Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
China-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences, Xiamen University Malaysia, 43900, Sepang, Malaysia.
BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021 Jul 1;21(1):183. doi: 10.1186/s12906-021-03358-3.
In recent years, researchers are interested in the discovery of active compounds from traditional remedies and natural sources, as they reveal higher therapeutic efficacies and improved toxicological profiles. Among the various traditional treatments that have been widely studied and explored for their potential therapeutic benefits, kefir, a fermented beverage, demonstrates a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and healing activities. These health-promoting properties of kefir vary among the kefir cultures found at the different part of the world as different media and culture conditions are used for kefir maintenance and fermentation.
This study investigated the microbial composition and readily found bioactive compounds in water kefir fermented in Malaysia using 16S rRNA microbiome and UHPLC sequencing approaches. The toxicity effects of the kefir water administration in BALB/c mice were analysed based on the mice survival, body weight index, biochemistry profile, and histopathological changes. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using SOD, FRAP, and NO assays.
The 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed the most abundant species found in the water kefir was Lactobacillus hilgardii followed by Lactobacillus harbinensis, Acetobacter lovaniensis, Lactobacillus satsumensis, Acetobacter tropicalis, Lactobacillus zeae, and Oenococcus oeni. The UHPLC screening showed flavonoid and phenolic acid derivatives as the most important bioactive compounds present in kefir water which has been responsible for its antioxidant activities. Subchronic toxicity study showed no toxicological signs, behavioural changes, or adverse effects by administrating 10 mL/kg/day and 2.5 mL/kg/day kefir water to the mice. Antioxidants assays demonstrated enhanced SOD and FRAP activities and reduced NO level, especially in the brain and kidney samples.
This study will help to intensify the knowledge on the water kefir microbial composition, available phytochemicals and its toxicological and antioxidant effects on BALB/c mice since there are very limited studies on the water kefir grain fermented in Malaysia.
近年来，研究人员对从传统药物和天然来源中发现活性化合物产生了兴趣，因为它们显示出更高的治疗功效和改善的毒理学特性。在各种已被广泛研究和探索其潜在治疗益处的传统疗法中，开菲尔是一种发酵饮料，具有广泛的药理特性，包括抗氧化、抗炎和愈合作用。由于世界各地使用不同的培养基和培养条件来维持和发酵开菲尔，因此开菲尔的这些促进健康的特性在不同地区的开菲尔文化中有所不同。
本研究使用 16S rRNA 微生物组和 UHPLC 测序方法，研究了在马来西亚发酵的水开菲尔中的微生物组成和易发现的生物活性化合物。根据小鼠的存活率、体重指数、生化谱和组织病理学变化，分析了水开菲尔给药的毒性作用。使用 SOD、FRAP 和 NO 测定法评估了抗氧化活性。
16S rRNA 扩增子测序显示，在水开菲尔中发现的最丰富的物种是乳酸乳球菌，其次是哈尔滨乳杆菌、嗜热醋酸杆菌、清酒乳杆菌、热带醋酸杆菌、玉米乳杆菌和酒球菌。UHPLC 筛选表明，类黄酮和酚酸衍生物是水开菲尔中最重要的生物活性化合物，这些化合物具有抗氧化活性。亚慢性毒性研究表明，以 10 mL/kg/天和 2.5 mL/kg/天的剂量给小鼠服用开菲尔水没有毒性迹象、行为变化或不良反应。抗氧化剂测定表明，SOD 和 FRAP 活性增强，NO 水平降低，尤其是在大脑和肾脏样本中。
由于对在马来西亚发酵的水开菲尔谷物的研究非常有限，因此本研究将有助于加强对水开菲尔微生物组成、可用植物化学物质及其对 BALB/c 小鼠的毒理学和抗氧化作用的认识。
