Production of probiotic food supplements that are shelf-stable at room temperature has been developed for consumer's convenience, but information on the stability in acid and bile environment is still scarce. Viability and acid and bile tolerance of microencapsulated Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus acidophilus and 4 commercial probiotic supplements were evaluated. Bifidobacterium and L. acidophilus were encapsulated with casein-based emulsion using spray drying. Water activity (aw ) of the microspheres containing Bifidobacterium or L. acidophilus (SD GM product) was adjusted to 0.07 followed by storage at 25 °C for 10 wk. Encapsulated Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus acidophilus and 4 commercial probiotic supplement products (AL, GH, RE, and BM) were tested. Since commercial probiotic products contained mixed bacteria, selective media MRS-LP (containing L-cysteine and Na-propionate) and MRS-clindamycin agar were used to grow Bifidobacterium spp. or L. acidophilus, respectively, and to inhibit the growth of other strains. The results showed that aw had a strong negative correlation with the viability of dehydrated probiotics of the 6 products. Viable counts of Bifidobacterium spp. and L. acidophilus of SD GM, AL, and GH were between 8.3 and 9.2 log CFU/g, whereas that of BM and RE were between 6.7 and 7.3 log CFU/g. Bifidobacterium in SD GM, in AL, and in GH products and L. acidophilus in SD GM, in AL, and in BM products demonstrated high tolerance to acid. Most of dehydrated probiotic bacteria were able to survive in bile environment except L. acidophilus in RE product. Exposure to gastric juice influenced bacterial survivability in subsequent bile environment.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation (ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet C (UVC) at 30-90 J/m²) on the membrane properties of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, and their bioconversion of isoflavones in prebiotic-soymilk. UV treatment caused membrane permeabilization and alteration at the acyl chain, polar head and interface region of membrane bilayers via lipid peroxidation. Such alteration subsequently led to decreased (p < 0.05) viability of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria immediately after the treatment. However, the effect was transient where cells treated with UV, particularly UVA, grew better in prebiotic-soymilk than the control upon fermentation at 37°C for 24 h (p < 0.05). In addition, UV treatment also increased (p < 0.05) the intracellular and extracellular β-glucosidase activity of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. This was accompanied by an increased (p < 0.05) bioconversion of glucosides to bioactive aglycones in prebiotic-soymilk. Our present study illustrated that treatment of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria with UV could develop a fermented prebiotic-soymilk with enhanced bioactivity.
This research was carried out to determine the fructooligosaccharides content in local honey samples, namely the wild Malaysian Tualang honey and common wild honey obtained from Tapah, Perak and a commercial Tualang honey. Local wild honeys were found to contain a higher concentration of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) compared to the commercial Tualang honey. The FOS quantified from local wild honeys was inulobiose, kestose and nystose. Nystoses were found at a very low amount in the commercial Tualang honey. The effects of honey on the growth of Bifidobacterium longum BB 536 were investigated. Both wild and commercial honey samples including FOS standard were found to support the growth of B. longum. The pH value of the skim milk + honey inoculated with the probiotic strain decreases as expected. Addition of honey was found to support the growth of B. longum BB 536.
Objective: To compare the mean duration of diarrhea between children taking yogurt and with the group taking commercial probiotics, containing lactobacillus in acute watery diarrhea. Materials and
Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Services Hospital, Lahore. The duration of this cross sectional study was 6 months, from June 2013 to November 2013. A total of 200 children suffering from acute watery diarrhea were involved in the study after the informed consent under the said hospital. Their demographic information was recorded and later divided in two groups of 100 each; group A received yogurt and group B was given commercial probiotic. The duration of diarrhea was observed in both groups. The results were compared by using independent sample t-test.
Results: The average duration of diarrhea in group A, was 1.98 + 1.31 day while that in group B was 3.09 + 1.64 days. Student's t-test was applied and the difference between the two groups was found to be statistically significant (p< 0.05).
Conclusions: Treatment with yogurt significantly decreases the mean duration of diarrhea as compared to probiotic among patients with acute watery diarrhea.
Different probiotic strains are incorporated into cultured-milk drinks by respective manufacturers with the common aim of providing health benefits to the consumers. Four common cultured-milk products (brands N, S, V and Y) were evaluated for their quality of probiotic strains used, based on the susceptibility of the probiotics to various pH levels simulated to mimic the gastrointestinal system. Results showed that brands Y and V have higher initial probiotic inoculum compared to brands N and S although probiotics from brands N and S were more tolerant to pH 3. Generally, all probiotic strains preferred higher pH with highest viability of Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and Streptococcus thermophilus observed at pH 8.1. Our study also discovered that among the four brands tested, brand V contained probiotic strains which are most likely to remain viable after passage through the gastrointestinal system.
