Review on Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4: Functionality and Nutraceutical Applications as a Probiotic Microorganism

Abstract

Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4 is a probiotic strain that has been used as a major ingredient to produce nutraceutical products and as a dairy starter since 2000. The various bio-functional effects and potential for industrial application of B. bifidum BGN4 has been characterized and proven by in vitro (i.e., phytochemical bio-catalysis, cell adhesion and anti-carcinogenic effects on cell lines, and immunomodulatory effects on immune cells), in vivo (i.e., suppressed allergic responses in mouse model and anti-inflammatory bowel disease), and clinical studies (eczema in infants and adults with irritable bowel syndrome). Recently, the investigation of the genome sequencing was finished and this data potentially clarifies the biochemical characteristics of B. bifidum BGN4 that possibly illustrate its nutraceutical functionality. However, further systematic research should be continued to gain insight for academic and industrial applications so that the use of B. bifidum BGN4 could be expanded to result in greater benefit. This review deals with multiple studies on B. bifidum BGN4 to offer a greater understanding as a probiotic microorganism available in functional food ingredients. In particular, this work considers the potential for commercial application, physiological characterization and exploitation of B. bifidum BGN4 as a whole.

Keywords: Bifidobacterium; functional foods; nutraceuticals; probiotics.

Figure 1

Adhesion of B. bifidum BGN4 onto the epithelial Caco-2 cell observed by: (a) optical (magnification of 1000×); and (b) scanning electron microscopy (magnification of 20,000×, interaction with microvilli of Caco-2 and B. bifidum BGN4). Microbial adherence in (a) was observed after simple staining with crystal violet. Panel (b) was adapted from Kim et al. [26].

Figure 2

Schematic representation of biofunctional properties: Biotransformation of phytochemicals (a); high cell adhesion property with high surface hydrophobicity (b); and direct (c); and indirect immunomodulatory effects (activation of macrophages (d); and dendritic cells (e)) of B. bifidum BGN4 to host.