Current Research in Biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation to elucidate the functional mechanism of Betulin in treating diabetic neuropathy","authors":"Bikas Kishan,&nbsp;Supriti Mohanty,&nbsp;Atish Kumar Sahoo","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100397","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100397","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Betulin (BET) is a naturally occurring triterpenoid, primarily found in the bark of the <em>Betula</em> species. Although it has demonstrated antidiabetic and neuroprotective properties, the underlying mechanism by which it alleviates diabetic neuropathy (DN) remains unclear. The present study investigates the therapeutic efficacy of BET (40 mg/kg) in a high-fat diet-fed, streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-induced rat model of DN through an integrated strategy combining network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using ORAC (AUC, BET: 15.54; better than Trolox: 12.06) and CAP-e tests (IC₅₀: 17.22 ± 0.39 µg/mL). BET exhibited mixed-competitive inhibition of α-amylase (IC₅₀ 44.64 ± 1.25 µg/mL) and competitive inhibition of α-glucosidase (9.52 ± 0.70 µg/mL). BET demonstrated potent inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (0.93 ± 0.12 µg/mL) and butyrylcholinesterase activities (5.02 ± 0.52 µg/mL). BET improved markers of hyperglycemia, hepatic, and dyslipidemia. It improved oxidative and inflammatory markers, increased cholinesterase and BDNF levels, decreased Aβ₄₂-aggregation, inhibited abnormal MAP-τ phosphorylation, lowered BACE1-expression, and raised ATP1A3 in DN rats. Histological examination showed improved pancreatic tissue integrity and neuronal cell morphology in DN rats. Network pharmacology revealed 67 potential targets between BET and DN, such as EGFR, STAT3, ESR1, MTOR, GSK3B, NFKB1, HSP90AA1, JAK2, PTGS2, ACHE, BCHE, INSR, NTRK1, and VEGF in the PPI network. KEGG analysis revealed IR, AGE-RAGE, PI3K-Akt, and insulin signalling pathways. Strong binding affinities between BET and pathogenic targets (AChE: −7.1, BChE: −10.4, TNF-α: −8.6, IL-6: −7.0, hs-CRP: −7.3, BACE1: −8.2, Atp1a3: −7.3 kcal/mol). BET combated hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress, improved neurotransmitters, alleviated neuropeptides, and inflammation in DN rats due to the antioxidant capacity offered by the triterpenoid skeleton possessing OH-groups at C-3 and C-28 positions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100397"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148452953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphofunctional assessment of neurons in the raphe magnus nucleus and periaqueductal gray in a rotenone-induced rat model of Parkinson’s disease under hydrocortisone protection","authors":"Margarita Danielyan,&nbsp;Hamzeh Ghorbani,&nbsp;Maia Hovsepyan,&nbsp;Naira Hunanyan,&nbsp;Kristine Karapetyan,&nbsp;Kristina Nebogova,&nbsp;Tatevik Piliposyan,&nbsp;Susanna Minasyan,&nbsp;Mikhail Poghosyan,&nbsp;Harutyun Stepanyan","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100413","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100413","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pain ranks among the most frequent nonmotor manifestations of Parkinson's disease (PD), yet the morphofunctional condition of the brainstem pain-modulating nuclei is poorly characterized in experimental models. The periaqueductal gray (PAG) and the raphe magnus nucleus (RMG) form the principal descending antinociceptive circuit and are regarded as secondary targets of PD-related neurodegeneration. In the present exploratory study, a rotenone-induced rat model is used to assess neuronal morphology and metabolic activity in the PAG and the RMG and to test the neuroprotective potential of hydrocortisone (HC). Calcium-dependent acid phosphatase (Ca²⁺-ACP) histochemistry is applied as a dual morphofunctional tool that reports enzymatic metabolic activity together with cellular architecture through lead phosphate deposition. Application of this method to both nuclei under HC treatment in a rotenone PD model has not been reported previously and constitutes the principal novelty of this work. Rotenone exposure produces marked neurodegenerative alterations, which include irregular somatic morphology, nuclear displacement, chromatolysis, dendritic atrophy, and reduced Ca²⁺-ACP activity. Densitometric analysis with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc test, computed with the animal as the unit of analysis (<em>n</em> = 3 Norm, <em>n</em> = 4 PD, <em>n</em> = 8 PD + HC), shows significant group differences for every parameter measured in both nuclei (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). Hydrocortisone treatment is associated with substantial preservation of somatic architecture, nuclear positioning, and dendritic integrity, and with recovery of Ca²⁺-ACP reactivity to approximately 75 to 80% of control values; the values of the PD + HC group nevertheless remain significantly below those of the intact controls (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). The results indicate that the pain-modulating brainstem nuclei are susceptible to PD-related neurodegeneration and that HC affords substantial although partial protection of neuronal morphology and metabolic activity under neurotoxic conditions. Confirmation in larger, balanced, and mechanistically validated cohorts is required.