Fermented Mare's Milk Research Articles

Food from Equids-Commercial Fermented Mare's Milk (Koumiss) Products: Protective Effects against Alcohol Intoxication.

Fermented mare's milk (koumiss), a traditional Central Asian dairy product derived from fermented mare's milk, is renowned for its unique sour taste and texture. It has long been consumed by nomadic tribes for its nutritional and medicinal benefits. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the protective effects of koumiss against alcohol-induced harm across behavioral, hematological, gastrointestinal, hepatic, and reproductive dimensions using a mouse model. Optimal intoxicating doses of alcohol and koumiss doses were determined, and their effects were explored through sleep tests and blood indicator measurements. Pretreatment with koumiss delayed inebriation, accelerated sobering, and reduced mortality in mice, mitigating alcohol's impact on blood ethanol levels and various physiological parameters. Histopathological and molecular analyses further confirmed koumiss's protective role against alcohol-induced damage in the liver, stomach, small intestine, and reproductive system. Transcriptomic studies on reproductive damage indicated that koumiss exerts its benefits by influencing mitochondrial and ribosomal functions and also shows promise in mitigating alcohol's effects on the reproductive system. In summary, koumiss emerges as a potential natural agent for protection against alcohol-induced harm, opening avenues for future research in this field.

Total Microbiological and Chemical Quality of Dry Fermented Mare’s Milk Sumbawa Using Gum Arabic (Acacia senegal) as Encapsulating Agent

Dry fermented mare's milk Sumbawa by applying gum arabic (Acacia senegal) as an encapsulant agent and can improve the functionality of protein peptides to avoid their damage during process of making milk powder and can be fully absorbed by the body. This study aimed to improve the level and quality of dry fermented mare's milk Sumbawa by applying gum arabic (Acacia senegal) as an encapsulant agent by a vacuum foam drying oven method. The method used in this research was a laboratory experimental using a completely randomized design consisting of 5 treatments and 4 replications, which is T1 (20% with encapsulation gum arabic), T2 (24% with encapsulation gum arabic), T3 (28% with encapsulation gum arabic), and T4 (32% with encapsulation gum arabic). The difference in the concentration ratio of encapsulation gum arabic in dry fermented mare’s milk Sumbawa gave a very significant difference (P<0.01) in total plate count (T4 : 6.09 x 105 CFU/ml), potential of hydrogen (T4 : 4.60), total titration lactic acid (T4 : 1.27%), and total protein (3.72%). This analysis has shown that encapsulation can be achieved by adding gum arabic to the preparation of dry fermented mare’s milk Sumbawa.

Metagenetic analysis of the bacterial diversity of Kazakh koumiss and assessment of its anti-Candida albicans activity.

Koumiss, a five-thousand-year-old fermented mare's milk beverage, is widely recognized for its beneficial nutrient and medicinal properties. The microbiota of Chinese and Mongolian koumiss have been largely characterized in recent years, but little is known concerning Kazakh koumiss despite this drink historically originates from the modern Kazakhstan territory. In addition, while koumiss is regarded as a drink with therapeutic potential, there are also no data on koumiss anti-Candida activity. In this context, the aims of the present study were to investigate the bacterial diversity and anti-Candida albicans activity of homemade Kazakh koumiss samples as well as fermented whey and cow's milk, derived from koumiss and propagated for several months. Koumiss bacterial communities were largely dominated by lactic acid bacteria including Lactobacillus sensu lato spp. (69% of total reads), Streptococcus (8.0%) and Lactococcus (6.1%), while other subdominant genera included Acetobacter (2.6%), Enterobacter (2.4%), and Klebsiella (1.5%). Several but not all koumiss samples as well as fermented whey and cow's milk showed antagonistic activities towards C. albicans. Linear discriminant effect size (LEfSe) analysis showed that their bacterial communities were characterized by a significantly higher abundance of amplicon sequence variants (ASV) belonging to the genus Acetobacter. In conclusion, this study allowed to identify the key microorganisms of Kazakh koumiss and provided new information on the possible underestimated contribution of acetic acid bacteria to its probiotic properties.