Bovine gelatin is a biopolymer which has good potential to be used in encapsulating matrices for probiotic candidate Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum strain G4 (G4) because of its amphoteric nature characteristic. Beads were prepared by the extrusion method using genipin and sodium alginate as a cross-linking agent. The optimisation of bovine gelatin-genipin-sodium alginate combinations was carried out using face central composition design (FCCD) to investigate G4 beads' strength, before and after exposed to simulated gastric (SGF), intestinal fluids (SIF), and encapsulation yield. A result of ANOVA and the polynomial regression model revealed the combinations of all three factors have a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the bead strength. Meanwhile, for G4 encapsulation yield, only genipin showed less significant effect on the response. However, the use of this matrix remained due to the intermolecular cross-linking ability with bovine gelatin. Optimum compositions of bovine gelatin-genipin-sodium alginate were obtained at 11.21% (w/v), 1.96 mM, and 2.60% (w/v), respectively. A model was validated for accurate prediction of the response and showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) with experimental values.
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of electroporation on growth, bioconversion of isoflavones, and probiotic properties of parent organisms and subsequent passages of Bifidobacterium longum FTDC 8643. Electroporation with the strength of electric field at 7.5 kV cm(-1) for 3.5 ms was applied on B. longum FTDC 8643. The viability of B. longum FTDC 8643 increased significantly upon treatment with electroporation. Such treatment also enhanced the intracellular and extracellular β-glucosidase activity, leading to enhanced production of bioactive isoflavone aglycones in mannitol-soymilk (P
The effect of a yoghurt supplement containing Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G4 or Bifidobacterium longum BB536 on plasma lipids, lipid peroxidation and the faecal excretion of bile acids was examined in rats fed a cholesterol-enriched diet. After 8 weeks, the rats in the positive control (PC) group who were fed the cholesterol-enriched diet showed significant increases in plasma total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and malondialdehyde (MDA). However, groups fed a cholesterol-enriched diet supplemented with yoghurt containing B. pseudocatenulatum G4 or B. longum BB536 had significantly lower plasma TC, LDL-C, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, and MDA than had the PC group after 8 weeks of treatment. In addition, faecal excretion of bile acids was markedly increased in the rats fed the yoghurt containing B. pseudocatenulatum G4 or B. longum BB536 as compared to the PC and NC groups.
Stress has been shown to disturb the balance of human intestinal microbiota and subsequently causes mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Our previous study showed that ingesting the probiotic strain, Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum P-8, for 12 weeks could alleviate stress and anxiety of stressed adults. The current study was a follow-up work aiming to investigate the functional role of the gut metagenomes in the observed beneficial effects. The fecal metagenomes of the probiotic (n = 43) and placebo (n = 36) receivers were analyzed in depth. The gut microbiomes of the placebo group at weeks 0 and 12 showed a significantly greater Aitchison distance (P Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium longum, and Fecalibacterium prausnitzii (P
The long history of safety has contributed to the acceptance of probiotics as a safe food adjunct. Consequently, many probiotic products and their applications have been granted GRAS (generally regarded as safe) status. However, this classification has been frequently generalized for all probiotic strains regardless of their application. Cases of probiotics from the genera Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus, Enterococcus, and Bifidobacterium have been isolated from infection sites, leading to the postulation that these probiotics can translocate. Probiotic translocation is difficult to induce in healthy humans, and even if it does occur, detrimental effects are rare. Despite this, various reports have documented health-damaging effects of probiotic translocation in immunocompromised patients. Due to probiotics' high degree of safety and their morphological confusion with other pathogenic bacteria, they are often overlooked as contaminants and are least suspected as pathogens. However, the antibiotic resistance of some strains has increased the complexity of their eradication. Probiotic translocation and infection deserve further investigation and should become a facet of safety assessment so the negative effects of probiotics do not outweigh the benefits.
The energy-salvaging capacity of the gut microbiota from dietary ingredients has been proposed as a contributing factor for the development of obesity. This knowledge generated interest in the use of non-digestible dietary ingredients such as prebiotics to manipulate host energy homeostasis. In the present study, the in vitro response of obese human faecal microbiota to novel oligosaccharides was investigated. Dextrans of various molecular weights and degrees of branching were fermented with the faecal microbiota of healthy obese adults in pH-controlled batch cultures. Changes in bacterial populations were monitored using fluorescent in situ hybridisation and SCFA concentrations were analysed by HPLC. The rate of gas production and total volume of gas produced were also determined. In general, the novel dextrans and inulin increased the counts of bifidobacteria. Some of the dextrans were able to alter the composition of the obese human microbiota by increasing the counts of Bacteroides-Prevotella and decreasing those of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Ruminococcus bromii/R. flavefaciens. Considerable increases in SCFA concentrations were observed in response to all substrates. Gas production rates were similar during the fermentation of all dextrans, but significantly lower than those during the fermentation of inulin. Lower total gas production and shorter time to attain maximal gas production were observed during the fermentation of the linear 1 kDa dextran than during the fermentation of the other dextrans. The efficacy of bifidobacteria to ferment dextrans relied on the molecular weight and not on the degree of branching. In conclusion, there are no differences in the profiles between the obese and lean human faecal fermentations of dextrans.
