Azka Ainun Nisaa, Kar Shin Goh, Uma Mageswary, Muhammad Nashriq Kadir, Salina Sany, Engku Husna Engku Ismail, Min-Tze Liong, Joo-Shun Tan, Azha Syahril Azizan
{"title":"Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of the Probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Probio87 for Gut–Vaginal Microbiota Modulation in Healthy Women","authors":"Azka Ainun Nisaa, Kar Shin Goh, Uma Mageswary, Muhammad Nashriq Kadir, Salina Sany, Engku Husna Engku Ismail, Min-Tze Liong, Joo-Shun Tan, Azha Syahril Azizan","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70535","DOIUrl":"10.1002/mnfr.70535","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The gut–vaginal axis represents a key frontier in women's health, where probiotics can influence both ecosystems through microbial and metabolic crosstalk. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the effects of <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> Probio87 (9 log CFU/sachet) administered orally for 12 weeks on gut and vaginal microbiota modulation. Healthy women aged 18–80 years without urogenital infections, pregnancy, recent vaginal/hormonal therapies, chronic illness medication, and recent pelvic or gynecological surgery were enrolled. 112 participants were randomized to probiotic (<i>n</i> = 58) or placebo (<i>n</i> = 54). Vaginal and fecal samples collected at baseline and week 12 underwent 16S rRNA sequencing for taxonomic and diversity analyses. No adverse effects were reported throughout the study. Compared with placebo, the probiotic group showed a significantly greater reduction in Nugent score (<i>p</i> = 0.008), indicating improved vaginal health. Microbiota analyses revealed that Probio87 maintained vaginal microbiota by suppressing BV-associated taxa while preserving beneficial <i>Lactobacillales</i>. In the gut, Probio87 enhanced microbial richness and evenness, with notable increases in butyrate-producing genera, indicating a predicted rise in short-chain fatty acid-producing potential and greater ecological resilience. These findings demonstrate that oral supplementation with Probio87 safely promotes balanced gut and vaginal microbiota, supporting eubiosis and integrative female health.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 13","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148434423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nize Otaru, Julia K. Bird, Sara Soldi, Vera Atanasova, Valeria Sagheddu, Emiel Ver Loren van Themaat, Jan van Leeuwen, Robert E. Steinert
{"title":"Bile Acid Deconjugation and Anti-Helicobacter pylori Activity of Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 34531","authors":"Nize Otaru, Julia K. Bird, Sara Soldi, Vera Atanasova, Valeria Sagheddu, Emiel Ver Loren van Themaat, Jan van Leeuwen, Robert E. Steinert","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70514","DOIUrl":"10.1002/mnfr.70514","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Limosilactobacillus reuteri</i> DSM 34531 has been attributed with probiotic characteristics, including a reduction of symptoms of acute diarrhea and atopic dermatitis. Yet, other probiotic features typical for some <i>Lm. reuteri</i> strains such as bile salt hydrolase (BSH) and anti- Helicobacter pylori activity have hitherto not been documented. Whole genome sequencing of <i>Lm. reuteri</i> DSM 34531 was performed to identify BSH genes, followed by BSH classification into previously described BSH clades. Suspended cell pellets and supernatants were tested for BSH activity via a quantitative colorimetric method. Auto- and co-aggregation, and urease activity of single and mixed <i>Lm. reuteri</i> DSM 34531 and <i>H. pylori</i> DSM 21031T cultures were evaluated using optical density- and microscopy-based approaches. Genome analysis of <i>Lm. reuteri</i> DSM 34531 revealed a single BSH-encoding gene, with its protein sequence clustering closest to the BSH-T3 phylotype. Corresponding in vitro BSH activity was confirmed. <i>Lm. reuteri</i> DSM 34531 co-aggregated with <i>H. pylori</i> DSM 21031T and reduced its urease activity. Conclusively, our data suggest that <i>Lm. reuteri</i> DSM 34531 possesses an active BSH, suggesting potential relevance to cholesterol metabolism. We also demonstrate in vitro co-aggregation with <i>H. pylori</i> while reducing its urease activity indicating potential anti–<i>H. pylori</i> activity under in vitro conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 