A fermented grain food mixture, AOB, inhibits liver metastasis in the metastasis model of rat colon cancer

Natural antioxidants have been shown to be rich sources of microchemicals with the potential to prevent human cancers. We examined whether dietary supplement of a fermented grain food mixture (AOB), which has been shown to have a strong antioxidative effect, may protect against colon cancer metastasis. At day 5 of AOB (6.5%) supplementation in a basal diet, the rat colon cancer cells (RCN-H4) were injected beneath the capsule of the spleen and one min later rats were splenectomized. All rats without AOB supplementation had multiple liver metastases. However, the number and the size of liver tumors were reduced by about 80% in AOB group. Combined use of cisplatin and AOB enhanced an anti-metastatic effect. The inhibition of liver metastasis by AOB was caused by the regulation of cell cycle. This product may be used as an adjuvant in the therapy of malignant neoplasia.     

Amelioration of cisplatin toxicity by a fermented grain food product

The most noticeable hypothesis regarding the pathogenesis of cisplatin toxicity, seen mainly in kidney and intestine, is oxidative stress, an imbalance between free-radical generating cisplatin and radical scavenging systems. This paper describes the role of the antioxidant system in cisplatin-induced toxicity and the protective effect by a processed grain food (Antioxidant Biofactor: AOB), which has been shown to exhibit strong antioxidant activity. Male Fischer 344 rats were used. They were pre-fed either a basal diet (control, 15 g/day) or the diet supplemented with AOB to provide 6.5% or 20% of total diet throughout the experiment. Cisplatin (5 mg/kg, i.v.) was administered at the start of the experiment, and the animals were sacrificed 5 days later. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and plasma creatinine, NO2(-) and NO3(-) (NOx) were determined from the plasma. The levels of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (a lipid peroxidation product), 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG, an oxidatively modified DNA adduct) and nitrotyrosine were histologically analyzed. The cisplatin administration resulted in a loss of body weight and elevations of BUN, serum creatinine and NOx levels, whereas AOB supplement reversed these effects. The severe morphological damages induced in the kidney and intestine by the cisplatin administration were markedly improved in the AOB group. The levels of lipid peroxidation, 8-OHdG, and nitrotyrosine all paralleled the morphological damage. The AOB effect was dose dependent. In conclusion, the present study suggests that certain food additives like AOB may be of benefit against the side effects of cisplatin.     

Suppressive activity of a fermented grain food product on dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis in mice

Oxidative stress has been shown to play pivotal roles in the onset of inflammatory bowel disease. We evaluated the effects of a dietary anti-oxidant, Antioxidant Biofactor (AOB), a processed grain food, on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Female ICR mice were fed a diet containing 0.1% or 1% AOB for 2 weeks, during which they were given 5% DSS in drinking water for the latter 1 week to induce colitis. A diet containing 1% AOB, but not that with 0.1% AOB, attenuated DSS-induced body weight loss and colon shortening (each, P < 0.05), and dramatically improved colitis histologic scores. In addition, DSS-induced increases in colonic mucosal IL-1beta, but not TNF-alpha, protein levels were significantly abrogated in 1% AOB-fed mice (P < 0.05). Further, 1% dietary AOB abolished the expression of IL-1beta mRNA levels in colonic mucosa (P < 0.01). Our results suggest that AOB is effective for the prevention of DSS-induced colitis in mice.     

Antimicrobial activity against Shigella sonnei and probiotic properties of wild lactobacilli from fermented food

Four lactobacilli strains (Lactobacillus paracasei subp. paracasei M5-L, Lactobacillus rhamnosus J10-L, Lactobacillus casei Q8-L and L. rhamnosus GG (LGG), were systematically assessed for the production of antimicrobial substances active towards Shigella sonnei, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Agar-well assay showed that the four lactobacilli strains displayed strong antibacterial activity towards S. sonnei. The nature of antimicrobial substances was also investigated and shown to be dependent on the production of organic acids, in particular the lactic acid. Time-kill assay showed that the viability of the S. sonnei was decreased by 2.7-3.6logCFU/ml after contact with CFCS (cell-free culture supernatants) of four lactobacilli for 2h, which confirmed the result of the agar-well assay. Further analysis of the organic acid composition in the CFCS revealed that the content of lactic acid range from 227 to 293mM. In addition, the aggregations properties, adherence properties and tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions were also investigated in vitro tests. The result suggested that the M5-L, J10-L and Q8-L strains possess desirable antimicrobial activity towards S. sonnei and probiotic properties as LGG and could be potentially used as novel probiotic strains in the food industry.     

