Probiotic Strain Selection for Oleuropein Bioconversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods fail to effectively enhance the bioavailability and efficacy of olive polyphenols like oleuropein due to slow degradation rates and limited absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, necessitating improved probiotic strains or mixtures that can bio-convert oleuropein into more absorbable metabolites within a realistic digestion timeframe.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the selection of probiotic strains or mixtures with β-glucosidase and esterase activities for fermentation of oleuropein, identifying strains that convert oleuropein into hydroxytyrosol acetate, hydroxytyrosol, or elenolic acid within 24 hours, thereby optimizing absorption and bioavailability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If L. plantarum strain B21 is used to degrade oleuropein, then oleuropein degradation occurs, but the fermentation process takes around 5 days which is far longer than a realistic timeframe for digestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting probiotic strains with specific enzymatic activities (β-glucosidase and esterase) that accelerate oleuropein degradation. The method identifies strains that can consume at least 10 wt.% of oleuropein within 24 hours, transforming the degradation rate parameter from days to hours to match gastrointestinal transit time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs self-service by utilizing the probiotic strains' inherent β-glucosidase and esterase enzymatic activities to naturally degrade oleuropein in the colon. The probiotics perform the degradation function autonomously through their metabolic processes, converting oleuropein into absorbable metabolites without requiring external intervention or extended fermentation time.
2Reliability
If oleuropein is co-administered with probiotics having glycosidase and esterase activity, then bioavailability of oleuropein metabolites is increased, but the complexity of identifying suitable probiotic strains increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-screening and identifying probiotic strains that possess both β-glucosidase and esterase activities before co-administration with oleuropein. The method performs in silico analysis of encoding genes and in vitro activity tests in advance to select strains capable of producing the desired metabolites, ensuring reliable bioavailability enhancement while simplifying the selection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback by measuring the proportion of oleuropein remaining and identifying metabolites formed during fermentation. This feedback mechanism allows selection of strains that demonstrably produce hydroxytyrosol acetate, hydroxytyrosol, or elenolic acid, ensuring reliable metabolite bioavailability while providing objective criteria for strain selection.
3Productivity
If probiotic strains with β-glucosidase and esterase activity are selected, then conversion of oleuropein to absorbable metabolites is enhanced, but the requirements for strain identification and characterization increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing complex physiological assessment with in silico genomic analysis and in vitro enzymatic activity tests. Instead of measuring conversion efficiency in complex gastrointestinal models, the method uses DNA sequence analysis to identify encoding genes and simplified culture tests to measure β-glucosidase and esterase activities, reducing characterization difficulty while maintaining high conversion efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The selected probiotic strains or mixtures significantly increase the bioavailability and efficacy of oleuropein by converting it into more absorbable metabolites within the colon, providing extended absorption and therapeutic effects, potentially reducing the required dose and enhancing the duration of efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
fermenting oleuropein with i) a bacterial culture of a probiotic strain identified in step a as having β-glucosidase activity and a probiotic strain identified in step b as having esterase activity
Implementation Method 2
identifying a probiotic strain having a β-glucosidase encoding gene by in silico analysis and/or β-glucosidase activity by in vitro analysis of a plurality of strains; identifying a probiotic strain having an esterase encoding gene by in silico analysis and/or esterase activity by in vitro analysis of a plurality of strains
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates generally to probiotics, in particular probiotics capable of bio-converting olive polyphenols. The invention relates to a method of selecting a probiotic strain or probiotic strain mixture. Further aspects of the invention include the use of a probiotic strain to increase the bio-efficacy of olive polyphenols and a composition comprising a probiotic strain for use in the potentiation of a therapeutic effect and/or a prophylactic effect of oleuropein.