Fermenting soybeans with Bacillus licheniformis potentiates their capacity to improve cognitive function and glucose homeostaisis in diabetic rats with experimental Alzheimer's type dementia.

PURPOSE: Brain insulin resistance is related to both diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. We investigated whether both chungkookjangs, soybeans fermented in a traditional method (TFC) and with Bacillus lichenifomis (SFC), can protect against cognitive dysfunction and glucose dysregulation in rats with Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Partial pancreatectomy (Px) and ICV ß-amyloid (25-35) infusion into the CA1 region were fed either control diet (AD-CON), 10% cooked soybeans (CSB), 10% TFC, or 10% SFC in a high fat diet for 8 weeks. Px rats infused ß-amyloid (35-25) as a normal-control group (Non-AD-CON). RESULTS: SFC increased isoflavonoid aglycones, DDMP soyasaponin ßg, E soyasaponin Be and lysoposphatidylcholines in comparison to CSB. SFC markedly decreased its accumulation in ß-amyloid deposition in AD rats and improved hippocampal insulin signaling (pAkt → pGSK → pTau) that exacerbated in AD-CON rats. AD rats markedly impaired cognitive function than Non-AD-CON rats as measured by a water maze and passive avoidance tests while the disturbance was prevented in an ascending order of CON < CSB and TFC < SFC. In comparison to Non-AD rats, AD-CON rats lowered whole body glucose infusion rates and increased hepatic glucose output at hyperinsulinemic state during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp which SFC normalized in AD rats. Interestingly, insulin secretion, especially at the second phase during hyperglycemic clamp, was higher in AD-CON rats, compared to Non-AD rats while CSB, TFC, SFC lowered it in AD-rats. However, SFC restored ß-cell mass in AD rats that reduced ß-cell mass by increased ß-cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: ß-Amyloid accumulation in the hippocampus exacerbated insulin resistance and decreased ß-cell mass and SFC prevented their exacerbation in AD diabetic rats.

Soybean fermentation with Bacillus licheniformis increases insulin sensitizing and insulinotropic activity.

Traditionally fermented soybeans (chungkookjang; TFC) may have potent anti-diabetic activity, depending on the ambient microorganisms and conditions. We hypothesized that one of the major Bacillus species in TFC contributes to the anti-diabetic activity and could be used to standardize a highly functional TFC. We tested the hypothesis by using cell-based studies to evaluate insulin sensitizing and insulinotropic action of chungkookjangs fermented with various Bacillus spp. and fermentation periods. The 70% methanol and water extracts of chungkookjang fermented with Bacillus licheniformis (BL) for 48 h contained similar profiles of isoflavonoids and peptides to methanol and water extracts of TFC with potent anti-diabetic activity. Water extracts (mainly containing peptides) of TFC and BL fermented for 48 h and 72 h had a better insulin sensitizing action via activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) and increased the expression of PPAR-γ in 3T3-L1 adipocytes better than unfermented cooked soybeans (CSB). The 70% methanol extracts (predominantly isoflavone aglycones) of BL fermented for 48 h and 72 h improved glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and protected ß-cell viability better than CSB in insulinoma cells, and the improvement by BL was similar to TFC. In conclusion, the BL water extract fermented for 48 h exhibited equal insulin sensitization as TFC and BL methanol extract exerted similar insulinotropic actions to those of TFC. B. licheniformis may be one of the major microorganisms responsible for anti-diabetic actions of chungkookjang. It is important to make chungkookjang that retains the anti-diabetic properties of the most efficacious traditional chungkookjang using a standardized method.