Prebiotic utilisation provides Lactiplantibacillus plantarum a competitive advantage in vitro, but is not reflected by an increased intestinal fitness.

Synbiotics combine the concepts of probiotics and prebiotics to synergistically enhance the health-associated effects of both components. Previously, we have shown that the intestinal persistence of inulin-utilizing L. plantarum Lp900 is significantly increased in rats fed an inulin-supplemented, high-calcium diet. Here we employed a competitive population dynamics approach to demonstrate that inulin and GOS can selectively enrich L. plantarum strains that utilize these substrates for growth during in vitro cultivation, but that such enrichment did not occur during intestinal transit in rats fed a GOS or inulin-supplemented diet. The intestinal persistence of all L. plantarum strains increased irrespective of their prebiotic utilization phenotype, which was dependent on the calcium level of the diet. Analysis of fecal microbiota and intestinal persistence decline rates indicated that prebiotic utilization capacity did not selectively stimulate intestinal persistence in prebiotic supplemented diets. Moreover, microbiota and organic acid profile analyses indicate that the prebiotic utilizing probiotic strains are vastly outcompeted by the endogenous prebiotic-utilizing microbiota, and that the collective enhanced persistence of all L. plantarum strains is most likely explained by their well-established tolerance to organic acids.

Development, characterization and Lactobacillus plantarum encapsulating ability of novel C-phycocyanin-pectin-polyphenol based hydrogels.

In this study, it was found that the enhancement in the viability of Lactobacillus plantarum under gastrointestinal conditions by encapsulating them within novel C-Phycocyanin-pectin based hydrogels (from 5.7 to 7.1 log/CFU). The hardness, the strength and the stability of the hydrogels increased when the protein concentration was increased. In addition, the addition of resveratrol (RES), and tannic acid (TA) could improve the hardness (from 595.4 to 608.3 and 637.0 g) and WHC (from 93.9 to 94.2 and 94.8 %) of the hydrogels. The addition of gallic acid (GA) enhanced the hardness (675.0 g) of the hydrogels, but the WHC (86.2 %) was decreased. During simulated gastrointestinal conditions and refrigerated storage, the addition of TA enhanced the viable bacteria counts (from 6.8 and 8.0 to 7.5 and 8.5 log/CFU) of Lactobacillus plantarum. Furthermore, TA and GA are completely encased by the protein-pectin gel as an amorphous state, while RA is only partially encased.

Stability and programmed sequential release of Lactobacillus plantarum and curcumin encapsulated in bilayer-stabilized W1/O/W2 double emulsion: Effect of pectin as protective shell.

In order to overcome the problem that traditional W1/O/W2 double emulsions do not have targeted release performance, thereby better meeting the health needs of consumers, ovalbumin fibrils/pectin-based bilayer-stabilized double emulsion (OP-BDE) co-encapsulated with Lactobacillus plantarum and curcumin was constructed with pectin as the outer protective shell, which was expected to be used in the development of novel functional foods. The effects of pectin coating on the viability of Lactobacillus plantarum under conditions including storage, pasteurization, freeze-thaw cycles and in vitro simulated digestion were investigated. Results showed that pectin as protective shell could significantly enhance the tolerance of Lactobacillus plantarum to various environmental factors. Besides, the adsorption of pectin endowed OP-BDE with higher lipolysis and stronger protective effect on curcumin, remarkably improving the photostability and bioaccessibility of curcumin. In addition, in vitro simulated gastrointestinal release study indicated that OP-BDE possessed programmed sequential release property, allowing curcumin and Lactobacillus plantarum to be released in small intestine and colon, respectively. OP-BDE is the first reported co-delivery emulsion system with programmed release characteristic. This study provides new insights into OP-BDE in constructing co-delivery systems and programmed sequential release of active substances, and has potential reference and application value in actual food production.

Influence of supplementation with iron and probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus curvatus on selected parameters of inflammatory state in rats on a high-fat iron-deficient diet.

