Cholesterol lowering and antioxidant potential of probiotic bacteria isolated from locally fermented milk product kalarei

363-372Probiotics due to their multifaceted health promoting attributes have gained immense research impetus in recent years. The current study reports the hypocholesterolemic potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from indigenous sources. LAB may use several mechanisms for lowering serum cholesterol level viz. cholesterol assimilation, bile salt deconjugation, and cholesterol adsorption on cell surface of live, resting and dead probiotic cells. Cholesterol lowering is generally a strain dependent phenomenon, and different LAB isolates exhibited varying level of hypocholesterolemic effects. Among the LAB isolates, K2 i.e. Enterococcus faecalis K2 showed the highest in vitro cholesterol lowering ability (82.32%), and strong bile salt deconjugation potential, and released about 128.43 µM/mL of cholic acid upon bile salt deconjugation. Furthermore, cholesterol removal by live, resting and dead E. faecalis K2 probiotic cells was shown to the extent of 72.46, 44.93, and 45.88%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy displayed appreciable adherence of cholesterol on to the cellular surfaces of E. faecalis K2 cells. The antioxidant potential of the cell free cultural fluid of LAB isolates was quite variable. LAB isolate E. faecalis K2 showed appreciable DPPH radical scavenging activity (37.36%), hydroxyl radical scavenging ability (26.35%), and superoxide radical scavenging ability (42.67%). Most of the LAB probiotic isolates were susceptible to conventionally used antibiotics, and lacked biogenic amine producing ability and haemolytic activity. The probiotic isolate E. faecalis K2 may have potential for application for management of hypercholesterolemia related coronary heart diseases, however, after thorough in vivo investigation

Cholesterol lowering and antioxidant potential of probiotic bacteria isolated from locally fermented milk product kalarei

363-372Probiotics due to their multifaceted health promoting attributes have gained immense research impetus in recent years. The current study reports the hypocholesterolemic potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from indigenous sources. LAB may use several mechanisms for lowering serum cholesterol level viz. cholesterol assimilation, bile salt deconjugation, and cholesterol adsorption on cell surface of live, resting and dead probiotic cells. Cholesterol lowering is generally a strain dependent phenomenon, and different LAB isolates exhibited varying level of hypocholesterolemic effects. Among the LAB isolates, K2 i.e. Enterococcus faecalis K2 showed the highest in vitro cholesterol lowering ability (82.32%), and strong bile salt deconjugation potential, and released about 128.43 µM/mL of cholic acid upon bile salt deconjugation. Furthermore, cholesterol removal by live, resting and dead E. faecalis K2 probiotic cells was shown to the extent of 72.46, 44.93, and 45.88%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy displayed appreciable adherence of cholesterol on to the cellular surfaces of E. faecalis K2 cells. The antioxidant potential of the cell free cultural fluid of LAB isolates was quite variable. LAB isolate E. faecalis K2 showed appreciable DPPH radical scavenging activity (37.36%), hydroxyl radical scavenging ability (26.35%), and superoxide radical scavenging ability (42.67%). Most of the LAB probiotic isolates were susceptible to conventionally used antibiotics, and lacked biogenic amine producing ability and haemolytic activity. The probiotic isolate E. faecalis K2 may have potential for application for management of hypercholesterolemia related coronary heart diseases, however, after thorough in vivo investigation

Cholesterol lowering and antioxidant potential of probiotic bacteria isolated from locally fermented milk product kalarei

Probiotics due to their multifaceted health promoting attributes have gained immense research impetus in recent years. The current study reports the hypocholesterolemic potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from indigenous sources. LAB may use several mechanisms for lowering serum cholesterol level viz. cholesterol assimilation, bile salt deconjugation, and cholesterol adsorption on cell surface of live, resting and dead probiotic cells. Cholesterol lowering is generally a strain dependent phenomenon, and different LAB isolates exhibited varying level of hypocholesterolemic effects. Among the LAB isolates, K2 i.e. Enterococcus faecalis K2 showed the highest in vitro cholesterol lowering ability (82.32%), and strong bile salt deconjugation potential, and released about 128.43 µM/mL of cholic acid upon bile salt deconjugation. Furthermore, cholesterol removal by live, resting and dead E. faecalis K2 probiotic cells was shown to the extent of 72.46, 44.93, and 45.88%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy displayed appreciable adherence of cholesterol on to the cellular surfaces of E. faecalis K2 cells. The antioxidant potential of the cell free cultural fluid of LAB isolates was quite variable. LAB isolate E. faecalis K2 showed appreciable DPPH radical scavenging activity (37.36%), hydroxyl radical scavenging ability (26.35%), and superoxide radical scavenging ability (42.67%). Most of the LAB probiotic isolates were susceptible to conventionally used antibiotics, and lacked biogenic amine producing ability and haemolytic activity. The probiotic isolate E. faecalis K2 may have potential for application for management of hypercholesterolemia related coronary heart diseases, however, after thorough in vivo investigation

Design of experiments for enhanced production of bioactive exopolysaccharides from indigenous probiotic lactic acid bacteria

