-diarrheal synbiotic infant formulae.

Evaluation of the Effects of Probiotics and Prebiotics on the Salmonella typhi Infections

Typhoid fever is one of the most commonly disseminated diseases and is considered to be linked to poor sanitation. It is responsible for 2-5% of all deaths, and its causative agent is Salmonella typhi. The current study aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity of prebiotics (inulin and starch) and probiotics against multidrug resistance of S. typhi bacterial isolates. Determination of the inhibitory effect of probiotics and prebiotics against S. typhi isolates was performed by agar well diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration. Body samples of all eligible patients were collected and cultured. Finally, 50 (25%) out of the total cultured samples were S. Typhi bacteria isolated from different samples. The bacteria were mainly found in blood, followed by stool and fluid (74%, 24%, and 2%, respectively). On differential medium, xylose lysine deoxycholate agar, the colonies appear red with black centers, while on MacConkey agar, the colonies appear smooth, pale, transparent, colorless, and raised. Regarding the inhibition zone values of bacteriocins of Lactobacillus from Yogurt against S. typhi in plate, significant differences were identified between the ones with and without prebiotic addition. Accordingly, the value of the inhibition zone for those without prebiotic addition (13.18±7.403) was significantly lower than that of cutoff values of 20 with a significant difference of -6.820 (t= -6.514, df 49, P=0.000). Moreover, the inhibition effect of prebiotics (inulin and starch) against S. typhi at 37 °C for 24 h in part dish glucose as control, only the mean of inulin was found to be significantly lower than that of the cutoff value of 18 with the mean difference of -3.900 (t=-4.115, df 49, P=0.000). Other prebiotics of glucose and starch in 24 h showed negative inhibition. Probiotics are live microorganisms that have beneficial host effects by enhancing microbial balance in the intestine, whereas prebiotics are indigestible food components having beneficial effects by enhancing the activity and growth of one or more colonic bacteria. Lactobacillus filtrates had considerable effects against the test S. typhi isolates.

The Roles of Polysaccharides in Carp Farming: A Review

Carp is an important aquaculture species globally, and the production is expected to increase with the growing market demands. Despite that, disease outbreaks remain a major challenge, impeding the development of sustainable carp farming. Moreover, the application of antibiotics, a common prophylactic agent, can adversely impact public health and the environment. Therefore, polysaccharide has been recognized as a novel prophylactic agent in the health management of carp farming, as well as gaining consumers' confidence in carp farming products. In this review, the definition, sources, and main roles of polysaccharides in improving growth performance, stimulating the immune system, enhancing disease resistance, and alleviating abiotic stresses in carp farming are discussed and summarized. In addition, the use of polysaccharides in combination with other prophylactic agents to improve carp farming production is also highlighted. This review aims to highlight the roles of polysaccharides and provide valuable information on the benefits of polysaccharides in carp farming.

In Vitro Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, and Prebiotic Activities of the Chemical Compounds Isolated from Guizotia abyssinica

India and Ethiopia employ Guizotia abyssinica (niger plant) as a source of edible vegetable oil. Previous studies have documented the niger plant's antioxidant properties and dietary benefits. Here, G. abyssinica extract was obtained and ten known bioactive components (1-10) were isolated. The antioxidant, antidiabetic, and prebiotic properties of whole extract and isolated components of niger and the plant's ability to cooperate symbiotically with probiotic strains were examined. Compound 10, myricetin-3-O-L-rhamnoside, had the highest antioxidant capacity measured in the 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH, 4629.76 ± 6.02 µmol Trolox equivalent/g compound) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP, 2667.62 ± 7.5 mol Trolox equivalent/g compound) assays. The lowest α-amylase and glycogen phosphorylase activities and glucose diffusion were obtained with whole G. abyssinica extracts, whereas compounds 8-10 had moderate inhibitory effects. G. abyssinica extract also induced the highest glucose absorption by yeast cells in the presence of 5 mM of glucose. Moreover, Lactobacillus plantarum and L. rhamnosus incubated with β-sitosterol 3-O-D-glucoside (compound 7) showed the highest prebiotic activity score. The levels of L-(+)-lactic acid isomer in the probiotic strains were the highest in presence of the whole extract and decreased progressively in the presence of flavonoid glycosides (compounds 8-10) and β-sitosterol 3-O-D-glucoside. The enzymatic profile of the probiotic strains was unaffected by the niger extract and compounds 7-10. The findings revealed that the biological activities of G. abyssinica extract are mediated by the compounds 1-10, and it may be considered as a promising plant for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

The effect of Lactobacillus with prebiotics on KPC-2-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

Objectives

This study investigated the inhibitory effect of Lactobacillus spp. with prebiotics against Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-2 (KPC-2)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae using both in vitro experiments and animal models.