BACKGROUND: A high-fat (HF) diet, diet iron deficiency and iron supplementation may affect inflammatory parameters. Probiotics influence both iron metabolism and inflammation. We compared the inflammatory state in rats on a HF iron-deficient diet receiving oral iron, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus curvatus in different combinations. METHODS: This was a two-stage experiment. In groups C (n = 8) and HF (n = 8), rats ate a control or HF diet, respectively, for 16 weeks. In the group HFDEF (n = 48), rats ate a HF iron-deficient diet for 8 weeks (first stage) and were subsequently divided into 6 groups (n = 8 each) receiving the following for a further 8 weeks (second stage): HFDEF - a HF iron-deficient diet; HFDEFFe - a HF iron-deficient diet with iron; HFDEFLp and HFDEFLc - a HF iron-deficient diet with L. plantarum or L. curvatus, respectively; and HFDEFFeLp and HFDEFFeLc - a HF iron-deficient diet with iron and L. plantarum or L. curvatus, respectively. Body composition analysis and blood sampling was performed. Markers of iron status and levels of total antioxidant status (TAS), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were measured in the blood. RESULTS: TAS was higher in the HFDEF group (756.57 ± 489.53 ng mL-1) versus the HFDEFLc group (187.04 ± 47.84 ng mL-1; P = 0.022). No more differences were found between groups, or in TAS, CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations. Also, no differences were found between groups for alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, glucose, total cholesterol, low- and high-density lipoproteins and triglycerides. TAS level was positively correlated with ferritin concentration, IL-6 with TAS and TNF-α with hepcidin level. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with L. plantarum, L. curvatus and iron in combinations exerts no influence on inflammatory status, lipid profile, hepatic function and serum fasting glucose in rats on a HF iron-deficient diet. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Bioactive Potential of Carrot-Based Products Enriched with Lactobacillus plantarum.

The primary goal of this study was to generate different kinds of functional products based on carrots that were supplemented with lactic acid bacteria. The fact that carrots (Daucus carota sp.) rank among the most popular vegetables in our country led to the convergence of the research aim. Their abundance of bioactive compounds, primarily polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids, offers numerous health benefits. Among the obtained products, the freeze-dried carrot powder (FDCP) variation presented the highest concentrations of total carotenoids (TCs) and ß-carotene (BC) of 26.977 ± 0.13 mg/g DW and 22.075 ± 0.14 mg/g DW, respectively. The amount of total carotenoids and ß-carotene significantly increased with the addition of the selected lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for most of the samples. In addition, a slight increase in the antioxidant activity compared with the control sample for the FDCP variant, with the highest value of 91.74%, was observed in these functional food products. The content of polyphenolic compounds varied from 0.044 to 0.091 mg/g DW, while the content of total flavonoids varied from 0.03 to 0.66 mg/g DW. The processing method had an impact on the population of L. plantarum that survived, as indicated by the viability of bacterial cells in all the analyzed products. The chromatographic analysis through UHPLC-MS/MS further confirmed the abundance of the bioactive compounds and their corresponding derivatives by revealing 19 different compounds. The digestibility study indicated that carotenoid compounds from carrots followed a rather controlled release. The carrot-based products enriched with Lactobacillus plantarum can be considered newly functional developed products based on their high content of biologically active compounds with beneficial effects upon the human body. Furthermore, these types of products could represent innovative products for every related industry such as the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical industries, thus converging a new strategy to improve the health of consumers or patients.

Dietary supplementation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P-8 improves the growth performance and gut microbiota of weaned piglets.

Weaning is a stressful event in the pig life cycle. We hypothesized that probiotics could be potential alternatives to antibiotics for promoting growth and ameliorating stress in weaning piglets via gut microbiota modulation and, thus, investigated the beneficial effects of dietary probiotic supplementation in weaning pigs. Ninety weaning piglets (Landrace × large white, 45 males and 45 females, 25 days of age) were randomized into three dietary treatments (30 piglets/treatment, divided into five replicates/treatment, i.e., six piglets/replicate) in this 28-day trial: control (C group, basal diet); probiotic [lactic acid bacteria (LAB) group, basal diet plus Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P-8]; and antibiotic (A group; basal diet plus chlortetracycline). The piglets' growth performance [average daily gain, average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR)], immune and antioxidant markers, ileal mucosal morphology, and ileal and colonic microbiomes were compared among treatment groups. Compared to the C and A groups, probiotic supplementation significantly decreased the ADFI, FCR, and ileal mucosal crypt depth while increasing the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, hepatic glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities, and serum levels of interleukin-2. Both probiotic and antibiotic treatments modulated the piglets' gut microbiomes, with more L. plantarum in the LAB group and more Eubacterium rectale and Limosilactobacillus reuteri in the A group. Probiotic supplementation significantly increased the relative abundance of genes encoding the acetylene, galactose, and stachyose degradation pathways, potentially enhancing nutrient absorption, energy acquisition, and growth performance. Probiotics are effective alternatives to antibiotics for promoting the health of piglets, possibly via gut microbiome modulation.IMPORTANCEWeaning impacts piglet health, performance, and mortality. Antibiotic treatment during weaning can mitigate the negative effects on growth. However, antibiotic use in livestock production contributes to the emergence of antibiotic resistance, which is a threat to global public health. This comprehensive study describes the gut microbial composition and growth performance of weaned piglets after dietary supplementation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P-8 or antibiotics. L. plantarum P-8 ameliorated stress and improved antioxidant capacity and growth performance in weaned piglets, accompanied by gut microbiota improvement. L. plantarum P-8 is an effective substitute for antibiotics to promote the health of weaned piglets while avoiding the global concern of drug resistance.

