Effect of cactus pear juice (Opuntia ficus-indica) fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum S-811 on metabolic parameters in normal and obese mice

Abstract

Cactus pears, the fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica, are strongly recommended in the human diet since their nutritional and health improving properties. Scientific evidence suggests that cactus pear consumption generates beneficial effects on percentage body fat and metabolic parameters related to obesity and metabolic syndrome. However, long-term storage represents the main drawback to the commercialization of this fruit. Since in many places cactus pears are consumed as juice, different procedures were developed to prevent its spoilage. Lactic acid fermentation of cactus pear juice (CPJ) using autochthonous bacteria constitutes an important biotechnology for its preservation, maintaining or improving safety, nutritional and functional properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fermented cactus pear juice with Lactobacillus plantarum S-811 on metabolic and immunological parameters in normal and obese mice. L. plantarum S-811, an autochthonous LAB strain isolated from O. ficus-indica fruits from Colalao del Valle (Tucuman, Argentina), was used to developed a fermented cactus pear juice (FCPJ) (109 CFU/ml; 7 h of growth at 37¨¬C). B57BL-6 mice were separated into 8 groups (4 normal groups and 4 obese groups) that were administered with Standard diet (SD) or High fat diet (HFD) supplemented with: L. plantarum S-811 (Lp) (109 CFU/day); CPJ and FCPJ. Strains were administered in the drinking water while CPJ and FCPJ replace drinking water. Dietary intervention was maintained for 7 weeks. Weight and food intake were monitored daily, while adiposity index, levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), glucose (Glu), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), leptin (Lep), were determined in plasma at the end of study. TNF¥á and IL6 were determined on intestinal tissue. Body weight and the levels of Glu, TC, TG, Lep and proinflammatory cytokines increased after the administration of HFD. CPJ and FCPJ feeding significantly decreased the weight of normal mice. The 3 treatments (Lp, CPJ and FCPJ) evaluated did not significantly changed body weight in obese mice in comparison with the obese control. Also, the 3 treatments did not influence on plasma glucose values of normal mice. However, in obese mice FCPJ feeding significantly decrease glucose levels and glucose intolerance (OGTT). Regarding TC and TG, no significant variation was observed in normal mice after either treatment. But, in obese group a significant decrease in TC and TG levels were observed after the 3 treatments. With respect to leptin levels none of the treatments produced significant changes in both groups under study. These results suggest that FCPJ with L. plantarum S-811 is a suitable choice for further evaluation in diet-induced obesity models.