Glycolipoprotein extract (G-90) from earthworm Eisenia foetida exerts some antioxidative activity

Antioxidants protect DNA, proteins and lipids in the body from damage. These types of damages are a major contributor to aging and to degenerative diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune-system decline, brain dysfunction and cataracts. The effect of glycolipoprotein extract of Eisenia foetida (G-90) as an antioxidant was investigated in cultured human fibroblasts and epithelial cells. After treatment of the cells with H2O2 for 4 h, G-90 completely allows the cells to recover and stimulated their growth. When the cells were incubated with G-90 48 h before the treatment with H2O2, the oxidative damage of the cells did not occur. Thus, G-90 had an apparent protective effect against the toxicity of H2O2 and stimulated the growth of the cells. Ascorbic acid, a known antioxidant, did not allow the growth of the cells to recover after damage nor did it protect them, unless it was added simultaneously with H2O2. The antioxidative activity of G-90, together with its antibacterial and mitogen activities, could be useful in the study of G-90 as a wound-healing agent.     

Antimicrobial activity against Shigella sonnei and probiotic properties of wild lactobacilli from fermented food

Four lactobacilli strains (Lactobacillus paracasei subp. paracasei M5-L, Lactobacillus rhamnosus J10-L, Lactobacillus casei Q8-L and L. rhamnosus GG (LGG), were systematically assessed for the production of antimicrobial substances active towards Shigella sonnei, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Agar-well assay showed that the four lactobacilli strains displayed strong antibacterial activity towards S. sonnei. The nature of antimicrobial substances was also investigated and shown to be dependent on the production of organic acids, in particular the lactic acid. Time-kill assay showed that the viability of the S. sonnei was decreased by 2.7–3.6 log CFU/ml after contact with CFCS (cell-free culture supernatants) of four lactobacilli for 2 h, which confirmed the result of the agar-well assay. Further analysis of the organic acid composition in the CFCS revealed that the content of lactic acid range from 227 to 293 mM. In addition, the aggregations properties, adherence properties and tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions were also investigated in vitro tests. The result suggested that the M5-L, J10-L and Q8-L strains possess desirable antimicrobial activity towards S. sonnei and probiotic properties as LGG and could be potentially used as novel probiotic strains in the food industry.     

Characterization and fibrinolytic activity of Acetobacter sp. FP1 isolated from fermented pine needle extract

The strain KCTC 11629BP, isolated from spontaneously fermented pine needle extract (FPE), showed fibrinolysis activity. The isolated strain was analyzed in physiological and biochemical experiments. Based on 16S rDNA sequencing and phylogenic tree analysis, the strain was identified to be a part of the genus Acetobacter, with Acetobacter senegalensis and Acetobacter tropicalis as the closest phylogenetic neighbors. Based on genotypic and phenotypic results, it was proposed that bacterial strain KCTC 11629BP represents a species of the genus Acetobacter. The strain was thusly named Acetobacter sp. FP1. In conclusion, Acetobacter sp. FP1 isolated from FPE possesses fibrinolytic activity.     

Fermentative production of dextran using Leuconostoc spp. isolated from fermented food products

Leuconostoc spp. （LSland LI1） isolated from sauerkraut and idli batter was selected for dextran production. To enhance the yield of dextran, effects of various parameters such as sucrose concentration, pH, temperature, incubation and inoculum percentage were analyzed. The optimum sucrose concentration for the Leuconostoc spp. （LS1 and LI1） was found to be 15% and 25% respectively. Isolates produced maximum dextran after 20 h of incubation at 29℃ and the optimum pH was found between 8 and 8.5. The inoculum concentration of 7.5% was more favorable for the production of dextran by Leuconostoc spp. （LS1 and LI1）. The growth kinetic parameters were studied and compared for the strains LS1 and LI1. Mass production of dextran was carried out using a stirred tank batch reactor. FTIR analysis was done to determine the functional groups of dextran, sephadex is prepared by cross linking dextran using epichlorohydrin and the functional groups are determined by FTIR analysis.     

