Untargeted metabolomics-based network pharmacology reveals fermented brown rice towards anti-obesity efficacy.

There is a substantial rise in the global incidence of obesity. Brown rice contains metabolic substances that can help minimize the prevalence of obesity. This study evaluated nine brown rice varieties using probiotic fermentation using Pediococcus acidilacti MNL5 to enhance bioactive metabolites and their efficacy. Among the nine varieties, FBR-1741 had the highest pancreatic lipase inhibitory efficacy (87.6 ± 1.51%), DPPH assay (358.5 ± 2.80 mg Trolox equiv./100 g, DW), and ABTS assay (362.5 ± 2.32 mg Trolox equiv./100 g, DW). Compared to other fermented brown rice and FBR-1741 varieties, UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS demonstrated significant untargeted metabolite alterations. The 17 most abundant polyphenolic metabolites in the FBR-1741 variety and 132 putative targets were assessed for obesity-related target proteins, and protein interaction networks were constructed using the Cystoscope software. Network pharmacology analysis validated FBR-1741 with active metabolites in the C. elegans obesity-induced model. Administration of FBR-1741 with ferulic acid improved lifespan decreased triglycerides, and suppressed the expression of fat-related genes. The enhanced anti-obesity properties of FBR-1741 suggest its implementation in obesity-functional food.

Encapsulating potential and functional properties of exopolysaccharide from Limosilactobacillus reuteri KCTC 14626BP isolated from human breast milk.

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are natural, nontoxic, biocompatible and biodegradable macromolecules produced by microorganisms, including the Lactic acid bacteria, to enhance protection against environmental stress conditions. The current study focused on the encapsulation and functional efficiency of EPS produced by probiotic strains isolated from human milk. Among 27 isolates, the potential high EPS-producing strain Limosilactobacillus reuteri KCTC 14626BP was selected based on biofilm production. The structural Characterization of EPS was performed based on FTIR, NMR and functional properties were determined; further, the encapsulation efficiency of EPS was determined with caffeic acid. The results indicate that L. reuteri produced EPS major component consisting of glucose, galactose and arabinose with the ratio of (0.78:0.16: 0.05). The antioxidant efficiency of EPS-LR was determined on DPPH (60.3 %) and ABTS (48.9 %); EPS showed enhanced functional activities. The absence of toxicity was confirmed based on Caenorhabditis elegans. The EPS-loaded Caffeic acid (CA) EPS-LR indicated spherical capsules with rough surfaces, with sizes ranging from 1.39 to 6.75 µm. These findings indicate that EPS-LR can be applied as a bioactive compound and encapsulating material in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.

A Comprehensive Mini-Review on Lignin-Based Nanomaterials for Food Applications: Systemic Advancement and Future Trends.

The shift to an environmentally friendly material economy requires renewable resource exploration. This shift may depend on lignin valorization. Lignin is an aromatic polymer that makes up one-third of total lingo-cellulosic biomass and is separated into large amounts for biofuel and paper manufacture. This renewable polymer is readily available at a very low cost as nearly all the lignin that is produced each year (90-100 million tons) is simply burned as a low-value fuel. Lignin offers potential qualities for many applications, and yet it is underutilized. This Perspective highlights lignin-based material prospects and problems in food packaging, antimicrobial, and agricultural applications. The first half will discuss the present and future studies on exploiting lignin as an addition to improve food packaging's mechanical, gas, UV, bioactive molecules, polyphenols, and antioxidant qualities. Second, lignin's antibacterial activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses will be discussed. In conclusion, lignin agriculture will be discussed in the food industries.

Draft genome sequence of Limosilactobacillus reuteri, isolated from human breast milk.

Limosilactobacillus reuteri is a lactic acid bacterium with several probiotic properties. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of L. reuteri isolated from human breast milk. The average genome size was estimated as 2,087,202 bp, with a guanine-cytosine (GC) content of 51.6%. GC content is the percentage of nitrogenous bases in a DNA or RNA molecule that are either guanine (G) or cytosine (C). De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe, often abbreviated to MRS, is a selective culture medium designed to favor the luxuriant growth of lactobacilli for lab study.

