Improving the quality of multi-layer films based on furcellaran by immobilising active ingredients and impact assessment of the use of a new packaging material.

To improve the quality of multi-layer film, four-layer films based on furcellaran and active ingredients: gelatin hydrolysate, curcumin, capsaicin, montmorillonite and AgNPs, were produced in an innovative manner. The films were characterised by SEM and AFM analysis. Along with an increase in the concentration of active ingredients, the structure of the film becomes less homogeneous, which may affect the functional properties. The objective of the study was to analyse changes in the functional properties of the newly-obtained films and to verify their potential as packaging materials for fish products. With the increase in active ingredient concentration, water properties also improved, but there were no noticeable significant effects on mechanical properties. For antioxidant properties, the obtained values were within 1.04-2.74 mM Trolox/mg (FRAP) and 7.67-40.49% (DPPH). The obtained multi-layer films were examined with regard to the shelf-life of salmon. For this purpose, salmon fillets were packed in films having good antioxidant and functional properties. The films were effective in microorganism growth inhibition responsible for fillet spoilage during storage. The microorganism number in the active film-stored samples was lower by 0.13 log CFU/g on day 12 versus the control. However, film application did not retard lipid oxidation in the salmon fillets. Nonetheless, the films show great potential as active packaging materials, extending the shelf-life of the packed foods.

Guar gum, a low-cost sustainable biopolymer, for wastewater treatment: A review.

Rapid population growth and the resultant pollution of freshwater resources have created a water stress condition reducing the availability of safe and affordable water. Guar gum, a biocompatible macromolecule obtained from the endosperm of the seeds of Cyamopsis tetragonolobus, is a fascinating raw material for multifunctional adsorbents. This review assembled the work conducted by various researchers over the past few decades and discussed the structure, properties, and different modifications methods employed to develop versatile guar gum-based adsorbent. The paper also summarized the recent progress of guar gum-based nanocomposites for the remediation of multiple hazardous substances such as organic dyes, toxic heavy metal ions, oil-water separation as well as inhibiting the growth of bacterial pathogens. Thus, the important contribution of guar gum composites to safeguard the water quality is highlighted which will overcome the limitations and streamline the future course of innovative research.

Guar gum-derived galactomannan induces inflammatory responses and increased energy expenditure in the intestine.

Guar gum-derived galactomannan (GGGM) has been widely used in the food industry for a long time and its adverse impacts have been scarcely reported. Galactomannan is considered to have a structure similar to the surface components of certain pathogens, and the present study was thus conducted to investigate if oral administration of GGGM could cause physiological effects that were hypothesized to be related to intestinal inflammatory responses. The results showed that oral administration of GGGM resulted in compromises on growth performance, an increase of the relative weight of spleen and epididymal fat, and an elevation of the α1-acid glycoprotein content in both serum and livers of mice. With regard to energy metabolism-related indices, the activities of intestinal lactic dehydrogenase and succinic dehydrogenase were all increased by the GGGM treatment in both in vivo and in vitro experiments, the latter of which also showed an elevation in the consumption of reducing sugar by intestinal epithelial cells along with a reduced viability of these cells in response to the GGGM treatment. Notably, the GGGM treatment triggered intestinal inflammatory responses that were evidenced by the increased expression of intestinal inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 both in vivo and in vitro, which were at least partially responsible for the increased energy expenditure in the intestine and the retardation of growth. The results of this study could expand our knowledge of GGGM administration and provide integrated insights into the consumption of GGGM-containing foods.

Acacia mearnsii gum: A residue as an alternative gum Arabic for food stabilizer.

Acacia mearnsii gum is not commercially exploited, being characterized as residue from A. mearnsii cultivation. This work investigated the A. mearnsii gum polysaccharide composition, its cytotoxicity and the technological effect as a stabilizer in ice cream. A. mearnsii gum showed a similar chemical structure to commercial gum Arabic and did not decrease the viability and proliferation of fibroblast cells (Balb/3T3) and hepatocarcinoma (HepG2). Rheological tests showed that the ice cream stabilized by the A. mearnsii gum had a more structured system (more interactions between the mixture components) and the same melting characteristics as the ice cream samples made with commercial gum Arabic. The results showed that A. mearnsii gum, which is actually an agro-industrial residue from tannin production for industry, is a potential stabilizing gum for the food industry, contributing to the economic development of the exploitation chain of A. mearnsii products and by-products.

