Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Astragalus membranaceus Fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on LPS-Induced RAW 264.7 Cells
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Overall, the article is well organized and its presentation is good. However, some minor issues need to be improved:
- Line 13 - it should be 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl
- Please avoid to use "personal" style - we etc.
- Line 96 - mL instead of ml
- Line 199 - TPC unit should be mg GAE/g or mL? Please correct units and Figure 2
- The same for H2O2 - please correct unit
- Why TPC and H2O2 contents are not for mL?
- References section - please use italics for latin names of plants and bacteria.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1 Comments
Dear reviewer in Fermentation
We are sincerely grateful for your thorough consideration and scrutiny of our manuscript, “Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Astragalus membranaceus fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells”, manuscript number Fermentation-1438554. Through the accurate comments made by the reviewers, we better understand the critical issues in this paper. We have revised the manuscript according to the reviewer’s suggestions. We appreciate that the scientific quality of our manuscript was improved by the scrutinizing efforts of the reviewers and editors. We hope that our revised manuscript will be considered and accepted for publication in the Fermentation.
<GENERAL COMMENTS>
Overall, the article is well organized and its presentation is good. However, some minor issues need to be improved:.
Point 1: Line 13 - it should be 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl
Response 1: Thank you for your comment. We change “2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl hydrate” to “2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl” in line 13.
Point 2: Please avoid to use "personal" style - we etc.
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We change personal style in all manuscript.
“We determined ~” to “The calycosin contents determined to~” in line 17
“We need to study ~” to “Although the sprouts of AM are known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-wrinkle and anti-allergic properties, further studies using AM radix for use in health and beauty products is needed” in line 55-58.
“We mixed 250 μL ~” to “250 μL of ~” in line 120.
“We used a 10 μM H2O2 solution ~” to “H2O2 solution (10 μM) used~” in line 132.
Delete “we used” in line 150.
“~ we used it to analyze ~” to “Thus, the anti-oxidative activity ~” in line 198-199.
“We assayed the reducing power~” to “The reducing power was assayed~” in line 214.
“~we measured the H2O2 content ~” to “~the H2O2 content in the medium was measured~” in line 218-219.
“We validated the calycosin analysis~” to “The calycosin analysis was validated~” in line 235.
Point 3: Line 96 - mL instead of ml
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We change “ml” to “mL” in line 106.
Point 4: Line 199 - TPC unit should be mg GAE/g or mL? Please correct units and Figure 2
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We change “GAE mg/g” to “mg GAE/mL” in line 16, 211-213, and Figure 2.
Point 5: The same for H2O2 - please correct unit
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We check the H2O2 unit in “Abstract” and “Result & Discussion”, it is the same in µM.
Point 6: Why TPC and H2O2 contents are not for mL?
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We change H2O2 contents to mg GAE/mL. For hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content assay, EZ-hydrogen peroxide/peroxidase assay kit was used. According to kit protocol, the H2O2 content is expressed in µM.
Point 7: section - please use italics for latin names of plants and bacteria.
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We change italic for latin names of plants and bacteria in “Reference”.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear Authors
Thank you for submitting your paper entitled # fermentation-1438554 entitled “Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Astragalus membranaceus fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells” which you submitted to the fermentation.
This paper presents the fermentation-enhanced Astragalus membranaceus extracts can be used as novel and effective natural products to enhance the anti-oxidative effect and suppress inflammatory reactions, and there is some features of microbial interest.
However, some modifications are required as follows:
Comments to the Author
Abstract
Line 23: downregulated iNOS, COX2, TNF-ɑ, and NF-κB → downregulated macrophage iNOS, COX2, TNF-ɑ, and NF-κB expression
Line 24: as an antioxidant → as natural antioxidant compounds
Introduction
Line 29: aging and disease → aging and age-related chronic disease
Line 44: organ dysfunction → organ dysfunction syndrome
Line 62: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) → Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (formerly Lactobacillus plantarum)
Materials and Methods
Line 69: The 37 L. plantarum strains → Thirty-seven strains of L. plantarum
Line 75-76: The aqueous filtrates of AM were added to the growth medium (glucose 2.5%, peptone 0.5%, and yeast extract 1.65%) at a concentration of 1% (v/v)
→ 1% (v/v) aqueous filtrates of AM were added to the growth medium containing 2.5% glucose, 0.5% peptone, and 1.65% yeast extract.
