• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2008

We investigated the combinatorial effects of different doses of dietary soy isoflavones (SI) and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) in a rat model of colon cancer. We hypothesized that increased bioavailability of SI metabolites due to dietary FOS may increase production of bioactive equol and affect colon carcinogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. Sprague-Dawley male rats were injected with 12-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and were providec experimental diets that contained 0, 10, 50, 150, or 500 mg SI per kg of diet and 6% FOS for 12 weeks. The number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in colonic tissues were significantly decreased in the 6% FOS-fed groups compared to the control group. Gut transit time and fecal pH were significantly lower, and fecal concentrations of bifidobacteria were increased with 6% FOS. However, dietary SI supplementation in combination with 6% dietary FOS did not affect ACF formation or COX-2 expression. Plasma equol concentrations were dose-dependently increased by supplementation of SI up to 500 mg/kg of diet. In conclusion, SI supplementation up to 500 mg/kg of diet appeared to have no additive beneficial effects in rats with chemically-induced colon cancer that were fed 6% FOS, although plasma equol was dose-dependently increased.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.217-223
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• 2013

Pueraria lobata, a medicinally important leguminous plant produces various isoflavones including puerarin, daidzin and daidzein which are metabolized to equol via dihydrodaidzein and tetrahydrodaidzein by the bacterial fermentation of natural isoflavone sources in human intestines. In this study, we described callus proliferation and isoflavone production in callus of Korean wild arrowroot and dihydrodaidzein biosynthesis in callus extract fermented with Pediococcus pentosaceus. Proliferation was the best at callus cultured in the medium containing 1.0 mg/L TDZ and 1.0 mg/L NAA at light condition for 12 days. Puerarin was significantly more produced at callus cultured in the medium containing 2.0 mg/L kinetin and 1.0 mg/L NAA at dark condition for 16 days, but daidzin and daidzein were not significant. Callus extract was successfully fermented with P. pentosaceus and dihydrodaidzein, which is one of equol precursors formed by biotransformation, was confirmed to be produced. These results will facilitate mass production of callus and isoflavones as equol precursors from Korean wild arrowroot and can be applied for the production of equol by biotransformation in vitro.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.869-877
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• 2017

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are used as fermentation starters in vegetable and dairy products and influence the pH and flavors of foods. For many centuries, LAB have been used to manufacture fermented foods; therefore, they are generally regarded as safe. LAB produce various substances, such as lactic acid, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, and ${\beta}$-galactosidase, making them useful as fermentation starters. Existing functional substances have been assessed as fermentation substrates for better component bioavailability or other functions. Representative materials that were bioconverted using LAB have been reported and include minor ginsenosides, ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid, equol, aglycones, bioactive isoflavones, genistein, and daidzein, among others. Fermentation mainly involves polyphenol and polysaccharide substrates and is conducted using bacterial strains such as Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Bifidobacterium sp. In this review, we summarize recent studies of bioconversion using LAB and discuss future directions for this field.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1607-1613
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• 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is regarded as one of the most common and deadly forms of cancer. Gut microbiota is vital to retain and promote several functions of intestinal. Although previous researches have shown that some gut microbiota have the abilities to inhibit tumorigenesis and prevent cancer from progressing, they have not yet clearly identified associative mechanisms. This review not only concentrates on the antitumor effects of metabolites produced by gut microbiota, for example, SCFA, ferrichrome, urolithins, equol and conjugated linoleic acids, but also the molecules which constituted the bacterial cell wall have the antitumor effect in the host, including lipopolysaccharide, lipoteichoic acid, β-glucans and peptidoglycan. The aim of our review is to develop a possible therapeutic method, which use the products of gut microbiota metabolism or gut microbiota constituents to help treat or prevent colorectal cancer.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.447-451
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• 2022

Phytoestrogenic S-equol production in human gut exclusively depends on the biotransformation of daidzein to dihydrodaidzein (DHD). With a growing demand for the DHD enriched biomaterials, the commercial soybean hypocotyl extract (SHE) was chosen as a substrate for the microbial DHD production by human gut bacterium MRG-1, anaerobic DHD producer. To optimize the production of DHD, anaerobic fermentation conditions, including sterilization time, growth stage of inoculum, and growth media, were investigated. Maximum DHD production (1.2 g/L) was achieved after 48 h incubation when 1% (w/v) of SHE in the 20-min-sterilized Gifu Anaeboic Medium media was inoculated with OD₆₀₀ 0.3-0.4 of MRG-1. This is the first report that crude soy biomaterial, instead of pure compounds, such as daidzin and daidzein, is utilized for the production of the DHD enriched biomaterial.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.207-215
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• 2024

The gut microbiota, an intricate community of bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal system, assumes a pivotal role in various physiological processes. Beyond its function in food breakdown and nutrient absorption, gut microbiota exerts a profound influence on immune and metabolic modulation by producing diverse gut microbiota-generated metabolites (GMGMs). These small molecules hold potential to impact host health via multiple pathways, which exhibit remarkable diversity, and have gained increasing attention in recent studies. Here, we elucidate the intricate implications and significant impacts of four specific metabolites, Urolithin A (UA), equol, Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and imidazole propionate, in shaping human health. Meanwhile, we also look into the advanced research on GMGMs, which demonstrate promising curative effects and hold great potential for further clinical therapies. Notably, the emergence of positive outcomes from clinical trials involving GMGMs, typified by UA, emphasizes their promising prospects in the pursuit of improved health and longevity. Collectively, the multifaceted impacts of GMGMs present intriguing avenues for future research and therapeutic interventions.