Methods

Thirty-three Lactobacillus spp. strains were confirmed by 16S rDNA sequencing, and four different PFGE genotyped KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae strains were selected for investigation. In vitro studies, including broth microdilution assays, changes in pH values in lactobacilli cultures with different prebiotics, time-kill tests of Lactobacillus spp. against KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae and further in vivo Lactobacillus alone or in combination with prebiotics against KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae in an animal model, were performed.

Results

The lower pH value of the cell-free supernatant was associated with a lower minimal inhibitory percentage of the Lactobacillus strain against KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae. Furthermore, lactulose/isomalto-oligosaccharide/inulin and fructo-oligosaccharide can enhance the inhibitory effect of all 10⁷ CFU/ml Lactobacillus strains against KPC001. Three Lactobacillus strains (LYC1154, LYC1322, and LYC1511) that could be persistently detected in the stool were tested for their ability to reduce the amount of KPC001 in the feces individually or in combination. A significantly better effect in reducing the amount of KPC001 was observed for the combination of three different Lactobacillus species than for each of them alone. Furthermore, their inhibitory effect was enhanced after adding lactulose or isomalto-oligosaccharide (both p < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the inhibitory effect of probiotic Lactobacillus, including LYC1154, LYC1322, and LYC1511, with prebiotics such as lactulose or isomalto-oligosaccharide against the colonization of KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae.

Antagonistic activity of synbiotics: Response surface modeling of various factors

Synbiotic compositions have a great potential for curing microbial intestinal infections. Novel targeted synbiotics are a promising field of the modern functional food industry. The present research assessed the effect of various fructan fractions, initial probiotic counts, and test strains on the antagonistic properties of synbiotics. The research involved powdered roots of Arctium lappa L. and strains of Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella enterica. The experiment was based on the central composite rotatable design. A water extract of A. lappa roots was purified and concentrated. Fructan fractions were precipitated at various concentrations of ethanol, dried, and sub jected to carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR) spectrometry. The bifidobacteria and the test strains were co-cultivated in the same medium that contained one of the fractions. Co-cultivation lasted during 10 h under the same conditions. The acid concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography to define the synbiotic factor. The obtained fructans were closer to commercial oligofructose in terms of the number and location of NMR peaks. However, they were between oligofructose and inulin in terms of signal intensity. The response surface analysis for bacilli showed that the minimal synbiotic factor value corresponded to the initial probiotic count of 7.69 log(CFU/mL) and the fructan fraction precipitated by 20% ethanol. The metabolites produced by the bacilli also affected their growth. The synbiotic factor response surface for the experiments with Salmonella transformed from parabolic to saddle shape as the initial test strain count increased. The minimal synbiotic factor value corresponded to the lowest precipitant concentration and the highest probiotic count. The research established a quantitative relationship between the fractional composition of fructans and the antagonistic activity of the synbiotic composition with bifidobacteria. It also revealed how the ratio of probiotic and pathogen counts affects the antagonism. The proposed approach can be extrapolated on other prebiotics and microbial strains in vivo.

Insight into dominant intestinal microbiota and the fatty acids profile of turkeys following the administration of synbiotic preparations

BACKGROUND

Probiotics and prebiotics are widely used as natural feed additives in the nutrition of farm animals, including poultry. The using of this type of preparation has a positive effect on animal welfare, human health and the environment. High potential is attributed to preparations combining probiotics and prebiotics, called synbiotics. The aim of the research was to confirm the beneficial effects of synbiotics on the performance of turkeys and the number of dominant intestinal microbiota. In addition, we also investigated the concentration of organic acids (lactic acid, short-chain and branched-chain fatty acids) in the excreta of turkeys.