Mesquite gum (Prosopis gum): Structure, properties & applications - A review.

Mesquite gum (Prosopis gum) is an exudate gum obtained from mesquite tree (Prosopis sp.). Main constituents of this gum are D-galactose & L-arabinose along with trace amount of D-mannose, D-glucuronate & D-xylose. It also contains protein in its chemical structure. Chemically, it is similar to gum arabic which makes it a competent substitute of gum arabic for various applications. Viscosity values of mesquite gum solution are somewhat lower than gum arabic which opens door for its application as dietary fiber in various food products which is an untouched territory. Mesquite gum has several functional properties which makes it a functional hydrocolloid. It has appreciable emulsifying and encapsulation capacity for various food components. Another application of mesquite gum is its use as drying aid in foam mat drying of fruits. It is also a potential film forming agent and used for extending shelf life of fruits. In pharmaceutical industry, it is used as tablet binder and stabilizer in suspensions. All these functional properties and applications of mesquite gum suggest that it is an underutilized functional gum. This paper discusses the production, collection, composition, processing, properties and applications of mesquite gum.

Optimization of ß-mannanase production by Bacillus subtilis US191 using economical agricultural substrates.

The Bacillus subtilis US191 strain producing highly thermostable ß-mannanase was previously selected as potential probiotic candidate for application as feed supplement in poultry industry. Initially, the level of extracellular ß-mannanase production by this strain was 1.48 U ml-1 . To improve this enzyme titer, the present study was undertaken to optimize the fermentation conditions through experimental designs and valorization of agro-industrial byproducts. Using the Plackett-Burman design, in submerged fermentation, a set of 14 culture variables was evaluated in terms of their effects on ß-mannanase production. Locust bean gum (LBG), soymeal, temperature, and inoculum size were subsequently optimized by response surface methodology using Box-Behnken design. Under optimized conditions (1 g L-1 LBG, 8 g L-1 soymeal, temperature of 30°C and inoculum size of 1010 CFU ml-1 ), a 2.59-fold enhancement in ß-mannanase titer was achieved. Next, to decrease the enzyme production cost, the effect of partial substitution of LBG (1 g L-1 ) by agro-industrial byproducts was investigated, and a Taguchi design was applied. This allowed the attaining of a ß-mannanase production level of 8.75 U ml-1 in presence of 0.25 g L-1 LBG, 5 g L-1 of coffee residue powder, 5 g L-1 of date seeds powder, and 5 g L-1 of prickly pear seeds powder as mannans sources. Overall, a 5.91-fold improvement in ß-mannanase production by B. subtilis US191 was achieved.

Exudate gums: chemistry, properties and food applications - a review.

Gums are complex carbohydrate molecules which have the ability to bind water and form gels at low concentration. These carbohydrates are often associated with proteins and minerals in their structure. Gums are of various types such as seed gums, exudate gums, microbial gums, mucilage gums, seaweeds gums, etc. Exudate gums are plant gums which ooze out from bark as a result of a protection mechanism upon injury. Exudate gums have been used by humans since ancient times for various applications due to their easy availability. The main characteristics which make them fit for use in various applications are viscosity, adhesive property, stabilization effect, emulsification action and surface-active property. Major applications of these gums are in food products, the paper, textile, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, oil-well drilling, etc. In the present paper, the chemistry, properties, processing and applications of commercially available exudate gums such as acacia gum or gum arabic, karaya gum, ghatti gum and tragacanth gum are discussed. Recent literature reveals that apart from the above mentioned applications, these gums also have nutritional properties which are being explored. Other gums cannot replace them because of their certain unique characteristics. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Inhalable locust bean gum microparticles co-associating isoniazid and rifabutin: Therapeutic assessment in a murine model of tuberculosis infection.

Tuberculosis is a leading cause of death worldwide. Although the development of new antimycobacterial drugs is an obvious and necessary strategy to address the disease, improving the therapeutic performance of drugs already approved constitutes a valuable alternative approach. As the lung is the most affected organ, where M. tuberculosis is able to survive and proliferate, the direct pulmonary delivery of antitubercular drugs comprises a highly promising therapeutic strategy. In this work, spray-dried locust bean gum (LBG) microparticles were used to deliver a combination of two first line antitubercular drugs, isoniazid (INH) and rifabutin (RFB), to the alveolar zone, where macrophages hosting the bacteria reside. LBG is expected to mediate favoured macrophage uptake of microparticles, leading to enhanced therapeutic effect. The therapeutic effect of LBG/INH/RFB microparticles was evaluated in a murine model infected with M. tuberculosis, strain H37Rv and compared with oral co-therapy of INH and RFB in the free form. The pulmonary administration of LBG/INH/RFB microparticles 5 times per week was the only treatment schedule that provided negative growth index values in lung (-0.22), spleen (-0.14) and liver (-0.26) even using a lower therapeutic dose for both antibiotics. For the control group, the respective values were +1.95, +0.75 and +0.96.

Flaxseed gum: Extraction, bioactive composition, structural characterization, and its potential antioxidant activity.

Flaxseed gum (FSG) is a heteropolysaccharide consist of neutral and acidic components that makes up approximately 8% of seed mass. FSG was extracted from mixture of brown and golden varieties of flaxseeds by hot water extraction method. The molecular weight distribution, monosaccharide analysis, chemical composition, and surface morphology of FSG were scrutinized in the current study to get a better insight regarding this important polysaccharide. The average molecular weight was recorded as 1,322 kDa with a polydispersity ratio of 1.6 for Mw/Mn and 2.4 for Mn/Mz. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) screening revealed that extracted FSG was comprised of rhamnose, arabinose, mannose, glucose, fucose, xylose, galactose, glucosamine, glucuronic acid, and galacturonic acid, of which mannose and glucosamine have not been reported previously. The antioxidant activities of FSG measured as DPPH, ABTS, reducing power, and total antioxidant activity clearly demonstrated the antioxidant potency of FSG. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (1 H, 13 C) s pectra ratified the presence of functional groups typical for polysaccharide. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Flaxseed gum is a natural carbohydrate polymar. This study provides useful information regarding antioxidant potential, chemical, and structural characterization of FSG. The availability of a gum is fully characterized with bioactive composition, structural features, and antioxidant potential provides a toolset for the practical application in the food or drug industry.

Toxicological Assessment of a Standardized Boswellia serrata Gum Resin Extract.

The acidic and non-acidic fractions of Boswellia serrata gum resin extracts were combined to prepare a unique product, LI13019F1 (Serratrin). The present series of studies evaluated LI13019F1 for acute and subchronic (28-day) toxicity in Wistar rats and acute dermal and eye irritation in New Zealand white rabbits. The mutagenicity and clastogenicity of LI13019F1 were evaluated in bacteria and mouse bone marrow erythrocytes, respectively. All studies were performed following the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines. Acute oral and acute dermal toxicity studies did not show mortality or signs of toxicity in Wistar rats at a limit dose of 2,000 mg/kg LI13019F1. LI13019F1 did not cause irritation to the skin or the eyes of New Zealand white rabbits. In a repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity study, LI13019F1-treated Wistar rats did not show dose-related signs of toxicity on their body weights, organ weights, and on the hematology and clinical chemistry parameters. The estimated no observed adverse effect level for LI13019F1 was 1,000 mg/kg/day in both male and female rats. The bacterial reverse mutation test and a micronucleus assay in mouse bone marrow erythrocytes revealed that LI13019F1 was neither mutagenic nor clastogenic. Together, the present observations demonstrate a broad-spectrum safety of LI13019F1.

Phenolics composition, antioxidant properties and toxicological assessment of Prosopis alba exudate gum.