Extraction and characterization of polysaccharides from Schisandra sphenanthera fruit by Lactobacillus plantarum CICC 23121-assisted fermentation.

Improving the yield of polysaccharides extracted from Schisandra sphenanthera is a major challenge in traditional Chinese medicinal plants. In this study, we investigated the potential of Lactobacillus plantarum CICC 23121-assisted fermentation as an extraction tool for S. sphenanthera polysaccharides (SSP). We observed that 11.12 ± 0.28 % of polysaccharides were extracted from S. sphenanthera using strain CICC 23121 -assisted fermentation (F-SSP), which was 53.38 % higher than that using hot water extraction (NF-SSP). The optimized parameters were a fermentation time of 15.5 h, substrate concentration of 4 %, and inoculum size of 3 %. Lactic acid produced by strain CICC 23121 increased the release of intracellular polysaccharides by breaking down cell walls. Compared to NF-SSP, F-SSP contained higher and lower total carbohydrate and protein contents, respectively, and its monosaccharide composition was the same as that of NF-SSP; however, their distributions were different. F-SSP had a higher molecular weight, better aqueous stability, and looser surface morphology, and strain CICC 23121-assisted fermentation did not change the molecular structure of SSP. Both NF-SSP and F-SSP showed the potential to regulate human intestinal microflora. Our findings revealed that strain CICC 23121-assisted fermentation is an efficient method for extracting S. sphenanthera polysaccharides without affecting their physicochemical and bioactive properties.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide promotes the immunoprotective effects of a recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum vaccine expressing the Trichinella spiralis cathepsin F-like protease 1 gene.

Trichinellosis caused by Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) is a zoonotic disease that poses a substantial risk to human health. At present, vaccines used to prevent trichinellosis are effective, but the production of antibody levels and immunogenicity are low. Adjuvants can increase antibody levels and vaccine immunogenicity. As a result, it is critical to develop an effective adjuvant for the T. spiralis vaccine. Recent research has shown that traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides with low-toxicity and biodegradability can act as adjuvants in vaccines. In this study, BALB/c mice were orally inoculated with a recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) vaccine expressing the T. spiralis cathepsin F-like protease 1 gene (rTs-CPF1), which was given three times at 10-day intervals. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) was administered orally for 37 days. At 37 days after the first immunization, mice were infected with 350 T. spiralis muscle larvae (ML). Specific IgG and sIgA antibody levels against the T. spiralis CPF1 protein were increased in mice immunized with rTs-CPF1+LBP compared to those immunized with rTs-CPF1 alone. Furthermore, LBP increased IFN-γ and IL-4 expression levels, and the number of intestinal and intramuscular worms was significantly reduced in the rTs-CPF1+LBP group compared to that in the rTs-CPF1 group. In the rTs-CPF1+LBP group, the reduction rates of adult worms and muscle larvae were 47.31 % and 68.88 %, respectively. To summarize, LBP promotes the immunoprotective effects of the T. spiralis vaccine and may be considered as a novel adjuvant in parasitic vaccines.

Optimizing the Production of Probiotic Yogurt as a New Functional Food for Diabetics with Favorable Sensory Properties Using the Response Surface Methodology.

