Anthocyanins are flavonoids found in plants. They give the red, blue and purple color to the plants (ex: blueberry, black rice...etc.). Anthocyanins frequently interact with other phytochemicals to potentiate beneficial biological effects. There is interest in testing whether certain anthocyanins have the desired effect on two human gut bacteria, Bifidobacterium longum infantis and Lactobacillus acidophilus. InnovaBio®, where the work was performed, was contracted to test whether anthocyanin rich vegetable extracts will promote or inhibit the growth of these two human gut bacteria. The extracts, numbered 1-6, were provided by Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus both grow under anaerobic conditions in the human gut. Experiments were conducted in the absence of oxygen and under nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases using several methods, including the glove box. The medium for each bacterium has specific reagents to support growth. Both complex and basal growth medium were employed. The basal medium has fewer nutrients and is used to examine changes in growth in the presence of additives. Growth of Lactobacillus under anaerobic conditions in the complex growth medium were determined. Bacteria in basal medium with different anthocyanin rich plant extracts and FOS, Fructooligosacchride, are currently being employed. Basal as negative control, FOS as positive control, and anthocyanin rich vegetables extracts and glucose were used as the test media. The colony forming unit (CFU) test was used as the quantitative indicator of cell viability. Results that were obtained so far showed high growth rates of Lactobacillus in the presence of extracts two, four and six. Extract five had negative results, meaning the growth rates of Lactobacillus in the presence of extract five were very low, and most of the time there were no colonies. Further experiments will help conclude the results. But so far, extracts four and six can be considered as growth promoters and extract five as a growth inhibitor.

Effects of anthocyanin rich extracts on the human gut microbiota

2019 Spring National Meeting

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