Articles
Publication Date: 2026
Epilepsy and Behavior (15255050)176
Epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, often proves resistant to pharmacological treatment. Given emerging research on the positive effects of probiotics on seizures, this study investigated the impact of Familact probiotic on seizures induced by electrical kindling, and on learning and memory in rats. Four animal groups received either saline or probiotic orally, beginning two weeks prior to surgery. Two of these groups were subjected to electrical stimulation until fully kindled, while the other two served as non-stimulated shams. The results demonstrated significant anti-epileptogenic effects from the probiotic. Treated animals required a significantly higher number of stimulations to reach the stages 4 and 5 of seizures. Furthermore, the duration of after-discharge waves during threshold determination and in fully kindled rats was significantly reduced with probiotic administration. However, no significant differences were observed in the stage 4 latency or the duration of stage 5 seizures. In behavioral tests, electrical kindling impaired the acquisition of spatial memory in the Morris water maze, as the saline-treated kindled group showed no improvement in finding a hidden platform. In contrast, both the probiotic-treated sham and kindled groups exhibited a significant reduction in the time needed to locate the platform, indicating that probiotics improved spatial memory acquisition. Probiotic administration did not significantly affect the acquisition of passive avoidance memory, nor did it impact memory retrieval in either learning test. In conclusion, long-term probiotic consumption can delay seizure acquisition, exert anticonvulsant effects, and positively influence the acquisition of spatial memory, highlighting its potential therapeutic role. © 2026
Publication Date: 2024
Scientific Reports (20452322)14(1)
Despite the current use of some Bacillus spp. as probiotics, looking for and introducing new efficient and safe potential probiotic strains is one of the most important topics in both microbiology and food industry. This study aimed to isolate, identify, and evaluate the probiotic characteristics and safety of some Bacillus spp. from natural sources. Thirty-six spore-forming, Gram-positive, and catalase-positive Bacillus isolates were identified in 54 samples of soil, feces and dairy products. Bacterial identification was performed using 16S rDNA sequencing. To evaluate the probiotic potential of isolates, the resistance of bacterial cells to simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) conditions, the presence of enterotoxin genes, their susceptibility to antibiotics, antimicrobial and hemolytic activities and biochemical profiles were investigated. The results revealed that eight sporulating Bacillus spp. isolates fulfilled all tested probiotic criteria. They showed a high growth rate, non-hemolytic and lecithinase activity, and resistance to simulated GIT conditions. These strains exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria. In addition, they did not exhibit antibacterial resistance to the 12 tested antibiotics. The results of this study suggest that these isolates can be considered as candidates for functional foods and as safe additives to improve diet quality. © 2024, The Author(s).
Publication Date: 2023
Scientific Reports (20452322)13(1)
Recently Bacillus spp. has gained much attention as potential probiotics due to the production of resistant cells. So, this research is purposeful for evaluation of probiotic characteristics of Bacillus isolates from camel milk as a suitable source for growth and isolation of microorganisms that can be candidate to be used as probiotic. First, forty-eight colonies were screened by using morphological and biochemical analysis. Among the isolates, two of them were recognized as Bacillussubtilis CM1 and CM2 by partial 16SrRNA sequencing that, probiotic potentials of them were evaluated. Both of them, in the preliminary safety screening, were found negative for hemolysis and lecithinase activity. Also, in vitro characteristics such as acid, bile salts and artificial gastric juice resistant, cell surface hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, antioxidant characteristics, and adherent capability to HT-29 cells were determined for them approximately in the range of other probiotic strains. Two strains were susceptible to various antibiotics and enterotoxigenic activities were not detected by PCR which means isolated Bacillus strains could be classified as safe. Altogether, results demonstrate that Bacillus CM1 and CM2 strains could have the potential of consideration as probiotics, however more extensive in vitro/vivo studies are needed. © 2023, The Author(s).
Publication Date: 2023
Food Chemistry: X (25901575)19
The chemical structure and bioactivity of ultrasonic-assisted alkaline extracted polysaccharides of date seed (DSP) and date flesh (DFP) were investigated. In addition, a crossover clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of 28 days of date seed powder and date flesh consumption on blood biomarkers. Xylose (72.2 %) and galactose (41.6 %) were the most abundant monosaccharides in DSP and DFP, also DFP had a higher uronic acid content (12.16 ± 2.13 g/100 g) compared to DSP (5.57 ± 1.2 g/100 g). DSP had higher proliferation and antibacterial effects compared to DFP and inulin. Bifidobacterium animalis produced a higher short-chain fatty acid concentration during fermentation of DSP (66.98 ± 4.33 mM) and DFP (58.58 ± 5.57 mM) than inulin (19.68 ± 3.73 mM). Date seed powder could significantly reduce C-reactive proteins and triglycerides and increase red blood cell count (p < 0.05). DSP showed considerable prebiotic capability, antibacterial activity, and health-promoting effect; therefore, it could be considered for further investigation as nutraceuticals. © 2023 The Authors
Publication Date: 2023
Iranian Journal Of Veterinary Research, Shiraz University (17281997)24(1)pp. 65-73
Background: Species of the Bacillus genus have a long history of use in biotechnology. Some Bacillus strains have recently been identified for food applications and industrial as safe bacteria, which mostly have been recognized as probiotic strains. Aims: The primary purpose of the current study was to evaluate the probiotic characteristics of Bacillus subtilis strains isolated and identified from the goat milk samples. Methods: After sampling from 40 goat milk and cultivation, suspected colonies were subjected to biochemical and molecular identification. Then, the confirmed isolate was assessed for in vitro probiotic tests, including hemolysis and lecithinase properties, bile salt, acid, and artificial gastric juice resistance, antioxidant activity, antibiotics susceptibility, enterotoxin genes detection, and attachment capacity to the HT-29 cells. Results: Among 11 suspected isolates evaluated, only one isolate was identified as B. subtilis. In vitro tests for this strain showed similar results to other probiotic strains. The B. subtilis strain was susceptible to various antibiotics. The enterotoxin genes were not detected based on PCR assay. Concerning its probiotic characteristics assessment, especially tolerance to bile salts and acidic conditions, the Bacillus strain could have the potential to consider as a probiotic. Conclusion: Goat milk can be recommended as a source of Bacillus isolates. Also, the isolated strain showed high adaptability to the gastrointestinal environment, relatively equal percentages of adhesion properties, and some safety aspects, having the potential to be considered as an appropriate probiotic. © 2023 Shiraz University. All rights reserved.