Fermented Mare Milk and Its Microorganisms for Human Consumption and Health

Mare milk is consumed by approximatively 30 million people in the world. In countries in Asia and East Europe, mare milk is mainly consumed as source of fermented products, called koumiss, airag or chigee, alcoholic beverages obtained by means of a culture of bacteria and lactose-fermenting yeasts. Recent research concerning mare milk and its derivatives deals mainly with their potential employment for human health. Studies about the isolation and characterization of Lactobacillus spp. and yeasts from koumiss have been aimed at assessing the potential functional properties of these micro-organisms and to find their employment for the industrial processing of mare milk. The aim of this literature review is to summarize recent research about microorganisms in fermented mare milk products and their potential functional properties.

Analysis of the Influence of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Strains on Changes in the Hexachlorobenzene Content in Fermented Mare Milk during Refrigerated Storage.

(1) Background: Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is a persistent organic pollutant that is possibly carcinogenic to humans. It is still found in the environment, humans and animals, and in foods, including milk and dairy products; (2) Methods: The influence of the probiotic cultures Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LCR and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum LP on the possibility of effecting the biodegradation of HCB in dairy products fermented from mare milk was investigated, taking into account the product storage time (maximum 21 days). HCB content was determined using the GC/MS method; (3) Results: A strong negative Pearson correlation (p < 0.05) was found between HCB concentration and the refrigeration storage time of the fermented beverages. The highest HCB reduction was observed in milk fermented with both Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LCR and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum LP (78.77%), while the lowest was noted when only Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum LP was used (73.79%); (4) Conclusions: This pilot study confirmed that probiotics commonly used to give products health-promoting properties can also contribute to reducing the content of undesirable substances, and the bacterial cultures used might provide an alternative method for reducing HCB residues in fermented drinks.

Provincializing histories of missions through food : friars and the consumption of kumiss in the Mongol empire

The article focuses on the question of the consumption of kumiss, a drink made from fermented mare's milk, among the various religious groups coexisting in the medieval Mongol empire. Inspired by Actor-Network Theory (B. Latour) and the project of provincializing Europe (D. Chakrabarthy), the article provides a comparative contextual analysis of medieval sources, including accounts of the Franciscan friars John of Plano Carpini and William of Rubruck, and other relevant sources relating to the history of the principalities of Rus', communities of Syriac and Armenian Christians, and the Mongols. It sheds light on the role of kumiss as a natural, cultural, and religious agent, which provoked diverse attitudes among the different religious groups and revealed their interdenominational and interreligious dynamics. Comparing the various, often contrasting attitudes towards kumiss consumption enables us to better understand the missionary situation of the Franciscan friars and also reveal the practical challenges and problems facing medieval Christian missions in the Mongol empire.

Correlation analysis between microbial diversity and physicochemical indices of Koumiss

This study examined the influence of change in microbial flora during fermentation on the quality of Koumiss. The microbial diversity of Koumiss samples was analyzed at different fermentation periods using high-throughput sequencing. Also, the physiochemical (protein, fat, ash, moisture, lactose, soluble solids, and energy) and functional (antioxidant activity, cholesterol removal ability, and bacteriostatic ability) indices were estimated. Finally, a correlation analysis was made between the change in microbial flora structure and physicochemical and functional indices. The dominant bacteria phylum was Firmicutes, and the dominant bacteria genus was Lactobacillus. In the early stage of fermentation, the dominant bacteria phylum of fresh mare milk was Actinobacteria, while the dominant bacteria genus was Rothia. Concerning fungal community structure, the dominant phylum was Ascomycota, and the dominant genus was Dekkera. In the early stage of fermentation too, the dominant fungal phylum was Ascomycota, but the dominant genus was Candida. The lactose and energy contents of fresh mare milk were higher, which was consistent with other physiochemical indices. After fermentation, the contents of lactose, soluble solids, and energy decreased, and the contents of protein and fat fluctuated. The functional characteristics of fermented mare milk are remarkable. Besides, it has a strong antibacterial ability. The bacteria that positively correlated with lactose, soluble solids, and energy were Rothia, Streptococcus, Enhydrobacter, and Macrococcus (p<0.05). Also, DPPH hydroxyl free radical capacity and reducing power positively correlated with Pichia (p < 0.05); Hydroxyl radical scavenging ability positively correlated with Yarrowia and Dipodascus (p < 0.05); Energy and lactose negatively correlated with Yarrowia and Dipodascus (p < 0.05).

