Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.7
5.1
Journals
Foods
Special Issues
Key Bioactive Components of Probiotics and Postbiotics and Their Applications...
share announcement

Key Bioactive Components of Probiotics and Postbiotics and Their Applications in Foods

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 825

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ming Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of food and chemical engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, China
Interests: probiotics; postbiotics; dairy science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Qi Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100190, China
Interests: probiotics; gut micro-biota; functional components; glucolipid metabolism; functional gastrointestinal disorders

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the advancement of microbiological research and the growing demand for nutritional health foods, the study of probiotics and postbiotics has emerged as a key research focus in the fields of food science, nutritional health, and biotechnology. A substantial body of evidence indicates that probiotics and postbiotics play crucial roles in regulating gut microbiota homeostasis, enhancing immune barrier functions, ameliorating metabolic disorders, and supporting neurological health. Certain metabolites within probiotics and postbiotics are integral to these biological functions; however, the exploration, identification, mechanisms of action, and applications of these key bioactive substances require further investigation. Research in this area will provide a foundational understanding of the biological functions of probiotics and facilitate the advancement of the probiotics industry. To foster academic exchange and innovation in this domain, we announce a Special Issue entitled “Key Bioactive Components of Probiotics and Postbiotics and Their Applications in Foods”, and we request contributions from experts in the field. This Special Issue will focus on the following research areas:

  1. Novel technologies for screening, identifying, and characterizing key bioactive components derived from probiotics and postbiotics;
  2. Regulatory mechanisms of key bioactive components (including cellular components and metabolites) on gut microbiota and host health;
  3. Application of multi-omics approaches in probiotics functional research;
  4. Stabilization and delivery technologies for key bioactive components in food systems;
  5. Clinical efficacy evaluation and validation of probiotics products.

Dr. Ming Zhang
Dr. Qi Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • probiotics
  • postbiotics
  • key bioactive components
  • screening of bioactive components
  • delivery technologies
  • gut microbiota
  • intestinal homeostasis
  • functional gastrointestinal disorders

