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In the present study, probiotic potato chips containing a newly isolated probiotic Lactococcus lactis KUMS-T18 strain were produced by using a simple spraying method and then enhancing the stability, survival rate, and sensory characteristics of product during storage at 4 °C and 25 °C was examined for four months. Based on the results, Lactococcus lactis KUMS-T18 isolated from traditional Tarkhineh as a safe strain had high tolerance to low pH and high bile salt, anti-pathogenic activity, hydrophobicity, adhesion to human epithelial cells, auto- and co-aggregation, cholesterol assimilation and antibiotic susceptibility. Meanwhile, by micro-coating the probiotic cells in Tarkhineh formulations, elliptical to spherical shape (460–740 µm) probiotic drops were produced. The results revealed that potato chips produced with turmeric and plain Tarkhineh during storage at 4 °C, had excellent protection abilities for probiotic cells with about 4.52 and 3.46 log decreases in CFU/g respectively. On the other hand, probiotic potato chips, compared to non-probiotic and commercial potato chips, showed the criteria of probiotic products such as excellent quality and superior sensory characteristics. In summary, this study proved that probiotic Lactococcus lactis KUMS-T18 strain covered by Tarkhineh formulations as protective matrix has high potential to be used in the production of probiotic potato chips.

Nowadays, the increasing use of medicinal plants in the treatment and prevention of diseases has attracted the attention of researchers. The aim of this work was to investigate the probiotic properties and antibacterial and antifungal activity of silymarin-enriched Lactobacillus bacteria against several important pathogenic bacteria and also Aspergillus flavus as one of the harmful molds in the food and health industries. For this purpose, 52 g-positive and catalase-negative bacteria were isolated from 60 traditional curd samples from Ilam province. Five of the 52 bacterial strains had more than 90% viability in high bile salt and acidic conditions and were selected for further investigation. The five strains with positive results showed good hydrophobicity (≥ 50.30%), auto-aggregation (≥ 53.70%), coaggregation (≥ 28.20%), and high cholesterol removal ability (from 09.20 to 67.20%) and therefore can be considered potential probiotics. The tested strains displayed acceptable antibacterial and antifungal activity against all 12 pathogenic bacteria and A. flavus . Also, the results of the simultaneous antifungal activity of probiotic strains and silymarin showed that the combination of silymarin and probiotics has a significantly better ( P  < 0.05) antifungal effect than the control group or the probiotic groups alone. Interestingly, in addition to the Limosilactobacillus fermentum C3 strain, the Limosilactobacillus fermentum C18 and Lactiplantibacillus pentosus C20 strains also had significant inhibitory effects against A. flavus when used with silymarin extract in methanol. Meanwhile, silymarin extract in DMSO and PEG increased the antagonistic activity of all five potential probiotic strains.

This study investigates the probiotic and anti-cancer effects of 21 isolated Lactobacillus strains from cheese, milk, and yogurt in Kermanshah, Iran, on oral cancer cell lines KB and OSCC. Four selected isolates (Y33, M45, C5, and C28) displayed good viability and resistance to specific antibiotics. Notably, strains C28 and Y33 exhibited the best results, showing susceptibility or semi-susceptibility to five antibiotics. Y33, with high cell surface hydrophobicity (62%), demonstrated significant anti-pathogenic activity, inhibiting the growth of tested pathogens and displaying strong adhesion to human intestinal Caco-2 cells (52%). Further assessments, including acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining and mRNA expression analysis, revealed four isolates (C5, C28, M45, and Y33) with promising probiotic properties. Particularly, Y33’s protein-based extract metabolites showed dose- and time-dependent inhibition of KB and OSCC cancer cell lines, inducing apoptosis without significant cytotoxic effects on normal cells. Y33 ( Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ) exhibited the strongest probiotic potential, surpassing conventional anti-cancer drugs, suggesting its therapeutic potential for preventing oral cancer cell proliferation and improving survival rates in oral cancer patients.

This study aimed to explore the beneficial properties, antimicrobial, and potential anticancer effects of Lactobacillus bacteria isolated from traditional dairy products on oral cancer cell lines. Twenty-one Lactobacillus strains were obtained from Kermanshah traditional cheese in western Iran. Using the well-diffusion method, the antimicrobial activities of the bacterial extracts were assessed against several human pathogens, revealing significant inhibitory effects, particularly for strains C9 and C47. These strains demonstrated broad-spectrum activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, with notable inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae . Additionally, the MTT assay was used to evaluate the antiproliferative effects of these extracts against oral cancer cell lines (KB and OSCC) and normal fibroblast and HUVEC lines. The compounds extracted from strains C9 and C47 (predominantly proteins) effectively suppressed the survival and growth of KB and OSCC cancer cell lines in a dose- and duration-dependent manner without significant harm to normal cells. Acridine orange/ethidium bromide labeling and mRNA expression analysis confirmed apoptosis as the primary mechanism of cancer cell death. In summary, strains C9 ( Limosilactobacillus fermentum KUMS-C9) and C47 ( Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KUMS-C47) exhibited potent antimicrobial and anticancer activities, highlighting their potential as probiotic candidates for therapeutic applications.

