Peptidomics- inspired discovery and activity evaluation of antioxidant peptides in multiple strains mixed fermentation of Porphyra yezoensis.

This study investigated the production of antioxidant peptides from Porphyra yezoensis through fermentation with three strains of microorganisms: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L13, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MMB-02, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae A8. The crude peptides were extracted by aqueous acid precipitation and purified by Sephadex G-25 gel column to produce highly active antioxidant components with molecular weight of <4000 Da. The LC-MS/MS result revealed that the fermentation group contained more hydrophobic amino acids and oligopeptides, which were mainly originated from phycobiliproteins and algal blue proteins. Finally, the antioxidant activity of Porphyra yezoensis was determined with DPPH· and ABTS· scavenging rates of 54.87% and 57.39%, respectively. The ferric ion-reducing power (FRAP) and enzyme activities of SOD and CAT were significantly higher than those of the control group. This study provides a scientific foundation for the deep processing of striped seaweed and contributes to the theoretical understanding of synthetic antioxidant substitutes.

Exploring the Biogenic Transformation Mechanism of Polyphenols by Lactobacillus plantarum NCU137 Fermentation and Its Enhancement of Antioxidant Properties in Wolfberry Juice.

This study investigated the transformation of polyphenols, including free and bound polyphenols during the fermentation of wolfberry juice by Lactobacillus plantarum NCU137. Results indicated that fermentation significantly increased the free polyphenols content and released bound polyphenols, enhancing the antioxidant activity. Analysis showed that there were 19 free polyphenols, mainly scopoletin, pyrogallol, and dihydroferulic acid, and 16 bound polyphenols, especially p-coumaric acid, feruloyl hexoside, and caffeic acid. A significant correlation was observed between the generation and degradation of polyphenols, and specific bound polyphenols peaked during the 24-48 h fermentation. Furthermore, reduced surface roughness and galacturonic acid content in wolfberry residue, along with increased pectinase activity, suggested substantial pectin degradation in the cell wall, which may be associated with the release of polyphenols, due to pectin serving as carriers for bound polyphenols. The fermentation also increased polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity, contributing to polyphenol breakdown. These findings provide insights for improving wolfberry juice production.

Effect of dietary heat-killed Lactiplantibacillus plantarum VSG3 on growth, immunity, antioxidant status, and immune-related gene expression in pathogen-aggravated Cyprinus carpio.

Heat-killed probiotics offer an alternative approach to enhance growth and disease resistance in farmed fish. In this study, we isolated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum VSG3 from the gut of Labeo rohita to investigate the effects of heat-killed L. plantarum (HK-LP) on the health and growth performance of Cyprinus carpio fingerlings. Different concentrations of HK-LP (0, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg) were administered to the fish, followed by a challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila after 8 weeks of feeding. Notably, the LP200 group exhibited significantly improved percentage weight gain and specific growth rate, accompanied by the lowest feed conversion ratio. Post-challenge survival rates were considerably enhanced in the LP200 group, reaching 60.65%. Moreover, serum analysis indicated significantly higher levels of total protein and albumin in the LP200 group than in the control group. Although HK-LP had no substantial impact on certain serum parameters (glucose, total cholesterol, cortisol, and alanine aminotransferase), aspartate aminotransferase levels were considerably low in the LP200 group. Intestinal protease and trypsin activities significantly increased in the LP200 group, while no significant changes were observed in lipase and amylase activities post-pathogen challenge. Serum immunological indices, including lysozyme, alternative complement pathway, and phagocytic activity, improved considerably in the LP200 group. Additionally, serum antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], catalase [CAT], and myeloperoxidase) were significantly elevated in the LP200 group, while malondialdehyde level was reduced. Gene expression analysis in liver tissue indicated strong upregulation of antioxidant-related genes (SOD, CAT, nuclear factor erythroid 2 [NFE2]-related factor 2 [Nrf2], Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1[Keap1]) in the LP100 and LP200 groups. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß and TNF-α) were considerably downregulated in the kidneys of the LP200 post-challenged fish, although the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 showed an increased expression. Quadratic regression analysis identified the optimal dietary HK-LP level for maximizing growth and immune performance (200.381-270.003 mg/kg). In summary, our findings underscore the potential of HK-LP as a valuable dietary supplement for enhancing carp aquaculture, particularly at the appropriate concentration.

