Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4 Paraprobiotic Supplementation Alleviates Experimental Colitis by Maintaining Gut Barrier and Suppressing Nuclear Factor Kappa B Activation Signaling Molecules.

Inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are characterized by chronic gastrointestinal inflammation with continuous relapse-remission cycles. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4 as a probiotic or paraprobiotic against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Ten-week-old female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups. The control (CON) and DSS groups received oral gavage of PBS, whereas the live B. bifidum (LIVE), heat-killed B. bifidum BGN4 (HEAT), and lysozyme-treated B. bifidum BGN4 (LYSOZYME) groups received live B. bifidum BGN4, heat-killed B. bifidum BGN4, and lysozyme-treated B. bifidum BGN4, respectively, for 10 days, followed by DSS supply to induce colitis. The paraprobiotic (HEAT and LYSOZYME) groups had less body weight loss and colon length shortening than the DSS or LIVE groups. The LYSOZYME group exhibited better preserved intestinal barrier integrity than the LIVE group by upregulating gap junction protein expression possibly through activating NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 6/caspase-1/interleukin (IL)-18 signaling. The LYSOZYME group showed downregulated proinflammatory molecules, including p-inhibitor of kappa B proteins alpha (IκBα), cycloxygenase 2 (COX2), IL-1ß, and T-bet, whereas the expression of the regulatory T cell transcription factor, forkhead box P3 expression, was increased. The paraprobiotic groups showed distinct separation of microbiota distribution and improved inflammation-associated dysbiosis. These results suggest that B. bifidum BGN4 paraprobiotics, especially lysozyme-treated BGN4, have a preventive effect against DSS-induced colitis, impacting intestinal barrier integrity, inflammation, and dysbiosis.

Microbial biocatalysis of quercetin-3-glucoside and isorhamnetin-3-glucoside in Salicornia herbacea and their contribution to improved anti-inflammatory activity.

Salicornia herbacea (glasswort) is a traditional Asian medicinal plant which exhibits multiple nutraceutical and pharmaceutical properties. Quercetin-3-glucoside and isorhamnetin-3-glucoside are the major flavonoid glycosides found in S. herbacea. Multiple researchers have shown that flavonoid glycosides can be structurally transformed into minor aglycone molecules, which play a significant role in exerting physiological responses in vivo. However, minor aglycone molecule levels in S. herbacea are very low. In this study, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis AD011, isolated from infant feces, catalyzed >85% of quercetin-3-glucoside and isorhamnetin-3-glucoside into quercetin and isorhamnetin, respectively, in 2 h, without breaking down flavonoid backbones. Functionality analysis demonstrated that the quercetin and isorhamnetin produced showed improved anti-inflammatory activity vs. the original source molecules against lipopolysaccharide induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Our report highlights a novel protocol for rapid quercetin and isorhamnetin production from S. herbacea flavonoids and the applicability of quercetin and isorhamnetin as nutraceutical molecules with enhanced anti-inflammatory properties.

Review on Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4: Functionality and Nutraceutical Applications as a Probiotic Microorganism.

Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4 is a probiotic strain that has been used as a major ingredient to produce nutraceutical products and as a dairy starter since 2000. The various bio-functional effects and potential for industrial application of B. bifidum BGN4 has been characterized and proven by in vitro (i.e., phytochemical bio-catalysis, cell adhesion and anti-carcinogenic effects on cell lines, and immunomodulatory effects on immune cells), in vivo (i.e., suppressed allergic responses in mouse model and anti-inflammatory bowel disease), and clinical studies (eczema in infants and adults with irritable bowel syndrome). Recently, the investigation of the genome sequencing was finished and this data potentially clarifies the biochemical characteristics of B. bifidum BGN4 that possibly illustrate its nutraceutical functionality. However, further systematic research should be continued to gain insight for academic and industrial applications so that the use of B. bifidum BGN4 could be expanded to result in greater benefit. This review deals with multiple studies on B. bifidum BGN4 to offer a greater understanding as a probiotic microorganism available in functional food ingredients. In particular, this work considers the potential for commercial application, physiological characterization and exploitation of B. bifidum BGN4 as a whole.

Whole-Cell Biocatalysis for Producing Ginsenoside Rd from Rb1 Using Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG.

Ginsenosides are the major active ingredients in ginseng used for human therapeutic plant medicines. One of the most well-known probiotic bacteria among the various strains on the functional food market is Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Biocatalytic methods using probiotic enzymes for producing deglycosylated ginsenosides such as Rd have a growing significance in the functional food industry. The addition of 2% cellobiose (w/v) to glucose-free de Man-Rogosa-Sharpe broths notably induced ß-glucosidase production from L. rhamnosus GG. Enzyme production and activity were optimized at a pH, temperature, and cellobiose concentration of 6.0, 40°C, and 2% (w/v), respectively. Under these controlled conditions, ß-glucosidase production in L. rhamnosus GG was enhanced by 25-fold. Additionally, whole-cell homogenates showed the highest ß-glucosidase activity when compared with disrupted cell suspensions; the cell disruption step significantly decreased the ß-glucosidase activity. Based on the optimized enzyme conditions, whole-cell L. rhamnosus GG was successfully used to convert ginsenoside Rb1 into Rd.

Anti-hyperglycemic effect of fermented ginseng in type 2 diabetes mellitus mouse model.

Ginseng has shown an efficacy in preventing and managing various health conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the fermented ginseng extract (FGE) in type 2 diabetes mellitus murine model. FGE was provided to male C57BL/ksJ-db/db mice for 8 weeks at 0.1% (w/w) dose in contrast to water for the control group. Potential anti-diabetic mechanisms were investigated with blood glucose, serum insulin, serum adiponectin, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), glucose tolerance, insulin secretion assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Compared with the control group, the FGE group had lower levels of blood glucose after 6 and 9 h fasting, HbA1c, and the area under the curve in an oral glucose tolerance test and higher levels of adiponectin and serum insulin (p < 0.05). The FGE group had higher levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 and glucose transporter protein 2 mRNAs, a lower level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (p < 0.05), and less lymphocytes in pancreas than the control group had. The FGE exerted anti-diabetic effects in type 2 diabetic mice.

Therapeutic effects of fermented red ginseng in allergic rhinitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

PURPOSE: Allergic rhinitis is clinically defined as a disorder of the nose induced by IgE mediated inflammation after allergen exposure of the nasal mucosa. Many reports have stated that Panax ginseng and fermented red ginseng have anti-inflammatory effects, especially against Th2-type inflammation. This study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects of fermented red ginseng in allergic rhinitis. METHODS: In this 4-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 59 patients with persistent perennial allergic rhinitis were randomly divided into two groups: those receiving fermented red ginseng tablets (experimental group) and those receiving placebo (control group). The primary efficacy variable was the total nasal symptom score (TNSS; rhinorrhea, sneezing, itchy nose, and nasal congestion). Secondary efficacy variables were the Rhinitis Quality of Life (RQoL) score and skin reactivity to inhalant allergens, as determined by the skin prick test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the TNSS score and TNSS duration score between the experimental and placebo groups in weeks 1, 2, 3, or 4. For nasal congestion, fermented red ginseng was significantly effective (P<0.005), while placebo caused no change. The activity and emotion of RQoL improved markedly secondary to treatment with fermented red ginseng (P<0.05), while placebo caused no change. Additionally, fermented red ginseng reduced skin reactivity to sensitized perennial allergens (P<0.05). Fermented red ginseng was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Fermented red ginseng improved nasal congestion symptoms and RQoL in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis.