3

Bifidobacterium longum

B.longum demonstrated an antioxidative effect on the inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation. Also the cytotoxity of 4NQO to intestinal cells was reduced by intact cells of B.longum. The cytotoxity inhibition rate was 89%. [Lin & Chang, 2000]

The production of free radicals and many diseases are closely related. Therefore the ability of B.longum to scavenge DPPH, a free radical, was studied. The results indicate that the radical scavenging ability of B.longum contributes to the antioxidative effect.

[Lin & Chang, 2000]

4

Enterococcus faecium

Extensive investigation has been carried out into favourable effects of probiotics on hypercholesterolemia. Although in the literature opinions diverge on this point, positive reports concern E. Faecium specifically. In one of these studies a significant decrease of the level of LDL-cholesterol was found in a group of older Danish men.

5

Lactobacillus acidophilus

L.acidophilus was examined in vitro for characteristics indicating suitability for probiotic application to the urogenital tract. L.acidophilus adhered to urogenital cells and produced biosurfractants which significantly inhibited uropathogenic enterococci adhesion.

The anaerobic growth properties and biosurfractant production might allow L.acidophilus to be competitive against anaerobic gram-negative organisms that cause bacterial vaginosis. [Reid, 2000]

6

Lactobacillus casei

The effect of ingested viable L.casei on an oral infection with the enteric pathogen Listeria monocytogenes in rats was investigated. It was shown that supplementation of L.casei significantly reduced the numbers of L.monocytogenes in stomach, caecum, faeces, spleen and liver, 2 days after L.monocytogenes infecion. It was also shown that L.casei was able to increase cellular immunity significantly. [de Waard, 2002]

7

Lactobacillus plantarum

Bifidobacteria have been previously shown to stimulate immune function . Furthermore, bifidobacteria and other lactic acid bacteria can improve anti-tumor activity of the host. It has been suggested that these activities arise from their ability to stimulate macrophages and T cells. [Park, 1999]

8

Lactobacillus salivarius

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a term used to cover a range of incurable, immune mediated diseases, that result in chronic relapsing inflammation of the gut. The two major clinical forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The composition and activity of the intestinal microbiota have been implicated to play an important role in these diseases. Therefore it has been proposed that probiotics may assist in controlling IBD by beneficially modulating the intestinal microbiota. It is postulated that feeding L.salivarius produced beneficial modifications to the intestinal microbiota, resulting in reduced inflammation and therefore a decrease in cancer incidence. [Matilla-sandholm, 1999]

L.salivarius was used in human studies with patients with active IBD.

9

Lactococcus lactis

The synthesis and secretion by Lactococcus lactis of the very acid-sensitive cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). Numerous studies on the in vivo and in vitro activities of IL-10 suggest an important role for this cytokine in immune regulation. Of particular interest in this respect is its possible clinical use as a therapeutic in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). [Schotte, 2000]

Finally, this strain is known for the production of nisin, a very strong and broad-spectrum bacteriocin, which is effective against several pathogens.