PMID: 

Food Funct. 2020 May 14. Epub 2020 May 14. PMID: 32405635

Abstract Title: 

Astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis ameliorates the chemotherapeutic drug (doxorubicin) induced liver injury through the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in mice.

Abstract: 

The aim of this study is to probe a new function of astaxanthin (AST) from Haematococcus pluvialis on chemotherapeutic drug induced liver injury in mice. Doxorubicin-induced liver injury was treated with different doses of AST, and the body weight, food intake, urinalysis, liver function, and oxidative stress indexes were examined. The hepatocyte apoptosis level, pathological sections of liver tissue and the expression of antioxidant related genes were also determined. This study found that DOX could induce serious liver injury through cytotoxicity. AST treatment could decrease the level of liver function indexes (ALT, GOT, ALP and TBil), reduce the concentration of MDA and ROS, and increase the activities of SOD, CAT and GPX in the liver. AST could also repair the damaged hepatocyte in mice with liver injury and reduce the degree of the cellular apoptosis. In addition, AST could interfere with the expression of some related genes in the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway by downregulating the expression of Keap1 and activating the transcription factor Nrf2 via enhancing the level of ERK, which upregulates downstream peroxiredoxins. The present research found and illustrated a new food function of AST, indicating that AST could be used in the therapy of chemotherapy induced side effects.

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PMID: 

Drug Des Devel Ther. 2020 ;14:1651-1662. Epub 2020 Apr 30. PMID: 32431490

Abstract Title: 

Astaxanthin Attenuates Neuroinflammation in Status Epilepticus Rats by Regulating the ATP-P2X7R Signal.

Abstract: 

Background: As a life-threatening neurological emergency, status epilepticus (SE) is often refractory to available treatment. Current studies have shown a causal role of neuroinflammation in patients with lower seizure thresholds and driving seizures. The ATP-gated purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is mainly expressed on the microglia, which function as gatekeepers of inflammation. Although emerging evidence has demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects of astaxanthin (AST) in SE, the associated mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the effects of AST on P2X7R-related inflammation in SE.Methods: SE was induced in rats using lithium-pilocarpine, and AST was administered 1 h after SE induction. Rat microglia were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), AST, ATP, 2,3-O-4-benzoyl-4-benzoyl-ATP (BzATP) and oxidized ATP (oxATP). The Morris water maze, immunohistochemistry, and Nissl staining were performed in rats. Expressions of P2X7R and inflammatory cytokines (such as cycloxygenase-2 (Cox-2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)) were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot (WB) both in rats and microglia. ATP concentration in the microglia was evaluated using ELISA.Results: The AST alleviated hippocampal injury and improved cognitive dysfunction induced by SE. AST also effectively inhibited inflammation and downregulated P2X7R expression in both rat brain and microglia. The results also showed that AST reduced the extracellular ATP levels and that P2X7R expression could be increased by extracellular ATP. In addition, BzATP upregulates the expression of P2X7R and inflammatory factors in microglia. Conversely, it downregulates the expression of P2X7R and inflammatory factors.Conclusion: Our study suggests that AST attenuated ATP-P2X7R mediated inflammation in SE.

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PMID: 

Food Chem Toxicol. 2020 May 12:111404. Epub 2020 May 12. PMID: 32413456

Abstract Title: 

Anthocyanin-rich haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) berry extracts reduce nitrosamine-induced DNA damage in human normal lung epithelial cells in vitro.

Abstract: 

Diets rich in polyphenols are known to reduce cancer among high-risk populations. Haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) berry has abundant phenolic acids and flavonoids, especially anthocyanins. Tobacco-specific nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) present in cigarette smoke is a major lung carcinogenic factor. We analyzed the efficacy of anthocyanin-rich haskap berry extracts in preventing DNA damage induced by 4-[(acetoxymethyl) nitrosamino]-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNKOAc), a precursor of NKK, in human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells in vitro. A cocktail of monomeric polyphenols from haskap berries was extracted separately in ethanol and water and profiled. Sub-lethal concentrations of NNKOAc were used to induce DNA damage in BEAS-2B cells, and cell viability assay was performed to confirm that the tested concentrations of haskap extracts were not cytotoxic to BEAS-2B cells. Cells were pre-treated with the haskap extracts prior to NNKOAc exposure. Dose-dependent DNA damage was observed with carcinogenic NNKOAc, but did not occur in the presence of the haskap extracts. Pre-treatment of the cells with the haskap extracts significantly reduced NNKOAc-induced DNA damage, DNA fragmentation, and intracellular reactive oxygen species and upregulated the ATM-dependent DNA damage repair cascade compared to non-treated BEAS-2B cells. The protective effect of haskap extracts could be related to their polyphenol content and high antioxidant capacity.

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PMID: 

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 May 11 ;17(9). Epub 2020 May 11. PMID: 32403297

Abstract Title: 

In-Vitro Growth Inhibition of Bacterial Pathogens by Probiotics and a Synbiotic: Product Composition Matters.