An effective universal protocol for the extraction of fructooligosaccharide from the different agricultural byproducts.

Alternative bio-refinery technologies are required to promote the commercial utilization of plant biomass components. The fructooligosaccharide (FOS) obtained after hydrolysis of the hemicellulose fractions was mainly applied in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Agricultural bi-product is a rich constituent in dietary fibres, which have prebiotic effects on the intestinal microbiota and the host. Herein we explored the impact of FOS on microbiota modulation and the gut homeostasis effect. High fructooligosaccharide recovery was obtained using alkaline extraction techniques. The enzymatic method produced fructooligosaccharides with minor contamination from fructan and glucan components, although it had a low yield. But combining the alkaline and enzymatic process provides a higher yield ratio and purity of fructooligosaccharides. The structure of the fructooligosaccharide was confirmed, according to FTIR, 13C NMR, 1H NMR and 2D-NMR data. Our results could be applied to the development of efficient extraction of valuable products from agricultural materials using enzyme-mediated methods, which were found to be a cost-effective way to boost bio-refining value. Fructooligosaccharides with varying yields, purity, and structure can be obtained.

Antiobesity and Antioxidative Effect of Fermented Brown Rice Using In Vitro with In Vivo Caenorhabditis elegans Model.

Naturally occurring phytochemicals from plants or grains are crucial in reducing various metabolic disorders. Bioactive phytonutrients are abundant in the Asian dietary staple, brown rice. This research evaluated the impact of lactic acid bacteria (LABs) bioconversion and fermentation on antioxidant and antiobesity activities and ferulic acid content in brown rice. The combination of bioconversion with Pediococcus acidilactici MNL5 among all LABs used showed a synergistic impact with 24 h of solid-state brown rice fermentation. The 24-h MNL5 fermented brown rice (FBR) demonstrated the most potent pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity (85.5 ± 1.25%) compared to raw brown rice (RBR) (54.4 ± 0.86%). The antioxidant potential of MNL5-FBR was also found to be highest in the DPPH assay (124.40 ± 2.40 mg Trolox Equiv./100 g, DW), ABTS assay (130.52 ± 2.32 mg Trolox Equiv./100 g, DW), and FRAP assay (116.16 ± 2.42 mg Trolox Equiv./100 g, DW). Based on higher antioxidant and antiobesity activities, samples were quantified for ferulic acid content using the HPLC-MS/MS approach. Furthermore, C. elegans supplementation with FBR showed enhanced life span and lipid reduction in fluorescence microscope analysis compared to the control. Our results indicate that the expression study using the C. elegans model (N2 and Daf-2 models) fat gene was conducted, showing a lowering of obesity ability in FBR-fed worms. Our study indicates that FBR has improved antioxidant and antiobesity actions, especially in MNL5-FBR, and can be employed to develop functional foods that combat obesity.

Whole-genome analysis of gamma-aminobutyric acid producing Psychobiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri with its Untargeted metabolomics using UHPLC-Q-Tof MS/MS.

The gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) is a chemical messenger and is essential for the health of the brain and muscles. Some lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have the potential to function as psychobiotic cultures because they can produce significant amounts of neuroactive compounds like GABA. Psychobiotics are known to alter bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. In the present study, the Limosilactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) strain, isolated from human breast milk, was used to detect the GABA-producing glutamic acid decarboxylase (gad) gene and GABA production. PCR, HPLC and UHPLCQ-TOF-MS2 approaches were applied to identify the gad gene, GABA content, and bioactive compounds produced by the bacterial strain, respectively. Additionally, the whole genome was sequenced to better understand the strain's psychobiotic and technological genomic properties. The gadB and gadC genes were confirmed in plasmid 1 of the whole genome. The complete genome sequence of L. reuteri comprises the genome length of 2,087,202 bp with 51.6 percent of G + C content. The results indicate that L. reuteri can be used as a starter culture for the production of GABA-enriched functional foods as well as psychobiotics for health benefits.

