Intestinal Juice Research Articles

Analysis of lactic acid bacteria species in Miang, a post-fermented tea in Thailand, and their potential use as probiotics.

Miang is one of the post-fermented teas made in Northern Thailand. Although lactic acid bacteria are involved in fermentation of Miang, details are still not clear. This study investigated the diversity of Lactobacillaceae bacteria, related to fermentation of Miang. Probiotic potential of isolated Lactobacillaceae bacteria was examined. Lactobacillaceae bacteria were isolated from 52 Miang samples collected from three provinces in northern Thailand and identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Hemolytic activity, antibiotic susceptibility, antimicrobial activity and tolerance to gastrointestinal juice were examined for probiotic potential of isolates. A total of 1,181 Lactobacillaceae bacteria strains were isolated from Miang. The most abundant isolates were Lactiplantibacillus pentosus. Besides Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Levilactobacillus brevis, Paucilactobacillus suebicus, Lacticaseibacillus pantheris, and Secundilactobacillus collinoides were also found with frequency. Of these isolates, 450 with a high score for MALDI-TOF identification were then screened for probiotic ability. Most isolates were resistant to aminoglycosides and clindamycin. Then, 35 isolates were tested for their antimicrobial activity against pathogens using the well diffusion method, and 31 isolates exhibited inhibition zones against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, S. enterica serovar Enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes, Propionibacterium acnes, and Streptococcus mutans. All 31 isolates were non-hemolytic and readily tolerated simulated gastric juice at pH 3 and simulated intestinal juice at pH 8. Miang contains lactic acid bacteria that could potentially be used as probiotics.

Complete Genome Sequence and Probiotic Characterization of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Indicus DC-3 Isolated from Traditional Indigenous Fermented Milk.

In this study, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. indicus DC-3 was isolated from Indian traditional indigenous fermented milk Dahi and identified using whole genome sequencing. The safety of the strain was evaluated using genetic and phenotypic analyses, such as the presence of virulence factors, mobile and insertion elements, plasmids, antibiotic resistance, etc. Besides this, the strain was comprehensively investigated for in vitro probiotic traits, biofilm formation, antibacterials, and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production. In results, the strain showed a single circular chromosome (3,145,837bp) with a GC content of 56.73%, a higher number of accessory and unique genes, an open pan-genome, and the absence of mobile and insertion elements, plasmids, virulence, and transmissible antibiotic resistance genes. The strain was capable of surviving in gastric juice (83% viability at 3h) and intestinal juice (71% viability at 6h) and showed 42.5% autoaggregation, adhesion to mucin, 8.7% adhesion to xylene, and 8.3% adhesion to Caco-2 cells. The γ-hemolytic nature, usual antibiotic susceptibility profile, and negative results for mucin and gelatin degradation ensure the safety of the strain. The strain produced 10.5g/L of D-lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, capable of inhibiting and co-aggregating Escherichia coli MTCC 1687, Proteus mirabilis MTCC 425, and Candida albicans ATCC 14,053. In addition, the strain showed 90mg/L EPS (48h) and biofilm formation. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that L. delbrueckii subsp. indicus DC-3 is unique and different than previously reported L. delbrueckii subsp. indicus strains and is a safe potential probiotic candidate.

Functional and physicochemical characterization of a novel pearl millet—Soy milk‐based synbiotic beverage

AbstractThis study presents the physicochemical and functional characterization of a novel fermented pearl millet–soy milk‐based synbiotic beverage. The synbiotic fermented pearl millet beverage was optimized at 40% pearl millet and 10.41% sugar, with hedonic score of more than eight for all the responses, through response surface methodology. The fermented synbiotic beverage, with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains exceeding 108 colony‐forming units/mL, exhibited superior nutritional and physicochemical qualities when compared with the unfermented counterpart. The viability percent of lactic acid bacteria in the developed beverage was found to be significantly high (87.83%). The survivability of probiotic culture was 76.71% in simulated gastric juice and 73.87% in simulated intestinal juice after sample storage for 25 days. The result showed that millets stand out as a promising raw material for developing fermented nondairy synbiotic beverages, particularly when combined with microbial strains such as L. plantarum.