Growth and Metabolism of Lacticaseibacillus casei and Lactobacillus kefiri Isolated from Qymyz, a Traditional Fermented Central Asian Beverage

The growth characteristics of two strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Lacticaseibacillus casei and Lactobacillus kefiri, isolated from qymyz, a traditional fermented mare milk beverage, were studied and modeled, including the effect of different carbohydrates, pH, and temperature. Along with population, substrates, and metabolites, lactic acid and ethanol were monitored by HPLC. Growth parameters were obtained from mono- and biphasic logistic growth models that fit the population evolution of L. casei and L. kefiri, respectively. The effect of temperature and pH on the growth rate was represented with the gamma concept model, while the effect of the limiting substrate was evaluated according to the Monod equation. Lastly, a simplified Luedeking and Piret equation was used to represent metabolite production. The optimum values of pH and temperature were 6.69 ± 0.20, 38.63 ± 0.32 °C, 5.93 ± 0.08, and 33.15 ± 0.53 °C, with growth rate values of 0.66 ± 0.01 h−1 and 0.29 ± 0.01 h−1 for L. casei and L. kefiri, respectively. L. casei had a homofermentative pathway, while L. kefiri was heterofermentative, with an ethanol production rate of 2.90 × 10−9 mg·CFU−1. The Monod model showed that L. casei had the lowest Ks value for lactose, while for L. kefiri, it was the highest among milk carbohydrates. These results show that the population of the two LAB strains and therefore the concentrations of acid and ethanol can be controlled by the fermentation conditions and that our model can help to significantly improve the production of qymyz.

Steppes to Health: How the Climate-Kumys Cure Shaped a New Steppe Imaginary

This paper examines the rise of the “climate-kumys cure” in late imperial Russia and how it shaped perceptions of the steppes as a “curative place.” By positing that kumys (fermented mare's milk), a traditional food produced by steppe nomads, interacted with unique qualities of the steppe climate—including aromatic air, abundant sunshine, cool forest groves, rich feathergrasses, and brilliant wildflowers—to cure tuberculosis patients of their symptoms, the climate-kumys cure produced an imaginary of the steppes that contrasted with traditional Russian views of the steppes as barren, monotonous, and even dangerous. Knowledge about the steppe climate produced by proponents of the climate-kumys cure harmonized with Soviet medical professionals’ ideas about forging workers’ bodies and restoring their minds. An understanding of the steppes as healthy, however, did not stop the spread of disease, nor did it lead to preservation. Even as the climate-kumys cure rose in popularity, the steppes that had given rise to kumys were vanishing.

Koumiss promotes Mycobacterium bovis infection by disturbing intestinal flora and inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Mycobacterium bovis is the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis and also responsible for serious threat to public health. Koumiss is a fermented mare's milk product, used as traditional drink. Here, we explored the effect of koumiss on gut microbiota and the host immune response against M bovis infection. Therefore, mice were treated with koumiss and fresh mare milk for 14days before M bovis infection and continue for 5weeks after infection. The results showed a clear change in the intestinal flora of mice treated with koumiss, and the lungs of mice treated with koumiss showed severe edema, inflammatory infiltration, and pulmonary nodules in M bovis-infected mice. Notably, we found that the content of short-chain fatty acids was significantly lower in the koumiss-treated group compared with the control group. However, the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis-related proteins in the lungs of koumiss-treated mice were significantly decreased. Collectively, these findings suggest that koumiss treatment disturb the intestinal flora of, which is associated with disease severity and the possible mechanism that induces lungs pathology. Our current findings can be exploited further to establish the "gut-lung" axis which might be a novel strategy for the control of tuberculosis.