Untargeted metabolomics of fermented onion (Allium cepa L) using UHPLC Q-TOF MS/MS reveals anti-obesity metabolites and in vivo efficacy in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The bioconversion of onion extracts with P. acidilactici MNL5 enhances the metabolites and has a synergistic lipid-reduction impact that is beneficial for anti-obesity studies. The 48 h fermented onion extracts (FOE) demonstrated an enhanced inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase (89.5 ± 1.25 %) as compared to the raw onion extract (ROE) (33.4 ± 0.86 %). The antioxidant properties of FOE significantly increased compared to the ROE inhibitory effect on DPPH (99.5 ± 2.40 mg vitamin C equiv./mg, DW FOE), and ABTS (104.5 ± 2.32 mg vitamin C equiv./mg, DW FOE). Based on FOE's higher antioxidant activity, UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS demonstrated dramatic changes in the untargeted metabolite profile as compared to ROE. Moreover, C. elegans supplemented with FOE and quercetin exhibited an enhanced lifespan activity, lipid reduction, and decreased triglycerides. FOE can lower cholesterol and enhance quercetin to promote pancreatic lipase activity for synergistic anti-obesity effects.

Antioxidant activities of novel peptides from Limosilactobacillus reuteri fermented brown rice: A combined in vitro and in silico study.

Oxidative stress is known to cause cell apoptosis, tissue damage, and pathological changes in the body, but antioxidant peptides are renowned radical scavengers. This study investigated the antioxidative and protective effect of six novel peptides obtained after microbial fermentation of brown rice. The selected peptides (MW ≤ 8 KDa), namely AVPYPQ (P1), ILTAV (P2), LGDVIGVP (P3), NPIFDYVLLP (P4), VAPFPEV (P5), and VLPVPK (P6) exhibited strong antioxidant potential against in vitro radicals with IC50 values for DPPH (5.12 ± 0.9-12.54 ± 0.6 µg/ml), ABTS (5.97 ± 0.2-14.20 ± 1.5 µg/ml), FRAP (4.98 ± 2.2-12.19 ± 0.8 µg/ml) and PSC (9.71 ± 0.5-17.84 ± 1.3 µg/ml),respectively. Additionally, these peptides reduced ROS concentrations in Caco-2 cells treated with hydrogen peroxide. In silico studies indicated all six peptides had a higher binding score for the Keap1-Kelch domain than TX6, a potential Keap1 reference ligand. These findings suggest peptides derived from fermented brown rice might be functional components in foods.

Fabrication of Hierarchical Patterned Surfaces Using a Functionalized CeO2-EPDM Composite for Crevice Corrosion Prevention on High-Voltage Insulators.

Crevice corrosion accounts for 62% of the recorded breakdown of insulators utilized in transmission lines, which may interfere with the reliability of power utilities. To address these challenges, sustainable and resilient slippery lubricant-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) are developed on insulators to prevent electrochemically/biochemically induced crevice corrosion especially occurring in tropical and coastal environments. The conventional way of developing SLIPS by chemical and physical etching might interfere with the mechanical stability of insulators composed of pin (galvanized steel), cement, and shell (porcelain). The current study proposes a noble concept of developing hierarchical patterned textured surfaces on insulators to fabricate a resilient SLIPS coating without physical/chemical etching. The proposed coating exhibits 99% antiadhesion performance against a mixed culture of bacterial strains, superior hydrophobicity (contact angle: 160°, contact angle hysteresis: 4°), and crevice corrosion resistance performance at elevated temperatures (25-75 °C) and humidity. This study could facilitate a new route for the development of sustainable and highly reliable SLIPS coatings in the future.

Phytochemical profiling and cellular antioxidant efficacy of different rice varieties in colorectal adenocarcinoma cells exposed to oxidative stress.

