José Maurício Schneedorf

Anti-inflammatory properties of kefir and its polysaccharide extract

Kefir is a fermented beverage originating form the Caucasian regions composed of a number of bacteria and yeasts living together in polysaccharide grains secreted by them. Kefir can be considered a probiotic source as it presents anti-bacterial, anti-mycotic, anti-neoplasic and immunomodulatory properties. Aiming to appraise a possible anti-inflammatory effect of kefir we conducted cotton-induced granuloma and paw oedema assays in rats, the latter using carrageenan, dextran and histamine as stimuli. Kefir samples were thawed and continuously cultured during 15 days both in a molasses solution (50 g/l) and in cow’s milk. A polysaccharide extract isolated from the grains (kefiran) was also tested in cotton-pellet experiments. The results showed significant inhibition in the formation of granuloma tissue for all the test groups, as compared to the blank group. Kefir suspensions in molasses presented an inhibition of 41 ± 3% for the inflammatory process, fermented milk prepared from kefir showed 44 ± 6% inhibition and kefiran extract 34 ± 15%. Rat paw oedema also showed significant decreases with the mediators. Dextran-induced oedema was completely inhibited at 1 h after input, with a 76% inhibition after 2 h. Carrageenan stimulus was inhibited 62% after the 3rd hour, and histamine by 52% after the 2nd hour. These results points to the existence of anti-inflammatory prebiotic compounds present in symbiotic cultures of kefir growing in both aqueous and milky suspensions.

Bacteriostatic effect of copaiba oil (Copaifera officinalis) against Streptococcus mutans

This study evaluated the inhibitory activity of copaiba oil (Copaifera officinalis against the cariogenic microorganism, Streptococcus mutans. For such purpose, a minimum inhibition concentration test of copaiba oil against S. mutans was performed, using the serial dilution in broth technique, with a negative control, a positive control (0.12% chlorhexidine) and a 10% copaíba oil solution as a test. A minimum bactericidal concentration test with tubes presenting microbial inhibition was also conduced. In the minimum inhibitory concentration test, copaiba oil showed inhibition of bacterial growth at all concentrations tested up to 0.78 µL/mL of the 10% copaiba oil solution in the broth. In addition, the negative control had no inhibition, and the 0.12% chlorhexidine solution was effective up to 6.25 µL/mL in the broth. Copaiba oil showed a bacteriostatic activity against S. mutans at low concentrations, and could be a an option of phytotherapic agent to be used against cariogenic bacteria in the prevention of caries disease.

Cicatrizing and antimicrobial properties of an ozonised oil from sunflower seeds.

The ozonised sunflower oil, Bioperoxoil®, was tested for its antimicrobial activity against some pathological strains in vitro together with its healing potential against Staphylococcus aureus in vivo. Bioperoxoil® was tested against S. aureus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Candida albicans, S. typhimurium and Escherichia coli suspensions using the agar diffusion method. Healing experiments were carried out with Wistar rats through topical application of 3.5 mg/ml of the ozonised oil up to the 7th day after inoculation with S. aureus. Bioperoxoil® showed anti-inflammatory effects against all strains tested, with MIC values ranging from 2.0 to 3.5 mg/ml. Bioperoxoil® also demonstrated protective effects on skin connective tissue and to enhance wound healing during the treatment, as compared to a neomycin–clostebol association used as a positive control. The overall results indicated a significant antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties for Bioperoxoil®, as compared to other antimicrobial agents commercially available.

Microbial profile of a kefir sample preparations - grains in natura and lyophilized and fermented suspension

Probiotics are supplementary foods developed by microbial strains that improve animal health beyond basic nutrition. Probiotics are consumed orally, regardless of being considered as normal inhabitants of the intestines, able to survive in enzimatic and biliary secretions. Kefir is a probiotic originated from the old continent, fermented by several bacteria and yeasts, encapsulated in a polyssacharide matrix, and resembles jelly grains. Kefir is also presented as its sourish product both in sugary or milky suspensions containing vitamins, aminoacids, peptides, carbohydrates, ethanol, and volatile compounds. Kefir is known to have a diverse microbial content depending on the country and fermentative substrates, which cause distinct probiotic effects. In this sense, the purpose of this work was to isolate, identify, and quantify the microbial content of a native sugary kefir sample (fermented suspension and lyophilized natural grains). Serial dilutions were plated on Rogosa agar (AR) and De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS), for Lactobacillus; Brain Heart Infusion (BHI), for total bacteria; Sabouraud-Dextrose-Agar (SDA), for yeasts and filamentous fungi; Thioglycolate Agar (TA), for Streptococcus, Acetobacteria and Leuconostoc; and Coconut Water Agar (CWA), and CWA supplemented with yeast extract (CWAY), for various genera. Genera and species for all strains were identified through biochemical reactions and specific API systems. The microbial profile of kefir was different from other sources of grains despite the presence of similar microorganisms and others which have not been reported yet. The data obtained with the CWA and CWAE media suggest that both substrates are alternative and salutary media for culture of kefir strains.