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100413"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148736747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and safety of Qinwei Oral Granules for acute gouty arthritis: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial","authors":"Yu Fang ,&nbsp;Congcong Liu ,&nbsp;Hong Ding ,&nbsp;Jieping Zeng ,&nbsp;Feng Nan ,&nbsp;Bin Fu ,&nbsp;Jihua Wang ,&nbsp;Ying Liu ,&nbsp;Zhaorigetu ,&nbsp;Lei Yang ,&nbsp;Jielai Xia ,&nbsp;Shenzhi Wang ,&nbsp;Maima Matin ,&nbsp;Yuan Li ,&nbsp;Shu Wang ,&nbsp;Bohua Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100395","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100395","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Traditional Chinese Medicine formulations such as Qinwei Oral Granules (QWG) have shown analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in gout; however, high-quality placebo-controlled evidence remains limited.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 476 patients with acute gouty arthritis from 12 hospitals in China were randomized (3:1) to receive QWG (12 g granules dissolved in water, three times daily; GMP-manufactured, quality controlled by HPLC fingerprinting) or matching placebo for 7 days. The primary endpoint was pain resolution, defined as a VAS pain score ≤10 mm sustained for ≥48 h without rescue medication.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In the Full Analysis Set, pain resolution at 168 h was achieved in 60.7% (n = 359) of QWG vs 33.9% (n = 115) of placebo (risk ratio 2.10; 95% CI 1.48–2.98; P &lt; 0.001). Median time to resolution exceeded 168 h in placebo, confirming superiority of QWG (log-rank P &lt; 0.001). Secondary endpoints, including reductions in C-reactive protein (10.987 (18.003) vs −13.346 (18.366) mg/L; P &lt; 0.001) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (16.94 (49.67) vs −17.32 (20.76) mm/h; P &lt; 0.001), were all significantly improved in the QWG group. Findings were consistent in the Per-Protocol Set. Adverse events occurred in 33.15% of QWG vs 29.81% of placebo, mainly mild gastrointestinal discomfort; no serious adverse reactions were reported.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>QWG significantly accelerated pain resolution and reduced systemic inflammation compared with placebo, with a favorable safety profile. These findings support QWG as a potential therapeutic option for acute gouty arthritis.</div><div>Trial Registration: ChiCTR2400083191 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100395"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148178327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multivariate phenotypic profiling and prioritization of multifunctional probiotic lactic acid bacteria from Iranian traditional dairy products","authors":"Fatemeh Nezhadhossein,&nbsp;Hamid Mirzaei,&nbsp;Yousef Nami,&nbsp;Jalil Khandaghi,&nbsp;Afshin Javadi","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100424","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100424","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditional Iranian dairy products are a rich yet underexplored source of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB). We isolated and identified 66 LAB strains from 112 artisanal dairy samples (68 cheeses, 44 yogurts) collected across 17 Iranian provinces (October 2022–March 2024) and assessed multifunctional probiotic-associated traits using a panel of <em>in vitro</em> assays integrated with complementary multivariate profiling and prioritization approaches for phenotypic characterization and comparative strain selection. <em>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</em> was the most frequent species (30/66; 45.5%). Across strains, survival at pH 2.5 reached 85.27% and bile tolerance 91.28%, while adhesion to Caco-2 cells reached 73.53% and co-aggregation with <em>Bacillus cereus</em> 90.27%. Crude cell-free supernatants exhibited strain- and pathogen-dependent antibacterial activity, with maximum inhibition zones reaching 16.07 mm against <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> and 15.27 mm against <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>. All strains were non-hemolytic (γ-hemolytic); vancomycin resistance was common (64/66), whereas susceptibility to several antibiotics remained high (chloramphenicol 98.5%, penicillin 95.5%, ampicillin 92.4%). All isolates were EPS- and bile-salt-hydrolase positive and formed biofilms (15.2% strong producers); antioxidant activity reached 82.30% and α-amylase inhibition 82.73%. Multivariate phenotypic profiling and strain prioritization consistently highlighted L. <em>pentosus</em> ID27 and <em>L. plantarum</em> ID53 as the most promising multifunctional candidates. These findings provide an <em>in vitro</em>, data-driven basis for their further evaluation in functional dairy products and food biopreservation systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100424"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149140541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Exploring the phytochemical composition and the anticancer potential of Haliclona fascigera and Stylissa carteri Red Sea sponges in colon cancer treatment: A promising approach” [Curr. Res. Biotechnol.10 (2025) 100331]","authors":"Samah S. Abuzahrah ,&nbsp;Nouf Juaid ,&nbsp;Tahani Bakhsh ,&nbsp;Serag Eldin I. Elbehairi ,&nbsp;Mohammed A. Baghdadi ,&nbsp;Reham Hassan Mekky","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100360","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100360","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100360"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization of clove oil hydro-distillation: Effects of process parameters on yield and bioactive compound recovery","authors":"Chavdar Chilev ,&nbsp;Nevena Lazarova-Zdravkova ,&nbsp;Yoana Stoyanova ,&nbsp;Stoyko Petrin ,&nbsp;Dimitar Peshev","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100373","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100373","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study focuses on the experimental optimization of clove (<em>Syzygium aromaticum</em>) oil extraction via hydro-distillation, with particular emphasis on the recovery of biologically active compounds responsible for the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of targeted oil. The objective was to determine the optimal process parameters that ensure maximum extraction efficiency of these bioactive constituents while maintaining cost-effectiveness and product quality.