Fabrication of millet starch nanocapsules loaded with beta carotene using acid hydrolysis and ultrasonication: Characterisation, release behaviour and bioactivity retention

The acid hydrolysis process was used to create novel millet starch-based nanoparticles from three different sources: sorghum, foxtail millet and pearl millet. An environment-friendly, risk-free ultrasonication technique was used for encapsulating beta carotene in starch nanoparticles to create nanocapsules that will shield the bioactivity of beta carotene in gastrointestinal conditions and increase its accessibility after consumption. Formulated nanocapsules were examined for zeta potential, particle size and encapsulation efficiency. The particle dimensions of beta carotene-loaded sorghum (SSB), foxtail millet (FSB), and pearl millet (PSB) starch nanoparticles were 416, 399 and 587 nm with zeta potential of −17.98, −19.03 and –22.31 mV respectively. Encapsulation efficiencies of nanocapsules were found to be 85.83, 89.65 and 78.32 % for SSB, FSB and PSB respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also harnessed as a confirmatory tests towards the presence of beta carotene in nanocapsules. Beta carotene encapsulation in starch nanoparticles was also demonstrated using ATR-FTIR which revealed broad characteristic peaks at 3000, 1086 and 885 cm−1 that occur without any discernible interaction. Intestinal juice with higher beta carotene content ensured controlled release in the intestine. Encapsulated beta carotene showed more bioactive properties in terms of antioxidant activity as compared to free beta carotene form

Development and evaluation of probiotic jam from watermelon rind with microencapsulated Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus casei

Watermelons are generally consumed fresh, but their rind is disposed of as waste. In the present study, jam variants of watermelon (cv. Sugar Baby) were prepared with rind and pulp. Jam variants were inoculated with chitosan-coated calcium alginate beads with prebiotic inulin microencapsulating probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus (ATCC 7469) and Lactobacillus casei (ATCC 393). Micro-encapsulated probiotics survived better in simulated intestinal juices than in gastric juices. During ninety days of storage, jam variants’ physicochemical, sensory and microbial properties were assessed. Micro-encapsulated probiotics had a non-significant effect on the physico-chemical characteristics of watermelon jam variants during storage. In the sensory analysis of watermelon jam variants, jam having 50% endocarp and 50% rind was most accepted. A probiotic count of 107 colony forming unit per gram was observed in the rind jam variant after ninety days of storage, and no coliform count was observed. Present work implies that a novel synbiotic (probiotic with prebiotic) jam could be prepared using watermelon rind.

In vivo absorption, in vitro digestion, and fecal fermentation properties of non-starch polysaccharides from Chinese chestnut kernels and their effects on human gut microbiota

Non-starch polysaccharides are major bioactive components in chestnuts, and can serve as water-soluble polysaccharides with potential prebiotic properties. This study aims to establish an in vitro digestion and fermentation model to reveal the digestive and fermentative characteristics of Non-starch polysaccharides from chestnut kernels (NSPCK). The results indicated that under simulated digestion, NSPCK was partially digested in gastric juice but remained significantly undigested in saliva and intestinal juice, demonstrating considerable resilience against hydrolysis. After digestion, NSPCK still exhibited stable rough, lamellar, and porous structure and maintained strong antioxidant capacity. Animal experiments revealed positive effects of NSPCK on blood lipid level, and colon tissue of mice. Moreover, NSPCK enhanced the accumulation of short-chain fatty acids during fermentation, particularly acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid. Furthermore, NSPCK intervention increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and at the same time reduced that of harmful bacteria such as Enterococcus.

Mitigation effects of plant carbon black on intestinal morphology, inflammation, antioxidant status, and microbiota in piglets challenged with deoxynivalenol.