13","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mnfr.70514","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148415137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tucum-do-Cerrado (Bactris setosa Mart.) Consumption Promoted a Healthier Expansion of Adipose Tissue in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Rats","authors":"Marilia Hermes Cavalcanti, Amílcar Sabino Damazo, Sandra Fernandes Arruda","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70498","DOIUrl":"10.1002/mnfr.70498","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Tucum-do-Cerrado (<i>Bactris setosa Mart</i>.) is a polyphenol-rich Brazilian fruit known to improve glucose metabolism. This study investigated its effects on brown (BAT), inguinal (iWAT), and epididymal (eWAT) adipose tissues in a diet-induced obesity model. Rats received control (CT/TUC-), high-fat (HF/TUC-), control with Tucum-do-Cerrado (CT/TUC+), or high-fat with Tucum-do-Cerrado (HF/TUC+) diets. Tucum-do-Cerrado promoted healthier adipose expansion by stimulating adipogenic/thermogenic-related genes while downregulating lipogenesis. In BAT, HF/TUC+ attenuated adipocyte hypertrophy and decreased the number of unilocular adipocytes. Tucum-do-Cerrado downregulated <i>Fasn</i> mRNA levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, whereas it increased thermogenesis-related <i>Ucp1</i> mRNA. In the iWAT, HF/TUC+ decreased the adipocyte area and oxidative markers, while increasing the number of multilocular adipocytes and UCP1 protein levels. Tucum-do-Cerrado decreased <i>Acaca, Prkaa2</i>, <i>Il10</i> mRNA, and GPx activity; conversely, it stimulated the thermogenesis-related genes <i>Ppargc1a</i> and <i>Prdm16</i>. Regarding eWAT, its consumption increased the number of multilocular adipocytes, <i>Prkaa1, Ppargc1a, Ucp1</i>, <i>Prdm16</i>, and <i>Vegfa</i> mRNA levels, carbonyl levels, and GPx activity, while decreasing <i>Acaca</i> and <i>Fasn</i> mRNA levels. Therefore, Tucum-do-Cerrado prevented adipocyte hypertrophy and increased the number of multilocular adipocytes. The beneficial effects of Tucum-do-Cerrado in an obesity model may be attributed to enhanced antioxidant capacity and inflammatory status, highlighting its potential in attenuating adipose tissue dysfunction.</p>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 13","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mnfr.70498","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148349125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ayman Furqan, Muhammad Tauseef Sultan, Muhammad Usman Khalid, Muhammad Waqar, Muhammad Maaz, Laiba Tanvir, Rameen Naeem, Mutjardah Zarrish, Sabrin R. M. Ibrahim, Gamal A. Mohamed, Md. Sakhawot Hossain, Hagar M. Mohamed
{"title":"Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: Microbiome Dysregulation, Gut–Brain Axis Disruption, and Systemic Consequences","authors":"Ayman Furqan, Muhammad Tauseef Sultan, Muhammad Usman Khalid, Muhammad Waqar, Muhammad Maaz, Laiba Tanvir, Rameen Naeem, Mutjardah Zarrish, Sabrin R. M. Ibrahim, Gamal A. Mohamed, Md. Sakhawot Hossain, Hagar M. Mohamed","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70541","DOIUrl":"10.1002/mnfr.70541","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by excessive bacterial colonization in the small intestine, leading to impaired digestion and nutrient malabsorption. Increasing evidence indicates that SIBO exerts systemic effects beyond the gut, contributing to metabolic, neurological, cardiovascular, dermatological, and autoimmune conditions. Current management strategies include nonsystemic antibiotics such as rifaximin, dietary interventions (low-FODMAP and biphasic diets), and nutraceuticals including berberine, oregano oil, peppermint oil, garlic derivatives, vitamins, and magnesium. Despite demonstrated clinical efficacy, challenges persist, including high recurrence rates, antimicrobial resistance, and long-term disruption of gut microbiota. Nutraceutical and dietary approaches offer promising patient-centered alternatives but require stronger clinical validation. This review critically examines the multifactorial pathophysiology of SIBO, emphasizing gut–brain axis dysregulation, microbial dysbiosis, oxidative stress, impaired intestinal motility, anatomical abnormalities, hypochlorhydria, bile acid malabsorption, and immune dysfunction. It synthesizes current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, highlighting antibiotics, dietary approaches, and nutraceuticals, while distinguishing robust evidence from observational or preclinical findings. Finally, it identifies key research priorities, including improved diagnostics, global clinical trials, and microbiome- and genetics-based personalized treatments for sustained remission.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 13","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148349082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Regulatory Effects of Functional Food Biscuits on Mouse Brain Function and Gut Microbiota","authors":"Zeli Zhang, Shiqin Xie, Zhoujin Tan","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70545","DOIUrl":"10.1002/mnfr.70545","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The concept of food-medicine homology, derived from traditional Chinese dietary culture, endows functional food biscuits with both nutritional value and therapeutic potency. Such biscuits are abundant in bioactive compounds including polysaccharides, dietary fiber, and flavonoids, which may exert regulatory effects through the microbiota–gut–brain axis (MGBA). This study explored the impacts of functional biscuits formulated with <i>Gastrodia elata</i> Bl., <i>Poria cocos</i> (Schw.) Wolf, <i>Coix lacryma-jobi</i> L. var. ma-yuen (Roman.) Stapf, <i>Sesamum indicum</i> L., <i>Juglans regia</i> L., and <i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> Mill. on intestinal microbiota and cerebral biochemical indicators in mice. Mice were assigned to four groups: control, low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose biscuit groups. We measured serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β), hippocampal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as well as cerebral superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, and profiled intestinal microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The low-dose group exhibited optimal modulation of hippocampal AChE and BDNF, concurrent with reshaped intestinal microbiota and elevated abundance of beneficial bacterial taxa. Intervention doses exerted significant effects on microbial diversity; genera such as unclassified Atopobiaceae, Facklamia, and Staphylococcus were significantly correlated with changes in cerebral biomarkers. Collectively, these compound biscuits remodel the intestinal microbiota to ameliorate brain function, antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory status via the MGBA, demonstrating great potential for maintaining cognitive and neurological health.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 13","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148349083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Francesca Bietto, Myriam M.-L. Grundy, Elena Arranz, Sandra Wiart-Letort, Eva Rath, Alice J. Lucey, Linda Giblin
{"title":"Culture Optimization of the IPEC–J2 Piglet Jejunum Cell Line for Applications in Infant Nutrition Research","authors":"Francesca Bietto, Myriam M.-L. Grundy, Elena Arranz, Sandra Wiart-Letort, Eva Rath, Alice J. Lucey, Linda Giblin","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70540","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.70540","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The intestinal porcine epithelial cell line (IPEC–J2) is a nontransformed jejunal model derived from unsuckled piglets. It is increasingly used in gut physiology research, yet its application to nutrient absorption remains underexplored. Four media types were assessed for their ability to support IPEC–J2 barrier maturation and permeability: Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium/Ham's F-12 with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS10), 10% porcine serum (PS10), 5% porcine serum (PS5) supplemented with Wnt3a-R-spondin-Noggin conditioned medium (PS5+L-WRN), and PS5 with epidermal growth factor and insulin-transferrin-selenium (PS5+EGF+ITS). Culture medium influenced epithelial phenotype, with more than a 30-fold range in transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), which plateaued by day 12. PS10 supported a balanced profile, characterized by intermediate TEER (2395.00 ± 485.51 Ω<i> × </i>cm<sup>2</sup>), lowest lactulose and mannitol permeability (<i>p</i> < 0.05), high lactate dehydrogenase activity (<i>p</i> < 0.05 vs. PS5+L-WRN and FBS10), enhanced membrane localization of tight junction proteins (<i>p</i> < 0.05 vs. PS5+EGF+ITS), and reduced fibroblast marker S100A4 (<i>p</i> < 0.05 vs. PS5+EGF+ITS). Treatment with digested infant milk formula did not compromise barrier integrity in PS10-cultured IPEC-J2 monolayers and enabled transport of free amino acids to the basolateral compartment. These findings support IPEC-J2 as an alternative to Caco-2 cells for applications in infant nutrition research in vitro.