title: In vitro assessment of agave fructans (Agave salmiana) as prebiotics and immune system activators.
abstract: The prebiotic effect of agave fructans (Agave salmiana) was evaluated through the growth of two lactic acid bacterial (LAB) strains (Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium lactis). The immune system was activated through the stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy subjects testing fructans, LAB or a mixture of these compounds at different concentrations. Immune responses, such as early cell activation (CD69), cell cycle progression, nitric oxide (NO) production and the expression of transcription factors for lymphocyte differentiation, were analyzed. Compared with other fructans, the extracted agave fructans showed the highest prebiotic activity and increased levels of CD69 expression, proliferative activity and NO production when administered with the probiotic L. casei. The Th1 lymphocyte differentiation produced through LAB stimulation was greatly diminished after the incorporation of agave fructans. In conclusion, these types of fructans (A. salmiana) are involved in the activation and selective differentiation of cells of the immune system through interactions with probiotics. Thus, agave fructans represent a novel immunomodulator that might benefit the functional food industry.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Inmunología y Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moreno-Vilet
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Médica-Zacatecas, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, IMSS, Mexico.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Garcia-Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Microbiología de Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Delgado-Portales
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Inmunología y Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Corral-Fernandez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Inmunología y Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cortez-Espinosa
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Ingeniería en Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Cabrera
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Inmunología y Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Electronic address: dportale@uaslp.mx.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Portales-Perez
mesh_terms: D027882:Agave / Q000737:chemistry; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005630:Fructans / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D056692:Prebiotics
chemical_list: D005630:Fructans; D056692:Prebiotics
keywords: Agave fructans; CD69; Immune system; Lactic acid bacteria; Prebiotics; Probiotics