RESULTS

The synbiotic supplementation of turkeys caused statistically significant (P < 0.05) differences in body weight of animals and European production efficiency factor (EPEF) compared to control group after 15 weeks of rearing. Administration of the synbiotics resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the count of potential pathogens (Clostridium spp., Clostridium coccoides and Escherichia coli) but a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the count of beneficial microorganisms (lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium spp.) in the excreta of turkeys. Results of synbiotic supplementation showed that the short-chain fatty acids and lactic acid concentration were significantly (P < 0.05) increased, while the concentration of branched-chain fatty acids was decreased.

CONCLUSION

The results showed a beneficial influence of the synbiotics on the animals' performance, dominant intestinal microbiota and fatty acid profile in the excreta of turkeys. The developed synbiotics can be effectively used in nutrition of turkeys. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Inulin fructans in diet: Role in gut homeostasis, immunity, health outcomes and potential therapeutics

Inulin consumption in both humans and animal models is recognized for its prebiotic action with the most consistent change that lies in enhancing the growth and functionality of Bifidobacterium bacteria, as well as its effect on host gene expression and metabolism. Further, inulin-type fructans are utilized in the colon by bacterial fermentation to yield short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which play important role in its biological effects both locally inside the gut and in systemic actions. The gut symbiosis sustained by inulin supplementation among other dietary fibers exerts preventive and/or therapeutic options for many metabolic disorders including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiometabolic diseases, kidney diseases and hyperuricemia. Although, gastrointestinal negative effects due to inulin consumption were reported, such as gastrointestinal symptoms in humans and exacerbated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice. This comprehensive review aims to present the whole story of how inulin functions as a prebiotic at cellular levels and the interplay between physiological, functional and immunological responses inside the animal or human gut as influenced by inulin in diets, in context to its structural composition. Such review is of importance to identify management and feed strategies to optimize gut health, for instance, consumption of the tolerated doses to healthy adults of 10 g/day of native inulin or 5 g/day of naturally inulin-rich chicory extract. In addition, inulin-drug interactions should be further clarified particularly if used as a supplement for the treatment of degenerative diseases (e.g., diabetes) over a long period. The combined effect of probiotics and inulin appears more effective, and more research on this synergy is still needed.

Prebiotics as a Tool for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity and Diabetes: Classification and Ability to Modulate the Gut Microbiota

Diabetes and obesity are metabolic diseases that have become alarming conditions in recent decades. Their rate of increase is becoming a growing concern worldwide. Recent studies have established that the composition and dysfunction of the gut microbiota are associated with the development of diabetes. For this reason, strategies such as the use of prebiotics to improve intestinal microbial structure and function have become popular. Consumption of prebiotics for modulating the gut microbiota results in the production of microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids that play essential roles in reducing blood glucose levels, mitigating insulin resistance, reducing inflammation, and promoting the secretion of glucagon-like peptide 1 in the host, and this accounts for the observed remission of metabolic diseases. Prebiotics can be either naturally extracted from non-digestible carbohydrate materials or synthetically produced. In this review, we discussed current findings on how the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites may influence host metabolism to promote health. We provided evidence from various studies that show the ability of prebiotic consumption to alter gut microbial profile, improve gut microbial metabolism and functions, and improve host physiology to alleviate diabetes and obesity. We conclude among other things that the application of systems biology coupled with bioinformatics could be essential in ascertaining the exact mechanisms behind the prebiotic–gut microbe–host interactions required for diabetes and obesity improvement.

The antagonistic activity of the synbiotic containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and pineapple residue FOS against pathogenic bacteria

Fructooligosaccharide is used widely in many foods and pharmaceutical industries and produced by using different ways such as extracting it from plants or producing it by using plants and microorganisms' enzymes. In a previous study, we extracted Fructosyltransferase (Ftase) enzyme from pineapple residue and produced FOS. In this study, we measured the antagonistic activity of two synbiotics, the first synbiotic containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and the produced FOS, the second synbiotic containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and standard FOS, against pathogenic bacteria (P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus and B cereus). The results showed that the antagonistic activity of both synbiotic types was very close, as there were no significant differences between them except in the antagonistic activity against S. aureus, there was a significant difference between the synbiotic containing the standard FOS, which was the highest in its antagonistic activity compared to the synbiotic containing the produced FOS in this study. The activity of the fructooligosaccharide (FOS) extracted from pineapple residue was evident in enhancing the activity of the probiotic bacteria (L. acidophilus), which had a major role in the production of acids and compounds that inhibited the pathogenic bacteria. The diameters of inhibition areas in the current study ranged between 19.33-28 mm, and E. coli was more susceptible to inhibition, followed by S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and B. cereus, respectively.

Gut Microbiota Reshaped by Pectin Treatment Improves Liver Steatosis in Obese Mice

Pectin, a soluble fiber, improves non-alcoholic fatty-liver disease (NAFLD), but its mechanisms are unclear. We aimed to investigate the role of pectin-induced changes in intestinal microbiota (IM) in NAFLD. We recovered the IM from mice fed a high-fat diet, treated or not with pectin, to perform a fecal microbiota transfer (FMT). Mice fed a high-fat diet, which induces NAFLD, were treated with pectin or received a fecal microbiota transfer (FMT) from mice treated with pectin before (preventive FMT) or after (curative FMT) being fed a high-fat diet. Pectin prevented the development of NAFLD, induced browning of adipose tissue, and modified the IM without increasing the abundance of proteobacteria. Preventive FMT also induced browning of white adipose tissue but did not improve liver steatosis, in contrast to curative FMT, which induced an improvement in steatosis. This was associated with an increase in the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), in contrast to preventive FMT, which induced an increase in the concentration of branched SCFAs. Overall, we show that the effect of pectin may be partially mediated by gut bacteria.

Lactobacillus acidophilus and Non-Digestible Carbohydrates: A Review

In the recent years, lactic acid bacteria species such as Lactobacillus are considering one of the important species of probiotics used in the food processing sector to produce fermented products and play a significant role for the transformation and preservation of food products. Besides, there is a huge exploration of new molecules that promote health and exhibit potential for technological applications such as non-digestible carbohydrates. The non-digestible carbohydrates provide various health benefits such as balancing and sustaining the microbiota in the intestine and increasing the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA). The aim of this review is to review some types of non-digestible carbohydrates as an enhancer for the growth of probiotics. These compounds can help in improving many characteristics of food such as sensory and textural properties.

Growth Kinetics of Probiotic Lactobacillus Strains in the Alternative, Cost-Efficient Semi-Solid Fermentation Medium

The growing need for Lactobacillus bacteria usage in industry and the expending probiotic market led to a search for new cost-efficient fermentation media from which a high yield of these bacteria could be obtained. The following study aimed to elaborate cultivation medium, for Lactobacillus spp. growth, which main components would be wheat, maize, barley, and rye flours. The optimal temperature for Lactobacillus growth in new semi-solid fermentation (SSF) medium, water content, and pH of the medium were analyzed by the plate count method. It was established, that the highest bacteria counts were obtained from cultures conducted in the SSF medium with flours to water ratio of 1:1.5 with a natural pH of 6.0 at 37 °C. Subsequently, the growth kinetics of analyzed strains, in both MRS and the SSF media, were studied. The newly designed media contributed to the increased duration of selected Lactobacillus strains lag phase, which varied from 1.98 to 5.64; nevertheless, the maximum growth rate of the strains was two times higher in the SSF medium rather than in MRS, which also resulted in shorter generation time. The developed medium has the potential to become a new cost-efficient fermentation medium for Lactobacillus spp.

The Effect of Using New Synbiotics on the Turkey Performance, the Intestinal Microbiota and the Fecal Enzymes Activity in Turkeys Fed Ochratoxin A Contaminated Feed

The feed supplementation of probiotic microorganisms is a promising method for detoxification of ochratoxin A (OTA) in poultry. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of newly elaborated synbiotics on the turkey performance, the intestinal microbiota and its enzymatic activity in turkeys (0-15 weeks) fed OTA contaminated feed (198.6-462.0 µg/kg) compared to control group (OTA-free feed). The studies determined the composition of intestinal microorganisms by the culture method and the activity of fecal enzymes by spectrophotometry. It was found that OTA had an adverse effect on the body weight, the intestinal microbiota and the fecal enzymes activity in turkeys. On the other hand, synbiotics resulted in an increase in the count of beneficial bacteria while reducing the number of potential pathogens in the digestive tract. Moreover, synbiotics caused an increase in the activity of α-glucosidase and α-galactosidase, while decreasing the activity of potentially harmful fecal enzymes (β-glucosidase, β-galactosidase, β-glucuronidase) in the turkey's excreta. Results indicate a beneficial effect of elaborated synbiotics on the health of turkeys and a reduction of the negative impact of OTA contaminated feed. These synbiotics can be successfully used as feed additives for turkeys.