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 13015 KB  
Article
Limosilactobacillus reuteri Urob-7 Alleviates Hyperuricemia by Modulating Uric Acid Metabolism Through Nucleoside Degradation and Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition
by Yizhi Jing, Xiaoyue Bai, Haidong Qian, Yue Wang, Yan Hao, Zhengyuan Zhai, Zhu Zhang and Yanling Hao
Foods 2025, 14(21), 3706; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14213706 - 30 Oct 2025
Abstract
Hyperuricemia (HUA), a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated serum uric acid resulting from imbalanced production and excretion, is associated with gout and other serious health issues. This study aimed to screen out the potential probiotics with HUA-alleviating properties among 20 Lactobacillus strains. The [...] Read more.
Hyperuricemia (HUA), a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated serum uric acid resulting from imbalanced production and excretion, is associated with gout and other serious health issues. This study aimed to screen out the potential probiotics with HUA-alleviating properties among 20 Lactobacillus strains. The results showed that L. reuteri Urob-7 exhibited the highest degradation rates for inosine and guanosine (82.10% and 88.78%, respectively) and strong xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibitory activity (62.86%). In a HUA mouse model induced by inosine, guanosine, and potassium oxonate, L. reuteri Urob-7 intervention significantly reduced serum uric acid levels by 46.54%, restoring them to levels similar to control groups, and improved kidney function indicators. Moreover, Urob-7 reduced hepatic XOD activity by 37.6% and downregulated XOD expression in the intestines, decreasing excessive uric acid synthesis. It also significantly inhibited the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammatory pathway, reducing the expression levels of NF-κB and NLRP3 in the kidneys by 39.3% and 47.6%, respectively. Furthermore, L. reuteri Urob-7 increased the abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria (e.g., Ruminococcus and Intestinimonas) while reducing the proportion of pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Bacteroides and Anaerovorax), thus ameliorating gut microbiota dysbiosis and intestinal barrier dysfunction. In summary, L. reuteri Urob-7 effectively relieved HUA by modulating uric acid metabolism, suppressing inflammation, and improving gut microbiota balance. These results highlighted its potential as a promising candidate for HUA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Key Bioactive Components of Probiotics and Postbiotics and Their Applications in Foods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 2650 KB  
Article
Lychee Fermented by Mixed Probiotic Strains Alleviates D-Galactose-Induced Skeletal Muscle and Intestinal Aging in Mice
by Huixian Han, Jin Tao, Xiaoyue Bai, Yizhi Jing, Zhengyuan Zhai, Junjie Luo, Wanxiang Zhang, Dan Gan and Yanling Hao
Foods 2025, 14(21), 3684; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14213684 - 29 Oct 2025
Viewed by 37
Abstract
Aging-associated skeletal muscle and intestinal dysfunction is largely driven by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and microbiota imbalance. This study investigated the protective effects of a lychee fermentate (LF) in a D-galactose-induced aging mouse model. LF was prepared using a mixed microbial fermentation approach [...] Read more.
Aging-associated skeletal muscle and intestinal dysfunction is largely driven by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and microbiota imbalance. This study investigated the protective effects of a lychee fermentate (LF) in a D-galactose-induced aging mouse model. LF was prepared using a mixed microbial fermentation approach with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lacticaseibacillus casei, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Acetobacter pasteurianus SP021. LF administration significantly improved muscle strength and endurance and restored muscle fiber morphology. Meanwhile, LF alleviated colonic transit impairment and downregulated senescence markers p16 and p21. H&E and AB-PAS staining showed that intervention with LF ameliorated the colonic tissue damage, preserved goblet cell populations and promoted MUC2-mediated mucus secretion, which was further confirmed by the upregulation of intestinal barrier-related proteins MUC2, ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin through immunofluorescence analysis. In addition, LF reduced colonic inflammation by suppressing IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, CXCL1, and MCP1 expression, and mitigated oxidative stress by lowering malondialdehyde levels to 24.65 ± 3.84 nmol/mL while enhancing glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities. Moreover, the LF restored intestinal health by modulating microbiota homeostasis, such as adjusting the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria like Clostridia_UCG-014 and Alistipes. Metabolomic profiling indicated that the enhanced bioactivity of the LF was primarily attributed to the enrichment of phenolic acids, flavonoids and their derivatives postfermentation, including ethyl caffeate, gallic acid, kaempferol and isorhamnetin. In summary, these findings provided new insights into the potential application of LF as a functional food for mitigating skeletal muscle and intestinal aging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Key Bioactive Components of Probiotics and Postbiotics and Their Applications in Foods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 5521 KB  
Article
Modulation of Intestinal Smooth Muscle Cell Function by BL-99 Postbiotics in Functional Constipation
by Wen Zhao, Mingkun Liu, Hanglian Lan, Ran Wang, Wei-Lian Hung, Jian He and Bing Fang
Foods 2025, 14(19), 3441; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14193441 - 8 Oct 2025
Viewed by 482
Abstract
Postbiotics, as a novel class of functional components, have garnered considerable scholarly and industrial interest due to their distinctive advantages in food processing applications and their positive impact on human health. Although postbiotics have demonstrated potential in alleviating constipation, their specific mechanism of [...] Read more.
Postbiotics, as a novel class of functional components, have garnered considerable scholarly and industrial interest due to their distinctive advantages in food processing applications and their positive impact on human health. Although postbiotics have demonstrated potential in alleviating constipation, their specific mechanism of action and bioactive components remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effects and potential mechanisms of postbiotics derived from Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99 (BL-99) on FC using both in vivo and in vitro models. The findings revealed that both BL-99 and its postbiotics significantly mitigated FC symptoms, as evidenced by enhanced intestinal motility, and elevated fecal water content. Additionally, treatment with BL-99 postbiotics was associated with an increase in the thickness of the intestinal muscular layer and a reduction in apoptosis of intestinal smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Mechanistically, BL-99 postbiotics were found to enhance the contractile response and promote the proliferation of intestinal SMCs. Furthermore, untargeted metabolomics analysis identified two key bioactive peptides, Glu-Val and Glu-Leu, as the active components in BL-99 responsible for regulating SMC function. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential of BL-99 postbiotics as a promising functional food ingredient for alleviating FC, providing a novel and effective strategy for the developing dietary interventions targeting this condition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Key Bioactive Components of Probiotics and Postbiotics and Their Applications in Foods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop