Iranian scientists find indigenous probiotic bacterium

Iranian scientists in East Azerbaijan have discovered a
native probiotic bacterium that is effective against aflatoxin, a harmful toxin
that can be found in food, a provincial official said.

According to Alireza Dehnad, a faculty member of the
Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Department in East Azerbaijan,
the indigenous probiotic bacterium obtained has the highest aflatoxin B1
absorption rate and has been introduced as ideal conditions for aflatoxin
removal.

He said, “The findings of this research showed that the
presence of this indigenous probiotic bacterium in the digestive tract
secretions has a positive effect on the removal of the toxin.”

“For example, until the consumption of fatty foods, the
amount of bile in the intestine is very low. This in itself is a factor that
can act in the direction of bacteria adapting and increasing their resistance
to bile. Also, the presence of food in the stomach and intestine can create a
protective shield for microorganisms, and some probiotics are excreted from the
intestine and stomach without coming into contact with bile or the toxin,”
Dehnad added.

“Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of some fungi,
including species of Aspergillus, which have the ability to induce mutations,
carcinogenicity, and inhibition of the immune system in living organisms. These
fungi grow on raw foods and agricultural products. With the increasing
knowledge and awareness that aflatoxins pose a serious risk to the health of
consumers, researchers are looking for ways to eliminate and reduce this type
of mycotoxin in foods. There are several methods for detoxification and
reducing them in contaminated food and animal feed, such as physical
separation, thermal inactivation, chemical treatment, radiation, and
biological, of which one of the most basic methods is the use of lactic acid
bacteria.”

He continued, “Aflatoxin B1 is one of the strongest
hepatocarcinogens known in nature, which has been classified in group I
carcinogens by IARC. Aflatoxins cause cancer in organs, especially the liver.
Direct consumption of aflatoxin occurs through the consumption of contaminated
foods of plant origin such as grains, legumes, fruits, oilseeds, and spices,
while indirect consumption occurs through the consumption of milk or its
products, meat, and eggs. Direct consumption is much more severe. Because in
direct consumption, aflatoxin B1 is a factor of poisoning. Probiotic is a Greek
word meaning "for life". The positive role of bacteria in the context
of health was first raised by the famous Russian scientist, father of modern
immunology, and Nobel Prize winner named Mechnikov in the early twentieth
century.”

It is possible to strengthen and support the intestinal
microbiota by prescribing known beneficial microbes against harmful microbes,
Dehnad said.

He added, “Probiotics have been introduced as live
microorganisms in sufficient quantities that create health-promoting properties
in the host. Lactobacilli are one of the types of probiotics that have a wide
application in dairy products and the survival of this bacterium is higher than
other species. Lactobacillus is a gram-positive, obligate mesophilic
homofermentative, microaerobic, catalase-negative, and spore-free bacterium
with high capacity for acid production. In numerous studies, its beneficial
effects, including resistance to stomach acid and bile salts, the ability to
adhere to the cells of the intestinal mucosa, inhibition of bacterial activity,
and the production of antimicrobial substances, have been proven.”