Bacterial composition and function during fermentation of Mongolia koumiss.

Koumiss is a fermented mare's milk beverage that has attracted increasing attention due to its nutritional richness and important economic value. Bacteria in koumiss play a major role in pH decreasing and reducing spoilage through bacterial inhibition. The dynamic changes in nutritional content were determined firstly during fermentation, and then the metagenomics sequencing technology was applied to profile koumiss core microbiota at the species level. We also clarified the function and effect of the bacteria on the nutritional content of the final product. We also investigated active microbial function by comparing the metagenomics of representative samples collected at different time points during the fermentation process. This study dynamically revealed the bacterial composition and function of traditional koumiss during its making process. Twenty‐three major functional categories related to amino acid and fat synthesis, metabolism, and so on were identified. Functional category L (represented replication‐, recombination‐, and repair‐related functions) was one of the most important categories with the highest relative abundance in all of the 23 major functional categories. CoG category having a significant correlation with Lactococcus piscium was the most abundant. The change in metabolic activity of bacteria at different fermentation time points showed that the metabolic activity was more active in the first 24 hr and then began to stabilize. LAB play the major role in the koumiss pH decreasing and quality improvement. The functional genes of related metabolic activity of lactic acid bacteria were more active in the first 24 hr of koumiss fermentation and then began to stabilize.

Isolation and identification of microorganisms in Kazakhstan koumiss and their application in preparing cow-milk koumiss

Koumiss is a type of famous fermented mare milk and considered an important nutritious beverage in central Asian countries. However, the production of koumiss cannot meet public demand in the market due to availability of mare milk. In the present study, 52 lactic acid bacteria and 20 yeast strains from traditional homemade Kazakhstan koumiss were isolated and identified. The isolates were used in a trial that included fermented cow milk, and the flavor profiles, color, and taste to determine their contribution in the co-fermentation of cow milk. Based on the sensory evaluation, KZLAB13 and KZY10 strains were selected as the best cofermentation combinations. The optimal fermentation conditions were confirmed as the ratio of the starter culture 2.4:1.6 % (vol/vol) KZLAB13 strain to KZY10 strain and a temperature of 36°C for 16 h using response surface methodology. After evaluating the quality of the optimized cow-milk koumiss compared with the Kazakhstan koumiss, results suggested that cow milk fermented by these 2 strains possessed a promising taste, flavor, and physicochemical and rheological properties. Altogether, our results showed that cow milk fermented with a combination of KZLAB13 and KZY10 strains can simulate the taste, flavor, and quality of traditional koumiss. Our study provided a novel alternative to mare-milk koumiss and could be used in dairy programs to fulfill the needs of people.

Biotransformation of Major Ginsenoside Rb1 to Rd by Dekkera anomala YAE-1 from Mongolian Fermented Milk (Airag).

Dekkera anomala YAE-1 strain separated from "airag" (Mongolian fermented mare's milk) produces β-glucosidase, which can convert ginsenoside Rb1 from Panax ginseng. Ginseng-derived bioactive components such as ginsenoside Rb1 have various immunological and anticancer activities. Airag was collected from five different mare milk farms located near Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. YAE-1 strains were isolated from airag to examine the hydrolytic activities of β-glucosidase on Korean Panax ginseng using an API ZYM kit. Supernatants of selected cultures having β-glucosidase activity were examined for hydrolysis of the major ginsenoside Rb1 at 40°C, pH 5.0. The YAE-1 strain was found to be nearly identical at 99.9% homology with Dekkera anomala DB-7B, and was thus named Dekkera anomala YAE-1. This strain exerted higher β-glucosidase activity than other enzymes. Reaction mixtures from Dekkera anomala YAE-1 showed great capacity for converting ginsenoside Rb1 to ginsenoside Rd. The β-glucosidase produced by Dekkera anomala YAE-1 was able to hydrolyze ginsenoside Rb1 and convert it to Rd during fermentation of the ginseng. The amount of ginsenoside Rd was highly increased from 0 to 1.404 mg/ml in fermented 20% ginseng root at 7 days.

