title: The effect of probiotic-fermented soy milk on enhancing the NO-mediated vascular relaxation factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Soy milk is one of the common soy-based foods in Asia. In this study the effects of soy milk fermented with selected probiotics on nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vascular relaxation factors in cell model systems were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Soy milk fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 or Streptococcus thermophilus BCRC 14085 for 48 h showed a greater transformation of glucoside isoflavones to aglycone isoflavones (P < 0.05). An increase in aglycone isoflavones in ethanol extracts from fermented soy milk stimulated NO production and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. It also had a stimulating effect on superoxide anion scavenging and prostaglandin E₂ production. In addition, it enhanced mRNA expression of the E-prostanoid 4 receptor in rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle cells. Moreover, a small amount of O₂⁻ induced by water extracts from fermented soy milk at low concentration (1 mg mL⁻¹) increased the content of calcium ions and activated eNOS, thereby promoting NO production and the coupling state of eNOS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Soy milk fermented with selected probiotics promotes the relaxation factors of vascular endothelial cells and can be applied in the development of functional foods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chein-Pang
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Shuo-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chihwei P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Tzu-Ming
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Tsung-Yu
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D005960:Glucosides / Q000378:metabolism; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000378:metabolism; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum / Q000378:metabolism; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D058309:Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D041942:Soy Milk / Q000378:metabolism*; D048249:Streptococcus thermophilus / Q000378:metabolism; D013624:Taiwan; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014664:Vasodilation
chemical_list: D005960:Glucosides; D007529:Isoflavones; C545652:Ptger4 protein, rat; D058309:Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D015232:Dinoprostone