The viability and activity of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G4, B. longum BB 536 and yoghurt cultures (Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) were studied in yoghurt containing 0.75% Mangefira pajang fibrous polysaccharides (MPFP) and inulin. Growth of probiotic organisms, their proteolytic activities, the production of short chain fatty acids (lactic, acetic and propionic) and the pH of the yoghurt samples were determined during refrigerated storage at 4 °C for 28 d. B. pseudocatenulatum G4 and B. longum BB 536 showed better growth and activity in the presence of MPFP and inulin, which significantly increased the production of short chain fatty acids as well as the proteolytic activity of these organisms.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of electroporation (2.5-7.5 kV cm⁻¹ for 3.0-4.0 ms) on the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, membrane properties and bioconversion of isoflavones in mannitol-soymilk.
The use of component from Ganoderma lucidum as prebiotic source is interesting as the G. lucidum itself was known for more than a decade in the traditional Chinese medicine. In this work, Ganoderma lucidum crude polysaccharides (GLCP) and Polysaccharide-fraction number 2 (PF-2) were used as carbon sources in the fermentation with Bifidobacterium sp. The results showed the potential of prebiotic effect of the G. lucidum extract in batch-culture fermentation based on increment in the growth of bacteria used (0.4 – 1.5 log10 CFU/mL) after 18h fermentation. Fermentation was further done using faecal materials as bacterial inocula and bacterial growth changes were examined using real-time PCR. The results showed the ability of GLCP and PF-2 to support the growth of Bifidobacterium genus with 0.3 and 0.7 log10 cells/ml increased, respectively. Interestingly, Lactobacillus which is known as beneficial bacterial genus also showed growth increment with 0.7 and 1 log10 cells/ml increased. The competition for carbon sources thus inhibits the growth of potentially harmful genus, Salmonella (0.3 and 0.5 log10 cells/ml) in comparison to the control.
In vitro Lead (Pb(2+)) binding capacity of two probiotic bacteria strains, namely Bifidobacterium longumBB79 and Lactobacillus pentosusITA23, was assessed following incubation with the intestinal contents (IC) of laying hens. Results of this study demonstrated that IC treatment significantly enhanced (P<0.01) Pb(2+) binding capacity of both bacterial strains. Fourier transform infrared analysis indicated that several functional groups (O-H or N-H, C-H, C˭O, C-O, and C-O-C) on the bacteria cell wall involved in metal ion binding were altered after IC incubation, and new groups appeared between the 3700cm(-1) and 4000cm(-1)bands. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that after incubation with IC, unidentified IC components created new binding sites on the bacterial cell surface. These particles also changed the mechanism of Pb(2+) binding of the two strains from intracellular accumulation to extracellular adsorption.
Probiotics is an emerging therapeutic agent which may alleviate the symptoms of constipation. We evaluated the effectiveness of microbial cell preparation (Hexbio(®)) containing fructooligosaccharide, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in improving stool frequency and symptoms of chronic constipation.
In this study, three potential probiotic strains were selected to ferment blueberry and blackberry juices. The viable cell counts of selected strains were increased by 0.4-0.7 log CFU/mL in berry juices environments after 48-h fermentation. Meanwhile, the contents of cyanindin-3-glucoside and peonidin-3-glucoside decreased over 30%. Heatmap presented an upgrade trend of syringic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid and lactic acid during fermentation. However, the contents of p-coumaric acid, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, critic acid and malic acid showed downgrade trend. The metabolism of phenolics probably contributed to the enhancement of the ABTS radical scavenging activity (40%-60%) in fermented berry juices. Moreover, the three strains presented different capacities on changing the quality of berry juices according to the PCA and LDA analysis. The contents of individual organic acids had positive correlations with sensory quality, especially for sourness. Overall, probiotic fermentation could improve the sensory quality of berry juices.
To assess the safety of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G4 in BALB/c mice that involves examination of bacterial translocation, changes in the internal organs and histology of the intestinal lining.
This 10-months randomised, double-blind, parallel and placebo-controlled study evaluated the effects of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 on diarrhoea and/or upper respiratory illnesses in 520 healthy Malaysian pre-school children aged 2-6 years old. The subjects randomly received a one-gram sachet containing either BB536 (5×109 cfu) or placebo daily. Data analysis was performed on 219 subjects who fully complied over 10-months (placebo n=110, BB536 n=109). While BB536 did not exert significant effects against diarrhoea in children, Poisson regression with generalised estimating equations model indicated significant intergroup difference in the mean number of times of respiratory illnesses over 10 months. The duration of sore throat was reduced by 46% (P=0.018), with marginal reduction for duration of fever (reduced by 27%, P=0.084), runny nose (reduced by 15%, P=0.087) and cough (reduced by 16%, P=0.087) as compared to the placebo. Principal coordinate analysis at genus level of the gut microbiota revealed significant differences between 0 and 10 months in the BB536 group (P<0.01) but not in placebo group (P>0.05). The abundance of the genus Faecalibacterium which is associated with anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory properties was significantly higher in the BB536 group (P<0.05) compared to the placebo group. Altogether, our present study illustrated the potential protective effects of BB536 against upper respiratory illnesses in pre-school Malaysian children, with gut microbiota modulating properties.