Chemical Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation of Glucans from Fermentation-Produced Nutraceutical Bionutri-AR1 ® : Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Properties

• Published in: Pharmaceutics 2024-10, Vol.16 (11), p.1404
• Main Authors: Carbonero, Elaine R, Novikov, Tammara S M, Gomes, Yagly G S, Brito, Dayane R, Coelho, Luisa C, Mendes, Marcia F, Di Medeiros Leal, Maria Carolina B, Bocca, Anamélia L, Lião, Luciano M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino acids; antioxidant; Antioxidants; B cells; Bionutri-AR1; Dietary supplements; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Fatty acids; Fermentation; Food; Functional foods; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; glucans; immunomodulatory effects; Interleukins; Microorganisms; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Production processes; structural characterization; Yeast
• ISSN: 1999-4923; 1999-4923
• DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16111404

The consumption of nutraceuticals or food supplements has increased crucially, aiming to address nutrient deficits and enhance immune system function. To develop safe food products with unique nutritional and functional benefits, new production methods of these nutraceuticals such as the fermentative process have been gaining prominence for industrial applications. Bionutri-AR1 is a nutraceutical produced via this bioprocess, featuring a complex composition, that has been used to improve the immune systems of debilitated people. Considering the various biological properties attributed to glucans, one of its main components, this study aims to structurally characterize and evaluate, in vitro, the antioxidant and immunomodulatory potential of the polymers from this nutraceutical to assess whether these polymers contribute to the product's reported biological effects. Unlike previous reports, this study characterized by NMR, GC-MS, and Congo Red assay techniques two main glucans: a water-insoluble linear α-D-glucan with glycosidic bonds (1→4) and a soluble branched (1→3)- and (1→6)-linked β-glucan with a triple helix. Both glucans showed significant antioxidant activity, measured by their capacity to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. They were also capable of inducing the secretion of cytokines such as tumoral necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and interleukin 6 (IL-6), determined through capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), especially when co-stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This suggests a dual action of these glucans in both proinflammatory and regulatory pathways. Future studies will describe the mechanisms by which these glucans, especially the insoluble ones, enhance immune system function, highlighting their potential use in immunotherapy.