Growing evidence has indicated that supplementation with probiotics improves lipid metabolism. We aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of a probiotics mixture (PM) of three strains belonging to the species Bifidobacterium (B. longum, B. lactis, and B. breve) and two strains belonging to the species Lactobacillus (L. reuteri and L. plantarum) on cholesterol-lowering efficacy in hypercholesterolemic rats. A hypercholesterolemic rat model was established by feeding a high-cholesterol diet for eight weeks. To test the effects of PM on hypercholesterolemia, hypercholesterolemic rats were assigned to four groups, which were treated daily with low (1.65 × 10⁹ cfu/kg), medium (5.5 × 10⁹ cfu/kg), or high (1.65 × 10¹⁰ cfu/kg) doses of probiotic mixture or simvastatin for eight weeks. Significant reductions of serum total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels, but increases of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol were observed after supplementation of PM in hypercholesterolemic rats. In PM-supplemented hypercholesterolemic rats, hepatic tissue contents of TC and TG also significantly decreased. Notably, the histological evaluation of liver tissues demonstrated that PM dramatically decreased lipid accumulation. For their underlying mechanisms, we demonstrated that PM reduced expressions of cholesterol synthesis-related proteins such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in the liver. Taken together, these findings suggest that PM has beneficial effects against hypercholesterolemia. Accordingly, our PM might be utilized as a novel therapeutic agent for the management of hypercholesterolemia.

Chronic and extensive exposure of ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation causes human skin sunburn, inflammation, or photoaging, which is associated with downregulated collagen synthesis. This study investigated the effects of fermented blackberry (Rubus fruticosus B., FBB) by Lactobacillus plantarum JBMI F5 (LP) on UVB-induced photoaging in human foreskin fibroblast (Hs68) as well as in SKH-1 hairless mice. FBB pretreatment inhibited UVB-mediated type-1 procollagen degradation, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-2 protein expression, and suppressed nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation in Hs68. In addition, FBB administration diminished the wrinkle formation in dorsal skin and epidermal thickening in UVB-irradiated hairless mice. Moreover, UVB-induced Type-1 procollagen reduction and antioxidant enzyme inactivation were reversed by FBB administration. These results suggest that FBB may have antiphotoaging effects on UVB-induced wrinkle formation by maintaining the extracellular matrix density in the dermis, which occurs via regulation of reactive oxygen species and related MAPK and NF-κB signaling. Therefore, FBB can be a potential candidate for protecting skin aging against UV irradiation.

Diseases of the outer retina, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are major cause of permanent visual damage. The pathogenesis of AMD involves oxidative stress and damage of the retinal pigment epithelium. Capsicum annuum L. (paprika) fruits have been known as a source of vitamins, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and metabolites with a well-known antioxidant activity, which have positive effects on human health and protection against AMD and cataracts. In this study, we investigated whether paprika (fermented (FP), yellow, and orange colored) fermented with Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum could increase the protective effect of retinal degeneration using in vitro and in vivo models. FP significantly increased cell survival and reduced levels of lactate dehydrogenase as well as intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase in SI (sodium iodate, NaIO₃)-treated human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells. We developed a model of retinal damage in C57BL/6 mice using SI (30 mg/kg) via intraperitoneal injection. Seven days after SI administration, deformation and a decrease in thickness were observed in the outer nuclear layer, but improved by FP treatment. FP administration protected the SI-mediated reduction of superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels in the serum and ocular tissues of mice. The overproduction of cleaved poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase (PARP)1, caspase-3 and -8 proteins were significantly protected by FP in SI-treated cells and ocular tissues. In addition, we evaluated the potentiating effects of FP on antioxidants and their underlying mechanisms in RAW 264.7 cells. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitrite increase was markedly blocked by FP treatment in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, FP reduced LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 activation. The FP also enhanced the inhibitory effects on mitogen activated kinase signaling protein activation in ARPE-19 and RAW 264.7 cells and ocular tissues. There was no significant difference in total phenol and flavonoid content in paprika by fermentation, but the vitamin C content was increased in orange colored paprika, and protective effect against oxidative stress-mediated retinal damage was enhanced after fermentation. These results suggest that FP may be a potential candidate to protect against retinal degenerative diseases through the regulation of oxidative stress.

Kim DH, et al. Nutr Res Pract. 2018 Feb;12(1):20-28. https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2018.12.1.20

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has been used for food and applied in Ayurvedic medicine in India for thousands of years. With a reputation for strong anti-inflammatory properties, it has been used for to treat colds, migraines, nausea, arthritis, and high blood pressure in China and Southeast Asia. The physiological activity of ginger is attributed to its functional components, including gingerol and shogaol, and their derivatives. We aimed to investigate the effects of 8- and 10-shogaol and their bioactive signaling mechanisms in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. The anti-colitis efficacy of 6-, 8-, and 10-derivatives of gingerol and shogaol was comparatively analyzed. Colitis was induced by providing mice with drinking water containing 5% DSS (w/v) for 8 days. The 6-, 8-, and 10-derivatives of gingerol and shogaol were orally administered for two weeks at a dose of 30 mg/kg. Changes in body weight and disease activity index were measured. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, iNOS and COX-2, as well as the phosphorylation of NF-κB were analyzed using ELISA, PCR, or western blotting. Mucin expression and mRNA levels were measured using alcian blue staining and PCR, respectively. The tight-junction-associated proteins occludin and ZO-1 were assessed using immunohistological staining. The 6-, 8-, and 10-derivatives of gingerol and shogaol exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by regulating NF-κB signaling. Among the compounds administered, 10-shogaol was the most effective against DSS-induced inflammation. Comparative analysis of the chemical structure showed that shogaol, a dehydrated analog of gingerol, was more effective. 6- and 10-shogaol showed similar effects on DSS-induced morphological changes in the colonic mucus layer, mucin expression, and tight junction proteins. 6-, 8-, and 10-Gingerol and 6-, 8-, and 10-shogaol significantly improved the clinical symptoms and intestinal epithelial barrier damage in DSS-induced colitis in mice. The derivatives effectively inhibited DSS-induced inflammation through the regulation of NF-κB signaling. Moreover, 10-shogaol showed the most potent anti-inflammatory effect among the six compounds used in this study. The results indicate that 8- and 10-shogaol, both main ingredients in ginger, may serve as therapeutic candidates for the treatment of colitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease, and the incidence of IBD is increasing every year owing to changes in dietary structure. Although the exact pathogenesis of IBD is still unclear, recent evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis is closely associated with IBD pathogenesis. Cheonggukjang is a traditional Korean fermented soybean paste produced using traditional and industrial methods, and contains probiotics, which affect the gut microbiota composition. However, the protective effect of Cheonggukjang against IBD is unknown. In this study, we investigated the bacterial community structure of traditional and commercial Cheonggukjang samples, as well as the protective effect of Cheonggukjang on a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. Traditional and commercial Cheonggukjang were found to contain various type of useful probiotics in their bacterial community structure. Cheonggukjang reduced the progression of DSS-induced symptoms, such as body weight loss, colonic shortening, disease activity index, and histological changes. Further, Cheonggukjang improved the intestinal epithelial barrier integrity on DSS-induced colitis mice. In addition, Cheonggukjang suppressed the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators through the inactivation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. These results indicate that Cheonggukjang exerts protective effects against DSS-induced colitis, suggesting its possible application as a functional food for improving inflammatory diseases.