Lactobacillus plantarum HF02 alleviates lipid accumulation and intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is closely associated with lipid accumulation and intestinal microbiota dysbiosis. It has been proved that probiotics supplement contributes to alleviate obesity. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which Lactobacillus plantarum HF02 (LP-HF02) alleviated lipid accumulation and intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. RESULTS: Our results showed that LP-HF02 ameliorated body weight, dyslipidemia, liver lipid accumulation, and liver injury in obese mice. As expected, LP-HF02 inhibited pancreatic lipase activity in small intestinal contents and increased fecal triglyceride levels, thereby reducing dietary fat hydrolysis and absorption. Moreover, LP-HF02 ameliorated the intestinal microbiota composition, as evidenced by the enhanced ratio of Bacteroides to Firmicutes, the decreased abundance of pathogenic bacteria (including Bacteroides, Alistipes, Blautia, and Colidextribacter) and the increased abundance of beneficial bacteria (including Muribaculaceae, Akkermansia, Faecalibaculum, and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group). LP-HF02 also increased fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels and colonic mucosal thickness, and subsequently decreased serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in obese mice. Additionally, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot results demonstrated that LP-HF02 ameliorated hepatic lipid accumulation via activating the adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. CONCLUSION: Therefore, our results indicated that LP-HF02 could be considered as a probiotic preparation for preventing obesity. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Potential Synbiotic Strategy for the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes: Lactobacillus paracasei JY062 and Exopolysaccharide Isolated from Lactobacillus plantarum JY039.

The disturbance of intestinal microorganisms and the exacerbation of type 2 diabetes (T2D) are mutually influenced. In this study, the effect of exopolysaccharides (EPS) from Lactobacillus plantarum JY039 on the adhesion of Lactobacillus paracasei JY062 was investigated, as well as their preventive efficacy against T2D. The results showed that the EPS isolated from L. plantarum JY039 effectively improved the adhesion rate of L. paracasei JY062 to Caco-2 cells (1.8 times) and promoted the proliferation of L. paracasei JY062. In the mice experiment, EPS, L. paracasei JY062 and their complex altered the structure of the intestinal microbiota, which elevated the proportion of Bifidobacterium, Faecalibaculum, while inversely decreasing the proportion of Firmicutes, Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae and other bacteria involved in energy metabolism (p < 0.01; p < 0.05); enhanced the intestinal barrier function; promoted secretion of the gut hormone peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1); and reduced inflammation by balancing pro-inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α and anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 (p < 0.01; p < 0.05). These results illustrate that EPS and L. paracasei JY062 have the synbiotic potential to prevent and alleviate T2D.

Lactobacillus plantarum-derived metabolites sensitize the tumor-suppressive effects of butyrate by regulating the functional expression of SMCT1 in 5-FU-resistant colorectal cancer cells.

A critical obstacle to the successful treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) is chemoresistance. Chemoresistant CRC cells contribute to treatment failure by providing a mechanism of drug lethargy and modifying chemoresistance-associated molecules. The gut microbiota provide prophylactic and therapeutic effects by targeting CRC through anticancer mechanisms. Among them, Lactobacillus plantarum contributes to the health of the host and is clinically effective in treating CRC. This study confirmed that 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant CRC HCT116 (HCT116/5FUR) cells acquired butyrate-insensitive properties. To date, the relationship between 5-FU-resistant CRC and butyrate resistance has not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that the acquisition of butyrate resistance in HCT116/5FUR cells was strongly correlated with the inhibition of the expression and function of SMCT1, a major transporter of butyrate in colonocytes. L. plantarum-cultured cell-free supernatant (LP) restored the functional expression of SMCT1 in HCT116/5FUR cells, leading to butyrate-induced antiproliferative effect and apoptosis. These results suggest that LP has a synergistic effect on the SMCT1/butyrate-mediated tumor suppressor function and is a potential chemosensitizer to overcome dual 5-FU and butyrate resistance in HCT116 cells.

New pyran derivative with antioxidant and anticancer properties isolated from the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum H24 strain.

