It is well-documented that iron deficiency leads to anemia, which is the utmost critical problem ... more It is well-documented that iron deficiency leads to anemia, which is the utmost critical problem of nutrition worldwide. Inulin, indigestible polysaccharides, or prebiotic agents may act as vehicles to enhance the iron bioavailability through the formation of the polysaccharide–iron complex. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic effects of yogurt fortified with iron and supplemented by long- or short-chain inulin on the growth status, blood parameters, antioxidant capacity, and liver function enzymes in anemic rats. Five animal groups were assigned as the control (G1), which were fed a standard diet and there were four anemic groups, in which haemolytic anemia was induced by phenylhydrazine. The anemic rats were divided into 4 groups according to the regime of feeding as G2: control anemic group fed low-iron diet while the remaining anemic groups were fed yogurt fortified with Fe2(SO4)3 without inulin (G3) or with either long- (G4) or short-chain (G5) inulin. ...
The underutilized Kenyan variety of Dolichos lablab bean seeds serve as a good source of natural ... more The underutilized Kenyan variety of Dolichos lablab bean seeds serve as a good source of natural antioxidants, which can probably be effective in reducing the risk of occurrence of several diseases.
Bifidobacterium spp. RBL 68 and RBL 85 isolated from newborn faeces were found to produce two bac... more Bifidobacterium spp. RBL 68 and RBL 85 isolated from newborn faeces were found to produce two bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS) with inhibitory activities against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The production of these BLIS began in late exponential phase of growth and reached a maximum activity during and after the stationary phase. An activity level of 33 and 15 AU/ml at the end of the exponential phase that is (12 h) and maximum activity (65 and 35 AU/ml) at the beginning of the stationary phase that is (24 and 36 h) were recorded in MRS broth at 37°C for RBL 68 and RBL 85, respectively. The two BLIS, produced by RBL 68 and RBL 85, were partially purified by a three-step purification protocol resulting in a specific activity of 2.66 x 10 3 and 7.68 x 10 3 AU/mg and purification fold of 122.8 and 95, respectively. Complete inactivation of the two BLIS activities were observed after treatment with proteolytic enzymes, including chymotrypsin, pr...
Research article Classification of a moderately oxygen-tolerant isolate from baby faeces as Bifid... more Research article Classification of a moderately oxygen-tolerant isolate from baby faeces as Bifidobacterium thermophilum
This study was undertaken to genetically identify and phenotypically characterize 14 bifidobacter... more This study was undertaken to genetically identify and phenotypically characterize 14 bifidobacteria isolated from 20 breast-fed newborns. These isolates showed 98%-99% similarity to Bifidobacterium thermacidophilum subsp. suis based on 16S rDNA. Further analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of chromosomal DNA digested with XbaI revealed 4 distinct restriction patterns. The predominant pattern, shared by 8 (57%) isolates, produced a macro-restriction profile with about 13 large fragments ranging in size from >242.5 to 23.1 kb, whereas the other 6 displayed 3 distinct restriction profiles all characterized by more micro- than macro-restriction, with fragments ranging in size from 97 to 9.4 kb. Phenotypic characteristics, including carbohydrate fermentation profile, maximal growth temperature, and antibiotic susceptibility, varied widely even among strains showing the same restriction profile. The presence of B. thermacidophilum in stools of newborn infants may indicate the potential of these bacteria for aiding the development of the intestinal ecosystem.
Research article Classification of a moderately oxygen-tolerant isolate from baby faeces as Bifid... more Research article Classification of a moderately oxygen-tolerant isolate from baby faeces as Bifidobacterium thermophilum
It is well-documented that iron deficiency leads to anemia, which is the utmost critical problem ... more It is well-documented that iron deficiency leads to anemia, which is the utmost critical problem of nutrition worldwide. Inulin, indigestible polysaccharides, or prebiotic agents may act as vehicles to enhance the iron bioavailability through the formation of the polysaccharide–iron complex. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic effects of yogurt fortified with iron and supplemented by long- or short-chain inulin on the growth status, blood parameters, antioxidant capacity, and liver function enzymes in anemic rats. Five animal groups were assigned as the control (G1), which were fed a standard diet and there were four anemic groups, in which haemolytic anemia was induced by phenylhydrazine. The anemic rats were divided into 4 groups according to the regime of feeding as G2: control anemic group fed low-iron diet while the remaining anemic groups were fed yogurt fortified with Fe2(SO4)3 without inulin (G3) or with either long- (G4) or short-chain (G5) inulin. ...
The underutilized Kenyan variety of Dolichos lablab bean seeds serve as a good source of natural ... more The underutilized Kenyan variety of Dolichos lablab bean seeds serve as a good source of natural antioxidants, which can probably be effective in reducing the risk of occurrence of several diseases.
Bifidobacterium spp. RBL 68 and RBL 85 isolated from newborn faeces were found to produce two bac... more Bifidobacterium spp. RBL 68 and RBL 85 isolated from newborn faeces were found to produce two bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS) with inhibitory activities against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The production of these BLIS began in late exponential phase of growth and reached a maximum activity during and after the stationary phase. An activity level of 33 and 15 AU/ml at the end of the exponential phase that is (12 h) and maximum activity (65 and 35 AU/ml) at the beginning of the stationary phase that is (24 and 36 h) were recorded in MRS broth at 37°C for RBL 68 and RBL 85, respectively. The two BLIS, produced by RBL 68 and RBL 85, were partially purified by a three-step purification protocol resulting in a specific activity of 2.66 x 10 3 and 7.68 x 10 3 AU/mg and purification fold of 122.8 and 95, respectively. Complete inactivation of the two BLIS activities were observed after treatment with proteolytic enzymes, including chymotrypsin, pr...
Research article Classification of a moderately oxygen-tolerant isolate from baby faeces as Bifid... more Research article Classification of a moderately oxygen-tolerant isolate from baby faeces as Bifidobacterium thermophilum
This study was undertaken to genetically identify and phenotypically characterize 14 bifidobacter... more This study was undertaken to genetically identify and phenotypically characterize 14 bifidobacteria isolated from 20 breast-fed newborns. These isolates showed 98%-99% similarity to Bifidobacterium thermacidophilum subsp. suis based on 16S rDNA. Further analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of chromosomal DNA digested with XbaI revealed 4 distinct restriction patterns. The predominant pattern, shared by 8 (57%) isolates, produced a macro-restriction profile with about 13 large fragments ranging in size from >242.5 to 23.1 kb, whereas the other 6 displayed 3 distinct restriction profiles all characterized by more micro- than macro-restriction, with fragments ranging in size from 97 to 9.4 kb. Phenotypic characteristics, including carbohydrate fermentation profile, maximal growth temperature, and antibiotic susceptibility, varied widely even among strains showing the same restriction profile. The presence of B. thermacidophilum in stools of newborn infants may indicate the potential of these bacteria for aiding the development of the intestinal ecosystem.
Research article Classification of a moderately oxygen-tolerant isolate from baby faeces as Bifid... more Research article Classification of a moderately oxygen-tolerant isolate from baby faeces as Bifidobacterium thermophilum
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