In the present study, white (Baegilmi), brown (hyunmi) and black (chalheugmi) Korean local rice varieties ethanol extracts were analyzed for in-vitro antioxidant assays (ABTS, FRAP and DPPH), cellular antioxidant activities (CAAs) and phenolic phytochemicals content. The highest antioxidant assays, phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanins content were identified among the free fractions of black rice. Phenolic phytochemicals were detected and quantified using the ultra-high-performance liquid tandem chromatography quadrupole flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS2). Which indicated the richness of several phytochemicals like ascorbic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, catechin, epigallocatechin and quercetin in black rice than in other rice samples. The cellular antioxidant activities (CAA) of black rice were found equivalent to that of ascorbic acid, the standard employed in the assay. The CAAs of free fractions were as follows: white rice < brown rice < black rice. These findings are significant for enhancing human health through increased consumption of black and brown rice in the development of functional food products.

Stability and Antibiofilm Efficiency of Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water Against Mixed-Species of Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus.

In the natural environment, most microorganisms live in mixed-species biofilms, in which the metabolism and growth of organisms are different from that in single-species biofilms. Adhesive bacteria and their biofilms on the surface of food processing equipment are the sources of cross-contamination, leading to the risk for humans. Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) has been proposed as a novel sanitizer in the food and agriculture industry. In this study, we investigated the changes in the physical properties of SAEW under different conditions and the disinfection abilities of SAEW against spore-forming and non-spore-forming pathogens. Furthermore, we examined the disinfection abilities of SAEW after 12 months of shelf life on a mixed-species biofilm of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A and Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that SAEW at 30 and 50 ppm achieved all-kill of the spore-forming pathogen Bacillus cereus within 30 s. Changes in the ACC and pH of the produced SAEW were generally affected by the storage conditions. Both spore-forming and non-spore-forming pathogens were not detected under treatment with 50 ppm SAEW for 5 min under HDPE-closed conditions throughout the whole storage period. Moreover, 25 mg/L SAEW can inactivate L. monocytogenes Scott A and S. aureus biofilm cells in ~2.45 and 2.57 log CFU/mL in biofilms within 5-min treatment. However, the decline of the two bacteria in the mixed-species biofilm was 1.95 and 1.43 log CFU/mL, respectively. The changes in the cell membrane permeability of the mixed-species biofilm under treatment with SAEW were observed by using atomic force microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. L. monocytogenes Scott A was more sensitive to SAEW in the mixed-species biofilm cells. These findings exhibited strong antibiofilm activities of SAEW in impairing biofilm cell membranes, decreasing cell density, and eliminating biofilm, which suggest that SAEW is an excellent antibacterial agent in the food processing industries.

Crack resistance of a noble green hydrophobic antimicrobial sealing coating film against environmental corrosion applied on the steel-cement interface for power insulators.

Due to their great load-bearing capabilities, steel-cement interface structures are commonly employed in construction projects, and power utilities including electric insulators. The service life of the steel-cement interface is always decreasing owing to fracture propagation in the cement helped by steel corrosion. In this paper, a noble crack-resistant solution for steel-cement interfaces utilized in hostile outdoor environments is proposed. A Ce-rich, homogeneous, and thick hydrophobic sealing coating (HSC) is developed on the steel-cement interface after 60 minutes of immersion in a 60 000 ppm CeCl3·7H2O sealing coating solution. The specimens treated with optimized HSC film demonstrate fissure filling, lowest corrosion current (I corr) 2.3 × 10-7 A cm-2, maximum hardness (109 Hv), oxide-jacking resistance (40 years), hydrophobic characteristics, carbonation resistance, and bacterial corrosion resistance, resulting in a crack-free steel-cement interface. This work will pave the way for a new branch of environmentally acceptable coatings for the construction and power industries.

Anti-adhesion and anti-biofilm activity of slightly acidic electrolyzed water combined with sodium benzoate against Streptococcus mutans: A novel ecofriendly oral sanitizer to prevent cariogenesis.

