Ziziphus spina-christi extracts improved metabolic markers in OB/T2D rats. The semi-ripe fruit showed the strongest effect, supporting its potential against obesity and type 2 diabetes.

The present study aimed at examining the ability of mixing Lactiplantibacillus (formerly Lactobacillus ) plantarum MON03 (LPMON03) and Lacticaseibacillus (formerly Lactobacillus ) paracasei BEJ01 (LPBEJ01) strains with bentonite (BT) clay mineral to remove aflatoxin B ₁ (AFB ₁ ), aflatoxin M ₁ (AFM ₁ ), ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone (ZEN) from aqueous solution under different conditions. The adsorption of ZEN, AFB ₁ , AFM ₁ and OTA using LPMON03 and LPBEJ001 were also tested in vitro under various culture conditions: co-factor enrichment, and bacterial concentration. The safety and efficacity of LPMON03 and/or BT to protect Caco-2 cell line against ZEN and AFB ₁ -induced genotoxicity, DNA fragmentation and caspase-3-dependent apoptosis induction was also assessed during this work. Findings revealed that LPMON03 had a high capacity of adsorbing the studied-mycotoxins at different tested conditions. Data do not reflect BT or LPMON03 toxicity for the different cell lines tested (Vero cell, Caco-2 cells, C5-O, HepG2 and human leukocytes). LPMON03 (10 ³ cfu/ml) and/or BT (0.5 mg/ml) protects Caco-2 cells (10 ⁴ cells/ml), inhibits DNA fragmentation and reduces caspase-3 enzymes activity in ZEN (40 μ M) and AFB ₁ (100 nM)-exposed Caco-2 cell culture. LPMON03 and BT showed as a potential mycotoxin adsorption, and can be used as an alternative strategy for mycotoxin removal from feed intended for livestock.