Line 77-78: the medium was inoculated with 2% (v/v) of the isolated L. plantarum strains
→ Each 2% (v/v) of L. plantarum ( ? CFU/mL) strains were inoculated into the medium
Please, suggest the viable cell count (CFU/mL) of L. plantarum
Line 87-88: We mixed 0.2 mL of AM-LP samples with 0.2 mM DPPH (Alfa-Aesar, Karlsruhe, Germany) in 0.3 mL methanol
→ AM-LP samples (0.2 mL) were mixed with 0.2 mM DPPH (Alfa-Aesar, Karlsruhe, Germany) and ? % (v/v) methanol (0.3 mL)
Please, suggest a percentage of methanol used
Line 163: μL)) → μL) (delete the parentheses)
Results & Discussion
Line 193: MG5145 and MG5276 L. plantarum strains → L. plantarum MG5145 and L. plantarum MG5276 strains
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2 Comments
Dear reviewer in Fermentation
We are sincerely grateful for your thorough consideration and scrutiny of our manuscript, “Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Astragalus membranaceus fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells”, manuscript number Fermentation-1438554. Through the accurate comments made by the reviewers, we better understand the critical issues in this paper. We have revised the manuscript according to the reviewer’s suggestions. We appreciate that the scientific quality of our manuscript was improved by the scrutinizing efforts of the reviewers and editors. We hope that our revised manuscript will be considered and accepted for publication in the Fermentation.
<GENERAL COMMENTS>
Thank you for submitting your paper entitled # fermentation-1438554 entitled “Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Astragalus membranaceus fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells” which you submitted to the fermentation.
This paper presents the fermentation-enhanced Astragalus membranaceus extracts can be used as novel and effective natural products to enhance the anti-oxidative effect and suppress inflammatory reactions, and there is some features of microbial interest.
However, some modifications are required as follows:
Point 1: Line 23: downregulated iNOS, COX2, TNF-ɑ, and NF-κB → downregulated macrophage iNOS, COX2, TNF-ɑ, and NF-κB expression
Response 1: Thank you for your comment. We change "downregulated iNOS, COX2, TNF-ɑ, and NF-κB" to “downregulated macrophage iNOS, COX2, TNF-ɑ, and NF-κB expression” in line 23-24.
Point 2: Line 24: as an antioxidant → as natural antioxidant compounds
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We change “as an antioxidant” to “as natural antioxidant compounds” in line 26.
Point 3: Line 29: aging and disease → aging and age-related chronic disease
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We change “aging and disease” to “aging and age-related chronic disease” in line 31.
Point 4: Line 44: organ dysfunction → organ dysfunction syndrome
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We change “organ dysfunction” to “organ dysfunction syndrome” in line 47.
Point 5: Line 62: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) → Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (formerly Lactobacillus plantarum)
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We change “Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum)” to “Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (formerly Lactobacillus plantarum)” in line 67-68.
Point 6: Line 69: The 37 L. plantarum strains → Thirty-seven strains of L. plantarum
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We change “The 37 L. plantarum strains” to “Thirty-seven strains of L. plantarum” in line 75.
Point 7: Line 75-76: The aqueous filtrates of AM were added to the growth medium (glucose 2.5%, peptone 0.5%, and yeast extract 1.65%) at a concentration of 1% (v/v)
→ 1% (v/v) aqueous filtrates of AM were added to the growth medium containing 2.5% glucose, 0.5% peptone, and 1.65% yeast extract.
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We change “The aqueous filtrates of AM were added to the growth medium (glucose 2.5%, peptone 0.5%, and yeast extract 1.65%) at a concentration of 1% (v/v)” to “1% (v/v) aqueous filtrates of AM were added to the growth medium containing 2.5% glucose, 0.5% peptone, and 1.65% yeast extract.” in line 81-83.
Point 8: Line 77-78: the medium was inoculated with 2% (v/v) of the isolated L. plantarum strains
→ Each 2% (v/v) of L. plantarum ( ? CFU/mL) strains were inoculated into the medium
Please, suggest the viable cell count (CFU/mL) of L. plantarum
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We change “the medium was inoculated with 2% (v/v) of the isolated L. plantarum strains” to “Each 2% (v/v) of L. plantarum (OD600=1.0, 108-109 CFU/mL) strains were inoculated into the medium” in line 85-86.
Point 9: Line 87-88: We mixed 0.2 mL of AM-LP samples with 0.2 mM DPPH (Alfa-Aesar, Karlsruhe, Germany) in 0.3 mL methanol
→ AM-LP samples (0.2 mL) were mixed with 0.2 mM DPPH (Alfa-Aesar, Karlsruhe, Germany) and ? % (v/v) methanol (0.3 mL)
Please, suggest a percentage of methanol used
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We change “We mixed 0.2 mL of AM-LP samples with 0.2 mM DPPH (Alfa-Aesar, Karlsruhe, Germany) in 0.3 mL methanol” to “AM-LP samples (0.2 mL) were mixed with 0.2 mM DPPH (Alfa-Aesar, Karlsruhe, Germany) and 99.5% methanol (0.3 mL)” in line 96-97. We suggest percentage of methanol.
Point 10: Line 163: μL)) → μL) (delete the parentheses)
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We delete it in line 174.
Point 11: Line 193: MG5145 and MG5276 L. plantarum strains → L. plantarum MG5145 and L. plantarum MG5276 strains
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. We change “MG5145 and MG5276 L. plantarum strains” to “L. plantarum MG5145 and L. plantarum MG5276 strains” in line 204-205.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
This manuscript is a resubmission of an earlier submission. The following is a list of the peer review reports and author responses from that submission.