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) can promote the establishment of high acidic biofilms and therefore have contribution to the development of dental caries. Alleviating the acidic environment and/or disrupting the structure of S. mutans biofilm are effective approaches against dental caries, rather than killing the microorganisms. The anti-biofilm effect of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) is entirely based on the hypochlorous acid and ROS generation. In this study, sodium benzoate (NaB) acts as a pH adjuster and enhances SAEW's anti-biofilm activity. The results showed that the SAEW combined with NaB (SAEW + NaB) is highly effective in controlling biofilm. The adhesive strength of biofilm was significantly reduced by SAEW, and NaB was found to have a synergy effect with SAEW. Biofilm treated by SAEW + NaB was entirely removed by 60 s of ultrasonic wave, whereas the untreated biofilm can only be removed to a lesser extent. Atomic force microscope (AFM) analysis revealed that SAEW and NaB reduced the height of S. mutans biofilm. The metabolites derived from biofilm positively changed during the periodic 1-min treat, the production of lactic acid was hindered by the treatment. Altogether, these findings suggested a novel therapeutic intervention against S. mutans biofilm by targeting the cariogenic action.

Optimization and Effect of Water Hardness for the Production of Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water on Sanitization Efficacy.

Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) has been recently proposed as a novel promising sanitizer and cleaner in the agricultural and food industries. However, several factors, including water hardness, were considered to strongly affect the physical properties and sanitization efficacy of SAEW. To study the effect of water hardness on the SAEW production, we evaluated the production properties and sanitization effect of SAEW, which was generated from water sources in 16 representatively geographical locations of South Korea. The results showed that the hardness of water sources from Kangwon-do, Jeollanam-do, and Daegu was 22-41 ppm; that from Busan, Gyeongnam-do, Gwangju Bukgu was 80-443 ppm, and that from seven other locations was 41-79 ppm. SAEW is produced from water hardness less than 50 ppm and greater than 80 ppm was beyond the accepted pH range (5.0-6.5). Notably, high-hardness water (>80 ppm) containing 5% HCl could be used to produce SAEW with accepted pH. The SAEW generated from low-hardness water with additions of 2% HCl and 2 M NaCl at 7 A showed accepted pH and higher germicidal effect. Furthermore, SAEW with the available chlorine concentration of 27-41 mg/L for 1 min was sufficient to completely inactivate non-spore-forming foodborne pathogens. Sanitization efficacy was not markedly affected by storage conditions for SAEW at 40 ppm. Our results demonstrated that the degree of water hardness is an important factor in the production of SAEW, which would provide a foundation for commercial application of SAEW.

A review on the application of bioinformatics tools in food microbiome studies.

There is currently a transformed interest toward understanding the impact of fermentation on functional food development due to growing consumer interest on modified health benefits of sustainable foods. In this review, we attempt to summarize recent findings regarding the impact of Next-generation sequencing and other bioinformatics methods in the food microbiome and use prediction software to understand the critical role of microbes in producing fermented foods. Traditionally, fermentation methods and starter culture development were considered conventional methods needing optimization to eliminate errors in technique and were influenced by technical knowledge of fermentation. Recent advances in high-output omics innovations permit the implementation of additional logical tactics for developing fermentation methods. Further, the review describes the multiple functions of the predictions based on docking studies and the correlation of genomic and metabolomic analysis to develop trends to understand the potential food microbiome interactions and associated products to become a part of a healthy diet.

Anti-Obesity Efficacy of Pediococcus acidilactici MNL5 in Canorhabditis elegans Gut Model.

In the present study, thirty two lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from fermented Indian herbal medicine. In comparison to other strains, MNL5 had stronger bile salt hydrolase (BSH) and cholesterol-lowering properties. Furthermore, it can withstand the extreme conditions found in the GI tract, due to, e.g., pepsin, bile salts, pancreatin, and acids. Pediococcus acidilactici MNL5 was identified as a probiotic candidate after sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. The antibacterial activity of P. acidilactici MNL5 cell-free supernatants (CFS) against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Helicobacter pylori, Bacillus cereus, and Candida albicans was moderate. A Caenorhabditis elegans experiment was also performed to assess the effectiveness of P. acidilactici MNL5 supplementation to increase life span compared to E. coli supplementation (DAF-2 and LIU1 models) (p < 0.05). An immense reduction of the lipid droplets of C. elegans was identified through a fluorescent microscope. The drastic alteration of the expression of fat genes is related to obesity phenotypes. Hence, several paths are evolutionary for C. elegans; the results of our work highlight the nematode as an important model for obesity.

