Probiotics from Fermented Foods and Human Health

Lactic Acid Bacteria from Naturally Fermented Yoghurt in Xinjiang and Their Anti-Constipation Effects: A Review of Mechanisms and Evidence

Xin ZHAO, Jianfei MU, Ruokun YI — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Xinjiang, a multi-ethnic region in China, is known for its traditional fermented yoghurt, a staple food among local herders. The lactic acid bacteria in the naturally fermented dairy products have attracted the attention of many researchers, including the intervention effect of these lactic acid bacteria on constipation. This chapter reviews recent studies and data on the anti-constipation effects of probiotics isolated from naturally fermented yoghurt in Xinjiang. Such yoghurt is a rich source of microbial diversity, many strains of which have been or are being developed and utilised as probiotics in the food industry. Specifically, Lactobacillus strains isolated from Xinjiang's naturally fermented yoghurt have been demonstrated to exhibit significant constipation-alleviating effects. These lactic acid bacteria effectively improve symptoms in constipated animal models, supporting their potential application as probiotics. Further mechanistic studies indicate that their efficacy is associated with the targeted regulation of the stem cell factor (SCF)/c-Kit signalling pathway and the expression of nitric oxide synthase. Moreover, the anti-constipation effect of these probiotics from Xinjiang yoghurt has been shown to be superior to that of common commercial probiotic products, highlighting their potential as high-quality agents for managing constipation. This review synthesises the available evidence, proposes research perspectives, and suggests directions for future investigation.

Probiotics and Obesity: Insights from Recent Research

Jing ZHANG, Jianfei MU, XiXi LI, Xin ZHAO — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Obesity is a widespread public health problem, and its pathogenesis is complex. It refers to excessive accumulation and/or abnormal distribution of fat in the body. The global prevalence of obesity continues to rise, primarily driven by an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. Intestinal flora plays a significant regulatory role in metabolic disorders and obesity, with notable differences in its composition observed between individuals with obesity and those of normal weight. Several studies have indicated that probiotics can ameliorate high-fat diet-induced obesity. The intestinal microbial community is less rich in obese individuals than that in normal-weight individuals, and the change in the microbial community at the genus level is closely related to obesity. Therefore, modulating the intestinal microbiota may represent an effective strategy for controlling or even preventing obesity, and certain probiotics have demonstrated promising anti-obesity effects. This review aims to summarise the experimental approaches used to study probiotics in the context of obesity, as well as the body weight-reducing effects and mechanisms of action of probiotics in both experimental and clinical settings. It is intended to provide researchers with an updated understanding of the benefits of weight-management probiotics and to offer a reference for subsequent investigations in this field.

Lactobacillus plantarum KFY02 from Naturally Fermented Yoghurt Alleviates High-Fat Diet–Induced Obesity in Mice via PPAR-α/γ Signalling

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease which is caused by many reasons, and the fundamental difference lies in that energy ingestion and consumption are unbalanced. Lactobacillus species have been reported to improve gut health, enhance nutrient absorption, lower serum cholesterol, regulate toxins, and inhibit the growth of harmful intestinal bacteria. In this study, Lactobacillus plantarum KFY02 (LP-KFY02), a novel strain isolated from Xinjiang fermented Yoghurt, was evaluated for its lipid-lowering effects in an in vivo animal model. Obesity was induced in mice using a high-fat diet (HFD). Serum and tissue samples were subsequently analysed via molecular biological assays. The results demonstrated that LP-KFY02 significantly suppressed the HFD-induced increase in organ indices. Furthermore, LP-KFY02 reduced serum and hepatic levels of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), while enhancing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in obese mice. Histopathological examination revealed that LP-KFY02 alleviated obesity-related liver injury and reduced adipocyte enlargement in mouse tissues. Quantitative PCR results indicated that LP-KFY02 up-regulated the mRNA expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR-α), cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) in both liver and epididymal adipose tissues, while down-regulating the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBP-α). Additionally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results showed that LP-KFY02 markedly decreased serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1β, and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and increased levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10. In summary, LP-KFY02 effectively ameliorated HFD-induced obesity, exhibiting efficacy comparable to commercially available L-carnitine and superior to the commonly used industrial strain Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus. These findings suggest that LP-KFY02 is a health-promoting strain with considerable probiotic potential.