黑果枸杞花青素结构差异对其稳定性及细胞抗氧化活性的影响

本文研究了黑果枸杞花青素化合物结构对其稳定性和细胞抗氧化活性的影响。通过半制备型HPLC分离纯化得到了4种黑果枸杞花青素化合物并鉴定结构,利用比色法评价了化合物的稳定性、细胞毒实验以及H₂O₂诱导的SH-SY5Y细胞损伤模型评价了细胞抗氧化活性,并讨论了化学结构对其影响。结果表明反式结构比顺式结构在中性和弱碱性条件下有更好的稳定性,反式结构、糖基的增加以及母核B环上的甲氧基取代均可以通过缩短母核与糖链的分子距离从而提高稳定性,糖基的增加能显著地降低损伤细胞中的乳酸脱氢酶水平,且反式结构较顺式结构更有活性优势。综上所述,黑果枸杞花青素的结构影响稳定性和细胞抗氧化活性,但糖基的增加和酰基的反式异构对二者有更积极的意义。     

Glycolipoprotein extract (G-90) from earthworm Eisenia foetida exerts some antioxidative activity

Antioxidants protect DNA, proteins and lipids in the body from damage. These types of damages are a major contributor to aging and to degenerative diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune-system decline, brain dysfunction and cataracts. The effect of glycolipoprotein extract of Eisenia foetida (G-90) as an antioxidant was investigated in cultured human fibroblasts and epithelial cells. After treatment of the cells with H₂O₂ for 4 h, G-90 completely allows the cells to recover and stimulated their growth. When the cells were incubated with G-90 48 h before the treatment with H₂O₂, the oxidative damage of the cells did not occur. Thus, G-90 had an apparent protective effect against the toxicity of H₂O₂ and stimulated the growth of the cells. Ascorbic acid, a known antioxidant, did not allow the growth of the cells to recover after damage nor did it protect them, unless it was added simultaneously with H₂O₂. The antioxidative activity of G-90, together with its antibacterial and mitogen activities, could be useful in the study of G-90 as a wound-healing agent.     

Chemistry and antioxidative activity of hot water extract of Japanese radish (daikon)

The comparison of antioxidative activity between the hot water extract and ambient water extract of Japanese radish (daikon) was carried out. The activity of the hot water extract was higher than that of the ambient water extract. One of the antioxidants was isolated as L-tryptophan that should no change in its amount that was determined between the hot water extract and ambient water extract. Moreover, tryptophan changed to 5-hydroxy tryptophan in the rat liver microsome model. This phenomenon may show that tryptophan is changed to another antioxidant in the body.     

Assessment of anti-oxidant activity of plant extracts using microbial test systems

Aims:  To evaluate the anti-oxidant properties of extracts from 20 medicinal herbs growing in western Siberia using microbial test systems and different in vitro methods.
Methods and results:  In vivo anti-oxidant activity of extracts was evaluated for their capacity to protect bacteria, Escherichia coli , against bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of H₂O₂ and menadione, and action on anti-oxidant gene expression. In vitro anti-oxidant activity has been examined by a number of methods including: the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH^•)-scavenging assay, chelating activity and capacity to protect plasmid DNA against oxidative damage. In addition, total polyphenol content was determined. The extracts of Fragaria vesca , Rosa majalis , Pentaphylloides fruticosa , Alchemilla vulgaris and Pulmonaria mollis possessed the highest levels of anti-oxidant activity in vivo and in vitro . The protective properties were more closely related to the DPPH^• radical-scavenging activity, tannin content and action on anti-oxidant gene expression than to other parameters.
Conclusion:  The extracts of medicinal plants may have anti-oxidant effects on bacteria simultaneously through several different pathways, including direct inhibition of reactive oxygen species, iron chelation and anti-oxidant genes induction.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Using microbial test systems, we revealed herbs that may be used as potential sources of natural anti-oxidants.     

酱香型白酒酿造酒醅中酵母菌多样性研究

为解析酱香型白酒酿造酒醅中酵母菌的菌群结构,获取酒醅中的主要酵母菌,采用高通量测序法分析酱香型白酒酒醅中酵母菌多样性及主要功能菌群,同时采用可培养分离方法获取酒醅中酵母菌活性菌株。从酱香型白酒下沙至五轮次酒醅中共检出59个属、129个种的酵母菌,分离得到酵母菌活性菌株41种,检测到的酵母菌种类与获得的酵母菌活菌在各香型白酒中最多。不同时期酒醅中的酵母菌种类和数量差异明显,其中下沙、造沙轮次以Pichia kudriavzevii为绝对优势酵母菌;一至五轮次随着轮次的递增,酒醅中优势酵母菌的种类增多,其中主要的优势酵母菌有Pichia kudriavzevii、Pichia manshurica、Zygosaccharomyces bailii、Saccharomyces cerevisiae、Candida apicola。酱香型白酒酒醅中蕴藏着极其丰富的酵母菌资源,对酵母菌菌群结构的解析有助于科学地认识酱香型白酒酿造过程中产酒与风味代谢机理,为发酵过程的调控提供一定依据。     

Identification and characterization of yeast isolated from indonesian fermented food

Yeast strains with amylolytic activity were isolated from cassavatapé and its precursor,ragi. they were divided into two groups based on their characteristics: group 1, possessing high amylolytic activity and low ethanol yield; and group 2, possessing low amylolytic activity and high ethanol yield. The major strains of the group 1 were identified asEndomyces fibuliger, and those of group 2 were identified asPichia anomala. Based on 18S rDNA analysis, an isolate fromragi that had a high amylolytic activity was thought to be an undescribed species that was related to the basidiomycetous genera.     

