Combining thermosonication microstress and pineapple peel extract addition to achieve quality and post-acidification control in yogurt fermentation.

This work investigated the effects of the combined use of thermosonication-preconditioned lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with the addition of ultrasound-assisted pineapple peel extracts (UU group) on the post-acidification potential, physicochemical and functional qualities of yogurt products, aimed at achieving prolonged preservation and enhancing functional attributes. Accordingly, the physical-chemical features, adhesion properties, and sensory profiles, acidification kinetics, the contents of major organic acids, and antioxidant activities of the differentially processed yogurts during refrigeration were characterized. Following a 14-day chilled storage process, UU group exhibited acidity levels of 0.5-2 oT lower than the control group and a higher lactose content of 0.07 mg/ml as well as unmodified adhesion potential, indicating that the proposed combination method efficiently inhibited post-acidification and delayed lactose metabolism without leading to significant impairment of the probiotic properties. The results of physicochemical analysis showed no significant changes in viscosity, hardness, and color of yogurt. Furthermore, the total phenolic content of UU-treated samples was 98 µg/mL, 1.78 times higher than that of the control, corresponding with the significantly lower IC50 values of DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of the UU group than those of the control group. Observations by fluorescence inverted microscopy demonstrated the obvious adhesion phenomenon with no significant difference found among differentially prepared yogurts. The results of targeted metabolomics indicated the proposed combination strategy significantly modified the microbial metabolism, leading to the delayed utilization of lactose and the inhibited conversion into glucose during post-fermentation, as well as the decreased lactic acid production and a notable shift towards the formation of relatively weak acids such as succinic acid and citric acid. This study confirmed the feasibility of thermosonication-preconditioned LAB inocula, in combination with the use of natural active components from fruit processing byproducts, to alleviate post-acidification in yogurt and to enhance its antioxidant activities as well as simultaneously maintaining sensory features.

Competitive binding of maltodextrin and pectin at the interface of whey protein hydrolyzate-based fish oil emulsion under high temperature sterilization: Effects on storage stability and in vitro digestion.

Whey protein hydrolysate (WPH), maltodextrin (MD), low methoxy pectin (LMP) and high methoxy pectin (HMP) were used to study the interface binding under high temperature sterilization conditions (121 °C, 15 min). The effect of competitive binding of MD and pectin with interface protein on the storage stability and gastrointestinal fate of fish oil emulsion was studied. The low-molecular-weight MD and the interface protein undergo a wide range of covalent binding through the Maillard reaction, while a small amount of high-molecular-weight pectin can form a protective shell with the interface protein through electrostatic interaction to inhibit the covalent reaction of MD, which was called competitive binding. However, due to the bridging and depletion flocculation of pectin, the emulsification stability of fish oil emulsion reduced. After 13 days of storage, compared with the particle size of the WPH fish oil emulsion (459.18 nm), the fish oil emulsion added with LMP and HMP reached 693.58 nm and 838.54 nm, respectively. In vitro digestion proved that WPH fish oil emulsion flocculated rapidly in the stomach (1.76 µm), while WPH-MD and WPH-MD-pectin fish oil emulsions flocculated slightly (less than800 nm). WPH-MD-pectin delayed digestion in the gastrointestinal tract, and HMP exhibited a better slow-release effect. This study provides reference for the design of multi-component functional drinks and other bioactive ingredient delivery system.

Sources, Processing-Related Transformation, and Gut Axis Regulation of Conventional and Potential Prebiotics.

One strategy to achieve a balanced intestinal microbiota is to introduce prebiotics. Some substances present in the diet, such as soybean extracts, koji glycosylceramides, grape extracts, tea polyphenols, and seaweed extracts, can be considered as potential prebiotics, because they can selectively stimulate the proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the intestine. However, the discovery of novel prebiotics also involves advances in screening methods and the use of thermal and non-thermal processing techniques to modify and enhance the properties of beneficial organisms. The health benefits of prebiotics are also reflected by their participation in regulating the microbiota in different gut axes. In the present review, we introduced the field of prebiotics, focusing on potential prebiotic substances, the process of screening potential prebiotics, the transformation of prebiotics by food-processing technologies, and the roles of prebiotics on gut axis regulation, which, it is hoped, will promote the discovery and utilization of novel prebiotics.

Oolong Tea Polyphenols Ameliorate Circadian Rhythm of Intestinal Microbiome and Liver Clock Genes in Mouse Model.

Our present study focused on the regulating effect of oolong tea polyphenols (OTPs) on the circadian rhythm of liver and intestinal microbiome. OTP significantly alleviated the disrupted diurnal oscillation and phase shift of the specific intestinal microbiota and liver clock genes in mice induced by constant dark (CD) treatment. Transcriptomics revealed that 1114 genes in the control group and 647 genes in the CD group showed circadian rhythm while 723 genes were rhythmic in the CD-OTP group. The Gene Ontology (GO) database provided significant differences in differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to OTP treatment. In addition, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways enriched the most DEGs after OTP intervention including "Focal adhesion" (9 DEGs) and "PI3K-Akt signaling pathway" (9 DEGs). The present study provided a global view that OTP may alleviate the circadian rhythm disorder of the host, contributing to the improvement of microecology and health.

Effects of high pressure treatment on lipolysis-oxidation and volatiles of marinated pork meat in soy sauce.

To investigate the effect of high pressure (HP) treatment (150 and 300 MPa for 15 min at 20 °C) on lipolysis-oxidation and volatile profile of marinated pork meat in soy sauce, the changes of lipase, phospholipase and lipoxygenase (LOX) activities, TBARS, free fatty acids and volatiles composition in control and HP treated samples were analyzed. Acid and neutral lipase activities and free fatty acids content decreased, while LOX activity and TBARS increased after HP treatment. Phospholipase had well stability under HP. The levels of volatile compounds from lipid oxidation and brine increased under HP and then contributed 73.16-78.25% of the typical aroma, while volatile compounds from carbohydrate fermentation, especially acetic acid, decreased with the pressure increasing. The decrease of free fatty acids during pressurization was probably attributed to the decline of lipase activity and the increase of LOX activity. These findings indicated that HP (150-300 MPa/15 min) promoted lipid oxidation and the permeation of brine, but inhibited carbohydrate fermentation.

Effect of selenylation modification on antitumor activity of peptidoglycan from Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Selenium is an essential trace element for human with the antitumor properties. In the present study, the peptidoglycan (PG) derived from Lactobacillus acidophilus was modified by selenylation with the HNO3-Na2SeO3 method. Reaction temperature, reaction duration and the selenide content were optimized according to orthogonal design of three-factors. In addition, the molecular structure of selenizing peptidoglycan (Se-PG) was determined by infrared spectroscopy analysis. Furthermore, the antitumor activity of Se-PG was also investigated in HT-29 cells. The results showed that Se-PG exerted a greater antitumor activity than non-modified PG in a dose-dependent manner. These findings indicated that selenylation modification can enhance the antitumor activity of PG, and Se-PG could achieve its potential in antitumor activity.

Effect of selenium-enriched exopolysaccharide produced by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis on signaling molecules in mouse spleen lymphocytes.

Selenium-enriched exopolysaccharides (Se-EPS) produced by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis can be used as a safe and effective selenium (Se) supplement. Analysis of the Se content and monosaccharide components of Se-EPS demonstrated that it consisted of mannose, fucose, ribose, glucose, galactose, and arabinose with a molar ratio of 5.48 : 0.39 : 9.77 : 4.03 : 1.00 : 1.92, and an Se content of 183.263 µg g(-1). The differing effects of Se-EPS and EPS on calcium channels and certain key secondary messengers in spleen lymphocytes were examined and compared. Results showed that low-dose Se-EPS, but not EPS, increased the intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) levels of mouse spleen lymphocytes. Se-EPS also increased the expression and phosphorylation of Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent kinase (CaMK) II in lymphocytes. In addition, increased intracellular Ca(2+) levels were also found in the cells with blocked Ca(2+) channels. We speculated that Se-EPS enhanced the activation and proliferation of lymphocytes through calcium signaling by drawing from extracellular and intracellular stores. Low-dose Se-EPS also enhanced NO production, cAMP levels and PKA activity. We speculated that low-dose Se-EPS may activate certain pathways, including the calcium channel, NO, cAMP, and PKA related pathways.

Antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity of selenium exopolysaccharide produced by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis.

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) was isolated and purified from Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis culture broth. Selenium chloride oxide (SeCl(2)O) was added to the EPS to synthesize selenium-exopolysaccharide (Se-EPS). The in vitro and in vivo antioxidant and in vivo immunomodulatory activity of EPS and Se-EPS were compared. EPS and Se-EPS scavenged superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals. They also increased catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, while decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum and in the livers of mice. Se-EPS showed stronger in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity than were shown by EPS. The in vivo immunoenhancement activity of EPS and Se-EPS induced by cyclophosphamide (CY) treatment in immunosuppressed mice was researched. EPS and Se-EPS treatments increased macrophage phagocytosis, spleen and thymus indices and haemolytic complement activity (HC(50)). Se-EPS showed stronger immunomodulatory activity than did EPS.

Protective effect of selenium-enriched Lactobacillus on CCl4-induced liver injury in mice and its possible mechanisms.

AIM: To study the protective effects and mechanisms of Se-enriched lactobacillus on liver injury caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in mice. METHODS: Seventy-two ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, CCl4-induced model group, low Se-enriched lactobacillus treatment group (L-Se group), and high Se-enriched lactobacillus treatment group (H-Se group). During a 3-wk experimental period, the common complete diet was orally provided daily for normal group and model group, and the mice in L-Se and H-Se groups were given a diet with 2 and 4 mg of organoselenium from Se-enriched lactobacillus per kg feed, respectively. From the 2nd wk of experiment, the model group, L-Se group, and H-Se group received abdominal cavity injection of olive oil solution containing 500 mL/L CCl4 (0.07 mL/100 g body mass) to induce liver injury, and the normal group was given olive oil on every other day for over 2 wk. In the first 2 wk post injection with CCl4, mice in each group were killed. The specimens of blood, liver tissue, and macrophages in abdominal cavity fluid were taken. Then the activities of the following liver tissue injury-associated enzymes including glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) content were assayed. Changes of phagocytic rate and phagocytic index in macrophages were observed with Wright-Giemsa stain. Plasma TNF-alpha level was measured by radioimmunoassay. The level of intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in hepatocytes was detected under a laser scanning confocal microscope. RESULTS: During the entire experimental period, the AST and ALT activities in liver were greatly enhanced by CCl4 and completely blunted by both low and high doses of Se-enriched lactobacillus. The Se-enriched lactobacillus-protected liver homogenate GSH-Px and SOD activities were higher or significantly higher than those in model group and were close to those in normal group. CCl4 significantly increased MDA content in liver homogenates, while administration of Se-enriched lactobacillus prevented MDA elevation. Phagocytic rate and phagocytic index of macro-phages decreased after CCl4 treatment compared to those in normal control, but they were dramatically rescued by Se-enriched lactobacillus, showing a greatly higher phagocytic function compared to model group. CCl4 could significantly elevate plasma TNF-alpha and hepatocyte [Ca2+]i level, which were also obviously prevented by Se-enriched lactobacillus. CONCLUSION: Se-enriched lactobacillus can intervene in CCl4-induced liver injury in mice by enhancing macrophage function activity to keep normal and beneficial effects, elevating antioxidant-enzyme activities and reducing lipid peroxidation reaction, inhibiting excessive release of TNF-alpha, preventing the dramatic elevation of [Ca2+]i in hepatocytes.