Single molecule, real-time sequencing technology improves the sensitivity for detecting bacteria in koumiss, a traditional fermented mare milk product

Single molecule, real-time sequencing technology improves the sensitivity for detecting bacteria in koumiss, a traditional fermented mare milk product

ОТБОР АНТАГОНИСТИЧЕСКИ АКТИВНЫХ ШТАММОВ МОЛОЧНОКИСЛЫХ БАКТЕРИЙ ИЗ МОЛОКА РАЗЛИЧНЫХ ВИДОВ ЖИВОТНЫХ

Dairy products make up the bulk of functional fermented foods with a wide range of health benefits. One of the beneficial effects of fermented products is the ability of bacteria used as starter cultures to suppress pathogens and food spoilage microorganisms. Milk of various animal species is noted in the scientific literature as a valuable source for the isolation of new types of microorganisms. We selected 28 isolates of biotechnologically valuable lactic acid bacteria from raw mare, camel and goat milk. The antagonistic activity of isolates from raw milk of various animal species and fermented mare's milk (koumiss) in relation to a number of bacterial test cultures was studied. A wide spectrum of antibacterial activity of isolates from koumiss against Escherichia coli, Sarcina flava, S. flava T, Salmonella dublin, Mycobacterium citreum, M. rubrum, I Tsenkovsky vaccine was shown. Molecular genetic identification of 12 selected microorganisms was carried out. Antagonistically active lactic acid bacteria of koumiss are defined as L. paracasei, L. fermentum, L. rhamnosus and L. diolivorans. Selected microorganisms will be used to create starter cultures for table and preventive beveragess and products with directed action. Key words: koumiss, lactic acid bacteria, antagonism, antibacterial activity, molecular genetic identification.

Production technology, nutritional, and microbiological investigation of traditionally fermented mare milk (Chigee) from Xilin Gol in China.

Mare milk originated from female horses, known as mares, to feed their foals during lactation. The health‐promoting characteristics of traditionally fermented mare milk (Chigee) are well known for the function of clinic treatment in the traditional Mongolian medicine. This study was conducted to investigate the production technology of Chigee and to evaluate the nutritional and microbiological characteristics of mare milk and Chigee based on 188 samples. The nutritional analysis of mare milk and Chigee indicated that lactose significantly decreased from 6.95 ± 0.45% to 2.82 ± 1.65% and acidity and alcoholic content significantly increased to 136.72 ± 57.88°T and 1.22 ± 0.7%, respectively, after spontaneous fermentation of mare milk. The microbiological analysis of Chigee showed that the total lactic acid bacteria (LAB) count varied from 5.32 to 8.56 log cfu/ml and total yeast count varied from 2.41 to 6.98 log cfu/ml. Moreover, the acidity of Chigee rose with the increase in LAB count within limits, and high acidity (≥178°T) inhibited the growth of coliforms. These findings provide an understanding of traditional production technology, nutrition, and microbiology that is fundamental for establishing the food standard of Chigee in China and will contribute to standardize the fermentation process for the industrial production of Chigee in the future.

Biodiversity of lactic acid bacteria isolated from fermented milk products in Xinjiang, China

ABSTRACTFermented dairy products have been produced and consumed for thousands of years in Xinjiang, China. In this study, traditional culture-dependent methods and 16S rRNA gene analyses were performed to analyze the composition of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from 86 samples of traditional fermented dairy products collected from four regions of Xinjiang. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to quantify Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species. The LAB isolates (N = 705) were identified as belonging to seven genera and 26 species or subspecies. The predominant species of all isolates were Lactobacillus (Lb.) delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lb. fermentum, and Lb. helveticus. The LAB counts of these samples ranged from 5.35 to 10.06 Log CFU/mL. The bacterial counts of seven lactobacilli species and Bifidobacterium ranged from 0.98 ± 0.14 Log CFU/mL (for Lb. sakei from fermented mare milk) to 9.91 ± 0.17 Log CFU/mL (for Lb. helveticus from fermented mare milk). While the microbiota was significantly different between yak and cow milk, there was no significant difference between the Tex and Zhaosu counties. In conclusion, LAB communities in traditional fermented dairy products are complex and differ among local regions within Xinjiang.