This work was aimed to prepare, isolate and identify antioxidant and cytotoxic compound from the culture filtrate of a probiotic lactobacillus strain. New compound, plantarone (1), together with two known compounds, kojic acid (2) and methyl dodecanoate (3), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the culture filtrate of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum H24. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods including 2 D NMR, HRMS analyses. Isolated compounds were screened for antioxidant and cytotoxic activities against Caco-2 colon cancer cells. Compounds 1 and 2 showed lowers DPPH radical scavenging activities (p < 0.05) with IC50 values of 66.3 ± 0.34 µM and 50.2 ± 0.28 µM respectively, compared to standard butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA: IC50 = 44.2 ± 0.24 µM). Whereas only compound 1 showed a good cytotoxicity activity with inhibition value of 60.72 ± 3.55%. Accordingly, L. plantarum H24 could be used to prevent oxidative stress and its injuries, improving human health.

The Preventive Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum ZS62 on DSS-Induced IBD by Regulating Oxidative Stress and the Immune Response.

In this study, we used DSS to establish an IBD mouse model to study the preventive effect of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) ZS62 on IBD in the context of oxidative stress and the immune response. We assessed the mitigating effect of this strain on IBD mice by examining the length of and histopathological changes in the colon, determining the serum antioxidant index and the levels of inflammatory cytokines, as well as the mRNA and protein expression levels of relevant genes. The study results showed that L. plantarum ZS62 could inhibit colonic atrophy in IBD mice, reduce the degree of colonic damage, downregulate the serum levels of MDA, MPO, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ and the relative mRNA and protein expression of IL-1ß, IL-12, TNF-α, COX-2, iNOS, and NF-κB p65 in mouse colon tissues, and upregulate the serum levels of CAT, T-SOD, and IL-10 and the relative mRNA and protein expression of Cu/Zn SOD, Mn SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, IL-10, and IκB-α in colon tissues. In summary, L. plantarum ZS62 exhibited a good preventive effect on DSS-induced IBD by regulating oxidative stress and the immune response.

Production, characterization and kinetic model of biosurfactant produced by lactic acid bacteria

BACKGROUND Biosurfactants are surface active molecules produced by microorganisms which have the ability to disrupt the plasma membrane. Biosurfactant properties are important in the food, pharmaceu tical and oil industries. Lactic acid bacteria can produce cell-bound and excreted biosurfactants. RESULTS The biosurfactant-producing ability of three Lactobacillus strains was analyzed, and the effects of carbon and nitrogen sources and aeration conditions were studied. The three species of lactobacillus eval uated were able to produce biosurfactants in anaerobic conditions, which was measured as the capacity of one extract to reduce the surface tension compared to a control. The decreasing order of biosurfactant production was L. plantarum>Lactobacillus sp.>L. acidophilus. Lactose was a better carbon source than glu cose, achieving a 23.8% reduction in surface tension versus 12.9% for glucose. Two complex nitrogen sources are required for growth and biosurfactant production. The maximum production was reached at 48 h under stationary conditions. However, the highest level of production occurred in the exponential phase. Biosurfactant exhibits a critical micelle concentration of 0.359 ± 0.001 g/L and a low toxicity against E. coli. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated a glycoprotein structure. Additionally, the kinetics of fermentation were modeled using a logistic model for the biomass and the product, achieving a good fit (R2 > 0.9). CONCLUSIONS L. plantarum derived biosurfactant production was enhanced using adequate carbon and nitrogen sources, the biosurfactant is complex in structure and because of its low toxicity could be applied to enhance cell permeability in E. coli

Selective uptake determines the variation in degradation of organophosphorus pesticides by Lactobacillus plantarum.

Organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) are widely used worldwide, leading to varying degrees of residues in food. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can degrade OPPs by producing phosphatase. This study explored the reasons for the variation in the degradation of different OPPs by Lactobacillus plantarum. The results showed that the degradation effects of OPPs by L. plantarum (intact cells) varied greatly, the degradation rate constant of phoxim was 1.65-fold higher than that of dichlorvos. However, the phosphatase extracted from L. plantarum had no degradation selectivity for OPPs in vitro. It was speculated that the selective uptake of cells determines this degradation selectivity. The results of molecular docking supported this hypothesis because there was no difference in the binding energies between phosphatase and OPPs, while the binding energies between phosphate-binding protein and pesticides were different, and they were negatively correlated with the degradation rate constants of the eight OPPs by L. plantarum.

