Sampan Attri

Microbe-bio-Chemical Insight: Reviewing Interactions between Dietary Polyphenols and Gut Microbiota

OBJECTIVE Polyphenols are widespread constituents of different food commodities. These are regarded as essential micronutrients because of their well-documented health benefits. These health benefits depend on the amount of polyphenols consumed and their bioavailability in the gut. The microbial transformation of polyphenols in gut is poorly characterized, where, these polyphenols may act as promoting factors for proliferation of beneficial gut inhabitants and inhibiting the pathogenic species. CONCLUSION The aim of this review is to present a holistic view on occurrence of polyphenols, their health benefits and influence of dietary polyphenols on gut microbiota.

Colonic fermentation of polyphenolics from Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) berries: Assessment of effects on microbial diversity by Principal Component Analysis

The present study investigates the stability of polyphenolic in Sea buckthorn berries juice (SBJ) during different phases of digestion and its effect on colonic microbial diversity. At each stage, the Total polyphenolic content (TPC), Total antioxidant activity (TAA) and polyphenolic profile was determined. A 1.64 and 2.20 folds increase in TPC with 4.88 and 9.61 folds increase in TAA were observed during gastric and small intestine digestion (p<0.05) with the release of quercetin from food matrix. The digestion resulted in deformation of intact crystalline structure as indicated by scanning electron micrographs. The colonic fermentation resulted in an increase in quercetin, caffeic acid with decrease in rutin and chlorogenic acid after 36h of fermentation (p<0.05). The Shannon diversity index (H) of beneficial groups including Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Bacteroides/Prevotella and Bifidobacteria was increased by 35%, 71% and 17%, respectively (p<0.05). The PCA analysis indicated that the presence and digestion of polyphenolics promote the proliferation of Bacteroides/Prevotella group as well as Lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacteria. The results suggest that SBJ is good source of prebiotic substrate in terms of the proliferation of beneficial gut microbiota.

Monitoring biocalcification potential of Lysinibacillus sp. isolated from alluvial soils for improved compressive strength of concrete

The present study reports the potential of newly isolated calcite precipitating bacteria isolated from alluvial soil to improve the strength and durability of concrete. A total of sixteen samples of alluvial soil and sewage were collected from the different locations of province Solan (India). For isolation, enrichment culture technique was used to enrich calcite precipitating strains in Urea broth. After enrichment, fourteen distinct bacterial strains were obtained on Urea agar. Based on qualitative and quantitative screening for urease activity, five isolates were obtained possessing higher calcite formation and urease activities (38-77 μmhos/cm) as compared with standard strain of Bacillus megaterium MTCC 1684 (77 μmhos/cm). An isolate I13 identified as Lysinibacillus sp. was selected for self healing property in the concrete mix of M20. An improved compressive strength of 1.5 fold was observed in concrete samples amended with Lysinibacillus sp. over the concrete amended with B. megaterium MTCC 1684 after 28 days of curing. The higher calcite precipitation activity was indicated in Lysinibacillus sp. by FE-SEM micrographs and EDX analysis.

Selection and Evaluation of Probiotic and Functional Characteristics of Autochthonous Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Fermented Wheat Flour Dough Babroo

The present study aimed to isolate and identify the potential probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from traditionally fermented wheat flour dough known as “babroo.” A total of 26 lactic isolates were obtained from 50 different samples collected from different locations of the Himalayan province (Himachal Pradesh). To ascertain non-pathogenic nature, the isolates were screened by hemolytic activity leading to 20 non-hemolytic strains which were subjected to tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Seven different strains were selected based on their tolerance to gastrointestinal conditions. All the selected seven isolates were found to be susceptible to ampicillin and resistant to gentamicin. The phylogenetic analysis revealed three different strains of Lactobacillus fermentum, two strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, and two of Pediococcus acidilactici. The isolates exhibit different degrees of cell surface hydrophobicity (20.0–42.0%), cellular autoaggregation (5.0–41.0%), and adhesion to mucin (35.0–78.0%). The different lactic strains also possessed higher antioxidant properties (87.6–92.9%) determined in terms of free radical scavenging activity, bile salt hydrolase activity, cholesterol lowering activity (49.0–75.0%), and exopolysaccharide production. The principal component analysis (PCA) on probiotic attributes indicated that L. plantarum K90, L. fermentum K75, and L. fermentum K78 can be used as potential probiotic candidates.

Development and diversity of lactic acid producing bacteria and bifidobacteria in healthy full term Indian infants from Himachal Pradesh

Background/Aims The initial microbial colonization is a crucial step for the healthy development of an infant. Previous studies from India reported the dominance of target microbial species among Indian infants without any analysis on the diversity of target groups. This is the first study from India with an objective to investigate the establishment and diversity of lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria in vaginally delivered, full term, breastfed infants for the first 4 months after birth. Methods Present study used polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) based sequence analysis of LAB and bifidobacteria in healthy infants. The results were used to compare the development and early colonization by LAB and bifidobacteria using diversity indices during the initial months of development of gut microbiota in infants. Results During the first 4 months, the Shannon diversity index (H) of LAB increased from 1.16 to 1.318 and for bifidobacteria the H increased from 0.975 to 1.293 (P<0.05). Higher Sorenson’s pair wise similarity coefficient was observed for LAB and bifidobacteria during 2nd and the 3rd month. The species of the genera Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Lactobacillus were dominant among the LAB group whereas Bifidobacterium breve was dominant species among Bifidobacterium group. Conclusions Our results indicate that in breast fed infants, the microbial diversity of LAB and bifidobacteria increased during the period of study.

Influence of polyphenol rich seabuckthorn berries juice on release of polyphenols and colonic microbiota on exposure to simulated human digestion model

The present study investigated the effect of polyphenol rich Sea buckthorn berries juice (SBJ) on colonic microbial composition and diversity using in vitro simulated gut model. The release of polyphenols, their antioxidant activity and impact on microbial diversity was evaluated under long term fermentation for 21 days. The treatment of colonic reactors with basal feed supplemented with SBJ resulted in an increase in population and diversity of beneficial bacteria as revealed by viable cell count and PCR-DGGE. A higher release of phenolics was observed, which resulted in higher antioxidant activity in the colonic reactors throughout the treatment period (p < 0.05). Higher content of resveratrol, rutin and chlorogenic acid were observed in ascendens colon whereas quercetin, ferulic and caeffic acid level were higher in descendens colon due to biotransformation of polyphenols in the later part of colon. The Principal Component Analysis also indicated the stimulatory effect of SBJ on the beneficial microbial population of Lactobacilli, Bacteroides/Prevotella and Bifidobacteria in all the three reactors. It also confirmed higher release of polyphenolic compounds and associated antioxidant activities in descendens colon.