Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of an exopolysaccharide from a probiotic bacterium

Abstract

Probiotic bacteria synthesize extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) with commercially significant physiological and therapeutic activities. This important class of biomolecules is also characterized by their ability to remove reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are formed in the intestine by various metabolic reactions; hence, they exhibit antioxidant activities. Our probiotic bacterium, Bacillus coagulans RK-02, produces an EPS during the exponential and stationary growth phases when grown in a glucose mineral salts medium. The time course of EPS synthesis was studied with respect to biomass growth. The antioxidant and free radical scavenging potential of isolated EPS were studied by various methods, including the beta-carotene-linoleic acid model system, a superoxide radical scavenging assay using the PMS-NADH-nitroblue tetrazolium system, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, a hydroxyl radical scavenging assay using the ascorbic acid-Cu(2+)-cytochrome c system and an in vitro microsome peroxidation inhibition study using a thiobarbituric acid assay. The antioxidant activities were compared to known antioxidants vitamin C and E, which were used as reference standards. The results showed that the EPS, which is a heteropolymer composed of four monosaccharides, produced by B. coagulans RK-02 had significant antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities.

Bacillus Coagulans Enhance the Immune Function of the Intestinal Mucosa of Yellow Broilers

“…Previous experimental studies showed that Bacillus coagulans was able to regulate cell factors, enhanced the phagocytosis of phagocytic cells, enhanced the activity of NK, T and B cells, and increased the expression of IgA, IgG and IgM (Kodali et al, 2008). Consistently, the results of the present experiment showed that Bacillus coagulans can enhance the immune function of the gut of yellow-feathered broilers.…”

Quantification and Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity of Some Bioactive Phytochemicals in Different Medicinal Plants

“…Zhang et al [22] showed that the sulfated polysaccharide fraction from Porphyra haltanesis, an important alga in China, has antioxidant activity, and a strong scavenging effect for superoxide radical and it inhibits lipid peroxidation. In another study, Kodali & Sen [23] reported that the polysaccharide isolated from probiotic bacteria had antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. It has also been found that consumption of complex carbohydrates in combination with different antioxidant micronutrients may enhance the antioxidant defenses and improve lipid metabolism [1].…”

Further studies on immunomodulatory effects of exopolysaccharide isolated from Lactobacillus rhamnosus KL37C

“…Antioxidant properties of EPS have been also described by Kodali et al They have demonstrated that EPS from Bacillus coagulans RK-02 has antioxidant properties and may act as a scavenger of free radicals. These properties were comparable with those of standard antioxidants such as vitamin C and E [22]. Further, we investigated the influence of EPS 37 on the phagocytic function of macrophages.…”