In Vitro and In Vivo Cholesterol Reducing Ability and Safety of Probiotic Candidates Isolated from Korean Fermented Soya Beans.

Hypercholesterolemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and hence, reducing serum cholesterol levels could reduce the incidence. In this study, we ascertained the cholesterol-reducing potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from Korean fermented soybean paste. Live, resting, and dead cells of all the bacteria reduced cholesterol in liquid media in a strain-dependent manner. Live cells of Weissella cibaria SCCB2306, Pediococcus acidilactici SDL1402, P. acidilactici SDL1406, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus JDFM6 reduced the most cholesterol in liquid media by 78 ± 3%, 72 ± 3%, 76 ± 3%, 75 ± 5%, and 79 ± 2%, respectively. As the cholesterol levels in the media reduced, cell membrane lipids of P. acidilactici SDL1402, P. acidilactici SDL1406, and L. rhamnosus JDFM6 increased by 23.36 mg/mL, 6.53 mg/mL, and 8.14 mg/mL, respectively, indicating that cholesterol was incorporated into the bacteria cell membranes. All the bacteria displayed bile salt hydrolase activities in a strain-dependent manner. Though all four LAB significantly reduced cholesterol levels in Caenorhabditis elegans irrespective of the order of feeding, L. rhamnosus JDFM6 reduced the most cholesterol in vivo (up to 40% of ingested cholesterol). None of the four LAB hydrolyzed mucin or gelatin and none was toxic to C. elegans. The concentrations of phenylethylamine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, and tyramine produced by the LAB were below the toxic limits of biogenic amines set by the European Food Safety Authority. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Weissella cibaria SCCB2306, P. acidilactici SDL1402, P. acidilactici SDL1405, and L. rhamnosus JDFM6 could be safe cholesterol-reducing probiotic candidates for preventing or managing hypercholesterolemia.

Genomic diversity and molecular dynamics interaction on mutational variances among RB domains of SARS-CoV-2 interplay drug inactivation.

The scientific community has been releasing whole genomic sequences of SARS-CoV-2 to facilitate the investigation of molecular features and evolutionary history. We retrieved 36 genomes of 18 prevalent countries of Asia, Europe and America for genomic diversity and mutational analysis. Besides, we studied mutations in the RBD regions of Spike (S) proteins to analyze the drug efficiency against these mutations. In this research, phylogenenetic analysis, evolutionary modeling, substitution pattern analysis, molecular docking, dynamics simulation, etc. were performed. The genomic sequences showed >99% similarity with the reference sequence of China.TN93 + G was predicted as a best nucleotide substitution model. It was revealed that effective transition from the co-existing SARS genome to the SARS-CoV-2 and a noticeable positive selection in the SARS-CoV-2 genomes occurred. Moreover, three mutations in RBD domain, Val/ Phe367, Val/ Leu 382 and Ala/ Val522, were discovered in the genomes from Netherland, Bangladesh and the USA, respectively. Molecular docking and dynamics study showed RBD with mutation Val/Leu382 had the lowest binding affinity with remdesivir. In conclusion, the SARS-CoV-2 genomes are similar, but multiple degrees of transitions and transversions occurred. The mutations cause a significant conformational change, which are needed to be investigated during drug and vaccine development.

The Role of Bioactive Peptides in Diabetes and Obesity.

Bioactive peptides are present in most soy products and eggs and have essential protective functions. Infection is a core feature of innate immunity that affects blood pressure and the glucose level, and ageing can be delayed by killing senescent cells. Food also encrypts bioactive peptides and protein sequences produced through proteolysis or food processing. Unique food protein fragments can improve human health and avoid metabolic diseases, inflammation, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. This review focuses on drug targets and fundamental mechanisms of bioactive peptides on metabolic syndromes, namely obesity and type 2 diabetes, to provide new ideas and knowledge on the ability of bioactive peptide to control metabolic syndromes.