This study aimed to optimize the processing of probiotic yogurt supplemented with cumin essential oil (CEO), vitamin C, D3 (Vit D), and reduction of fermentation time using response surface methodology as a new functional food for diabetics with desirable sensory properties. The central composite design (CCD) was used to analyze the effect of these independent variables on the growth of the Lactobacillus plantarum A7 (LA7), starter culture, and overall acceptability. Differences between treatments were analyzed. The data were evaluated by analysis of variance at the significance level of 0.05. The effective concentration of CEO and fermentation time had the significant effect on the Lactobacillus plantarum A7 (LA7) number. Variance analysis and three-dimensional graphs show that almost the only effective factor on the overall acceptability of probiotic yogurt containing essential oil and vitamin D3 was CEO. According to the obtained data from the analysis, the optimal amount of independent variables for probiotic yogurt formulation such as CEO, D3, and fermentation time was 0.02% (v/v), 400 IU, and 9 h, respectively. This functional product can be considered an efficient food to reduce or eliminate the complications of diabetes.

Utilization of coffee waste as a sustainable feedstock for high-yield lactic acid production through microbial fermentation.

Lactic acid is an important industrial precursor; however, high substrate costs are a major challenge in microbial fermentation-based lactic acid production. Coffee waste is a sustainable feedstock alternative for lactic acid production via microbial fermentation. Herein, the feasibility of coffee waste as a feedstock was explored by employing appropriate pretreatment methods and optimizing enzyme combinations. Coffee waste pretreatment with hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid along with a combination of Viscozyme L, Celluclast 1.5 L, and Pectinex Ultra SP-L achieved the 78.9 % sugar conversion rate at a substrate concentration of 4 % (w/v). Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WiKim0126-induced fermentation with a 4 % solid loading yielded a lactic acid concentration of 22.8 g/L (99.6 % of the theoretical maximum yield) and productivity of 0.95 g/L/h within 24 h. These findings highlight the viability of coffee waste as an eco-friendly resource for sustainable lactic acid production.

Antimicrobial Cyclic Dipeptides from Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) Eggs Supplemented with Probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum.

Fifteen cyclic dipeptides (CDPs) containing proline, one cyclo(Phe-Ala) without proline, and a non-peptidyl DL-3-phenyllactic acid were previously identified in the culture filtrates of Lactobacillus plantarum LBP-K10, an isolate from kimchi. In this study, we used Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) eggs to examine the effects of probiotic supplementation on the antimicrobial CDPs extracted from quail eggs (QE). Eggshell-free QE were obtained from two distinct groups of quails. The first group (K10N) comprised eggs from unsupplemented quails. The second group (K10S) comprised eggs from quails supplemented with Lb. plantarum LBP-K10. The QE samples were extracted using methylene chloride through a liquid-liquid extraction process. The resulting extract was fractionated into 16 parts using semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. Two fractions, Q6 and Q9, were isolated from K10S and identified as cis-cyclo(L-Ser-L-Pro) and cis-cyclo(L-Leu-L-Pro). The Q9 fraction, containing cis-cyclo(L-Leu-L-Pro), has shown significant inhibitory properties against the proliferation of highly pathogenic multidrug-resistant bacteria, as well as human-specific and phytopathogenic fungi. Some of the ten combinations between the remaining fourteen unidentified fractions and two fractions, Q6 and Q9, containing cis-cyclo(L-Ser-L-Pro) and cis-cyclo(L-Leu-L-Pro) respectively, demonstrated a significant increase in activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria only when combined with Q9. The activity was 7.17 times higher compared to a single cis-cyclo(L-Leu-L-Pro). This study presents new findings on the efficacy of proline-containing CDPs in avian eggs. These CDPs provide antimicrobial properties when specific probiotics are supplemented.

Supplementation with high-GABA-producing Lactobacillus plantarum L5 ameliorates essential tremor triggered by decreased gut bacteria-derived GABA.

