title: Lactic Acid Fermentation of Cactus Cladodes (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) Generates Flavonoid Derivatives with Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties.
abstract: Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) is widely distributed in the arid and semi-arid regions throughout the world. In the last decades, the interest towards vegetative crop increased, and cladodes are exploited for nutraceutical and health-promoting properties. This study aimed at investigating the capacity of selected lactic acid bacteria to increase the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of cactus cladodes pulp, with the perspective of producing a functional ingredient, dietary supplement or pharmaceutical preparation. Preliminarily, the antioxidant activity was determined through in vitro assays. Further, it was confirmed through ex vivo analysis on intestinal Caco-2/TC7 cells, and the profile of flavonoids was characterized. Cactus cladode pulp was fermented with lactic acid bacteria, which were previously selected from plant materials. Chemically acidified suspension, without bacterial inoculum and incubated under the same conditions, was used as the control. Lactobacillus plantarum CIL6, POM1 and 1MR20, Lactobacillus brevis POM2 and POM4, Lactobacillus rossiae 2LC8 and Pediococcus pentosaceus CILSWE5 were the best growing strains. Fermentation of cladode pulp with L. brevis POM2 and POM4 allowed the highest concentration of γ-amino butyric acid. Lactic acid fermentation had preservative effects (P<0.05) on the levels of vitamin C and carotenoids. Two flavonoid derivatives (kaemferol and isorhamnetin) were identified in the ethyl acetate extracts, which were considered to be the major compounds responsible for the increased radical scavenging activity. After inducing oxidative stress by IL-1β, the increased antioxidant activity (P<0.05) of fermented cladode pulp was confirmed using Caco-2/TC7 cells. Fermented cladode pulp had also immune-modulatory effects towards Caco-2 cells. Compared to the control, fermented cladode pulp exhibited a significantly (P<0.05) higher inhibition of IL-8, TNFα and prostaglandins PGE2 synthesis. The highest functional effect was found using ethyl acetate extracts. In conclusion, fermentation, especially with L. plantarum strains and L. brevis POM4, enhanced the antioxidant and immune-modulation features of cladode pulp.
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Filannino
authors.affiliation: CIHEAM-MAIB, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cavoski
authors.affiliation: CIHEAM-MAIB, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thlien
authors.affiliation: Unit of Human Nutrition and Health, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Olimpia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vincentini
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.affiliation: Unit of Human Nutrition and Health, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silano
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gobbetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Cagno
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D029747:Opuntia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D016209:Interleukin-8; D010636:Phenols; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019344:Lactic Acid; D002338:Carotenoids; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D015232:Dinoprostone; D001205:Ascorbic Acid