Plant carbon black (PCB) is a new feed additive for zearalenone adsorption in China. However, information regarding whether PCB can effectively absorb deoxynivalenol (DON) is limited. To explore this research gap, the present study examined the adsorption effectiveness of DON by PCB using a phosphate buffer, artificial gastric juice, and artificial intestinal juice. In a 21-day in vivo trial, 48 male piglets were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: (1) uncontaminated basal diet (CTR), (2) basal diet supplemented with 1 mg/kg PCB(PCB), (3) 2.3 mg/kg DON-contaminated diet (DON), and (4) 2.3 mg/kg DON-contaminated diet supplemented with 0.1% PCB (DON+PCB). When DON concentration was 1 µg/mL, the adsorption rate of PCB on DON in phosphate buffer systems (pH 2.0 and 6.0) and the artificial gastric and intestinal juices were 100%, 100%, 71.46%, and 77.20%, respectively. In the in vivo trial, the DON group significantly increased the DON+deepoxy-deoxynivalenol (DOM-1) content in serum as well as the inflammation cytokine proteins (interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α) and mRNA expression of interleukin-6 and longchain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 in the jejunum and ileum. It decreased the villus height, goblet cells, mucosal thickness, and mRNA expression of Claudin-1 compared to the CTR group. In addition, DON decreased the Shannon and Simpson indices; reduced the relative abundances of Firmicutes, Lactobacillus, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, and Ruminococcus; and increased the relative abundances of Terrisporobacter and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 in the cecal content. In conclusion, these results suggest that PCB showed high adsorption efficacy on DON in vitro, and exhibit the protective effects against various intestinal toxicity manifestations in DON-challenged piglets.

Improvement in probiotic intestinal survival by electrospun milk fat globule membrane-pullulan nanofibers: Fabrication and structural characterization

Studies have demonstrated the protective effect of milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) on probiotics in harsh environments. However, currently, there are no reports on the encapsulation of probiotics using MFGM. In this study, MFGM and pullulan (PUL) polysaccharide fibers were prepared by electrostatic spinning and used to encapsulate probiotics, with whey protein isolates (WPI)/PUL as the control. The morphology, physical properties, mechanical properties, survival, and stability of the encapsulated Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) were studied. The results showed that the MFGM/PUL solution had significant effects on pH, viscosity, conductivity, and stability. Electrostatic spinning improved the mechanical properties and encapsulation ability of the polymer formed by MFGM/PUL. LGG encapsulated in MFGM/PUL nanofibers survived rate was higher than WPI/PUL nanofibers in mimic intestinal juice, which could be attributed to the phospholipid content contained in MFGM. These results demonstrate that MFGM is a promising material for probiotic encapsulation, providing an important basis for the potential use of MFGM/PUL nanofibers as a robust encapsulation matrix.

Evaluation of the probiotic, anti-microbial, anti-biofilm, and safety properties of Levilactobacillus brevis Lb13H

In this research, the probiotic potential, anti-microbial, anti-biofilm, and safety properties of Levilactobacillus brevis Lb13H were investigated. Also, Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) model was applied to predict some of experimental parameters. The strain demonstrated resistance to acidic pH, gastric and intestinal juices, and bile salts. Additionally, the strain exhibited 45.34% surface hydrophobicity, 36.55% auto-aggregation capacity, 26.30% co-aggregation, 10.20% adhesion to Caco-2 cells, 42.57% cholesterol removal, and 48.63% radical-scavenging properties. The probiotic strain was able to inhibit the adhesion of Listeria monocytogenes to intestinal cells by 31.30%, and its competitive inhibition percentage was 37.5%. Furthermore, the replacement of L. monocytogenes with the strain was measured at 22.10%. The most significant antimicrobial effect was observed against L. monocytogenes, while the least effect was noted against Rhizopus stolonifer. Haemolytic activity, DNase production, and biogenic amine production were not observed in the strain, which was also found to be sensitive to the antibiotics ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol. The cell-free supernatant of L. brevis Lb13H effectively inhibited and degraded biofilm formation by L. monocytogenes, achieving effectiveness rates of 40.80% and 36.60% respectively. The results of modeling indicated that there is not any difference between actual and predicted data and GPR can predict the variables with high accuracy.

