Probiotic bacteria are producers of secretory products such as bacteriocins and polysaccharides. Both homopolymeric and heteropolymeric exopolysaccharides (EPS) present on the surface of microorganisms have shown beneficial properties. While the fact that they play a role in bacterial homeostasis is well established, studies exploring their health promoting effects have also gained traction. Some exopolysaccharides function by inducing immune tolerance, others act by evading immune responses such as those by B and T cells. The interaction between the EPS and the immune system helps protect the bacteria against an attack by the host immune system. Several exopolysaccharides also show tolerogenic properties by reducing the amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increasing IL-10 production. They are also associated with anti-bacterial activity, anti-biofilm activity and anti-tumour properties. This review highlights the different types of exopolysaccharides and their health benefiting potentials. Better understanding of these mechanisms will pave the way for harnessing their potential to improve our health.

The human gut is a densely populated region comprising a diverse collection of microorganisms. The number, type and function of the diverse gut microbiota vary at different sites along the entire gastrointestinal tract. Gut microbes regulate signaling and metabolic pathways through microbial cross talks. Host and microbial interactions mutually contribute for intestinal homeostasis. Rapid shift or imbalance in the microbial community disrupts the equilibrium or homeostatic state leading to dysbiosis and causes many gastrointestinal diseases viz., Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Obesity, Type 2 diabetes, Metabolic endotoxemia, Parkinson’s disease and Fatty liver disease etc. Intestinal homeostasis has been confounded by factors that disturb the balance between eubiosis and dysbiosis. This review correlates the consequences of dysbiosis with the incidence of various diseases. Impact of microbiome and its metabolites on various organs such as liver, brain, kidney, large intestine, pancreas etc are discussed. Furthermore, the role of therapeutic approaches such as ingestion of nutraceuticals (probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics), Fecal Microbial Treatment, Phage therapy and Bacterial consortium treatment in restoring the eubiotic state is elaborately reviewed.

The breast milk microbiome has emerged as an essential determinant of infant health, influencing gut microbiota composition, immune system development, and overall regulation of physiological maturation. This review focuses on a comprehensive analysis of breast milk microbiota and its contributions in shaping infant health. Additionally, the potential of probiotics in establishing a microbial equilibrium to improve gut microbiota and immunity in both preterm and full-term infants is discussed in detail. The first encounter with probiotics in the human body occurs during infancy through breast milk. Complete breastfeeding stimulates the growth and development of beneficial probiotics such as Saccharomyces boulardii, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and Bifidobacterium which play crucial roles in preventing conditions such as allergies, microbial infections, gastric and intestinal infections, urinary tract infections, necrotizing enterocolitis, and dermal infections. Most of these probiotics act as bacterial inhibitors by reducing pH levels, whereas some have specific cells that trigger immune cells to reduce infections. Thus, probiotics offer promising therapeutic effects for regulating overall infant health. This review emphasizes the importance of probiotic-based interventions in optimizing infant health outcomes.

The process of preservation of various food sources, over time, gave rise to fermented foods. Traditionally, each ethnic group has its distinct fermented food(s) incorporated into their diet, both as culinary enjoyment and nutrition. Fermentation increases nutrient availability and enhances the texture and flavor of the original food. The benefits of fermented food consumption and potential probiotic intake are discussed in this review. The review describes mechanism(s) of action of bioactive components from fermented foods on the human system, their role in health management, and an overview of the role of fermented foods in improving diseases, namely obesity, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), hematological cancers, and radiation-induced diarrhea in cancer patients and allergies are briefly reviewed.