BACKGROUND: The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) hypothesis posits a role of GABA deficiency in the central nervous system in the pathogenesis and progression of essential tremor (ET). However, the specific causative factor for GABA deficiency is not clear. The gut microbiota in mammals has recently been considered as a significant source of GABA. Furthermore, the GABA-based signals originating from the intestine can be transmitted to the brain through the "enteric nervous system-vagus nerve-brain" axis. However, the plausible contribution of gut microbiota to ET seems inspiring but remains obscure. METHODS: Fecal samples from patients with ET and healthy controls were examined by metagenomic sequencing to compare the composition of gut microbiota and the expression of genes involved in GABA biosynthesis. The impact of gut microbiota on ET was explored through transplantation of fecal microbiota from patients with ET into the murine ET model. Lactic acid bacteria producing high amounts of GABA were identified through whole-genome sequencing and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Subsequently, mice were treated with the high-GABA-producing strain Lactobacillus plantarum L5. Tremor severity, behavioral tests, pro-inflammatory cytokines, GABA concentration, and gut microbiota composition were examined in these mice. RESULTS: The gut microbiota of patients with ET demonstrated an impaired GABA-producing capacity and a reduced fecal GABA concentration. Transplantation of the gut microbiota from patients with ET induced an extension of tremor duration and impaired mobility in the murine model of ET. L5 exhibited an augmented GABA-producing capacity, with the De Man-Rogosa-Sharpe culture broth containing 262 mg/l of GABA. In addition, administration of L5 significantly decreased the tremor severity and enhanced the movement capability and grasping ability of ET mice. In vivo mechanistic experiments indicated that L5 reshaped the gut microbial composition, supplemented the mucosa-associated microbiota with GABA-producing capacity, increased the GABA concentrations in the cerebellum, and diminished inflammation in the central nervous system. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight that deficiency of GABA-producing gut microbes plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of ET and that L5 is a promising candidate for treating ET.

Genome Sequencing Unveils Nomadic Traits of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in Japanese Post-Fermented Tea.

Post-fermented tea production involving microbial fermentation is limited to a few regions, such as Southeast Asia and Japan, with Japan's Shikoku island being particularly prominent. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was the dominant species found in tea leaves after anaerobic fermentation of Awa-bancha in Miyoshi City, Tokushima, and Ishizuchi-kurocha in Ehime. Although the draft genome of L. plantarum from Japanese post-fermented tea has been previously reported, its genetic diversity requires further exploration. In this study, whole-genome sequencing was conducted on four L. plantarum strains isolated from Japanese post-fermented tea using nanopore sequencing. These isolates were then compared with other sources to examine their genetic diversity revealing that L. plantarum isolated from Japanese post-fermented tea contained several highly variable gene regions associated with sugar metabolism and transportation. However, no source-specific genes or clusters were identified within accessory or core gene regions. This study indicates that L. plantarum possesses high genetic diversity and that the unique environment of Japanese post-fermented tea does not appear to exert selective pressure on L. plantarum growth.

A tangible prospect for the treatment of gingivitis using a potentially probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum MK06 isolated from traditional dairy products: a triple blind randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Frequent bacterial plaque buildup at the gingival margin and crevice can provoke an inflammatory reaction in gingival tissues which manifests as gingivitis. Probiotics could serve as a beneficial complementary therapy for treating gingival inflammation. The main aim of this research was to investigate the effect of the Lactobacillus plantarum MK06 probiotic strain on the treatment of gingivitis. METHODS: Patients with gingivitis, who were referred to a private clinic and were systematically healthy, were included in this randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial. They were instructed to use either placebo or Lactobacillus plantarum suspensions for one minute two times a day after tooth-brushing for four weeks. Then, the clinical parameters of gingivitis, including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and oral hygiene index (OHI-s), were measured in the first, second, and fourth weeks. A total of forty-two patients were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 21) and control (n = 21) groups. The mean age of the experimental and control groups was 29.10 and 28.48, respectively. RESULTS: The mean scores of BOP, GI, PI, and OHI-s reduced over time in both the control and test groups. However, according to the Mann-Whitney test, the difference between the two groups was not significant at the same time intervals (P ≥ 0.05) and only GI showed a significant difference in the fourth week (GI-3, P = 0.006). Nevertheless, the experimental group experienced a higher overall reduction rate than the control group. The BOP, GI, PI, and OHI-s scores decreased by 0.081, 0.204, 0.186, and 0.172 times in the second week, respectively, resulting from the interaction of time and the intervention, which considerably diminished these indices. CONCLUSION: This study shows the potential of the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum MK06 suspension as a promoting therapeutic adjuvant in the treatment of gingivitis.