Fermented Ananas comosus and Carica papaya harbour putative probiotic Limosilactobacillus fermentum and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strains with inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and α-amylase

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the condition represented by persistent hyperglycaemia, owing to the altered glucose metabolism. The current research aims to assess the capabilities of strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that were obtained from fermented Ananas comosus (A. comosus) and Carica papaya (C. papaya) (non-dairy sources) as probiotics for the prevention of DM. The capacity of the strains to endure or survive extreme conditions was evaluated using bile tolerance using oxgall at varying concentrations, hydrophobicity, coaggregation ability, adhesion ability, and hemolytic activity, and their survival rate in gastric and intestinal juices. The LAB strains demonstrated the following results: phenol (>7 Log CFU/mL), acid-bile conditions (6.53–7.11 Log CFU/mL), gastric and intestinal juice tolerance (6.18–7.33 Log CFU/mL), thereby fulfilling the requirements to be a prospective probiotic agent. The LAB strains showed characteristics of cell surface hydrophobicity (≥ 40 %), autoaggregation (≥ 70 %), and coaggregation (≤ 48 %). Furthermore, they demonstrated antioxidant activity (≥ 59 %) as well as the ability to lower blood sugar levels by inhibiting α-glucosidase (≤ 57 %) and α-amylase (≤ 64 %). The development of antidiabetic probiotics from fermented papaya and pineapple has several potential uses. These probiotics may be used as functional foods or supplements to improve glycemic control in individuals with DM. They may also be used as adjunct therapies to conventional diabetes treatments to enhance their efficacy. The results of this research may pave way for creating probiotic products that function as food additives or supplements, with the aim of enhancing health and preventing long-term illnesses like diabetes. Additionally, probiotics have been proven to boost intestinal health, regulate the immune system, and decrease inflammation.

Synthesis and characterization of Ketotifen Fumarate Intercalated Zn–Al Layered Double Hydroxides as sustained-release carriers

The present study seeks to synthesize, characterize, and sustain the release of properties of Ketotifen Fumarate Intercalated Zn–Al Layered Double Hydroxides (Zn-Al-KF-LDHs) by the chemical co-precipitation method. A variety of techniques were used to analyze the synthesized products, including Elemental Analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Thermogravimetry Differential Thermal Analysis (TG-DTA). The XRD patterns successfully highlighted the remarkable crystallinity of the typical hydrotalcite-like materials, Zn-Al-KF-LDHs. While the FT-IR analysis indicates the chemical functional groups and interlayer anions of Zn-Al-KF-LDHs, the elemental analysis determines the content of Zn, Al, S, C, H, and N. The TG-DTA results show that Zn-Al-KF-LDHs possess improved thermal stability. These findings provide an empirical understanding of the supramolecular structure of Zn-Al-KF-LDHs, enabling its comprehensive structural analysis. Additionally, the sustained-release properties of simulated gastric juice and intestinal juice, which followed the theoretical models of Higuchi and Riger-Peppas, indicated that the layered double hydroxides have potential applications as sustained-release carriers for ketotifen fumarate.

