Assessment of probiotic, antifungal and cholesterol lowering properties of Pediococcus pentosaceus KCC-23 isolated from Italian ryegrass.

BACKGROUND: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are important for the processing of various food products. Although genetically modified organisms have contributed to improvements in various food products, there are some limitations. Thus, the discovery of wild strains from natural sources must be considered as the most suitable approach for identifying new LAB. Therefore, we planned to isolate and characterise the LAB from Italian ryegrass forage and evaluate their biological potential. RESULTS: A total of 28 strains were isolated and screened for their anti-fungal and probiotic properties. A single strain was selected due to its antifungal and probiotic efficiency. The strain was identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus KCC-23. The strain KCC-23 showed effective inhibition against Aspergillus fumigatus, Pencillium chrysogenum, Pencillium roqueforti, Botrytis elliptica and Fusarium oxysporum. Further, it survived low pH, and the presence of bile salts and gastric juice. It exhibited significant aggregation and hydrophobicity properties. The KCC-23 effectively assimilated cholesterol and had the ability to utilise pre-biotics such as raffinose and inulin. Finally, KCC-23 exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity. CONCLUSION: P. pentosaceus KCC-23 showed effective anti-fungal, probiotic and anti-oxidant properties and would be a promising isolate for exploitation in the formulation of food for ruminants and humans.

Probiotic Potential of Lactobacillus Strains with Antifungal Activity Isolated from Animal Manure.

The aim of the study was to isolate and characterize the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from animal manure. Among the thirty LAB strains, four strains, namely, KCC-25, KCC-26, KCC-27, and KCC-28, showed good cell growth and antifungal activity and were selected for further characterization. Biochemical and physiology properties of strains confirmed that the strains are related to the Lactobacillus sp.; further, the 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed 99.99% sequence similarity towards Lactobacillus plantarum. The strains exhibited susceptibility against commonly used antibiotics with negative hemolytic property. Strains KCC-25, KCC-26, KCC-27, and KCC-28 showed strong antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium roqueforti, Botrytis elliptica, and Fusarium oxysporum, respectively. Fermentation studies noted that the strains were able to produce significant amount of lactic, acetic, and succinic acids. Further, the production of extracellular proteolytic and glycolytic enzymes, survival under low pH, bile salts, and gastric juice together with positive bile salt hydrolase (Bsh) activity, cholesterol lowering, cell surface hydrophobicity, and aggregation properties were the strains advantages. Thus, KCC-25, KCC-26, KCC-27, and KCC-28 could have the survival ability in the harsh condition of the digestive system in the gastrointestinal tract. In conclusion, novel L. plantarum KCC-25, KCC-26, KCC-27, and KCC-28 could be considered as potential antimicrobial probiotic strains.

A proteomics approach to identify the differential protein level in cardiac muscle of diabetic rat.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular proteomics investigation reveals the characterization and elucidation of the novel therapeutic targets and strategies to prevent the development of heart failure associated diabetic complication by using 2DE and MS. METHODS: The experimental animals were made diabetic with a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg of bw). Albino rats were randomly divided into four individual groups: Group-I control (n=6), group-II alloxan-induced diabetic rats, untreated (n=6), group-III (n=6) and group-IV (n=6) alloxan-induced diabetic rats were treated with aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Cynodon dactylon for 15 days, respectively. Animals were euthanized to collect the heart tissues and blood samples. 2DE sample preparation, gel running and staining (n=6: each groups) were performed at the same time to avoid variation. The result of six gel images from each group were analyzed and evaluated as one match set with 2D software (P<0.05). RESULTS: The above experiment revealed two up-regulated proteins in group-II i.e. NTF4 and ETFB. CONCLUSIONS: NTF4 is a neuro-protective agent for neuro-degenerative diseases. It will prevent diabetic secondary complications, such as diabetic polyneuropathy and cardiomyopathy. ETFB is active in the mitochondria, the energy-producing centres in cells. It is clear from the experiment that because of up-regulation of ETFB more energy is availabile and the electron transfer for heart during diabetes is possible, what leads to reduce the oxidative stress and free-radical formation. The up-regulated proteins reduced CVD that occurred just before overt hyperglycaemia due to administration of C. dactylon. This approach established the preliminary reference map for decoding cellular mechanisms linked between pathogenesis CVD and diabetes.

Analysis of Modification of Liver Proteome in Diabetic Rats by 2D Electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF-MS.

The uncontrolled hyperglycemia can lead to disturbances in the cell structure and functions of organs. This study was performed to analyze the "differential proteome" change in rat liver associated with diabetes mellitus in relation to effects of an anti-diabetic herb, Cynodon dactylon leaf extracts. Rats were intraperitoneally injected with alloxan (150 mg/kg/bw) and treated with C. dactylon leaf extracts (450 mg/kg/bw/day/orally). The liver proteins were subjected to proteome analysis using the advanced technologies i.e., 2D electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry. Comparison of 2-DE protein distribution profiles among the livers from normal, alloxan-induced diabetic rats and alloxan-induced diabetic rats treated with C. dactylon leaves identified three proteins that were up-regulated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats i.e., nucleophosmin, l-xylulose reductase and carbonic anhydrase III which are known to be mainly involved in ribosome biogenesis, centrosome duplication, cell proliferation, tumor suppression, glucose metabolism, osmo-regulation, water-CO2 balance and acid-base balance. These results help us to understand the elucidation of molecular mechanism connected to liver function and insulin associated with diabetes mellitus. These identified proteins were primarily involved in cell proliferation and homoeostasis of liver tissues upon the treatment with C. dactylon leaf extracts.