Recent studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of specific probiotics on alleviating obesity-related disorders. Here we aimed to identify probiotics with potential antiobesity activity among 88 lactic acid bacterial strains via in vitro screening assays, and a Lactobacillus plantarum strain K21 was found to harbor abilities required for hydrolyzing bile salt, reducing cholesterol, and inhibiting the accumulation of lipid in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Furthermore, effects of K21 on diet-induced obese (DIO) mice were examined. Male C57Bl/6J mice received a normal diet, high-fat diet (HFD), or HFD with K21 administration (109 CFU in 0.2 mL PBS/day) for eight weeks. Supplementation of K21, but not placebo, appeared to alleviate body weight gain and epididymal fat mass accumulation, reduce plasma leptin levels, decrease cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and mitigate liver damage in DIO mice. Moreover, the hepatic expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) related to adipogenesis was significantly downregulated in DIO mice by K21 intervention. We also found that K21 supplementation strengthens intestinal permeability and modulates the amount of Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and Clostridium perfringens in the cecal contents of DIO mice. In conclusion, our results suggest that dietary intake of K21 protects against the onset of HFD-induced obesity through multiple mechanisms of action.

Calophyllum inophyllum is a coastal plant rich in natural substances. Its ingredients have been used for the development of an anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug. In this study, we collected C. inophyllum fruit, and the ethanol extract of the fruit was chromatographically separated using silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 columns to obtain the major compound, calophyllolide. The fruits were harvested from September to December in 2011; a quantitative analysis of the calophyllolide content was conducted using HPLC to explore the differences between the different parts of the fruit during the growing season. The results showed that in fruits of C. inophyllum, calophyllolide exists only in the nuts, and dried nuts contain approximately 2 mg·g −1 of calophyllolide. The calophyllolide levels in the nuts decreased during maturity. In addition, calophyllolide dose-dependently OPEN ACCESSMolecules 2015, 20 12315 enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in murine osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, without significant cytotoxicity. The expression of osteoblastic genes, ALP and osteocalcin (OCN), were increased by calophyllolide. Calophyllolide induced osteoblasts differentiation also evidenced by increasing mineralization and ALP staining.

Patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease or related conditions also frequently suffer from osteoporosis as a consequence of changes in the intestinal microenvironment and consequent dysbiosis. We hypothesized that anti-inflammatory...

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Probiotics have been reported to play a major role in maintaining the balance of microbiota in host. Consumption of food with probiotics has increased with consumer concerns regarding healthy diets and wellness. Correspondingly, safety evaluation of probiotics for human consumption has become increasingly important in food industry. Herein, we aimed to test the safety of Bifidobacterium lactis BL-99 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei K56 and ET-22 strains in vitro and in vivo. In results, these strains were found to be negative for mucin degradation and platelet aggregation test. Additionally, the three strains were susceptible to eight antibiotics. In accordance with bacterial reversion mutation (Ames) assay, the tested strains had no genetic mutagenicity. Finally, it was confirmed that there were no dose-dependent mortality and toxicity throughout multidose oral toxicity tests in rats. Our findings demonstrated that B. lactis BL-99 and L. paracasei K56 and ET-22 can achieve the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status as probiotics in the future.

Oral administration of BL-99 can enrich the beneficial SCFA-producing bacteria, restrain the pathogenic microbes and preclude the infiltration of pulmonary inflammatory monocyte/macrophage, therefore alleviating colitis-related lung injury.

While both probiotics and prebiotics have an important role in controlling obesity, the effectiveness of probiotic bacteria is strain dependent. Herein, we have examined the role of Lactobacillus paracasei strain K56 and prebiotic α-galactooligosaccharides in modulating metabolic consequences of obesity. To this end, we have employed high fat diet induced obesity in a mouse model. The results show that mice fed a high fat diet exhibited increased body weight, adiposity, and abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism. Treatment with L. paracasei K56 and/or α-galactooligosaccharides significantly decreased body and fat weights, particularly when α-galactooligosaccharide was combined with a high level of L. paracasei K56. In conclusion, the treatments with L. paracasei K56 and/or α-galactooligosaccharides significantly modulated against obesity and improved lipid metabolism.

Skin is a natural barrier for the body, and it functions as a connection between the body and the environment. The microecosystem plays an important role in protecting the health of the skin. 1 Probiotics are "live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host." 2 Probiotics supplement nutrition, suppress diarrhoea, prevent intestinal inflammation and exhibit anticolorectal cancer activities. [3][4][5][6] Recent intriguing studies reported that probiotics also exert skin health-promoting effects. Oral probiotics may be effective in treating topical skin conditions, such as psoriasis, acne vulgaris and atopic dermatitis. 7,8 Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a genetically predisposed, recurring allergic skin disease that is characterized by the destruction of the epidermal barrier. 9 Oxidative stress is also one cause of AD 10 . Therefore, strengthening the skin barrier by reducing the level of oxidative stress may reduce the incidence and severity of AD. Notably, topical probiotic formulations to alleviate skin conditions have become a relatively new field of study. Topically applied probiotics in patients with AD reduced skin erythema, scaling and pruritus and improved skin barriers. 11 The Bifidobacteria species is a probiotic and the dominant bacterial species in the human intestinal tract. 12 Oral Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) preparation effectively reduced the SCORAD