</div><div>The extracted oils were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography to quantify major phenolic and aromatic constituents, including eugenol and related derivatives. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, enabling quantitative evaluation of the radical-quenching capacity per milliliter of clove oil. Antibacterial potential was evaluated using the agar disk diffusion method against <em>Escherichia coli</em> K12 407 and <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> 3562, with inhibition zones providing a measure of antibacterial efficacy.</div><div>Process variables such as heating intensity and distillate volume were systematically studied in relation to oil yield, energy consumption, and bioactivity. The optimal conditions were identified at a heating intensity of 200 W with a distillate collection of 500 mL. Under these conditions, 1.219 g of clove oil was obtained from 25 g of dried clove buds, corresponding to a yield of 4.88%. The oil extracted under these optimized parameters exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity and strongest antibacterial activity, correlating with the highest concentration of eugenol detected by HPLC.</div><div>These findings demonstrate that hydro-distillation optimization not only enhances oil yield but also maximizes the recovery of bioactive compounds, supporting the efficient and sustainable production of high-quality clove essential oil with significant biotechnological potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100373"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"EvoPhys-ACP: Combining evolutionary and biochemical insights for accurate anticancer peptide prediction","authors":"Sayeda Muntaha Ferdous ,&nbsp;Shafayat Bin Shabbir Mugdha ,&nbsp;Mahtab Uddin","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100376","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100376","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anticancer peptides (ACPs) are becoming more well-known for their ability to target only cancer cells. This ability is more effective than that of many conventional therapies, which often have numerous adverse effects. Even while they show promise, finding new ACPs through laboratory experiments is still expensive and takes a lot of time, which has slowed progress in this area. In this study, we sought to address this issue by developing a machine learning approach that predicts ACPs based on evolutionary information from Position-Specific Scoring Matrices (PSSMs) and key physicochemical properties. To refine the proposed model, we used Support Vector Machine-Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE) to select the most relevant features, and we compared several classifiers, specifically Support Vector Machines, Random Forest, and Logistic Regression, using 10-fold stratified cross-validation for a robust evaluation. Standard metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, MCC, and ROC-AUC were employed to evaluate predictive performance. From the achieved results, it is evident that combining evolutionary and physicochemical criteria can significantly facilitate the identification of possible ACPs. We have deployed the trained model via a local web interface to enable real-time, sequence-based prediction, facilitating the prompt application of this research. This accessible tool is positioned to catalyze further discovery and innovation in peptide-based cancer treatment development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100376"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147395318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CRISPR-Cas12 in immunotherapy and Beyond: Advances and challenges","authors":"Tahereh Zarei Taher ,&nbsp;Mohammad Hassan Yousefi ,&nbsp;Hamed Afkhami ,&nbsp;Maria Kavianpour ,&nbsp;Amir Hossein Kheirkhah","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100356","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2025.100356","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>CRISPR-Cas12 technology has greatly advanced gene editing, offering high efficiency and accuracy. Its main applications include gene modification, disease diagnosis, and especially the development of personalized cancer therapies. CRISPR-Cas12 enhances CAR-T cell therapies, allowing immune cells to target cancer more effectively. The technology also enables precise DNA sequence changes, supporting tailored treatments based on individual tumor genetics. Importantly, CRISPR-Cas12 reduces off-target effects, improving the safety and reliability of gene therapies in clinical settings. Additionally, strategies to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, such as modulating regulatory T cells or engineering resistance to their inhibitory signals, are emphasized. However, challenges remain, including concerns about long-term safety, delivery methods, and ethical issues related to genetic modification. Despite these hurdles, CRISPR-Cas12 offers significant potential as a safe and transformative tool for innovative immunotherapies, promising more effective cancer treatments and better patient outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100356"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145685470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanistic evaluation of a polyphenol-rich cell-free extract from Bacillus sp. DO-R5: In vitro xanthine oxidase inhibition, in silico docking, and in vivo anti-gout efficacy","authors":"Tran