Biopolymer from Water Kefir as a Potential Clean-Label Ingredient for Health Applications: Evaluation of New Properties

Abstract

The present work aimed to characterize the exopolysaccharide obtained from water kefir grains (EPSwk), a symbiotic association of probiotic microorganisms. New findings of the technological, mechanical, and biological properties of the sample were studied. The EPSwk polymer presented an Mw of 6.35 × 105 Da. The biopolymer also showed microcrystalline structure and characteristic thermal stability with maximum thermal degradation at 250 °C. The analysis of the monosaccharides of the EPSwk by gas chromatography demonstrated that the material is composed of glucose units (98 mol%). Additionally, EPSwk exhibited excellent emulsifying properties, film-forming ability, a low photodegradation rate (3.8%), and good mucoadhesive properties (adhesion Fmax of 1.065 N). EPSwk presented cytocompatibility and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results of this study expand the potential application of the exopolysaccharide from water kefir as a potential clean-label raw material for pharmaceutical, biomedical, and cosmetic applications.

Prevention of DSS-induced colitis in mice with water kefir microbiota via anti-inflammatory and microbiota-balancing activity

“…Water kefir, a sparkling, slightly acidic fermented beverage produced in a solution of sucrose, is a symbiotic mixture of probiotics mainly composed of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of the genus Lactobacillus, acetic acid bacteria of the genus Acetobacter, and yeasts of the genus Saccharomyces. 17,18 Studies have demonstrated that water kefir exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activity, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity, hypocholesterolemic effect, and the capacity of modulating gut microbiota. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] However, little was known about the protective effects of water kefir in IBD models or patients, although milk kefir, a natural probiotic beverage similar to but distinct from water kefir, could ameliorate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)induced colitis in rats.…”