The objective of this work was to deepen on the study of functional properties of the phytochemicals present in Prosopis alba exudate gum (G), as well as to rule out possible adverse effects of some of its components. Commonly employed purification methods were compared. Filtration prevents further loss of potentially bioactive compounds. The filtrated gum showed a higher concentration of phenolics, flavonoids and tannins than arabic gum, which was correlated with better in vitro antioxidant properties. Particularly, tannins, commonly considered as toxic compounds in exudate gums, were found in lower concentration than in others gums obtained from genus Prosopis and Acacia. The toxicological evaluation performed on rats did not show symptoms of intoxication associated with the administration of the gum. These results provide useful evidence to support the potential use of G as a safe functional food additive with the added benefit of taking advantage of a non-exploited natural resource.

Shake No Bake: A Homemade Ultrasound Gel Recipe for Low-Resource Settings.

Commercially produced ultrasound coupling gel is often a scarce resource in rural regions of low-income countries that use sonography as their main imaging modality and, when available, may be cost prohibitive. Various homemade gels were created and tested to assure image quality was not compromised. Glucomannan-based gel and guar gum-based gel had superior physical properties in initial testing and showed no substantial difference compared with commercially available ultrasound gel on subject and phantom imaging and analysis (P > .05 using a 1-tailed sign test). Neither gel required heating, attracted insects, damaged ultrasound transducers, stained samples of clothing, or had harmful effects to subjects.

Assessment of gelation behaviour of fenugreek gum and other galactomannans by dynamic viscoelasticity, fractal analysis and temperature cycle.

Gelling properties of three galactomannan dispersions (fenugreek (FG), guar (GG) and locust bean gum (LBG)) were compared by strain and frequency sweep viscoelasticity, and temperature cycle at a constant strain and frequency in the concentration range 1 to 2 wt%. For FG and GG dispersions, tan δ remain <1 in the linear viscoelastic region during strain sweep analysis. FG and GG dispersions also showed a sol to gel transition at higher frequencies compared to LBG, indicating gelation by inter-polymer interactions and network formation. Conversely, strain and frequency sweep analysis of LBG dispersions revealed poor gelling ability. The fractal dimensions of the gels were 1.82, 2.38 for FG and 1.64, 2.10 for GG, using Shih (1990) and Wu-Morbidelli model (2001), respectively. According to the Shih model, FG and GG fell into the strong gel regime, but the Wu-Morbidelli model revealed that both dispersions were in the transition gel regime, more inclined towards weak gels, which is a more accurate description of the gels. FG and GG could form thermo-reversible gels, while for LBG, an improvement in gel strength was observed after the temperature cycle. The dynamic viscoelastic studies on FG dispersions support their use as food gelling agents.

Chemical characterization and pharmacological assessment of polysaccharide free, standardized cashew gum extract (Anacardium occidentale L.).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The cashew gum (Anacardium occidentale L.) is used in traditional Brazilian medicine in the treatment of inflammatory conditions, asthma, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disturbances. AIM OF THE STUDY: In the present study, we aimed at forming a chemical characterization and investigation of the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous extract of cashew gum without the presence of polysaccharides in its composition (CGE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CGE was obtained after the precipitation and removal of polysaccharides through the use of acetone. After, the acetone was removed by rotaevaporation, and the concentrated extract was lyophilized. The chemical characterization of CGE was performed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analyses. Mice were used for the evaluation of the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. CGE was analyzed via the Irwin test, acetic acid-induced writhing test, formalin-induced pain test, and carrageenan-induced paw edema test. The motor activity or probable sedation was verified through the chimney, open-field, and sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep tests. We investigated if the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of CGE depend of reduction in PGE2 levels, were performed the carrageenan or PGE2-induced hyperalgesia tests. RESULTS: The chemical characterization of CGE showed the presence of anacardic acids as the predominant phytoconstituents. The treatment with CGE (75, 150, and 300mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited the number of writhing in a dose-dependent manner. With an intermediate dose, CGE did not cause motor impairment with the chimney test or alterations in either the open-field or sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep. In the formalin-induced pain test, CGE (150mg/kg, p.o.) produced an antinociceptive effect only in the first phase of the test, suggesting anti-inflammatory activity. With the same dosage, CGE also reduced the carrageenan-induced paw edema at all hours of the test, confirming its anti-inflammatory effect. Furthermore, CGE (150mg/kg, p.o.) presented an antihyperalgic effect at all hours of the carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia test. However, this dose of CGE was not able to reduce the hyperalgesia induced by PGE2, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory effect of this extract depends on the reduction in the PGE2 levels. CONCLUSION: The anacardic acids are the predominant phytoconstituents identified in the CGE. The action mechanisms of CGE suggest the reduction in the PGE2 levels. These findings support the use of cashew gum in popular medicine and demonstrate that part of its antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects should also be attributed to the presence of anacardic acids in its composition, independent of the presence of polysaccharides.