The aim of the study was to isolate and characterize lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from traditional dairy products (tarkhineh) in Kermanshah in western Iran, with a view to their probiotic potential and antimicrobial activity ( Candida albicans ). A total of 60 tarkhineh samples were randomly screened to isolate the probiotic bacterial strains. Biochemical and physiological analysis confirmed that the isolates were Gram-positive, catalase-negative, and had a round or rod-shaped morphology, in accordance with the LAB classification. Out of 20 isolated strains, five (Ta12, Ta19, Ta37, Ta51, and Ta58) showed a high survival rate (> 94%) under the initial acidity and bile salt screening conditions, which led to their selection for further study. The rescreening confirmed that these strains can survive (> 54%) in enzymatic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, including the stomach and intestinal tracts. All five strains showed significant antimicrobial activity against 12 common human pathogens, predominantly Gram-positive species, exhibiting inhibition zones ranging from 13.33 to 25.33 mm. Immunological tests revealed negative hemolysis (γ-hemolysis), which indicates that all five strains are safe. However, strains of Ta19 and Ta51 demonstrated higher susceptibility to nine common antibiotics (cefixime, azithromycin, amoxicillin, doxycycline, sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, cephalexin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and vancomycin), as evidenced by susceptibility spectrum ranging from 12.00 to 39.67 mm. In addition, these two strains showed superior hydrophobicity (> 57%), satisfactory cell adhesion (> 41%), increased cholesterol uptake (> 37%), enhanced biofilm formation (> 26%), and improved properties of auto-aggregation (> 43%) and co-aggregation (> 36%). Antifungal tests showed that Ta19 at 10 8  CFU/mL and Ta51 at 10 7  CFU/mL effectively inhibited the activity of C. albicans in comparison with other strains. The bacteriocin (protein) nature of the effective extracts from these two strains against the above-mentioned pathogenic microorganisms has also been confirmed. In addition, the combination of 25 percent extract from strain Ta19 and 75 percent extract from strain Ta51 demonstrated superior antifungal properties compared with the other formulations and the control strain of the bacterium ( Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum PTCC 1745) and antibiotic (fluconazole). 16S rRNA sequencing with 99.99% similarity identified strains Ta12, Ta19, Ta37, Ta51, and Ta58 as Lactobacillus delbrueckii , Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum , Lactococcus lactis , Leuconostoc mesenteroides , and Lactobacillus johnsonii , respectively. In conclusion, a new bacterial extract formulation containing 25% L. plantarum subsp. plantarum Ta19 and 75% L. mesenteroides Ta51 has potential as a powerful probiotic against Candida .

Today, probiotics are considered to be living microorganisms whose consumption has a certain number of beneficial effects on the consumer. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of a new probiotic extract ( Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis KUMS Y33) on the differentiation process of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) into adipocytes and osteocytes and, as a result, clarify its role in the prevention and treatment of bone age disease. Several bacteria were isolated from traditional yogurt. They were evaluated to characterize the probiotic’s activity. Then, the isolated hADSCs were treated with the probiotic extract, and then osteogenesis and adipogenesis were induced. To evaluate the differentiation process, oil red O and alizarin red staining, a triglyceride content assay, an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, as well as real-time PCR and western blot analysis of osteocyte- and adipocyte-specific genes, were performed. Ultimately, the new strain was sequenced and registered on NBCI. In the probiotic-treated group, the triglyceride content and the gene expression and protein levels of C/EBP-α and PPAR-γ2 (adipocyte-specific markers) were significantly decreased compared to the control group ( P  <  0.05 ), indicating an inhibited adipogenesis process. Furthermore, the probiotic extract caused a significant increase in the ALP activity, the expression levels of RUNX2 and osteocalcin, and the protein levels of collagen I and FGF-23 (osteocyte-specific markers) in comparison to the control group ( P  <  0.05 ), indicating an enhanced osteogenesis process. According to the results of the present study, the probiotic extract inhibits adipogenesis and significantly increases osteogenesis, suggesting a positive role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and opening a new aspect for future in-vivo study.

A novel magnetic pH- and redox-responsive drug delivery system (DDS) based on natural Tragacanth gum (TG) was developed for targeted chemo/hyperthermia treatment of cancer. Firstly, acrylic acid (AA) monomer was grafted onto a maleic anhydride-functionalized TG macromonomer (MATGM) through a free radical copolymerization. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized through chemical co-precipitation, and subsequently were modified using (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane coupling agent. The magnetic stimuli-responsive hydrogel for targeted cancer therapy was synthesized by the incorporation of modified-MNPs and folic acid (FA), and simultaneous crosslinking of TG- g -PAA copolymer using cystamine (Cys) moiety. Doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox) was loaded into the fabricated magnetic hydrogel (MH), and its release was studied under pH- and redox-triggered condition. The anti-cancer activity of the Dox-loaded DDS was examined against MCF7 cells through MTT assay by both chemotherapy and chemo/hyperthermia therapy approaches. It was revealed that the developed DDS has higher anti-cancer activity (~ 24%) owing to its “smart” and slow drug release behavior as well as synergic effect of hyperthermia therapy. Graphic abstract A novel magnetite pH- and redox-responsive drug delivery system (DDS) based on natural Tragacanth gum (TG) was design and developed for targeted chemo/hyperthermia therapy of solid tumors.