Assessing the probiotic potential and safety of newly isolated Bacillus coagulans VHBAX‐04: in vitro and in silico evaluations

SummaryThe human gastrointestinal tract hosts a diverse and intricate microbial community, a pivotal contributor to human well‐being. An effective strategy for exploring the diversity and potential probiotic attributes of Bacillus species is to isolate them from faecal samples. In this investigation, we scrutinised the in vitro probiotic characteristics of Bacillus coagulans VHBAX‐04, an isolate derived from human faeces. These attributes encompassed acid and gastric juice tolerance, resistance to bile salts and intestinal juice, adhesion capabilities, safety profile, antibiotic resistance pattern, the absence of toxin genes, and antimicrobial efficacy. Furthermore, we conducted in silico analyses to evaluate its probiotic potential. The notable absence of genes associated with mucin degradation, red blood cell lysis, gelatin hydrolysis, or toxin production in B. coagulans VHBAX‐04 certifies its safety as a probiotic. Additionally, the distinct antibiotic resistance pattern of strain VHBAX‐04 suggests its potential for co‐administration with antibiotics. In conclusion, this study underscores the suitability of B. coagulans VHBAX‐04 as a viable probiotic option. Isolation and Evaluation of Bacillus coagulans WBX04: A Probiotic Strain from Human Feces Studied through 16S rRNA Sequencing and In Vitro Tests.

Isolation of a surfactin-producing strain of Bacillus subtilis and evaluation of the probiotic potential and antioxidant activity of surfactin from fermented soybean meal.

Surfactin, usually produced by microbial metabolism, has many advantages including low toxicity, high biodegradability, and stability at extreme pH levels and temperatures, making it suitable for industry. However, its commercial production has not yet been achieved. A strain with a strong surfactin-producing ability was isolated and identified as Bacillus subtilis SOPC5, based on the appearance of colonies, microscopic observation, and 16S rDNA sequencing. The isolate exhibited significant tolerance to acid, bile, gastric, and intestinal juices, and was sufficiently susceptible to antibiotics. Bacillus subtilis SOPC5 showed high levels of auto-aggregation and surface hydrophobicity, and a strong capacity to secrete protease, amylase, and cellulase. The strainalso exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus 10 306 with a antibacterial circle diameter of 18.0 ± 1.1 mm. The maximal yield of surfactin (1.32 mg mL-1) was obtained by fermenting soybean meal (SBM) using the isolate under the following conditions: SBM 86 g L-1, inoculation 1.5 × 107 CFU mL-1, FeSO4 1.2 mg L-1, MnSO4 2.6 mg L-1, MgSO4 0.5 mg mL-1, L-Glu 4 mg L-1, temperature 33 °C, duration 120 h, and shaking at 210 rpm. The purity of surfactin was 97.42% as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The half inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for surfactin to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation (ABTS·+) were 1.275 ± 0.11 and 0.73 ± 0.08 mg mL-1, respectively. This study provides a scientific basis for the application of B. subtilis SOPC5 (as a potential probiotic) and the preparation of its metabolic product (surfactin). © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

The compounding effect of re-adsorptionon on bioaccessibility of methylmercury in rice-based infant cereals by vitro digestion assessment

Considerable levels of methylmercury (MeHg) have been found rice-based infant cereals as a result of MeHg transfer from the rice as a raw material to the products, hence consumption of rice products may pose a potential health risk to infants who may receive cereals as the major diets and are susceptible to toxicity of MeHg. Determination of bioaccessibility of MeHg would provide a more accurate assessment of MeHg exposure through consumption of rice-based cereals, yet this information remains lacking. Further, the re-adsorption of methylmercury on the residual food will affect the accurate assessment of its bioaccessibility. Our goals in this work were 1) to determine the bioaccessibility of MeHg in infant rice cereals commonly available on the market by using a typical in vitro artificial gastrointestinal digestion model and 2) to evaluate the effects of MeHg re-adsorption on the in vitro assessment of MeHg bioaccessibility. The determined bioaccessibility of MeHg in the studied rice cereals after the standard dual-step (using gastric followed by intestinal juice) protocol ranged from 25% to 74%, a wide range comparable to that of fish samples observed here and in previous studies. The surprisingly higher bioaccessibility of MeHg in fish and rice cereals after the gastric step only, in comparison to after the complete two-step gastrointestinal digestion, suggests the re-adsorption of MeHg on the residual food. Separate experiments with spiked MeHg standards confirmed that the MeHg released by the acetic gastric juice was re-adsorbed on the residues during the intestinal step at neutral pH. This study provided first-hand data on the bioaccessibility of MeHg in infant rice cereals and methodological implications on using in vitro digestion to evaluate the bioaccessibility of MeHg and metal contaminants in general.