Novel fructopyranose oligosaccharides isolated from fermented beverage of plant extract

Four oligosaccharides containing a fructopyranosyl residue have been found from fermented beverage of plant extract and isolated from the beverage using carbon-Celite column chromatography and preparative high performance liquid chromatography. Structure confirmation of the saccharides was provided by methylation analysis, MALDI-TOF-MS and NMR measurements. These saccharides were identified as oligosaccharides of fructopyranoside series; β-d-fructopyranosyl-(2→6)-d-fructofuranose (1), β-d-fructopyranosyl-(2→1)-d-fructopyranose (2), β-d-fructopyranosyl-(2→1)-β-d-fructofuranosyl-(2↔1)-α-d-glucopyranoside (3), and β-d-fructopyranosyl-(2→6)-α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1↔2)-β-d-fructofuranoside (4). Saccharides 3 and 4 among novel saccharides 1, 3, and 4 were named ‘pyrano-1-kestose (pyrano-isokestose)’ and ‘pyrano-neokestose’, respectively.     

Bacteriocinogenic activity of lactobacilli from fermented sausages

During the screening of the inhibitory activity of 254 strains of lactobacilli isolated from fermented sausages at different times of ripening, 22% of the strains showed inhibition that was not related to acid or hydrogen peroxide, towards one or more indicator strains. Not all the strains were capable of secreting the inhibitory compound in the supernatant fluid. The characterization of the inhibitory compound from three strains showed that they were bacteriocins with a bactericidal mode of action and a molecular weight exceeding 10000 Da. Lactobacillus plantarum CTC 305, CTC 306 and Lact. sake CTC 372 inhibited Listeria monocytogenes. Lactobacillus sake CTC372 was cured of two plasmids of 84.8 kbp and 41.3 kbp, losing the production and the immunity of a bacteriocin as well as the ability to ferment lactose.     

Isolation of natural red colorants from fermented broth using ionic liquid-based aqueous two-phase systems

There is a growing demand for natural colorants. This is prompting the search for new alternative and “benign” separation systems allowing higher recoveries, extraction yields, and selectivities. This work investigates the use of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) based on ionic liquids as extraction processes for the recovery of red colorants from the fermented broth of Penicillium purpurogenum DPUA 1275. Several ATPS based on quaternary ammonium and imidazolium were studied in this work aiming at separating the red colorants produced from the remaining colorants and contaminant proteins present in the fermented broth. The results suggest that the red colorants can be isolated by an appropriate manipulation of some of the process conditions, such as the use of quaternary ammonium with short alkyl chains, alkaline media, and short tie-line lengths (extraction point systems with lower concentrations of ionic liquid). These conditions allow large partition coefficients for the red colorants (K _red = 24.4 ± 2.3), high protein removal (60.7 ± 2.8 %) and selectivity parameters (S _red/prot = 10.05).     

Identification and histamine formation of Tetragenococcus isolated from Thai fermented food products

Forty-one tetrad-forming halophilic lactic acid bacteria were isolated from 7 kinds of fermented foods in Thailand. All the isolates were identified as the genus Tetragenococcus by their phenotypic characteristics. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene restriction analysis using MboI and AluI and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, 41 isolates could be divided into two groups (groups A and B). All 22 isolates in Group A were identified as T. halophilus. 16S rRNA gene sequences of the representative isolates, SP37-2 and KS87-1 exhibited 99.4–99.5 % similarity to that of T. halophilus ATCC 33315^T. Nineteen isolates in Group B were identified as T. muriaticus. 16S rRNA gene sequences of the representative isolates, KM1-5 and KS87-14, showed 99.0–99.6 % similarity to that of T. muriaticus JCM 10006^T. Histamine formation was determined by using HPLC and the histidine decarboxylase (hdc) gene of the newly isolated histamine-producing strain was partially sequenced. The strain KS87-14 prolifically formed histamine 10 times higher than the reported T. muriaticus JCM 10006^T. The positive detection of KS87-14 was achieved by using hdcA gene-specific primers JV16HC and JV17HC.