Naturally Occurring Exopolysaccharide Nanoparticles: Formation Process and Their Application in Glutathione Detection.

Naturally occurring nanoscale exopolysaccharide (EPS) has attracted much attention in recent years. In this research, we obtained a new kind of naturally occurring spherical EPS nanoparticles (EPS-R503) from Lactobacillus plantarum R503. The secretion, self-assembly process, morphological structure, and surface characteristics of the as-prepared nanoparticles were comprehensively revealed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) for the first time. It was found that the EPS-R503 nanoparticles consist of negatively charged heteropolysaccharide composed of mannose, glucose, galactose, and glucuronide with several functional groups including -OH, -COOH, and -NH2. When different solvents were used to treat the EPS-R503 nanoparticles, the morphological structure and surface properties could be changed or manipulated. The forming mechanism of EPS-R503 was elucidated based on the aggregation processes from a fundamental point of view. Furthermore, EPS-R503 can serve as reducing and stabilizing agents for the biosynthesis of manganese dioxide nanosheets (MnO2 NSs), leading to EPS-MnO2 nanocomposite. The as-prepared nanocomposites can absorb fluorescein (FL) to form EPS-MnO2-FL, which can be used to detect glutathione (GSH) with a low limit of detection (0.16 µM) and a wide detection range from 0.05 to 4 mM. The excellent biocompatibility of EPS-MnO2-FL endows the feasibility of in vivo detection of GSH as well. Overall, the findings from this work not only benefit the exploitation of naturally occurring EPS nanomaterials but also provide a novel strategy for the green synthesis of metal-containing nanosheets for GSH detection.

Assessment of exopolysaccharides, bacteriocins and in vitro and in vivo hypocholesterolemic potential of some Egyptian Lactobacillus spp.

Lactobacilli probiotics have been suggested to reduce cholesterol with low side effects to host. Bacteriocins and exopolysaccharides (EPSs) production are two meaningful examples of functional applications of lactobacilli in the food industry. Eight Lactobacillus strains were isolated from some Egyptian fermented food and tested for their probiotic properties. Analysis of the monosaccharide composition by thin layer chromatography showed the presence of glucose, galactose and unknown sugar. The main functional groups of EPSs were elucidated by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Their fermentation cultures displayed powerful antioxidant activities extending from 97.5 to 99%, 40-75% for their EPSs and free cells, respectively, and exhibited in vitro cholesterol downgrading from 48 to 82% and 72 to 91% after 48 and 120 h, respectively. Their EPSs showed good anticancer activities against carcinoma cells with low IC50 values for HCT-116, PC-3 and HepG-2 cells. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no previous reports on the potential of Lactobacillus EPSs activity against PC-3. The selected strains, L. plantarum KU985433 and L. rhamnosus KU985436 produced two different bacteriocins as detected by gel permeation chromatography with good antimicrobial activities. In vivo study demonstrated that feeding Westar rats with fermented milk exhibited greater cholesterol, LDL and blood triglyceride reduction for both strains. Whereas, HDL was increased by about 43 and 38%, respectively, and the atherogenic indices decreased.

Characterization of low-cost glycolipoprotein biosurfactant produced by Lactobacillus plantarum 60 FHE isolated from cheese samples using food wastes through response surface methodology and its potential as antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer activities.

Considering the need of new lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for the production of novel biosurfactant (BS) molecules, the current study brings out a new insight on the exploration of cheese samples for BS producers and process optimization for industrial applications. In view of this, Lactobacillus plantarum 60FHE, Lactobacillus paracasei 75FHE, and Lactobacillus paracasei 77FHE were selected as the most operative strains. The biosurfactants (BSs) described as glycolipoproteins via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) exhibited antimicrobial activity against the food-borne pathogens. L. plantarum 60FHE BS showed an anticancer activity against colon carcinoma cells and had a week antiviral activity against Hepatitis A virus. Furthermore, glycolipoprotein production was enhanced by 1.42-fold through the development of an optimized process using central composite design (CCD). Emulsifying activities were stable after 60-min incubation from 4 to 120 °C, at pH 2-12, and after the addition of NaCl (2-14%). Characterization by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) revealed that BS produced from strain 60FHE was glycolipoprotein. L. plantarum produced mixed BSs determined by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). Thus, indicating that BS was applied as a microbial food prevention and biomedical. Also, L. plantarum 60FHE BS was achieved with the use of statistical optimization on inexpensive food wastes.