Physicochemical properties and in vitro prebiotic activity of Ulva rigida polysaccharides

The physicochemical properties and prebiotic potential of polysaccharide extract from the green seaweed Ulva Rigida were explored. The UPS PII-1 fraction purified by DEAE-Sephacel and Sephacryl S-400 columns was identified as a high molecular weight heteropolysaccharide (1.63 × 103 kDa) composed of rhamnose, glucose, mannose, galactose, arabinose, and fructose. FTIR analysis showed typical absorption bands of the structure of ulvan polysaccharides. In vitro prebiotic studies revealed that U. rigida polysaccharides (UPS) were highly resistant to gastric and intestinal juice hydrolysis. UPS also enhanced the growth of probiotic bacteria including Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus as a potential source of prebiotics in functional food.

Novel Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains from Regional Peppers with Health-Promoting Potential

This study provides a comprehensive investigation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from Argentinean Capsicum annum L. This research covers important aspects, including genotypic characterization, bacterial stress tolerance, adhesion ability, safety evaluation, and functional and technological properties. The predominant isolates were identified as Lactilactobacillus curvatus and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. A Rep-PCR analysis grouped the isolates into 11 clonal groups. Lp. plantarum LVP 40 and LV 46, Levilactobacillus brevis LVP 41, Pediococcus pentosaceus LV P43, and Lt. curvatus LVP44 displayed both safety and resilience against adverse conditions such as a slow pH, bile, and simulated gastric and intestinal juices. Moreover, the LAB strains exhibited high hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation percentages, NaCl tolerance, and a substantial acidifying capacity. LAB supernatants demonstrated promising surfactant and emulsifying properties. Likewise, they differentially inhibited Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, showcasing their potential as antipathogenic agents. Noteworthily, some strains displayed considerable co-aggregation with these pathogens, and several isolates showed an effective antimutagenic and detoxifying power, further emphasizing their multifaceted capabilities. Five pepper bacterial strains showcased beneficial properties, suggesting their potential for gut health enhancement. In summary, these LAB strains hold promise as vegetable fermentation starters, contributing to food safety and versatile applications in food science.

Postbiotic properties of exopolysaccharide produced by Levilactobacillus brevis M-10 isolated from natural fermented sour porridge through in vitro simulated digestion and fermentation.

The simulated digestion and fermentation characteristics in vitro of exopolysaccharide (EPS) of Levilactobacillus brevis M-10 were studied to evaluate its postbiotic properties. The simulated digestion results showed that EPS could not be degraded in saliva but could be very slightly degraded in gastric juice and could be degraded in intestinal juice. The results of simulated fermentation demonstrated that EPS could lower the intestine pH and be utilized by gut microbes to produce short-chain fatty acids such as propionic acid and butyric acid. Meanwhile, EPS significantly raised the diversity of human gut microbiota, and the relative abundances of Phascolarctobacterium were significantly increased, whereas Fusobacterium and Morganella significantly decreased. In conclusion, EPS from L. brevis M-10 was a good postbiotic as inulin. This was the first report about EPS as the postbiotic of L. brevis M-10 screened from broomcorn millet sour porridge in northwestern Shanxi Province, China.