Lactobacillus plantarum Zhang-LL Inhibits Colitis-Related Tumorigenesis by Regulating Arachidonic Acid Metabolism and CD22-Mediated B-Cell Receptor Regulation.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant health concern and is the third most commonly diagnosed and second deadliest cancer worldwide. CRC has been steadily increasing in developing countries owing to factors such as aging and epidemics. Despite extensive research, the exact pathogenesis of CRC remains unclear, and its causes are complex and variable. Numerous in vitro, animal, and clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of probiotics such as Lactobacillus plantarum in reversing the adverse outcomes of CRC. These findings suggest that probiotics play vital roles in the prevention, adjuvant treatment, and prognosis of CRC. In this study, we constructed a mouse model of CRC using an intraperitoneal injection of azomethane combined with dextran sodium sulfate, while administering 5-fluorouracil as well as high- and low-doses of L. plantarum Zhang-LL live or heat-killed strains. Weight changes and disease activity indices were recorded during feeding, and the number of polyps and colon length were measured after euthanasia. HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the colons of mice, and ELISA was used to detect the expression levels of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in serum. To investigate the specific mechanisms involved in alleviating CRC progression, gut microbial alterations were investigated using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics, and changes in genes related to CRC were assessed using eukaryotic transcriptomics. The results showed that both viable and heat-killed strains of L. plantarum Zhang-LL in high doses significantly inhibited tumorigenesis, colon shortening, adverse inflammatory reactions, intestinal tissue damage, and pro-inflammatory factor expression upregulation. Specifically, in the gut microbiota, the abundance of the dominant flora Acutalibacter muris and Lactobacillus johnsonii was regulated, PGE2 expression was significantly reduced, the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway was inhibited, and CD22-mediated B-cell receptor regulation-related gene expression was upregulated. This study showed that L. plantarum Zhang-LL live or heat-inactivated strains alleviated CRC progression by reducing the abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria, increasing the abundance of beneficial commensal bacteria, mediating the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway, and improving host immunogenicity.

Effects of inoculation with a binary mixture of Lactobacillus plantarum and Leuconostoc citreum on cell wall components of Chinese Dongbei suancai.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of inoculation with a starter culture consisting of Lactobacillus plantarum LNJ002 and Leuconostoc citreum BNCC 194779 on microbial community, cell wall polysaccharide characteristics, cell wall degrading enzymes, and microstructure during Chinese Dongbei suancai fermentation. The results showed that Lactobacillus (98.75%) was the dominant genus during fermentation of Dongbei suancai. The principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) suggested that inoculation with Lactobacillus promoted the stability of microbial community structure during Chinese Dongbei suancai fermentation. Besides, the lower content in cellulose (80.28 ± 2.61 ug/mg) and pectin (53.56 ± 2.67 ug/mg) observed in the inoculated fermented suancai. Simultaneously, the inoculated fermented suancai had the most decreases in SR 1 (70.35%) and SR 3 (72.06%) and the most increase in SR 2 (950%), which suggested that inoculation intensified the decrease of the linearity and the RG-1 branching degree of pectin. The contents of polygalacturonase (PG) and pectin methylesterase (PME) in inoculated fermented suancai were 21.06% and 21.86% higher than those in naturally fermented suancai. In addition, the surface of suancai leaves gradually changed from smooth to rough during fermentation, which was accelerated by inoculation. Moreover, Lactobacillus, Aspergillus, Wallemia and Mucor were all negatively correlated with cellulose and GalA. These results revealed that inoculation promoted the formation of dominant genus structure during suancai fermentation, changed the effects of enzymes on the degradation of cell wall components, thereby accelerated the formation of Chinese Dongbei suancai texture.

Alleviating effect of selenium-enriched Lactobacillus plantarum 6076 on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis and liver inflammation in mice.

The aim of this study is to investigate the alleviating effect of selenium-enriched Lactobacillus plantarum (SL) 6076 on colitis and liver inflammation induced by sodium dextran sulfate (DSS) in mice and its potential molecular mechanisms. Lactobacillus plantarum (LA) was cultured for 3 generations on MRS medium containing sodium selenite to generate SL. LA (3.2 × 1011 CFU mL-1), low selenium Lactobacillus plantarum (LS) (3.9 × 1010 CFU mL-1, 0.35 mg mL-1 Se) and high selenium Lactobacillus plantarum (HS) (2.8 × 1010 CFU mL-1, 0.52 mg mL-1 Se) were continuously fed to mice for 21 d to observe their effects on DSS-induced colitis and liver inflammation in mice. The composition of gut microbiota was detected through high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing, and inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress parameters, and serum biochemical indicators were measured in the colon and liver using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and biochemical analysis methods. The results showed that SL alleviated inflammation symptoms in the colon and liver, reduced the expression of inflammatory factors in the colon and liver, regulated oxidative stress responses in the colon, downregulated NF-κB-P65 pathway factors, and altered the composition and structure of the gut microbiota. In summary, DSS-induced colitis may cause liver inflammation, and SL had a significant relieving effect on both colon and liver inflammation. The intervention effect of SL was better than that of LA, while HS was better than LS. SL had a significant alleviating effect on DSS-induced colitis, and may exert its therapeutic effect by downregulating NF-κB-P65 signaling pathways and regulating the structure of intestinal microbiota. This study provides a new approach for the treatment of colitis.