539-551Exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by several bacteria including the probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) not only help them to execute certain vital life functions, but offers huge potential for applications in sectors like medical/pharmaceutical, food, agriculture, and environmental health. However, low yield of EPS from probiotic LAB has always been a challenge. Previously we have reported that EPS from two LAB probiotic strains i.e. Enterococcus faecium K1 (isolate from kalarei), and Lactobacillus paracasei M7 (isolate from human breast milk) possessed several bioactive functional attributes like hypocholesterolemic activity, antioxidant potential, antibiofilm activity, antimicrobial activity, emulsification ability, and desirable physiochemical properties. However, the EPS yield was low. Current study reports optimization of process variables by Design of Experiments (DoE) to enhance EPS yield from these bacteria. The most effective process variables for EPS production were earmarked for E. faecium K1 (lactose, ammonium citrate, incubation time and pH), and for L. paracasei M7 (glucose, incubation time and pH), by Plackett–Burman design, and the same were optimized using central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM). The EPS yield from E. faecium K1 was enhanced by 101.40% at optimal level of variables (lactose 10.07 g/L, ammonium citrate 2.49 g/L, incubation time 94.05 h and pH 5.4). Similarly, EPS yield was enhanced by 79.6% from L. paracasei M7 using optimal level of variables (glucose 10 g/L, incubation time 48 h and pH 7.6). Thus, DoE represents a powerful approach for optimization of process variables

Real-Time Nitrogen Application of Rice Varieties Based on Leaf Colour Chart under System of Rice Intensification in Temperate Climate

Increasing nitrogen use efficiency in rice intensification (SRI) is pivotal to achieving high crop yield and reducing nitrogen losses. To find the critical value of the leaf color chart (LCC) for real-time nitrogen (N) application in rice varieties under SRI, a field experiment was laid at the Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura, SKAUST-Kashmir in Kharif between 2019 and 2020. The experiment comprised two cultivars (SR-3 and SR-4) and eight LCC-based nitrogen managements (control, recommended dose of nitrogen (RDF), and three LCC scores (≤3, ≤4, ≤5 each with 20 and 30 kg N ha−1). SR-4 produced significantly higher values for growth and yield parameters, producing higher grain yield (7.02 and 6.86 t ha−1) compared to SR-3 (6.49 and 6.36 t ha−1) between 2019 and 2020, respectively. An LCC value of 5 with 30 kg N ha−1 produced maximum grain yield (7.84 and 7.70 t ha−1) in 2019 and 2020, respectively, which were statistically at par with the LCC value of 5 with 20 kg Nha−1. Pooled data revealed that the highest B: C ratio of 1.55 was recorded in cultivar SR-4 with an LCC value of 5 with 30 kg N ha−1. Furthermore, agronomic and recovery efficiency of nitrogen remained maximum in LCC 5 with 20 kg N ha−1 for both years. Grain yield recorded in LCC 3 20 kg N ha−1 was similar to recommended nitrogen. The present study highlighted the need-based N application through LCC and proved effective in increasing the N-use efficiency and yield in rice

Self-reported health and smoking status, and body mass index: a case-control comparison based on GEN SCRIP (GENetics of SChizophRenia In Pakistan) data

Introduction Individuals with schizophrenia are at a high risk of physical health comorbidities and premature mortality. Cardiovascular and metabolic causes are an important contributor. There are gaps in monitoring, documenting and managing these physical health comorbidities. Because of their condition, patients themselves may not be aware of these comorbidities and may not be able to follow a lifestyle that prevents and manages the complications. In many low-income and middle-income countries including Pakistan, the bulk of the burden of care for those struggling with schizophrenia falls on the families.Objectives To determine the rate of self-reported physical health disorders and risk factors, like body mass index (BMI) and smoking, associated with cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in cases of schizophrenia compared with a group of mentally healthy controls.Design A case-controlled, cross-sectional multicentre study of patients with schizophrenia in Pakistan.Settings Multiple data collection sites across the country for patients, that is, public and private psychiatric OPDs (out patient departments), specialised psychiatric care facilities, and psychiatric wards of teaching and district level hospitals. Healthy controls were enrolled from the community.Participants We report a total of 6838 participants’ data with (N 3411 (49.9%)) cases of schizophrenia compared with a group of healthy controls (N 3427 (50.1%)).Results BMI (OR 0.98 (CI 0.97 to 0.99), p=0.0025), and the rate of smoking is higher in patients with schizophrenia than in controls. Problems with vision (OR 0.13 (0.08 to 0.2), joint pain (OR 0.18 (0.07 to 0.44)) and high cholesterol (OR 0.13 (0.05 to 0.35)) have higher reported prevalence in controls. The cases describe more physical health disorders in the category ‘other’ (OR 4.65 (3.01 to 7.18)). This captures residual disorders not listed in the questionnaire.Conclusions Participants with schizophrenia in comparison with controls report more disorders. The access in the ‘other’ category may be a reflection of undiagnosed disorders