Effects of high voltage pulsed electric field on structural properties and immune reactivity of arginine kinase in Fenneropenaeus chinensis

To evaluate the effect of high voltage pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment (10–20 kV/cm, 5–15 min) on the structural characteristics and sensitization of crude extracts of arginine kinase from Fenneropenaeus chinensis. By simulated in vitro gastric juice digestion (SGF), intestinal juice digestion (SIF) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), AK sensitization was reduced by 42.5% when treated for 10 min at an electric field intensity of 15 kV/cm. After PEF treatment, the α-helix content decreased, and the α-helix content gradually changed to β-sheet and β-turn. Compared to the untreated group, the surface hydrophobicity increased and the sulfhydryl content decreased. SEM and AFM analyses showed that the treated sample surface formed a dense porous structure and increased roughness. The protein content, dielectric properties, and amino acid content of sample also changed significantly with the changes in the treatment conditions. Non-thermal PEF has potential applications in the development of hypoallergenic foods.

Optimization of Preparation Conditions for Quercetin Nanoliposomes Using Response Surface Methodology and Evaluation of Their Stability.

Quercetin is a flavonol compound with excellent biological activities. However, quercetin exhibits poor stability and solubility in water, which limits its application. In this study, quercetin nanoliposomes (QUE-NL-1) were prepared using an ultrasonic thin-film dispersion method, and the preparation conditions were optimized using response surface methodology. The optimal conditions for preparing QUE-NL-1 were as follows: an evaporation temperature of 35 °C, a drug concentration of 0.20 mg/mL, and a lipid bile ratio of 4:1. The encapsulation rate of QUE-NL-1 is (63.73 ± 2.09)%, the average particle size is 134.11 nm, and the average absolute value of the zeta potential is 37.50 and PDI = 0.24. By analyzing the storage temperature, storage time, and leakage rate of QUE-NL-1 in simulated gastrointestinal fluid, it was found that quercetin exhibits good stability after embedding and can achieve sustained release in intestinal juice. In addition, the cytotoxicity of QUE-NL-1 was not significant, and the survival rate of Caco-2 cells was >90% when the concentration range of QUE-NL-1 was 0.1-0.4 mg/mL. This study provides an efficient method for preparing QUE-NL-1 with small particle sizes, good stability, and high safety, which is of great significance for expanding the application range of quercetin.

Water-soluble microencapsulation using gum Arabic and skim milk enhances viability and efficacy of Pediococcus acidilactici probiotic strains for application in broiler chickens.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a water-soluble microencapsulation method for probiotic strains using gum Arabic (GA) and skim milk (SKM) over a three-month storage period following processing. Four strains of Pediococcus acidilactici (BYF26, BYF20, BF9, and BF14) that were typical lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from the chicken gut were mixed with different ratios of GA and SKM as coating agents before spray drying at an inlet temperature 140°C. After processing, the survivability and probiotic qualities of the strains were assessed from two weeks to three months of storage at varied temperatures, and de-encapsulation was performed to confirm the soluble properties. Finally, the antibacterial activity of the probiotics was assessed under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. As shown by scanning electron microscopy, spray-drying produced a spherical, white-yellow powder. The encapsulation efficacy (percent) was greatest for a coating containing a combination of 30% gum Arabic: 30% skim milk (w/v) (GA:SKM30) compared to lower concentrations of the two ingredients (p<0.05). Coating with GA:SKM30 (w/v) significantly enhanced (p<0.05) BYF26 survival under simulated gastrointestinal conditions (pH 2.5 to 3) and maintained higher survival rates compared to non-encapsulated cells under an artificial intestinal juices condition of pH 6. De-encapsulation tests indicated that the encapsulated powder dissolved in water while keeping viable cell counts within the effective range of 106 for 6 hours. In addition, following three months storage at 4°C, microencapsulation of BYF26 in GA:SKM30 maintained both the number of viable cells (p<0.05) and the preparation's antibacterial efficacy against pathogenic bacteria, specifically strains of Salmonella. Our prototype water-soluble probiotic microencapsulation GA:SKM30 effectively maintains LAB characteristics and survival rates, demonstrating its potential for use in preserving probiotic strains that can be used in chickens and potentially in other livestock.