Purpose: The increased demand for probiotics because of their health purposes provides the context for this study, which involves the molecular identification of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) obtained from the vaginal microbiota of healthy fertile women. The isolates were subjected for examination to prove their probiotic potential. In particular, the isolates were subjected to various tests, including acid/bile tolerance, antimicrobial activity, antibiotic susceptibility, Gram staining, and catalase enzyme activity assessment. Methods: Several methods were utilized for the molecular identification of the isolates, including ARDRA, (GTG)5-PCR fingerprinting, and the PCR sequencing of 16S-rDNA amplified fragments. Disc diffusion and well diffusion methods were used to assess antibiotic susceptibility and antibacterial activity of isolates. Tolerance to acid and bile was performed at pH 2.5 and 0.3% bile oxgall. Results: A total of 45 isolates of 88 separate organisms was selected. All of the isolates demonstrated an antibacterial effect on the exploited indicator microorganisms. All selected strains also maintained their viability at low-pH and high-bile salt conditions and exhibited abroad variation in their survival. Only the Enterococcus avium strain showed resistance to all 9 tested antibiotics. Based on the molecular identification and clustering, the 45 isolated bacteria were classified into three major groups of LAB: Enterococcus, Lactobacillus and Lactococcus. Conclusion: LAB are microorganisms that have a particularly important function in maintaining the health of the vaginal and gastrointestinal tract and in protecting it from infection by other pathogenic organisms. The isolates found to be a promising probiotic candidate by showed desirable characteristics. Therefore, strain DL3 can be used as natural food preservative with some more potential investigations.

We investigated the probiotic potential of a microencapsulated Enterococcus faecium ABRIINW.N7 for control of Streptococcus agalactiae infection in hybrid ( Oreochromis niloticus × Oreochromis mossambicus ) red tilapia. A two-phase experiment approach was completed in which E. faecium bacteria were propagated, from which a culture was isolated, identified using molecular techniques, and microencapsulated to produce a stable commercial fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and fenugreek (Fk) product of optimal concentration. The FOS and Fk products were assessed in a 90-days in vivo challenge study, in which red hybrid tilapia were allocated to one of five treatments: (1) No Streptococcus agalactiae (Sa) challenge (CON); (2) Sa challenge only (CON + ); (3) Sa challenge in a free cell (Free Cell); (4) Sa challenge with 0.8% (w/v) Alginate; (5) Microencapsulated FOS and Fk. In vitro results showed high encapsulation efficiency (≥98.6 ± 0.7%) and acceptable viability of probiotic bacteria within the simulated fish digestive system and high stability of viable cells in all gel formulations (34 < SR% <63). In vivo challenges demonstrated that the FOS and Fk products could be used to control S. agalactiae infection in tilapia fish and represented a novel investigation using microencapsulation E. faecium as a probiotic diet for tilapia fish to control S. agalactiae infection and to lower fish mortality. It is recommended that local herbal gums such as 0.2% Persian gum and 0.4% Fk in combination with 0.8% alginate (Formulation 7) can be used as a suitable scaffold and an ideal matrix for the encapsulation of probiotics. These herbal gums as prebiotics are capable of promoting the growth of probiotic cells in the food environment and digestive tract.

This study aimed to find candidate strains of Lactobacillus isolated from sheep dairy products (yogurt and ewe colostrum) with probiotic and anticancer activity. A total of 100 samples were randomly collected from yogurt and colostrum and 125 lactic acid bacteria were isolated. Of these, 17 Lactobacillus strains belonging to five species (L. delbrueckii, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, L. paracasei, and L. casei) were identified. L. plantarum 17C and 13C, which isolated from colostrums, demonstrated remarkable results such as resistant to low pH and high concentrations of bile salts, susceptible to some antibiotics and good antimicrobial activity that candidate them as potential probiotics. Seven strains (1C, 5C, 12C, 13C, 17C, 7M, and 40M), the most resistant to simulated digestion, were further investigated to evaluate their capability to adhere to human intestinal Caco‐2 cells. L. plantarum 17C was the most adherent strain. The bioactivity assessment of L. plantarum 17C showed anticancer effects via the induction of apoptosis on HT‐29 human cancer cells and negligible side effects on one human epithelial normal cell line (FHs 74). The metabolites produced by this strain can be used as alternative pharmaceutical compounds with promising therapeutic indices because they are not cytotoxic to normal mammalian cells. Probiotics modify the gut microbial composition/homeostasis. Probiotics bind to mutagens and eliminate them from the body. Probiotics enhances the mucosal and system immune responses. Probiotics can control the cell proliferation and apoptosis. Probiotics protect the intestinal barrier from deleterious.