ABSTRACT
It is well known that lactic acid bacteria supplementation is beneficial for intestinal conditions such as microbiota; however, the effects of killed-lactic acid bacteria on intestinal conditions are largely unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of heat-killed Lactobacillus kunkeei YB38 (YB38) at a dose of approximately 10 mg/day on human intestinal environment and bowel movement. This single-blind study enrolled 29 female subjects with a low defecation frequency who consumed heat-killed YB38 at four increasing dosage levels: 0 (placebo), 2, 10, and 50 mg. Each dose was consumed daily for two weeks, with a two-week baseline period preceding the dosing-period and a two-week washout period ending the study. Observed levels of Bacteroides fragilis group significantly decreased with intake of heat-killed YB38 at ≥10 mg/day compared with levels during placebo intake (P<0.01). Faecal pH significantly decreased with 10 and 50 mg/day intake (P<0.01 and 0.05, respectively). Acetic acid levels tended to increase in faeces at the 50 mg/day dose (P<0.1). Bowel movement tended to increase in all heat-killed YB38 intake periods (P<0.1). In conclusion, heat-killed YB38 altered human intestinal microbiota at doses of ≥10 mg/day and tended to increase bowel movement at ≥2 mg/day. This is the first study to show the intestinal microbiota-altering effect of L. kunkeei and to report the bowel movement-improving effect of heat-killed lactic acid bacteria.
Subject(s)
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects , Gastrointestinal Motility/drug effects , Intestines/microbiology , Intestines/physiology , Lactobacillus , Probiotics/administration & dosage , Acetic Acid/analysis , Adult , Bacterial Load , Bacteroides fragilis/isolation & purification , Feces/chemistry , Feces/microbiology , Female , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Placebos/administration & dosage , Single-Blind MethodABSTRACT
AIMS: To identify lactic acid bacterial isolates, which promote immunoglobulin A (IgA) production in honeybee products and honeybees (Apis mellifera). METHODS AND RESULTS: Pyrosequencing analysis of the microbiota of honeybee products and honeybees revealed the predominance of Lactobacillus kunkeei in honey, bee pollen, bee bread and royal jelly. Lactobacillus kunkeei was isolated from bee pollen, bee bread and honey stomach, and its effect on IgA production was evaluated in vitro. Heat-killed YB38 and YB83 isolates from bee pollen promoted IgA production in mouse Peyer's Patch cells and had little mitogenic activity or effect on IL-2 production in mouse spleen cells in comparison with Listeria monocytogenes, which does exhibit mitogen activity. A pilot study in 11 healthy adults showed that 4-week intake of 1000 mg day(-1) heat-killed YB38 increased secretory IgA (SIgA) concentrations and secretion in saliva with no adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Heat-killed Lact. kunkeei YB38 from bee pollen increases IgA production and may safely improve immune responsiveness. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first report of microbiota analysis of royal jelly and the immune efficacy of Lact. kunkeei from honeybee products in humans.
Subject(s)
Honey/microbiology , Immunoglobulin A/immunology , Lactobacillus/immunology , Lactobacillus/isolation & purification , Adult , Animals , Bees , Female , Honey/analysis , Humans , Interleukin-2/immunology , Lactobacillus/classification , Lactobacillus/genetics , Male , Mice , Microbiota , Middle Aged , Molecular Sequence Data , Pilot ProjectsABSTRACT
Polygonum tinctorium Lour. (P. tinctorium) is known to have the ability to suppress inflammation. We attempted to isolate the active compounds from P. tinctorium based on their inhibitory effects on the production of interferon-gamma, which is a well-known inflammatory cytokine. We thus isolated indirubin, an isomer of indigo. Indirubin exerted its inhibitory effects not only on interferon-gamma production by human myelomonocytic HBL-38 cells but also on interferon-gamma and interleukin-6 production by murine splenocytes with no influence on the proliferation of either cells. Because of its inhibitory activity on interferon-gamma production, we further investigated the effects of indirubin on 2,4, 6-trinitro-l-chlorobenzene (TNCB)-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity as a representative inflammatory reaction. When injected intraperitoneally, indirubin significantly inhibited the ear swelling of TNCB-elicited mice. The amount of interferon-gamma in the culture supernatants of elicited mouse lymphocytes was inhibited by indirubin treatment. These results suggest that indirubin is a compound with anti-inflammatory effects.
Subject(s)
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/pharmacology , Hypersensitivity, Delayed/prevention & control , Indoles/pharmacology , Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology , Animals , Humans , Hypersensitivity, Delayed/chemically induced , Hypersensitivity, Delayed/immunology , Immunoglobulin E/biosynthesis , Indigo Carmine , Interferon-gamma/metabolism , Interleukin-2/metabolism , Interleukin-4/metabolism , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Molecular Structure , Tumor Cells, Cultured/drug effectsABSTRACT
Brazilian propolis is known to induce the activation of murine effector cells. We isolated and identified six compounds from a water-soluble extract of Brazilian propolis, all of which have enhancing effects on the spreading and mobility of murine macrophages. These compounds were identified as caffeoylquinic acid-derivatives, namely, 5-caffeoylquinic acid (1), chlorogenic acid (2), 4-caffeoylquinic acid (3), 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (4), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (5) and 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (6).