Facile synthesis of low-cost magnetic biosorbent from peach gum polysaccharide for selective and efficient removal of cationic dyes.

Magnetic biosorbents derived from renewable resource are emerging as a new class of adsorbing material for environmental cleanup because of their eco-friendly characteristic, easy availability and low cost. Herein, a novel magnetic peach gum bead (MPGB) biosorbent was successfully fabricated by a simple one-step reaction based on the simultaneous formation of magnetic nanoparticles and cross-linking of natural peach gum polysaccharide. Benefiting from the combined merits of peach gum and magnetic nanoparticles, the MPGB not only showed excellent adsorption performance for cationic dyes but also exhibited convenient magnetic separation capability. The influences of pH, ionic strength, initial dye concentration, contact time and temperature on the adsorption property of MPGB biosorbent were investigated by choosing methylene blue (MB) as a representative cationic dye. The Langmuir isotherm fitted the adsorption isotherm well with maximum adsorption capacity of 231.5mgg-1. Kinetic data showed good correlation with pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic investigation revealed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. Moreover, the MPGB exhibits nice reusability. Considering the facile fabrication process and excellent adsorption performance, the MPGBs hold great promise for using as biosorbent for environmental cleanup.

Assessment of physical and structural characteristics of almond gum.

Almond gum was investigated for its physical and structural characteristics in comparison to gum arabic. Among physical properties, bulk density was found to be 0.600±0.12g/mL and 0.502±0.20g/mL for almond and gum arabic respectively. Almond gum (0.820±0.13g/mL) displayed the maximum value for tapped density. Compressibility index of exudate gum powders varied from 26.79±1.47 to 37.46±0.50% and follow the order gum arabic>almond gum. Almond gum demonstrated good flow characteristics when compared to gum arabic. True density showed significant difference (p<0.05) among the exudate samples and it was recorded higher for gum arabic. The maximum value of porosity recorded in case of gum arabic indicates the presence of large number of interstitial spaces among its particles. Almond gum had fair flow character while good for the other exudate gum powder. Almond gum had relatively higher mineral content than gum arabic. The oil holding capacity of exudate gums varied from 0.87±0.05 to 0.92±0.02g/g. Exudate powder samples were found to lie in the first quadrant of the hue angle (0-90°) corresponding to the range of reddish-purple to yellow. The absence of peaks in the X-ray diffractograms of exudate samples reflects their amorphous nature. SEM micrographs revealed a lot of variability in shape and size of the exudate particles.

Improving succinic acid production by Actinobacillus succinogenes from raw industrial carob pods.

Carob pods are an inexpensive by-product of locust bean gum industry that can be used as renewable feedstock for bio-based succinic acid. Here, for the first time, unprocessed raw carob pods were used to extract a highly enriched sugar solution, afterwards used as substrate to produce succinic acid using Actinobacillus succinogenes. Batch fermentations containing 30g/L sugars resulted in a production rate of 1.67gSA/L.h and a yield of 0.39gSA/g sugars. Taking advantage of A. succinogenes' metabolism, uncoupling cell growth from succinic acid production, a fed-batch mode was implemented to increase succinic acid yield and reduce by-products formation. This strategy resulted in a succinic acid yield of 0.94gSA/g sugars, the highest yield reported in the literature for fed-batch and continuous experiments, while maintaining by-products at residual values. Results demonstrate that raw carob pods are a highly efficient feedstock for bio-based succinic acid production.

ASSESSMENT OF GUAR AND XANTHAN GUM BASED FLOATING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM CONTAINING MEFENAMIC ACID.