Diversity of lactic acid bacteria isolated from fermented mare’s milk products based on PCR-RFLP analysis

This study aimed to characterize the diversity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from fermented mare’s milk based on PCR-RFLP. The LAB was isolated from three fermented mare’s milk products from three different regions i.e Dompu, Bima, and Sumbawa, Province of West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Fermented milk samples (25 mL) was diluted into 225 mL of saline solution and spread plated onto MRS and M17 agar containing 1 % CaCO3, then incubated at 37 ºC for 48 hours. Single colonies showing a clear zone were randomly selected and purified. The DNA was extracted by the heat-treatment method and amplified using an internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 5.8S region spacer primers. The amplicons of the 5.8S region spacer were used for restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis using HaeIII and HindIII enzymes. The DNA bands were characterized to obtain the LAB clusters. The representative of each LAB cluster was amplified using 16S rDNA primer then sequenced. Total of 41 isolates was grouped into 10 clusters based on the PCR-RFLP analysis. However, only three clusters were identified as LAB from Lactobacillus genus. The Lactobacillus species obtained were L. plantarum and two strains of L. rhamnosus. Four clusters were identified as Staphylococcus genus and three others were Ochrobactrum genus. Thus, the LAB isolates from fermented mare milk obtained were the member of Lactobacillus genus. However, the Gram-negative bacteria and Staphylococcus were still found in the fermented products indicating the poor quality of the products. Therefore, a good manufacturing practice should be implemented during the product preparation.

Volatile organic compounds profile of Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus thermophilus in fermented mare milk of Kazakhstan

Fermented milk is a common beverage in many countries, but its flavor is highly variable from one region to another. The fermented mare milk, common beverage in Central Asia, has a typical flavor of koumiss, but those flavors were never described using aroma compound determination. In the present study, six lactic acid bacteria were identified in local koumiss. Due to the apparent technological advantage of Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus thermophilus (notably their acidification speed), the main objective of this study was to compare their volatile compound profiles. 35 aromatic compounds were detected. To compare the aroma profiles of each strain, the ratio proportion strain/control was calculated for each strain and for each aroma showing significantly different profiles with predominance of 2-methyl-1-propanol and 2-undecanol in milk fermented with L. casei, and of 2,3-pentanedione in milk fermented with S. thermophilus. L. casei strain produced more aroma and its profile was significantly (P>0.03) different from S. thermophilus profile.

Volatile organic compounds profiles in milk fermented by lactic bacteria

The organoleptic properties of traditional dairy beverages done with non-conventional dairy species (horse, camel), popular in Central Asia, were rarely described in the literature. To characterize the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) profile of fermented mare milk, 12 samples of cow milk, used as matrix were inoculated by different strains from two types of bacteria (bacilli and cocci) isolated from natural fermented mare milk. The analysis performed by Gas Chromatography coupled with Solid-Phase Micro-Extraction allowed identification of 160 different compounds from the 12 strains, and 90 from natural fermented mare milk. After cluster analysis, 3 types of profiles were observed. Those profiles were distinct by the amount of acid compounds (low, medium, high), negatively related to aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. The analysis of the mean volatile compound profile of each type of bacteria (bacilli and cocci) by factorial discriminant analysis showed that 3 molecules (oxime-methoxy-phenyl, propanedioic acid propyl and 2-propanamine) allowed to well class 100% of the samples. Further researches on bacterial identification and experiments with different fermentation matrices from other dairy species will be conducted.