Selenium-enriched Lactobacillus plantarum improves the antioxidant activity and flavor properties of fermented Pleurotus eryngii.

The effects of selenium (Se) addition methods on antioxidant activity and flavor properties of fermented Pleurotus eryngii (P. eryngii) using Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) inoculated and natural fermentation were investigated. After fermentation, the Se-enrichment rates in fruiting bodies of Se-added fermented P. eryngii were all more than 50%. Se addition, especially in the form of Se-enriched L. plantarum inoculation, had a significantly positive effect on total phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Non-volatiles analysis revealed that the highest ration of lactic acid to acetic acid and the highest umami intensity were observed in P. eryngii fermented by inoculating Se-enriched L. plantarum (Lp-Se). Principal components analysis and cluster analysis of volatiles clearly separated Se-treated and plain experiments, which mainly due to dissimilarities in alcohols, aldehydes and ketones. Additionally, Lp-Se obtained the highest alcohols, especially 1-octen-3-ol with mushroom flavor. In short, Se-enriched L. plantarum inoculation could produce high-quality fermented P. eryngii.

Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Lactobacillus plantarum improve diabetic wound healing through modulating inflammatory factors.

Probiotics are nonpathogenic bacterial strains that exert beneficial effects on the host. Previous studies have shown that topical use of some strains of probiotic bacteria have good effects on the healing of cutaneous wounds. In the current study, the wound healing potentials of bacterial probiotics on diabetic cutaneous wounds were evaluated. The effects of probiotics on migration, the viability of fibroblasts, and macrophage proliferation were measured through using wound healing assay, methylthiazol tetrazolium assay, and bromodeoxyuridine, respectively. In this regard, in vivo diabetic wound healing experiments in Wistar rats following treatment with nontoxic concentrations of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Lactobacillus plantarum were conducted. The histopathological and gene expression analyses were performed following removal of wound sites 3, 7, and 14 days postwounding. Results showed that treatment with probiotics accelerated the healing process of diabetic wounds and modulated the inflammatory cells in wound sites during a 14-day period postwounding. The altered mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines were observed in wound sites following treatment with probiotics. The findings of the current study reveal that L. bulgaricus and L. plantarum could improve the healing of diabetic wounds via regulation of inflammation.

Exopolysaccharide Isolated from Lactobacillus plantarum L-14 Has Anti-Inflammatory Effects via the Toll-Like Receptor 4 Pathway in LPS-Induced RAW 264.7 Cells.

Inflammation is a biological response of the immune system to defend the body from negative stimulation. However, the excessive inflammatory response can damage host tissues and pose serious threats. Exopolysaccharide (EPS), one of the postbiotics, is secreted from lactic acid bacteria. Although many studies have described the beneficial effects of EPS, such as its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, its underlying mechanisms have remained to be poorly understood. Thus, we identified that EPS obtained from Lactobacillus plantarum L-14 was a homogeneous polysaccharide primarily comprised of glucose. To examine these anti-inflammatory effects, an inflammatory response was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration to mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells that were pretreated with EPS. The anti-inflammatory effects of EPS were identified by analyzing the changes within inflammatory markers at the molecular level. We demonstrate here that EPS suppressed proinflammatory mediators, such as cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1ß, and downregulated the expression of an inducible nitric oxide synthase known to lead to oxidative stress. It was also confirmed that EPS had anti-inflammatory effects by blocking the interaction of LPS with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), as demonstrated by using the known TLR4 inhibitor TAK-242. In addition, we found that EPS itself could suppress the expression of TLR4. Consequently, our data suggest that EPS can be a potential target for the development of natural product-derived medicine for treating inflammatory diseases related to TLR4.

Exopolysaccharides from Lactobacillus plantarum YW11 improve immune response and ameliorate inflammatory bowel disease symptoms.