Abstract: 

A variety of activities potentially contribute to the beneficial effects of probiotic bacteria observed in humans. Among these is a direct inhibition of the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the gut. The present study characterizes head-to-head the in-vitro pathogen growth inhibition of clinically relevant infectious bacterial strains by different types of probiotics and a synbiotic. In-vitro growth inhibition ofandwere determined. Investigated products were a yeast mono strain probiotic containing, bacterial mono strain probiotics containing eitheror, a multi strain probiotic containing three, and a multi strain synbiotic containing nine different probiotic bacterial strains and the prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS). Inhibition of pathogens was moderate byand, medium byand themixture and strong by the multi strain synbiotic. Head-to-head in-vitro pathogen growth inhibition experiments can be used to differentiate products from different categories containing probiotic microorganisms and can support the selection process of products for further clinical evaluation.

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PMID: 

Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020 May 15. Epub 2020 May 15. PMID: 32412785

Abstract Title: 

Lactobacillus reuteri attenuates cardiac injury without lowering cholesterol in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice fed standard chow.

Abstract: 

Disruption of the normal gut microbiome (dysbiosis) is implicated in the progression and severity of myriad disorders, including hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease. Probiotics attenuate and reverse gut dysbiosis to improve cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Lactobacillus reuteri is a well-studied lactic acid-producing probiotic with known cholesterol-lowering properties and anti-inflammatory effects. In the present study, we hypothesized that L. reuteri delivered to hypercholesterolemic low-density lipoprotein receptor knock-out (LDLr KO) mice will reduce cholesterol levels and minimize cardiac injury from an ischemic insult. L. reuteri (1x10or 50x10CFU/day) was administered by oral gavage to wild type mice and LDLr KO for up to 6 weeks followed by an ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) protocol. After 4 weeks of gavage, total serum cholesterol in wild type mice receiving saline was 113.5±5.6 mg/dl compared to 113.3±6.8 mg/dl and 101.9±7.5 mg/dl in mice receiving 1x10or 50x10CFU/day, respectively. Over the same timeframe, administration of L. reuteri at 1x10or 50x10CFU/day did not lower total serum cholesterol (283.0±11.1, 263.3±5.0 and 253.1±7.0 mg/dl; Saline, 1x10or 50x10CFU/day, respectively) in LDLr KO mice. Despite no impact on total serum cholesterol, L. reuteri administration significantly attenuated cardiac injury following I/R, as evidenced by smaller infarct sizes when compared to controls in both wild type and LDLr KO groups. In conclusion, daily L. reuteri significantly protected against cardiac injury without lowering cholesterol levels suggesting anti-inflammatory properties of L. reuteri uncoupled from improvements in serum cholesterol.

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PMID: 

Eur J Nutr. 2020 May 16. Epub 2020 May 16. PMID: 32417946

Abstract Title: 

Impact of a short-term synbiotic supplementation on metabolic syndrome and systemic inflammation in elderly patients: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Abstract: 

PURPOSE: The connection between gut microbiota imbalance, inflammation and its role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) clustering factors has been increasingly recognized. However, data on the efficacy of probiotics supplementation on MetS components are few and almost lacking in the elderly. To address this issue, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, clinical study on a large sample of MetS elderly patients.METHODS: After 14 days of diet and physical activity standardization, 60 elderly patients were randomized to treatment with a synbiotic formula of Lactobacillus plantarum PBS067, Lactobacillus acidophilus PBS066 and Lactobacillus reuteri PBS072 with active prebiotics or placebo. Patients were evaluated anamnestically and by the execution of a physical examination and laboratory and haemodynamic analyses at the baseline and after 60 days of treatment. At enrollment and at the end of the trial, all enrolled patients complete the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire.RESULTS: Through the 2-month period of treatment, patients who received active treatment experienced a statistically significant improvement in waist circumference and in fasting plasma insulin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-HDL-C, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor alpha serum levels, compared both to the baseline and the control group. Visceral adiposity index improvement in the synbiotic treatment group was significantly greater than in placebo group. Compared to baseline, treatment with synbiotics also significantly reduced mean arterial pressure and fasting plasma glucose. All treatment groups demonstrated a significant decrease in TG. TG reduction in the synbiotic group was significantly greater than in the control group. The EQ-5D VAS questionnaire significantly improved only in probiotics-treated subjects.CONCLUSION: Treatment with a synbiotic formula of L. plantarum PBS067, L. acidophilus PBS066 and L. reuteri PBS072 with active prebiotics decreased MetS syndrome prevalence, several cardiovascular risk factors and markers of insulin resistance in elderly patients.

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There’s a growing list of research touting chocolate’s antioxidant content, favorable action against disease-inducing oxidative stress and overall health benefits

PMID: 

Curr Microbiol. 2020 May 5. Epub 2020 May 5. PMID: 32372103

Abstract Title: 

Probiotic Potential of Lactobacillus paracasei CT12 Isolated from Water Kefir Grains (Tibicos).