We aimed to assess guar and xantban gum based floating drug delivery system containing mefenamic acid. Floating tablets of nefenamic acid were formulated with different concentrations of guar and xanthan gum via wet granulation method. The flow properties of granules that is: bulk density, tapped density, flow rate, Carr index, Hausner's ratio, compressibility index and angle of repose as well as physical parameters of the compressed tablets including: hardness, friability, thickness and swelling indices were determined and found to be good. Xanthan gum was superior to guar gum in maintaining drug release, but a combination of polymers was found to be the best for achieving sustained release up to 12 h due to the synergistic effect of both gums. Drug release mechanism was best explained by Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies showed absence of any visible interaction. Stability studies at 40°C (75% RH) showed that the formulation was stable at elevated temperature. It can be concluded that floating tablets can be used as a sustained release matrix due to their superior characteristics.

Assessment of the capability of a gelling complex made of tara gum and the exopolysaccharides produced by the microorganism Streptococcus thermophilus ST10 to prospectively restore the gut physiological barrier: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Leaky gut, or intestinal permeability, is the phenomenon of the gut wall exhibiting increased absorbency. It is pretty well recognised that an altered or damaged bowel lining or gut wall may result from unbalanced diet, parasites, infection, or medications and that this allows substances such as toxins, microbes, undigested food, or waste to leak through. As a natural consequence, this prompts the body to initiate an immune reaction leading to potentially severe health conditions. Different strategies may be used to improve, at least temporarily, the physiological intestinal barrier. The use of specific beneficial microorganisms, such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, has been suggested as an innovative tool to counteract an improper level of intestinal permeability. The association of bacteria with specific gelling agents, such as gums, may represent an improvement since these molecules are able to form hydrophilic gels that distribute uniformly over the inner intestinal surface. This pilot study was undertaken to evaluate intestinal permeability in subjects treated with a gelling complex, an association of tara gum and the microorganism Streptococcus thermophilus ST10 (DSM 25246), which has a well-demonstrated in vitro ability to synthesise and secrete exopolysaccharides (EPSs). METHODS: Twenty-five healthy subjects were enrolled in this human intervention, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot trial (age between 21 and 57 y, mean 37.7±11.2). Subjects were then randomised into 2 groups: group A (13 subjects) was given an active formulation containing 250 mg of tara gum and 1 billion viable cells of S. thermophilus ST10, whereas group B (12 subjects) was given a placebo formulation. All the subjects participating in the study were directed to take 1 dose per day for 30 consecutive days. The presence and concentration of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) in the faeces was determined at time 0 (d0), after 30 days of treatment (d30), and at the end of the 2-week follow-up period (d45). The monosaccharide composition of EPSs was used to quantify the possible contribution of tara gum to the amount of polysaccharides detected in the faecal material. Intestinal permeability was evaluated at the same time by means of the lactitol/mannitol ratio (small intestine permeability) and sucralose concentration (colonic permeability) in urine specimens sampled after specified times. A statistical comparison was made between the concentration of EPSs, the lactulose/mannitol ratio, and the amount of excreted sucralose in the 2 groups at d0, d30, and d45. RESULTS: In the active group, supplementation with S. thermophilus ST10 and tara gum was able to significantly increase the faecal EPSs concentration compared with placebo (from 0.169 mg/g to 0.633 mg/g after 30 d, P<0.001). An interesting decrease in intestinal permeability, both of the small bowel and in the colon, was also recorded. The L/M ratio diminished from 0.021 in the active group to 0.014 and 0.015 after 30 and 45 days, respectively (P=0.045 and P=0.033 compared with placebo). The sucralose concentration decreased from 35.8 mg to 27.9 mg and 29.1 mg (P=0.038 and P=0.026 compared with placebo) at the end of the supplementation period and after the follow-up, respectively. No significant differences were recorded in the placebo after 30 days or at the end of the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The association of the EPSs produced by S. thermophilus ST10 and tara gum seems capable of significantly improving the intestinal functional barrier in healthy subjects. A wider study in subjects presenting impaired gut permeability would be useful in the future to confirm the positive results from this pilot trial. In any case, our findings are consistent with the parallel increase in exopolysaccharide concentration in the faecal material, thus suggesting the effective ability of the strain used to secrete EPSs in the gut lumen. An innovative approach of this type may be useful in helping to restore the physiological barrier by means of a merely natural and mechanical action.