Lipid-Lowering Effects of Lactobacillus fermentum CQPC04 in C57BL/6J Mice

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Probiotics, as functional dietary components, can effectively regulate lipid metabolism and promote health. This study investigated Lactobacillus fermentum CQPC04 (LF-CQPC04), a strain isolated from traditional naturally fermented Sichuan pickles, to examine its lipid-lowering effects and underlying mechanisms in mice. Sixty 6-week-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into six groups, with 10 mice in each group and were fed a high-fat diet and administered different doses of LF-CQPC04 for 8 weeks. Their weight, food intake, and water intake were recorded daily. Histopathological, biochemical, immunological, and molecular analyses were performed. The results demonstrated that LF-CQPC04 significantly suppressed abnormal body weight gain and visceral index increases induced by a high-fat diet. It also reduced serum levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP), while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c). Furthermore, LF-CQPC04 lowered the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and elevated anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 in the serum of high-fat diet-fed mice. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot analyses revealed that LF-CQPC04 downregulated the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBP-α) at both mRNA and protein levels in liver tissues. Conversely, it upregulated the expression of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), catalase (CAT), cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), PPAR-α, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1). Notably, LF-CQPC04 exhibited stronger lipid-regulating effects compared to both L-carnitine and commercial Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (LB). In conclusion, LF-CQPC04 demonstrates beneficial lipid-lowering properties and possesses promising probiotic potential. However, this study was limited to in vivo experiments, and it lacks corresponding cell experiments to verify the molecular mechanism and human experiments to verify the effect. Future studies will incorporate both cellular and human experiments to more comprehensively validate the lipid-lowering effects and mechanistic actions of LF-CQPC04.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Lactobacillus fermentum ZS40 in a DSS-induced Murine Colitis Model

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with a complex aetiology and a potential risk of progression to colon cancer. Probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria naturally residing in the human body, have demonstrated efficacy in modulating gut microbiota balance and mitigating inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Lactobacillus fermentum ZS40 (ZS40) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)- induced ulcerative colitis in mice. Disease severity was assessed by measuring colon length and weight and by examining histopathological changes in colon tissues. Furthermore, the impacts of ZS40 on oxidative stress and inflammatory responses were evaluated using biochemical assays, ELISA, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and western blot analysis. The results showed that ZS40 treatment alleviated colonic damage, reducing inflammatory cell infiltration and goblet cell necrosis. It significantly increased the serum levels of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), while decreasing myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA). ZS40 also modulated the cytokine balance by downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulating anti-inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, ZS40 downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65), IL-6, and TNF-α, while upregulating the expression of inhibitor of kappa B alpha (IκB- α). Additionally, it suppressed the MAPK pathway, evidenced by the downregulated mRNA expression of p38 and JNK1/2, as well as reduced levels of p38, phosphorylated p38 (p-p38), JNK1/2, and phosphorylated JNK1/2 (p-JNK1/2) proteins. In conclusion, our findings suggest that Lactobacillus fermentum ZS40 ameliorates DSS-induced colitis by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation, potentially through the NF-κB and MAPK signalling pathways, indicating its promise as a therapeutic candidate for ulcerative colitis.

Isolation of Lactobacillus plantarum HFY05 from Naturally Fermented Yak Yoghurt and Its Protective Effects against Alcoholic Liver Injury in Mice

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Lactobacillus plantarum HFY05 (LP-HFY05), a novel strain isolated and identified from traditional yak Yoghurt in Hongyuan, Sichuan Province of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, was investigated for its probiotic potential and hepatoprotective effects against alcoholic liver injury. In vitro assessments revealed that LP-HFY05 possessed superior tolerance to artificial gastric acid and bile salts compared to the commercial strain Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (LDSB). In a murine model of chronic alcohol-induced liver injury, intervention with LP-HFY05 significantly ameliorated hepatic pathology and reduced the liver index. It systematically improved serum biochemical profiles by downregulating the levels of liver injury markers (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase), lipids (triglyceride, total cholesterol), uremic toxin (blood urea nitrogen), and oxidative metabolite (malondialdehyde, MDA), while upregulating albumin and key antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; glutathione peroxidase). Furthermore, LP-HFY05 treatment suppressed systemic inflammation, evidenced by decreased serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Mechanistic studies utilising quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis demonstrated that LP-HFY05 modulated the hepatic NF-κB pathway and redox system. It upregulated the expression of antioxidant enzymes (manganese-SOD, copper-zinc-SOD, and CAT) and endothelial/neuronal nitric oxide synthases (eNOS/nNOS), while downregulating inducible NOS (iNOS) and nuclear factor-κB-p65 (NF-κB p65) expression. Concurrently, LP-HFY05 restored gut microbial homeostasis, increasing the abundance of beneficial genera (Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus) and reducing harmful bacterial populations (Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae) in the faeces of injured mice. The hepatoprotective efficacy of LP-HFY05 was superior to that of LDSB and comparable to the positive control drug silymarin. In conclusion, Lactobacillus plantarum HFY05, a robust probiotic candidate from traditional fermented dairy, demonstrates significant protective effects against alcoholic liver injury. Its multi-faceted actions involve alleviating oxidative stress, inhibiting inflammation, regulating the NF-κB and NOS pathways, and restoring intestinal microbiota balance, positioning it as a high-quality microbial resource for potential therapeutic or functional food applications.