Screening of probiotic Lactobacillus to reduce peanut allergy and with potential anti-allergic activity.

BACKGROUND: Peanut is a significant source of nutrition and a valuable oilseed crop. It is also a serious allergy source, which poses a threat to 1.1% of the population. This study aimed to screen lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with the capacity to alleviate peanut allergenicity and exhibit anti-allergic properties. RESULT: The results show that LAB can make use of substances in peanuts to reduce the pH of peanut milk from 6.603 to 3.593-4.500 by acid production and that it can utilize the protein in peanuts to reduce the allergenic content (especially Ara h 1) and improve biological activity in peanut pulp. The content of Ara h 1 peanut-sensitizing protein was reduced by 74.65% after fermentation. The protein extracted from fermented peanut pulp is more readily digestible by gastrointestinal juices. The inhibitory activity assay of hyaluronidase (an enzyme with strong correlation to allergy) increased from 46.65% to a maximum of 90.57% to reveal that LAB fermentation of peanut pulp exhibited a robust anti-allergic response. CONCLUSION: The strains identified in this study exhibited the ability to mitigate peanut allergenicity partially and to possess potential anti-allergic properties. Lactobacillus plantarum P1 and Lactobacillus salivarius C24 were identified as the most promising strains and were selected for further research. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Winemaking Characteristics of Red-Fleshed Dragon Fruit from Three Locations in Guizhou Province, China.

The aim of this study was to identify the locations and harvest months in Guizhou province, China, producing the most suitable red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) for winemaking. Fruit from Guanling, Luodian and Zhenfeng counties was harvested separately from successive fruit cycles in August, September and October, respectively. The key traits measured were fruit weight, pulp yield, soluble solids content, and titratable acid. Wine characteristics measured were alcohol content, total carbohydrates, titratable acidity, volatile acidity, and betacyanin content. The overall suitability of fruit from each location for winemaking was evaluated using a multi-factor, unweighted, scorecard. On that basis, fruit from Guanling county harvested in August was the most suitable. Fruit from Luodian, and Zhenfeng was most suitable when harvested in August and September, and September, respectively. These results provide a preliminary guide for the sourcing of red dragon fruit from Guizhou for wine production.

Mast cell chymase affects the proliferation and metastasis of lung carcinoma cells in vitro.

Metastasis of lung carcinoma cells is a major cause of organ failure and mortality of patients with lung cancer. Lung mast cells are a type of immune cell which reside in the respiratory mucosa. High numbers of mast cells are associated with the majority of common types of cancer; however, the effects of mast cells on cancer remain unclear. In the present study, the effects of mast cell chymase (MCC) on the proliferation and adhesion of the lung carcinoma cell lines A549 and H520 was investigated. After 24 h of treatment, the highest dose of MCC (50 mU/ml) decreased the proliferation rate of A549 and H520 cells, whereas the lowest dose of MCC (5 mU/ml) resulted in a small increase in the viability. A549 cells treated with MCC lost adhesion ability in a MCC dose-dependent manner; however, these detached cells were able to regrow when transferred to a fresh culture. The protein expression of epithelial (E-) cadherin, p53 and p21 in A549 lung carcinoma cells were detected by western blot analysis. The results of the present study revealed that, following 24 h of treatment, the expression level of E-cadherin was decreased, the p53 tumor suppressor protein was expressed in limited quantities and the expression of p21 was decreased. Zymography was used to examine the effects of MCC on the expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in A549 and H520 cells. The expression of MMP-9 in the two cell lines was time- and MCC dose-dependent. The results of the present study demonstrated that MCC stimulated lung carcinoma cell proliferation and adhesion, as well as regulated E-cadherin expression and the cell cycle, all of which are associated with cancer metastasis. Therefore, MCC may be a potential candidate for lung carcinoma therapy.