Human supplementation with Pediococcus acidilactici GR-1 decreases heavy metals levels through modifying the gut microbiota and metabolome.

Exposure to heavy metals (HMs) is a threat to human health. Although probiotics can detoxify HMs in animals, their effectiveness and mechanism of action in humans have not been studied well. Therefore, we conducted this randomized, double-blind, controlled trial on 152 occupational workers from the metal industry, an at-risk human population, to explore the effectiveness of probiotic yogurt in reducing HM levels. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one consumed probiotic yogurt containing the HM-resistant strain Pediococcus acidilactici GR-1 and the other consumed conventional yogurt for 12 weeks. Analysis of metal contents in the blood revealed that the consumption of probiotic yogurt resulted in a higher and faster decrease in copper (34.45%) and nickel (38.34%) levels in the blood than the consumption of conventional yogurt (16.41% and 27.57%, respectively). Metagenomic and metabolomic studies identified a close correlation between gut microbiota (GM) and host metabolism. Significantly enriched members of Blautia and Bifidobacterium correlated positively with the antioxidant capacities of GM and host. Further murine experiments confirmed the essential role of GM and protective effect of GR-1 on the antioxidative role of the intestine against copper. Thus, the use of probiotic yogurt may be an effective and affordable approach for combating toxic metal exposure through the protection of indigenous GM in humans.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: ChiCTR2100053222.

Studies on the microwave extraction of the yellow pigment from Rabdosia serra (Maxim.) Hara.

A new method of microwave extraction was used to extract the yellow pigment from Rabdosia serra (Maxim.) Hara. The extraction processes were investigated and the optimal conditions were determined as follows: raw material is 2. 0000 g dry powder, the extraction agent is 95% alcohol, the ratio of raw material to extraction agent is 1:60 (g:ml) , microwave power is 464 W, extraction time is 350 s, extraction times is 3. Under the optimal conditions, extraction rate is 90.6%, productive rate is 12.7%, colority E (1%, 330 nm) is 53.3 and pH value of the extractive is 6.0. Compared with solvent extraction, microwave extraction reduces extraction time from 6 h to 350 s and increases extraction rate from 90.4% to 90.6%.