Anti-inflammatory and cicatrizing activities of a carbohydrate fraction isolated from sugary kefir.

Kefir is an association of microrganisms generally grown in milk, with known probiotic activities identified from its soured suspensions. Aqueous media are also able to grow kefir, but little is known about the probiotic properties of its fermented products. This work aimed to evaluate some probiotic properties of a carbohydrate fraction isolated from sugary kefir (sugary kefir carbohydrate [SKC]). Anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated fraction of carbohydrate was tested both in vitro (cellular respirometry and macrophage culture) and in vivo (50% effective dose, rat paw edema, vascular permeability, and cicatrizing test). The results indicated no significant difference for oxygen uptake or macrophage culture between control and test groups. Rat paw edema, however, showed a significant inhibitory activity by 30 +/- 4% and 54 +/- 8% (P < .001) for carrageenan and dextran, respectively. In the cicatrizing test, animals treated with SKC cream also presented less trauma after treatments as compared to the negative control group (P < .05). The overall data suggested the SKC as a natural product that could be used as a constituent of an anti-inflammatory compound.

Atividade antiinflamatória de carboidrato produzido por fermentação aquosa de grãos de quefir

Kefir, a symbiont microorganism suspension, presents benefic effects to health. Some kefir grains were cultivated in brown sugar, allowing to isolate a substance named CSQ. This was evaluated on a biologic essay of mouse foot edema, presenting an inhibitory activity of 30+4 % against carrageenan after the stimulus. It was observed that a cultivation mean containing sucrose, and not the milky mean, lead to the production of different sugar polymeric chains of kefir. The results in vivo suggest that the CSQ exerted an anti-inflammatory activity.

Efeito da administração de cogumelo tibetano, um consórcio microbiano, sobre a peristalse intestinal em ratos

The Tibetan mushroom (CT) is a probiotic beverage fermented by a big group of bacteria and yeasts, some of which of well-known anti-bacterial activity, immunomodulatory, pro-digestive and to aid of the intestinal peristalsis. In this sense, this work had the aim of evaluating the possible action of the suspension produced by CT on the peristalsis intestinal of rats. Animal groups weighing 200 ± 20 g were used (Wistar rats (male, n = 6/group)). The different groups were treated v.o. for 15 days (1,5 mL/animal of 24h fermented of CT in continuously cultured into molasses solutions (50 g/l)), and the other groups treated with distilled water (1,5 mL/animal). After 15 days the animals were maintained in fast for 24h, and treated with suspension CT (1,5 mL/animal/v.o), distilled water (control, 1,5mL/animal/v.o), acetylcholine (1mg/kg/s.c) and atropine (1mg/kg/i.m). After 30 min, the animals received a suspension of active coal 10% (0,1 mL/10g, v.o), after the euthanasia, excision of the portion of the pylorus to the beginning of the cecum, and determination of the distance traveled by the coal. The administration of the CT suspension increased the intestinal peristalsis in 68,7% and the other treatments presented the following percentages: atropine 20,2%, acetylcholine 78,7% and control 42,9% (p < 0,05, ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer test). Those results showed that the CT suspension stimulated the peristalsis in the animals, what suggests a positive effect in the digestion and alimentary absorption for the microbial consortium.

A low-cost yeast-based biofuel cell: an educational green approach

ABSTRACT This paper describes the construction and characterization of a biofuel cell with low-cost materials. The system uses the baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as the microorganism responsible for the generation of voltage, whose interaction with the electrode is mediated by methylene blue. Simple experiments are proposed to evaluate the effects of different substrates, inhibitors and cell viability, improving both the knowledge of the system as well as metabolic pathway concepts to the student. The proposed device was able to generate a power density of 41 ± 0.3 mW m−2, similar to those obtained with yeast-based biofuel cells. The low cost and easily acquisition of materials described allow the introduction of biofuel cell theme in different teaching levels, from high school to the college level. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT