Serpin-positive Bifidobacterium breve CNCM I-5644 improves intestinal permeability in two models of irritable bowel syndrome.

Probiotic supplementation can help to mitigate the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by reinforcing the intestinal barrier, and reducing both inflammation and proteolytic activity. Here, a combination of in vitro tests was performed on 33 Bifidobacterium strains as probiotic candidates for IBS. In addition to the classical tests performed, the detection of the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) enzyme capable of decreasing the high proteolytic activity found in IBS patients was included. Three serpin-positive strains were selected: Bifidobacterium breve CNCM I-5644, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CNCM I-5645 and B. longum CNCM I-5646 for their immunomodulation properties and protection of intestinal epithelial integrity in vitro. Furthermore, we found that B. breve CNCM I-5644 strain prevented intestinal hyperpermeability by upregulating Cingulin and Tight Junction Protein 1 mRNA levels and reducing pro-inflammatory markers. The ability of CNCM I-5644 strain to restore intestinal hyperpermeability (FITC-dextran) was shown in the murine model of low-grade inflammation induced by dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS). This effect of this strain was corroborated in a second model of IBS, the neonatal maternal separation model in mice. Altogether, these data suggest that serpin-positive B. breve CNCM I-5644 may partially prevent disorders associated with increased barrier permeability such as IBS.

Effect-Directed Profiling of 17 Different Fortified Plant Extracts by High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography Combined with Six Planar Assays and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

An effect-directed profiling method was developed to investigate 17 different fortified plant extracts for potential benefits. Six planar effect-directed assays were piezoelectrically sprayed on the samples separated side-by-side by high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Multipotent compounds with antibacterial, α-glucosidase, ß-glucosidase, AChE, tyrosinase and/or ß-glucuronidase-inhibiting effects were detected in most fortified plant extracts. A comparatively high level of antimicrobial activity was observed for Eleutherococcus, hops, grape pomace, passiflora, rosemary and Eschscholzia. Except in red vine, black radish and horse tail, strong enzyme inhibiting compounds were also detected. Most plants with anti-α-glucosidase activity also inhibited ß-glucosidase. Green tea, lemon balm and rosemary were identified as multipotent plants. Their multipotent compound zones were characterized by high-resolution mass spectrometry to be catechins, rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid and gallic acid. The results pointed to antibacterial and enzymatic effects that were not yet known for plants such as Eleutherococcus and for compounds such as cynaratriol and caffeine. The nontarget effect-directed profiling with multi-imaging is of high benefit for routine inspections, as it provides comprehensive information on the quality and safety of the plant extracts with respect to the global production chain. In this study, it not only confirmed what was expected, but also identified multipotent plants and compounds, and revealed new bioactivity effects.

Non-ketogenic combination of nutritional strategies provides robust protection against seizures.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects 1% of the world population. Conventional treatments of epilepsy use drugs targeting neuronal excitability, inhibitory or excitatory transmission. Yet, one third of patients presents an intractable form of epilepsy and fails to respond to pharmacological anti-epileptic strategies. The ketogenic diet is a well-established non-pharmacological treatment that has been proven to be effective in reducing seizure frequency in the pharmaco-resistant patients. This dietary solution is however extremely restrictive and can be associated with complications caused by the high [fat]:[carbohydrate + protein] ratio. Recent advances suggest that the traditional 4:1 ratio of the ketogenic diet is not a requisite for its therapeutic effect. We show here that combining nutritional strategies targeting specific amino-acids, carbohydrates and fatty acids with a low [fat]:[proteins + carbohydrates] ratio also reduces excitatory drive and protects against seizures to the same extent as the ketogenic diet. Similarly, the morphological and molecular correlates of temporal lobe seizures were reduced in animals fed with the combined diet. These results provide evidence that low-fat dietary strategies more palatable than the ketogenic diet could be useful in epilepsy.

Primary care weight loss maintenance with behavioral nutrition: An observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the rate of weight loss maintenance, defined as a 10% loss of initial weight maintained beyond 1 year, among patients with BMI > 25 kg/m(2) who had been managed by primary care physicians practicing behavioral nutrition (moderately high-protein diet, carbohydrate restriction, and behavioral therapy). METHODS: Restrospective analysis of anthropometric characteristics, weight loss, and its determinants was conducted in 14,256 patients. RESULTS: 26.7% of subjects met the success criterion (successful maintenance group; SM), 25.7% did not maintain their weight loss (unsuccessful maintenance group; UM), and 47.6% did not lose 10% of their initial weight (failure group; F). At inclusion, patients in the SM group had a greater BMI and fat mass percentage (40.5% in SM, 38.5% in UM, and 37.0% in F). These patients lost more weight (-14.1% vs. -4.59%) and fat mass (-24.7% vs. -8.21%) than patients in the UM group, and contribution of adiposity to their weight loss was 75.1%. Follow-up of patients in the SM group was characterized by a greater frequency of consultations. CONCLUSIONS: Management by primary care providers with behavioral nutrition facilitates weight loss maintenance in patients with overweight and obesity. The determinants of success are frequency of consultations, initial BMI, and initial weight loss.

Aloysia triphylla infusion protects rats against dextran sulfate sodium-induced colonic damage.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases consist of uncontrolled intestinal inflammation leading to mucosal disruption. Polyphenols are micronutrients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may play an interesting role in the prevention of intestinal inflammation. Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla (L'Herit.) Britton, Verbenaceae) infusion is a popular herbal drink rich in polyphenols. This study evaluated the protective effects of lemon verbena infusion consumption on the development of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rats. The infusion was given to rats as a drink providing 82 µmol polyphenols day(-1) for 21 days. Colitis was induced with 40 g l(-1) DSS in the drink for the last 7 days. RESULTS: Lemon verbena infusion treatment restored body weight gain and prevented colonic shortening. Despite no protective effect on myeloperoxidase activity, A. triphylla infusion limited histological colonic alterations. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that lemon verbena infusion partially protects rats against DSS-induced inflammation.

Lemon verbena infusion consumption attenuates oxidative stress in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) consist of an uncontrolled intestinal inflammation leading to mucosal disruption. This inflammation is accompanied by an excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Polyphenols are micronutrients with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, and may play an interesting role in the prevention of intestinal inflammation. Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla) infusion is a popular herbal infusion rich in polyphenols (flavones and verbascoside). AIMS: This study evaluated the preventive effects of lemon verbena infusion consumption against mild-to-moderate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rats. METHODS: Wistar rats drank water or lemon verbena infusion for 14 days. On day 15, half of the rats received DSS (4%) in their drink for 7 days. At the end of the experimental period, the colon was taken for histopathological examination and determination of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], glutathione reductase [GR], catalase [CAT]), glutathione and lipid peroxidation. Lymphocyte populations were determined in blood, mesenteric nodes and Peyer's patches. RESULTS: Rats ingested daily 5.6 µmol of polyphenols. DSS reduced food intake and induced colitis, as reflected by histological lesions and increased MPO activity. Although these alterations were not significantly counteracted by lemon verbena consumption, the herbal infusion increased colonic SOD activity and decreased lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde). Other oxidative stress markers (GPx, GR, CAT, glutathione) were not significantly modified. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that the preventive consumption of lemon verbena infusion offered some antioxidative protection during experimental colitis by stimulating SOD activity and decreasing lipid peroxidation.