Abstract
The market contains only limited health care products that combine prebiotics and probiotics. In this study, we developed a seaweed-based Gracilaria coronopifolia synbiotic and verified the efficacy by small intestinal cells (Caco-2). We also developed a functional material that promotes intestinal health and prevents intestinal inflammation. G. coronopifolia was used as a red seaweed prebiotic, and Bifidobacterium bifidums, B. longum subsp. infantis, B. longum subsp. longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus were mixed for the seaweed’s synbiotics. G. coronopifolia synbiotics were nontoxic to Caco-2 cells, and the survival rate was 101% to 117% for a multiplicative effect on cell survival. After cells were induced by H2O2, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased to 151.5%, but after G. coronopifolia synbiotic treatment, decreased to a range between 101.8% and 109.6%. After cells were induced by tumor necrosis factor α, the ROS levels increased to 124.5%, but decreased to 57.7% with G. coronopifolia symbiotic treatment. G. coronopifolia synbiotics could effectively inhibit the production of ROS intestinal cells under oxidative stress (induced by H2O2 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)), which can reduce the damage of cells under oxidative stress. Functioning of intestinal cells could be improved by inhibiting the production of inflammatory factor substances (interleukin 8) with G. coronopifolia symbiotic treatment. Also, gastrointestinal diseases may be retarded by a synbiotic developed from G. coronopifolia to promote intestinal health and prevent intestinal inflammation.
Highlights
Seaweed has played an important role in traditional remedies for many centuries for treating hyperthyroidism and other glandular diseases
The number of bacteria of probiotic products containing live bacteria needs to be ≥106 cfu/g to exert their activity; 106 cfu/g is used as a screening condition for storage [31]
With storage temperature 4 ◦ C for G. coronopifolia synbiotics for 60 days, the number of bacteria remained at 109 cfu/g (Figure 2a); after storage at −20 ◦ C for 60 days, the number of bacteria was still maintained at 106 –108 cfu/g for GS3 and GS1 synbiotics (Figure 2b)
Summary
Seaweed has played an important role in traditional remedies for many centuries for treating hyperthyroidism and other glandular diseases. Recent studies show that algae have compounds with cytostatic, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial activities [1,2,3]. Gracilaria coronopifolia (G. coronopifolia), belonging to the family Gracilariaceae, is one of the most common types of eatable endemic Hawaiian marine red seaweed [4]. G. coronopifolia is often red but may turn to pink or reddish white under bright sunlight. The species has salt tolerance ability due to the cytoplasm, which will adjust the osmolarity automatically to accomplish the osmolarity of the sea environment.
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