Eckol-rich phlorotannins and fucoidan from brown seaweeds promote lactic acid Bacteria growth and postbiotic production.

Abstract

Emerging evidence shows that gut microbiota-derived metabolites regulate enteric and central nervous systems, and patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit reduced levels of lactic acid bacteria (LAB)-derived postbiotics, particularly short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and γ-amino butyric acid (GABA). This study examines the structures of brown seaweed prebiotics, phlorotannins and polysaccharides, and their effects on LAB growth and postbiotic production. Phlorotannins profiling revealed an abundance of eckol and its derivatives. Monosaccharide analysis identified fucoidan as the predominant polysaccharide. Furthermore, both classes of compounds enhanced LAB growth, with their combinations showing synergistic effects. Among the strains tested, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum showed the highest efficacy in enhancing SCFA (143.7 ± 1.5 mM) and GABA (29.1 ± 0.6 mM) production and in mitigating oxidative stress, a key hallmark of PD's pathogenesis. Collectively, our in vitro data demonstrate enhanced probiotic metabolite production and suggest potential neuroprotective relevance, supporting future confirmatory in vivo investigations.