Chi Linh,&nbsp;Chong Kim Thien Duc,&nbsp;Nguyen Trong Tuan,&nbsp;Dai Thi Xuan Trang","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100407","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100407","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gout is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperuricemia and the deposition of urate crystals in joints, leading to acute inflammation and severe pain. This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of an optimized <strong>e</strong>xtract derived from the cell-free supernatant of <em>Bacillus</em> sp. DO-R5 (hereafter designated as oDO-R5e). This polyphenol- and flavonoid-rich extract was produced by an endophytic bacterium isolated from the roots of <em>Dillenia ovata</em>. A comprehensive approach integrating <em>in vitro</em>, <em>in silico</em>, and <em>in vivo</em> models was employed. <em>In vitro</em>, oDO-R5e exhibited potent xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition (IC₅₀ = 6.66 ± 0.09 μg/mL) compared to the allopurinol standard (IC₅₀ = 1.36 ± 0.03 μg/mL), significantly outperforming its crude counterpart and many plant-derived extracts. Supporting this, <em>in silico</em> molecular docking revealed that its key constituents, notably chlorogenic acid, exhibited robust binding affinities to the XO active site (−8.0 kcal/mol), surpassing the standard drug allopurinol. Corroborating these findings, <em>in vivo</em> murine models showed that oral administration of oDO-R5e (200 and 400 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced serum uric acid levels, achieving an efficacy statistically comparable to allopurinol (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05) in potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia. Furthermore, the extract significantly attenuated oxidative stress by decreasing hepatic and renal MDA levels while restoring GSH content. oDO-R5e also exhibited notable acute anti-inflammatory and peripheral analgesic activities by reducing carrageenan-induced paw edema (comparable to diclofenac) and markedly decreasing acetic acid-induced writhing episodes. These findings demonstrate that oDO-R5e exerts multitarget effects, comprising urate-lowering, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities driven by strong XO inhibition. Owing to its sustainable microbial origin and comprehensive efficacy, oDO-R5e represents a highly promising natural candidate for gout management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100407"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148453073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fermented rhizome functional foods and postbiotic-associated multi-target anti-obesity mechanisms: A systematic review","authors":"Nurpudji Astuti Taslim,&nbsp;Adha Fauzi Hendrawan,&nbsp;Ricky Indra Alfaray,&nbsp;Haerani Rasyid,&nbsp;Nindy Sabrina,&nbsp;Nelly Mayulu,&nbsp;Edwin Hadinata,&nbsp;Raymond Rubianto Tjandrawinata,&nbsp;Purwo Sri Rejeki,&nbsp;Sovia Salamah,&nbsp;Fahrul Nurkolis","doi":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100417","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crbiot.2026.100417","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Fermented rhizome functional foods, derived from species such as <em>Curcuma longa</em>, <em>Zingiber officinale</em>, and <em>Panax notoginseng</em>, have gained attention for their potential therapeutic effects in obesity management. We reviewed current literature to evaluate the efficacy of fermented rhizome postbiotics in preclinical obesity models, encompassing anti-adipogenic, thermogenic, gut microbiota-modulatory, and anti-inflammatory roles. This systematic review focused on fermentation organisms, dosages, and underlying mechanisms.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase from inception until April 2026. Inclusion criteria were studies using in vivo or in vitro models assessing fermented rhizome effects on obesity-related outcomes with comparisons to control groups. A total of 10 studies were included. Study quality was assessed using SYRCLE's Risk of Bias Tool and ToxRTool.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>From 1307 studies retrieved, 10 met inclusion criteria across five rhizome species, fermented predominantly with <em>Lactobacillus plantarum</em> and <em>Aspergillus oryzae</em>. All eight in vivo studies reported reductions in body weight and improved lipid profiles. Fermented preparations consistently outperformed unfermented counterparts in all six direct comparisons. Gut microbiota analyses revealed enrichment of <em>Akkermansia muciniphila</em> and an improved <em>Bacteroidetes</em>/<em>Firmicutes</em> ratio. Six mechanistic axes were identified: adipogenesis suppression, AMPK–SIRT1–PGC-1α activation, gut microbiota–SCFA–brown adipose tissue thermogenesis, intestinal barrier reinforcement, inflammatory and ER stress attenuation, and appetite regulation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Preclinical evidence, derived predominantly from in vivo diet-induced obesity models, complemented by in vitro mechanistic studies, suggests that fermented rhizome products may contribute to anti-obesity effects through multiple mechanisms. This evidence derives from studies with predominantly unclear-to-high risk of bias (SYRCLE assessment) and no clinical data, and should therefore be regarded as hypothesis-generating rather than directly translatable. Standardized protocols and clinical investigations are needed to confirm therapeutic potential in obesity management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52676,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Biotechnology","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100417"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148951599","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}