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) possess many bioactivities such as immune regulation, antioxidant, anti-tumor and modulation of intestinal microbial balance but their direct effect on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) response has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of EPS produced by L. plantarum YW11 administered at different dosages in IBD mouse model induced with 5% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS). The DSS-induced colitis, accompanied by body weight loss, reduction of colon coefficient and histological colon injury was considerably ameliorated in mice fed the EPS (10 mg/kg). The middle dose of the EPS (25 mg/kg) could effectively recover the intestinal microbial diversity and increase the abundance of Roseburia, Ruminococcus and Blautia with increased content of butyric acid. Moreover, EPS also reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-12 and IL-18) and enhanced the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. This study showed that EPS might help in modulation of gut microbiota and improve the immunity of the host to reduce the risk of IBD symptoms.

Rhizopus oligosporus and Lactobacillus plantarum Co-Fermentation as a Tool for Increasing the Antioxidant Potential of Grass Pea and Flaxseed Oil-Cake Tempe.

Tempe-type fermentation originating from Indonesia can enhance the antioxidant activity of plant material. However, this biological potential depends on substrates and applied microorganisms. This study aimed to determine whether co-fermentation with Rhizopus oligosporus and Lactobacillus plantarum improved antioxidant activity of tempe obtained from grass pea seeds with flaxseed oil-cake addition (up to 30%). For this purpose, substances reacting with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and free radicals scavenging potential were measured in water-soluble fractions and dialysates from simulated in vitro digestion. Additionally, the water-soluble phenolic profile was estimated. The higher level of water-extractable compounds with antioxidant activity was determined in co-fermentation products than in fungal fermentation products. Moreover, the fermentation process with the use of L. plantarum contributed to a greater accumulation of some phenolic acids (gallic acid, protocatechuic acid) in tempe without having a negative effect on the levels of other phenolic compounds determined in fungal fermented tempe. During in vitro digestion simulating the human digestive tract, more antioxidant compounds were released from products obtained after co-fermentation than fungal fermentation. An addition of 20% flaxseed oil-cake and the application of bacterial-fungal co-fermentation, can be considered as an alternative tool to enhance the antioxidant parameters of grass pea tempe.

Anti-Cancer Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum L-14 Cell-Free Extract on Human Malignant Melanoma A375 Cells.

Human malignant melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer with high metastatic ability. Despite several traditional therapies, the mortality rate remains high. Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum), a species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), is being studied for human health, including cancer treatment. However, few studies have elucidated the relationship between L. plantarum extract and human malignant melanoma. To investigate the effects of L. plantarum on human melanoma cells, A375 human melanoma cells were used and treated with L. plantarum L-14 extract. After the treatment, viability, migration ability, molecular changes of migration- and apoptosis-related genes, and the location of cytochrome c was evaluated. The L-14 extract inhibited the viability, migration of A375 cells as well as reduced expression of migration-related genes. In addition, it was confirmed that the L-14 extract induced intrinsic apoptosis in A375 cells. This study demonstrated that the L-14 extract exerted anticancer effects on A375 cells. Therefore, these data suggest that the L-14 extract is worth studying for the development of melanoma drugs using LAB.

Characterization and antitumor activity of novel exopolysaccharide APS of Lactobacillus plantarum WLPL09 from human breast milk.

Two exopolysaccharides, NPS and APS, were isolated from L. plantarum WLPL09 and purified by ion-exchange chromatography. The structural analyses showed that molecular weight of NPS and APS were 72.60 kDa and 33.22 kDa, respectively. NPS was mainly composed of mannose and glucose, in molar ratio of 85.35:14.65, while APS was composed of mannose, glucose and galactose, in molar ratio of 89.69:8.65:1.66. In in vitro antitumor assays, APS displayed strong anti-proliferative effect against HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells and HCT-8 colon adenocarcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Morphological and flow cytometry analyses revealed that APS strongly induced apoptosis of HepG2 and HCT-8, especially for HCT-8. Furthermore, APS significantly up-regulated the mRNA level of apoptosis-related genes in cancer cells, and remarkably improved the activities of caspase-3, -8 and -9 in HepG2, caspase-3 and -8 in HCT-8. These results suggest APS might be explored as a potential, natural antitumor agent for functional food.