Evaluation of the Anticancer and Probiotic Potential of Autochthonous (Wild) <i>Lacticaseibacillus paracasei</i> Strains from New Ecological Niches as a Possible Additive for Functional Dairy Foods

Abstract

Probiotics such as Lactobacillus spp. could modulate the intestinal microbiota composition, supporting gastrointestinal tract barrier function and benefiting human health. To evaluate the anticancer and probiotic properties of potentially active autochthonous Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strains on proliferating and differentiated enterocytes, human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT29 was used as a model. The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from new ecological niches—mountain anthills populated by redwood ants (Formica rufa L.). Human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT29, ATCC, HTB-38™) were treated for twenty-four hours with supernatants (SNs) derived from four strains of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei: P4, C8, C15 and M2.1. An MTT assay, alkaline phosphatase activity, IAP, Bax and Bcl-2 gene expression analysis (RT-qPCR) and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were evaluated. The MTT assay revealed that the observed effects varied among groups. However, 10% neutralized supernatants from P4, C8, C15 and M2.1 strains did not show cytotoxic effects. In contrast to non-differentiated cells, a significant (p p p p p p L. paracasei strains possess anticancer and probiotic properties and could be used as additives for functional dairy foods and thus benefit human health.

Keywords

• symbiotic microbial products
• non-differentiated and differentiated HT29 cell line
• alkaline phosphatase activity
• IAP gene expression
• Bax/Bcl-2 ratio