Microencapsulation of Lactobacillus plantarum in the alginate/chitosan improves immunity, disease resistance, and growth of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

This study evaluated the effects of microencapsulation of L. plantarum (as a probiotic) with chitosan/alginate biopolymers (MLCA) on innate immune response, disease resistance, and growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Four hundred and eighty fish were randomly distributed in glass tanks (150 L) and fed with diets including diet 1: control; diet 2: 10 g kg-1 microcapsules; diet 3: 108 CFU g-1 L. plantarum; and diet 4: 10 g kg-1 MLCA for 60 days. The hematology and biochemical indices, lysozyme activity, alternative complement activities, respiratory burst, serum bactericidal activity, as well as growth performance parameters (specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio) were analyzed. White blood cells, plasma protein and globulin concentration, serum lysozyme, and respiratory burst activities of fish were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the MLCA diet. A challenge test against Streptococcus agalactiae, at the end of the experiment, showed the highest survival rate of the fish fed with MLCA. Moreover, the fish fed with MLCA showed a significant improvement in SGR (3.12 ± 0.18%) and FCR (1.23 ± 0.20) and had the highest growth performance. These results suggest longer stability of probiotics in the microcapsules, and their immunomodulatory effect can be considered a promising immunostimulant and growth enhancer in the Nile tilapia diet.

Fermentation of Inula britannica using Lactobacillus plantarum SY12 increases of epigallocatechin gallate and attenuates toxicity.

This study aimed to increase epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) levels and attenuate the toxicity in Inulabritannica by fermentation using Lactobacillus plantarum SY12. The optimal medium was composed of 10 g of I. britannica, 4 g of xylose, 5 g of soytone, and 5 g of beef extract. The predicted value of EGCG was 237.327 µg/mL. To investigate damage in HepG2 cell lines by I. britannica extracts (IE) or fermented I. britannica extracts (FIE), cell viability, mitochondria membrane potential, the expression of apoptosis and autophagy genes, and chemical composition were measured. FIE increased cell viability, regulation of the gene expression (decreased p53, p62, p-ERK 1/2, and p-p38; increased CDK2 and CDK4) compared with IE. These results were explained by an increase in 1,3-dicaffeoylquinic acid and a decrease in 1-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 1-O-acetylbritannilactone, and ergolide in FIE. In conclusion, these results indicated that fermentation can mitigate the toxicity in I. britannica.

Lactobacillus plantarum LLY-606 supplementation ameliorates hyperuricemia via modulating intestinal homeostasis and relieving inflammation.

Gut microbiota is associated with hyperuricemia progression and can be regulated by Lactobacillus plantarum. However, the role of Lactobacillus plantarum in hyperuricemia is still unknown. Thus, we constructed the mouse model of hyperuricemia using potassium oxonate and hypoxanthine treatment to explore the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum LLY-606 supplementation on the development of hyperuricemia. The results showed that Lactobacillus plantarum LLY-606 significantly reduced the level of serum uric acid through inhibiting uric acid secretion and regulating uric acid transport. We also found that Lactobacillus plantarum LLY-606 supplementation inhibited the inflammatory response and the activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in mice. Microbiome sequencing and analysis suggested the successful colonization of probiotics, which could regulate intestinal flora dysbiosis induced by hyperuricemia. The abundance of Lactobacillus plantarum was significantly negatively correlated with hyperuricemia-related indicators. Notably, the functional abundance prediction of microbiota indicated that lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis protein pathways and lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathways were inhibited after the probiotic intervention. In conclusion, Lactobacillus plantarum LLY-606 can serve as a potential functional probiotic to affect the development of hyperuricemia through modulating gut microbiota, downregulating renal inflammation, and regulating uric acid metabolism.