</p>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mnfr.70540","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148324322","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Betulinic Acid in Gastrointestinal Cancers: Mechanistic Prioritization, Nano-Enabled Delivery, and Translational Barriers","authors":"Ajay Kumar, Amita, Brahmjot Singh, Manoj Kumar, Pooja Sharma","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70516","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.70516","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are one of the leading causes of cancer death in the world. Since it is often not diagnosed early, it typically becomes resistant to chemotherapy, and genetic alterations in tumors are associated with metabolic remodeling, inflammatory reactions, and immunological evasion. Systemic therapies have improved yet sustained responses in progressive GI disease have not been obtained and require mechanism-directed approaches. Betulinic acid (BA) is an anticancer agent with low normal cell toxicity that exhibits selectivity and is obtained naturally as a pentacyclic triterpenoid. Preclinical results show that BA induces mitochondrial apoptosis, inhibits the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways, inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and reverses cancer stemness, thereby creating resistance. There are comparative data in favor of pancreatic and colorectal cancers, with strong, validated, and effective data from aggressive disease models; data on gastric cancer accumulate through inflammation and by regulating stemness; esophageal data are preliminary. Nano-delivery is the answer to BA's low solubility and bioavailability, but it still faces challenges related to scale, long-term safety, and regulation. In fact, translational gaps are more about formulation than efficacy, providing a path to optimization, stratification, and clinical progress in GI cancers.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148269123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Shrimp Oil Enhances Cognition by Suppressing Neuroinflammation in a Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion Rat Model","authors":"Jittiporn Wongpun, Piyawadee Wicha, Jirakhamon Sengking, Natchaphol Buamard, Soottawat Benjakul, Chainarong Tocharus, Sawanya Charoenlappanit, Sittiruk Roytrakul, Jiraporn Tocharus","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70533","DOIUrl":"10.1002/mnfr.70533","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common age-related condition worldwide in aging populations. Neuroinflammation is a key contributor to the pathological process of VaD. Shrimp oil is a by-product of shrimp processing that is rich in astaxanthin and lipids. This study aimed to investigate the effect of shrimp oil on neuroinflammation and its underlying mechanisms in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) rats. Male Wistar rats subjected to bilateral common carotid artery occlusion received oral shrimp oil or piracetam once daily for 5 weeks. Shrimp oil significantly improved muscle coordination and enhanced reference spatial memory. Proteomic profiling showed that shrimp oil mitigated the CCH-induced proteomic signature, specifically reprogramming protein clusters related to neuroinflammation and AMPK–SIRT1 signaling. Western blot analysis indicated that shrimp oil reduced the expression of neuroinflammation-associated proteins, including TLR4 and NF-κB, and suppressed M1 microglial activation, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and pyroptosis. These effects were accompanied by increased expression of myelination-related proteins, including oligodendrocyte transcription factor 1 (OLIG1) and myelin basic protein (MBP). Inflammation was more likely suppressed by upregulated AMPK and sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) pathway, but not related to PPARγ signaling. These findings suggest that shrimp oil is a promising candidate for the treatment of VaD.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148256788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}