Abstract: 

The water kefir grains are a multi-species starter culture used to produce fermented beverages of sucrose solution with or without fruit extracts. The water kefir grains are known in Mexico as Tibicos, which are mainly used to produce Tepache, a traditional Mexican drink made by fermenting pineapple peel. The microbiota of Tibicos mainly include lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and since most probiotics belong to this group, Tibicos may represent a potential source of probiotic bacteria. Moreover, several bacteria isolated from kefir samples have been recognized as probiotics. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the probiotic properties of a Lactobacillus strain isolated from Tibicos. The isolated, designed as CT12, was identified as Lactobacillus paracasei by sequencing 16S RNA gene. L. paracasei CT12 showed a survival rate of ca. 57% and 40% following simulated gastric and intestinal digestion, respectively. Besides, the strain was sensitive to ampicillin and erythromycin, and exhibited hydrophobicity (97-99%), autoaggregation (ca. 70%) and mucin adhesion properties (up to 90%), while no possessed haemolytic capacity. Furthermore, its cell-free supernatant displayed relevant antimicrobial, antifungal and antioxidant capacity. Hence, L. paracasei CT12 appears to possess a potential probiotic value.

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PMID: 

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2020 ;2020:2638703. Epub 2020 Jan 13. PMID: 32411323

Abstract Title: 

Oxidative Stress and Dementia in Alzheimer's Patients: Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation.

Abstract: 

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in elderly patients. Recently, several studies have shown that inflammation and oxidative stress precede the cardinal neuropathological manifestations of AD. In view of the proven antioxidant effects of probiotics, we proposed that continuous dietary supplementation with milk fermented with kefir grains might improve cognitive and metabolic and/or cellular disorders in the AD patients.Methods: This study was designed as an uncontrolled clinical investigation to test the effects of probiotic-fermented milk supplementation (2 mL/kg/daily) for 90 days in AD patients exhibiting cognitive deficit. Cognitive assessment, cytokine expression, systemic oxidative stress levels, and blood cell damage biomarkers were evaluated before (T0) and after (T90) kefir synbiotic supplementation.Results: When the patients were challenged to solve 8 classical tests, the majority exhibit a marked improvement in memory, visual-spatial/abstraction abilities, and executive/language functions. At the end of the treatment, the cytometric analysis showed an absolute/relative decrease in several cytokine markers of inflammation and oxidative stress markers (O, HO, and ONOO, ~30%) accompanied by an increase in NO bioavailability (100%). In agreement with the above findings by using the same technique, we observed in a similar magnitude an improvement of serum protein oxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage/repair, and apoptosis.Conclusion: In conclusion, we demonstrated that kefir improves cognitive deficits, which seems to be linked with three important factors of the AD-systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and blood cell damage-and may be a promising adjuvant therapy against the AD progression.

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PMID: 

Microbiome. 2020 May 18 ;8(1):67. Epub 2020 May 18. PMID: 32423436

Abstract Title: 

Distinct actions of the fermented beverage kefir on host behaviour, immunity and microbiome gut-brain modules in the mouse.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Mounting evidence suggests a role for the gut microbiota in modulating brain physiology and behaviour, through bi-directional communication, along the gut-brain axis. As such, the gut microbiota represents a potential therapeutic target for influencing centrally mediated events and host behaviour. It is thus notable that the fermented milk beverage kefir has recently been shown to modulate the composition of the gut microbiota in mice. It is unclear whether kefirs have differential effects on microbiota-gut-brain axis and whether they can modulate host behaviour per se.METHODS: To address this, two distinct kefirs (Fr1 and UK4), or unfermented milk control, were administered to mice that underwent a battery of tests to characterise their behavioural phenotype. In addition, shotgun metagenomic sequencing of ileal, caecal and faecal matter was performed, as was faecal metabolome analysis. Finally, systemic immunity measures and gut serotonin levels were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed by ANOVA followed by Dunnett's post hoc test or Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Mann-Whitney U test.RESULTS: Fr1 ameliorated the stress-induced decrease in serotonergic signalling in the colon and reward-seeking behaviour in the saccharin preference test. On the other hand, UK4 decreased repetitive behaviour and ameliorated stress-induced deficits in reward-seeking behaviour. Furthermore, UK4 increased fear-dependent contextual memory, yet decreased milk gavage-induced improvements in long-term spatial learning. In the peripheral immune system, UK4 increased the prevalence of Treg cells and interleukin 10 levels, whereas Fr1 ameliorated the milk gavage stress-induced elevation in neutrophil levels and CXCL1 levels. Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that both kefirs significantly changed the composition and functional capacity of the host microbiota, where specific bacterial species were changed in a kefir-dependent manner. Furthermore, both kefirs increased the capacity of the gut microbiota to produce GABA, which was linked to an increased prevalence in Lactobacillus reuteri.CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, these data show that kefir can signal through the microbiota-gut-immune-brain axis and modulate host behaviour. In addition, different kefirs may direct the microbiota toward distinct immunological and behavioural modulatory effects. These results indicate that kefir can positively modulate specific aspects of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and support the broadening of the definition of psychobiotic to include kefir fermented foods. Video abstract.

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